My lease was up on my BMW Z4 (is my wife's car) and she insisted on an SLK as a replacement, so I leased a new SLK 350. I have both for 45 days and am able to compare. The BMW Z4 (3.0 225HP) feels lighter and faster than the SLK 350 ( 3.5 268HP).

The SLK feels heavier, the engine sounds stressed when punched, The Z4 feels like a sports car.

I have the SLK for 39 months, it looks pretty and it has the Mercedes name, which is important to my wife, even if it does not drive and handle like a BMW.

Just be grateful you didn't get the 280, that you were considering.
I drove a 3.0 Z4 before purchasing a 350 and preferred the Mercedes, I subsequently bought one and only had it for a few months before moving on to the 55. Shame you took it on a 39 month contract.........

yes, casper, you've really ****ed up this time.

Nothing wrong with the slk 280! If you want a real sports car, buy a used Maserati. BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLK are looker cars, not sports cars (might put an exception for the AMG) . Only reason why I bought a SLK 280 is due to the fact you will not be doing 180-200 on the highway...well, you shouldn't be :P Saved me around 30k

Anyway, enjoy the car!

P.S. Test a drive the 05 Maserati coupe with the F1 transmission. It is very hard to want to get in a Z4 or SLK

that's not a fair comparison because I believe the Maserati, when it was new, would cost more than both the SLK280 and Z4 combined

The Ferrari and Porsche handles better than the SLK too, you can't compare a Maserati to a SLK and or Z4, that's just silly. I have not driven a Z4, but from looks along it's not even close. Z4's are everywhere and just another car on the road. The SLK turns heads, if I post each compliment I get a day, I'll be close to 10,000 (post) already. Even Z4 owners stare at my car as if it's a pot of gold. If you really care about handling and not looks, save yourself some money and get the S2000, I've driven that and boy does that thing handle.

well, the Z4 is MARGINALLY faster (0-60mph in 5.4 vs 5.6)

but hey, wife happy = right choice!

Where did you get that from? mbusa quotes, 5.4 MT and 5.5 AT. SLK55 = 4.9 seconds but as many has mentioned, that's a conservative number.

performance figures here.

http://www.mbusa.com/microsite/slk/index.jsp

It all depends on what you want. The SLK gives you luxury that the others will not. With the top its the best of both coupe and convertible worlds. It has style that the others don't.

On the other hand if you want to be able to fling the car around and have the raw road feel, the Elise is probably better value for money.

I chose the SLK because I got the optimal mix for me of luxury, sport, open-air and feel.

I have to completely agree with Ynot on this....if you want sports cars.....you have to stick with Porsche or Ferrari. However, to stay within the SLK and Z4 price.....the Boxster S probably wins overall.

Maser's have GOD AWFUL gearboxes. They're not the same ones used in Ferrari's.

If you're talking SLK 350 and Z4, the Boxster S is not the same price. The Boxster is... and that is a whole different under-powered animal.

I find the 280 to be just fine, nothing at all wrong with it. If I want to go fast, I can get on my bike and not even an SLK 55 will come close to catching me. I dont need that speed in a car.

That is why I said used. You can get an 04-5 Maserati in the 60's. Trust me, I love my slk 280. It looks so freakin sharp! I could of bought the Maserati instead, but 400hp is worthless to me. I actually prefer the Lotus Elise for handling. I have never drove a Honda S2000. I have drove a Cayman, Maserati Coupe, and the SLK 55 AMG and it was just to much power for me. I like my SLK 280. I laughed when I pulled in at the pizza shop Friday night and all the kids thought I was driving a Ferrari by the looks of their face

Honestly, when I drove the maser, it felt fine for me. I have never driven a ferrari to compare. I just love that F1