The Mercedes SLK is supposed to be sporty by concept but is otherwise _ which could not be wrong in entry-level form
Roadsters are becoming like SUVs in Thailand in that they are hardly used as per the concept they were built. Most of the time, these types of cars are merely bought for their appearance.
In theory, an open-top like the Mercedes-Benz SLK is supposed to be driven with its roof down. And being a two-seater naturally means the SLK must be enjoyable to drive.
But if you ask people at the Thai Mercedes office whether these two factors really matter to buyers, the answer would probably be no. The most important thing buyers want is actually the SLK's style.
Sure, the SLK easily doubles as a coupe and cabriolet, thanks to a folding hard-top, and foregoes the need to offer two different bodies like the Audi TT, Nissan 370Z and Porsche (Boxster/Cayman) do. That's why BMW's latest Z4 follows the SLK two-in-one bodystyle.
But as said earlier, Thais are most likely to fall for the SLK's looks in roof-up mode, an attractive proposition in a hot and humid country like Thailand. And because people are merely buying the SLK for show, all Mercedes had to do was go contrary to the roadster concept and offer what hairdressers generally want: comfort.
Interior fascia has been inspired by SLS supercar and looks good by class standards
And this is exactly what the third-generation SLK is about, particularly in SLK200 baseline form. Forget about outright performance or sheer driving pleasure; this basic SLK is all about style and comfort.
Of course, styling is always a subjective thing to discuss about, so whether you're going to like the new SLK is open to debate. The previous model was memorable for its SLR-style nose aping that of an F1 car, while today's SLK goes for the huge horizontal grille impersonating that of the SLS supercar.
One thing's certain, though: the cabin design has moved in the right direction. Once again, the SLK's fascia has been inspired by the SLS's, but it's clearly more positive than the exterior design because the older version was blander inside.
The steering wheel, like that used in the CLS coupe-like saloon, looks and feels good to hold onto, the panel dials (although flimsy in build) are pleasing to the eyes and the centre dash is neatly arranged.
Front seats are nice to sit in.
The front seats are also great to sit in with an almost bucket-style touch to them. Head and legroom space is generous for people of most sizes _ just like in the previous SLK.
Our test car was a basic SLK200 from the grey market with an asking price 4.19 million baht (minus 100k for the introductory price). For those needing more style and gimmicks, there's the AMG package that brings forward some aero add-ons and the so-called Magic Sky roof for a higher 4.399 million baht _ the same price level Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) is asking for the SLK200 AMG. You now know which direction to head for.
Just to refresh your mind, Magic Sky allows the driver to adjust the tint of the folding glass-top. It seems a good gimmick aimed at those who enjoy a roof with panoramic view without the glare of heat filtering into the cabin.
If you really happen to be a fan of open-top motoring in Thailand, the SLK has quite a practical roof. It takes just over 11sec to electrically open or close the ceiling, it has that aforementioned Magic Sky to opt for and coupe levels of cabin refinement when the roof is up.
Turbo four-pot has ample power.
Actually, cruising refinement had always been a highlight in the SLK. You can easily go over the speed limit and still find yourself able to converse with the other person, and your ears don't get distracted by wind noise that only starts to increase in volume at excessively high speeds. When compared to roadsters with conventional rag-tops, the SLK is a great achiever in refinement terms.
The SLK has good levels of grip and stability which apparently hasn't compromised on low-speed ride comfort. For those who find the Z4's firmness around town a little irritating, the SLK would be more delightful.
Also delightful is its driving agility at low to medium speeds, because the SLK has a light rack, reasonably tight turning radius and a body that is not cumbersome like in the Z4. In short, the SLK is comfortable and easy to steer for poseurs.
But if you are someone who would wish it to conform with the definition of a roadster, the SLK could disappoint for several reasons. First, that facile steering is plainly numb and suffers from off-centre feel on highways.
Folding hardtop can open or close quite quickly.
And even though the SLK corners neatly, body roll can be pronounced when driven hard. As well, there's also a significant amount of vertical movement of the body over undulations and bridgenecks at high speeds.
