SLK/R171: Manual stick vs Automatic?
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From: south wales uk
SLK230K & SLK350
Originally Posted by J10B
accoding to MB the manual is faster by .1-.2 seconds. Now the auto will give more consistent times but its not faster.
gary - When you geting old and grey
auto can make your day
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From: UK
987S
Originally Posted by gary350
If we are talking about the 350 then MB quotes the auto as .1 faster than the manual - 5.5 to 5.6
gary - When you geting old and grey
auto can make your day
gary - When you geting old and grey
auto can make your day
.MB USA still quote the manual as faster to 60mph 5.4 Vs 5.5 for the auto.
Shame they can't even agree internally however as many people have said you need skill to get a fast time from the manual, ANYONE can get a good time from the auto as it does all the hard work (and fun) for you
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BMW Z3 S/C & 99 Mroadster
Originally Posted by blkslk55
i can drive with a stck as well, the auto is still quicker and more precise.
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From: Berkeley, CA
2006 SLK350
Beyond the stick
Originally Posted by evanichka
for normal drivers i would think the auto is faster than the stick
My bet is that very few can do better.
I think people get a stick either to save money or as a toy. Mostly this car is a toy, so that is cool, but the idea that it is really any faster is a bit of bluster.
P.S. I think automatic transmissions were first invented by the Germans for their tanks becuase the drivers weren't good enough to use a manual transmission.
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From: south wales uk
SLK230K & SLK350
Originally Posted by SLK55AMG
That depends on where you get your figures...... MB UK used to quote the manual as 5.5 and the auto as 5.6 but now they have reversed the stats .
MB USA still quote the manual as faster to 60mph 5.4 Vs 5.5 for the auto.
Shame they can't even agree internally however as many people have said you need skill to get a fast time from the manual, ANYONE can get a good time from the auto as it does all the hard work (and fun) for you
.MB USA still quote the manual as faster to 60mph 5.4 Vs 5.5 for the auto.
Shame they can't even agree internally however as many people have said you need skill to get a fast time from the manual, ANYONE can get a good time from the auto as it does all the hard work (and fun) for you
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From: UK
987S
Originally Posted by gary350
MB have always quoted the Auto as being slightly quicker it was part of the 7G logic selling hype, but how you can something is .1 of a second quicker, how can you prove it, and what difference does it make people are either for or against auto, speed or gas consumption does not play any part in the matter. The figures I used are from the SLK handbook.
In the real world the auto will be quicker than the manual for the majority of drivers as it takes no skill to get the best from it.
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From: canada
Originally Posted by J10B
no it is not. I dont think you grasp this concept. Yes a granny is slower. But I'd love to see your testing and time slips proving the 350 AUTO is faster than a similiarly driven manual. Or is this your BUTT_dyno talking?
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987S
Originally Posted by blkslk55
why don't you take one out for a drive (i have an slk55) and then comment. check out what some of the latest articles say and what mb says. soooo, until you have driven one, you know what they say.....
http://www.dragtimes.com/Mercedes-Be...slip-4289.html
The challenge is on!
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From: south wales uk
SLK230K & SLK350
Originally Posted by SLK55AMG
Shame you can't compare a manual 55 to the auto...... but anyway show me an auto SLK350 that can match or better this time slip for a manual 350:
http://www.dragtimes.com/Mercedes-Be...slip-4289.html
The challenge is on!
http://www.dragtimes.com/Mercedes-Be...slip-4289.html
The challenge is on!
gary
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From: UK
987S
Originally Posted by gary350
It would be interesting to see the auto 350 times, have they got them?
gary
gary
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From: UK
987S
Originally Posted by Silver_Lana
I personally have achieved 5.3 second 0-60 times a few months ago with winter wheels. I'll be trying again soon with summer tires.
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From: NY/NJ
Originally Posted by SLK55AMG
On a drag strip or with your trusty stopwatch?
Thats as accurate as you need most of the time but a drag strip can always be arranged. You do know they are closed for the winter right?
Besides an attitude is not required here, I am just stating what I have experienced.
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From: ivyland,pa
slk 350
I think some of you are really missing the point here. Who really cares which one is a tenth quicker? I have the manual because this is a fun weekend car and I personally think it's a blast rowing the gears myself. Makes me feel like a kid again. Hense, the mid-life crisis car. If I was expecting to be in a lot of traffic, I probably would have gotten the auto (maybe not though). Different strokes for different folks. I think a stick in a car like this makes it more fun to drive. For others, maybe not. But I definitely didn't choose it over a tenth of a second.
