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Mercedes has judged this generation of SLK to perfection. By making the car sportier to drive, it now has the manners to back up the attitude.
Roof up or down, the body doesn't shake, even on poor surfaces and it rides with a suppleness few rivals can come close to. It also handles beautifully with unshakable grip through the corners and steering that's well weighted, if not quite as full of feel as a Porsche Boxster’s.
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The supercharged 1.8-litre engine in the SLK200 has just the right amount of power to be great fun, but not frightening. The 280 and 350 V6s are very strong, but the real powerhouse is the SLK55 AMG that packs a 355bhp 5.4-litre V8.
Best of all, this is a very practical sports car. The comfortable interior has plenty of space for two, as well as everything you need for everyday use, while the boot is a decent size so long as the roof is left up.
Running Costs
The SLK200 may be a sleek two-seater sports car, but it’s not going to break the bank. Its fuel economy of 32.5mpg is respectable, and a fair bit better than the V6 models that dip into the mid-20s and the AMG model, which gulps unleaded at a rate of 23.5mpg.
Service intervals depend on how the car's driven and servicing will be an SLK owner's biggest single cost as franchised Mercedes dealers’ labour rates are at the top end of the scale. However, your car is unlikely to need anything other than routine work. Replacement parts aren't cheap, but it's worth getting original Mercedes parts to preserve the car’s residual value.
All SLKs attract hefty insurance premiums, with the SLK200 sitting in group 16. The SLK350 is in group 18 and you won’t be surprised to hear the SLK55 is in group 19.