Clearly, the suspension set up for the SLK200 leans toward comfort _ a good thing for cat-walkers and a not-so-good thing for more serious drivers.
Does this mean that the SLK200's performance is also compromised? Not at all, even if this is the least powerful version in the lineup. The engine with forced induction principle is basically the same as before, just that the new SLK200 uses a turbo instead of the old supercharger called Kompressor in Merc speak.
Broadly speaking, the SLK's performance is very much like before, albeit with slight improvements. The engine is not as noisy, the new seven-speed automatic (in place of the five-speeder) improves mid-range responsiveness and the increase in outputs, however small, helps make the SLK rarely short of breath.
Like before, there’s boot space left when roof is down.
And there's better economy, too, thanks to an Eco mode that promotes economical operation of power-draining devices and the availability of automatic stop/go.
But it's still far from perfect, notably the SLK's powertrain. The engine most of the time still sounds like a washing machine and the auto 'box doesn't shift seamlessly.
Customers of the Audi TT (or even Volkswagen Scirocco) will be happy to know that their cars have a slick-shifting dual-clutch automatic and a more rounded and sharper turbo'd four-pot than the SLK.
SLK200 is similarly priced in grey and official channels.
At least, the SLK has more usable performance than the lazy naturally aspirated inline-six motor of the Z4. And to get back to the SLK's performance, the Merc has more than adequate punch in its own right.
You'd really need to be a fast driver to crave for the V6-powered SLK350 that officially retails for 7.399 million baht in Thailand. That extra 3 million baht outlay doesn't really seem necessary given the SLK's lack of genuine sporty driving appeal.
The same goes for the SLK250 which goes for 4.699 million baht. Its engine is the same as the SLK200's but with a higher 204hp output.
Which, in the end, speaks enough for the SLK200. This Merc sort of contradicts the roadster's concept because it is aiming for that set of buyers who just want the SLK for its image and appearance.
If you don't care about the driving bit, the SLK makes much more sense than the Z4 (in 23i entry-level form). If you want a combination of style, driving ability and comfort, then the (aging) TT still remarkably does the trick.
For the true SLK fan, look no further, because Mercedes has already started to heed to your demands. The SLK is probably a classic case where engineers and marketers are at loggerheads.
Test car courtesy of BRG, an independent importer quoting between 4.099-4.399 million baht for the SLK200 depending on options.
Chassis is tuned for comfort.
AT A GLANCE
Styling ................................... 6/10
Some of the predecessor's racy lines have been lost. At least, the new SLK still looks distinctively Mercedes.
Performance ........................... 7/10
Turbocharged four-pot yields ample power and is decently frugal. New gearbox isn't that great yet.
Handling/ride ......................... 6/10
The chassis and steering lean on the comfort side, which makes sense for catwalking but not for sporty driving.
Practicality ............................. 8/10
Practicality for two and their belongings was never a problem in the SLK, so it's even better today.
Safety kit ................................ 9/10
Like in most luxury imports, the SLK comes with an array of active and passive safety features.
VERDICT ................................ 6/10
Roadsters need to be sporty to drive because that's the concept of such cars. The SLK isn't, but it isn't wrong in doing so since this is the entry-level front we're talking about that needs to satisfy catwalkers.
The engine most of the time still sounds like a washing machine.
OR TRY THESE
AUDI TT 2.0 TFSI
Price 4.698 million baht
Power200hp 2.0-litre inline-4 petrol-turbo
Gearboxsix-speed dual-clutch automatic
Wheelbase2,468mm
We thinkAlthough this icon is starting to age, it still blends fun and comfort well.
BMW Z4 SDRIVE23I
Price 4.399-4.799 million baht
Power204hp 2.5-litre inline-6 petrol
Gearboxsix-speed automatic
Wheelbase2,495mm
We thinkIt looks good to many, but it has a stiff chassis and a rather lazy engine.
NISSAN 370Z
Price 5.2 million
Power333hp 3.7-litre V6 petrol
Gearboxsix-speed automatic
Wheelbase2,550mm
We thinkIt's not exactly a competitor here with V6 power, but its price _ albeit slightly higher _ makes it worthy of consideration.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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