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From: UK
987S
Originally Posted by Silver_Lana
Actually I had a friend in the car time me.
Thats as accurate as you need most of the time but a drag strip can always be arranged. You do know they are closed for the winter right?
Besides an attitude is not required here, I am just stating what I have experienced.
Thats as accurate as you need most of the time but a drag strip can always be arranged. You do know they are closed for the winter right?
Besides an attitude is not required here, I am just stating what I have experienced.
)...... I use a friend with a stopwatch as well 
we only have two drag strips (that I know of) in the UK so its not even an option for me!
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From: canada
Originally Posted by SLK55AMG
Shame you can't compare a manual 55 to the auto...... but anyway show me an auto SLK350 that can match or better this time slip for a manual 350:
http://www.dragtimes.com/Mercedes-Be...slip-4289.html
The challenge is on!
http://www.dragtimes.com/Mercedes-Be...slip-4289.html
The challenge is on!
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Posts: 518
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From: UK
987S
Originally Posted by blkslk55
like i said i own a '55...check out the specs on the auto tranny in my car. check out the different articles which have been written on the '55 and how fast and efficient the auto tranny is.
The manual is probably better for anyone that really enjoys their driving and wants to be in total control...... the auto will suit everyone else!
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From: Texas
2005 SLK55 AMG
Originally Posted by SLK55AMG
The manual is probably better for anyone that really enjoys their driving and wants to be in total control...... the auto will suit everyone else!
And yes, I've owned and driven my share of sticks.
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From: UK
987S
Originally Posted by bloflin
I REALLY enjoy driving my SLK55.
And yes, I've owned and driven my share of sticks.
And yes, I've owned and driven my share of sticks.
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From: Texas
2005 SLK55 AMG
Originally Posted by SLK55AMG
Yes but would you not agree that MB would sell more SLK55s if they had a manual option?...... I cancelled mine because the auto didn't suit me, if the manual was available I'd be driving one now.
Specifically on your question, I don't know. I do know (as I'm in a design, manufacture and sales business, but not autos), that companies design and build what they believe will sell and at a price that returns the development investment. Of course this NOT a forumula for satisifying 100% of the demand.
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From: canada
Originally Posted by SLK55AMG
Yes but would you not agree that MB would sell more SLK55s if they had a manual option?...... I cancelled mine because the auto didn't suit me, if the manual was available I'd be driving one now.
however, with regards to the point about mb selling more '55's if manual were avail, i doubt that, as they have in effect sold every single car they are producing, in fact from what i understand, they are keeping the '55 very limited. mb does not have any selling issues on the slk's with regards to overall, worldwide sales, in this catagory.
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From: Berkeley, CA
2006 SLK350
Point and Shoot
Lets face it. Fo 99.9% of us, the automatic is going to do just as good or more likely better than the stick 99.9% of the time. The stick shift is a toy for those who like it. A robot can solve a puzzle faster than we can, but we do puzzles for fun.
There is nothing wrong with the stick shift being a toy. Most of us bought the SLK for fun, not for basic transportation. Some may choose the manual because of the cost differential--and that may be the best reason.
My personal preference is that to have a great point-and-shoot luxury roadster. That is, I want the German engineering to figure out how to "make it so" I just want to decide where, when, what and let the machine do the how. I still want to be able to go fast and have it handle well.
The 7-speed truly makes this possible; so it was a natural pick for me. If you like to micromanage the details, I don't mind.
In short, there is no right and wrong; the choice is the buyer's. Given how well the two transmission actuall work, anyone who gets upset with another's choice is wound a bit too tight.
There is nothing wrong with the stick shift being a toy. Most of us bought the SLK for fun, not for basic transportation. Some may choose the manual because of the cost differential--and that may be the best reason.
My personal preference is that to have a great point-and-shoot luxury roadster. That is, I want the German engineering to figure out how to "make it so" I just want to decide where, when, what and let the machine do the how. I still want to be able to go fast and have it handle well.
The 7-speed truly makes this possible; so it was a natural pick for me. If you like to micromanage the details, I don't mind.
In short, there is no right and wrong; the choice is the buyer's. Given how well the two transmission actuall work, anyone who gets upset with another's choice is wound a bit too tight.
