SLK/R171: Poll: Manual or automatic
Almost a Member!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Metro NYC area
'01 BMW 330Ci Dinan Signiture series(S) SLK 350 6Spd. CAPRI BLUE AMG, Lighting pkg., heating pkg.
My Wife chose MT because it's her car and I concurred. The Beautifully fluid 6spd. allows much more control, downshifting especially. I believe the MT, by it's nature, forces the driver to be more attentive and not get lazy as you may tend to with and automatic. You'll probably find that I'm in the minority with my opinion...it seems the Auto. is more popular..guess I'm a purist.
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: ivyland,pa
slk 350
I have the 6 speed manual. Like Bigciti said, we're in the minority but I wanted the involvement of the manual and since the slk is actually a sports car now, the manual was the only way to go for me. The manual is actually quite good and I love the feel of driving a stick. For me the car is a weekend driver so I wasn't worried about getting caught in traffic with it too much. The way I look at it, if you were buying a Porsche, you wouldn't even think of buying an automatic. This is my Porsche.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
2001 Infiniti QX4, 2005 SLK350
AUTOMATIC - My priority was to get the Bi-Xenon headlight option. My dealer only had one SLK350 w/Xenon out of their 35 SLK inventory (I didn't want to order & wait any further). This happened to be the Automatic Tranny w/AMG Sports package which gives me the 7-speeds and finger-tip gear changing capabilities. I'm very content! BUT, if I could have it my way, Manual all the way... this is a sports car right!?
Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Hawaii/Conneticut
2005 SLK350
i chose the manual because i heard that it was the best manual offered by mb in current mb models. never driven other mb manuals, but i gotta say, i really love the manual tranny in the r171
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 3
From: Thick Ascending Limb
2017 BMW X5M DG/AB
I'm ordering a manual. I currently have a manual in my present car. When I test drove the SLK 350 with an automatic the driving experience felt disengaged. I would missing rowing my own gears.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by steve-p
Funny looking poll. Where's the voting options?
What did I do wrong? I selected 2 poll options, but never got a chance to label them. Could it be a Netscape thing???
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
2005 SLK350, Mars Red - Tan Interiors
Automatic - but a bit wistful for the manual
My 350SLK is on order, to be picked up at the beginning of April in Germany. I ordered the automatic.
I have only owned 5 cars in 37 years - 3 sports cars with manual and 2 station wagons with automatic. And yes, for a true sports car experience I think you need a manual.
That said however, I made the decision for the automatic for a number of practical reasons:
1. I have to be realistic. 90% of my driving is done on the freeway, and typically in stop and go traffic, which is made that much more irritating when you have a manual. (clutch in, out, in, out, in, etc.)
2. I test drove the automatic 4 times, in different driving conditions, before deciding the buy the car, and I was very impressed with the 7 speed transmission, and with the ability to put it in a semi manual mode to down shift for curves. With a little more experience, I suspect I will get the hang of it even more.
3. I have a very bad left knee, and sometime in the next 5 to 7 years I will probably need a total knee replacement. With a manual, I would not be able to drive my car for several months. I would have to let my wife drive it exclusively, and I would be back to her automatic wagon. (And then I probably would not be able to get the SLK back.) Decision made.
I have only owned 5 cars in 37 years - 3 sports cars with manual and 2 station wagons with automatic. And yes, for a true sports car experience I think you need a manual.
That said however, I made the decision for the automatic for a number of practical reasons:
1. I have to be realistic. 90% of my driving is done on the freeway, and typically in stop and go traffic, which is made that much more irritating when you have a manual. (clutch in, out, in, out, in, etc.)
2. I test drove the automatic 4 times, in different driving conditions, before deciding the buy the car, and I was very impressed with the 7 speed transmission, and with the ability to put it in a semi manual mode to down shift for curves. With a little more experience, I suspect I will get the hang of it even more.
3. I have a very bad left knee, and sometime in the next 5 to 7 years I will probably need a total knee replacement. With a manual, I would not be able to drive my car for several months. I would have to let my wife drive it exclusively, and I would be back to her automatic wagon. (And then I probably would not be able to get the SLK back.) Decision made.
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 861
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area, California, USA
2005 SLK350 - 2006 ML350
Originally Posted by Maverick
My 350SLK is on order, to be picked up at the beginning of April in Germany. I ordered the automatic.
I have only owned 5 cars in 37 years - 3 sports cars with manual and 2 station wagons with automatic. And yes, for a true sports car experience I think you need a manual.
That said however, I made the decision for the automatic for a number of practical reasons:
1. I have to be realistic. 90% of my driving is done on the freeway, and typically in stop and go traffic, which is made that much more irritating when you have a manual. (clutch in, out, in, out, in, etc.)
2. I test drove the automatic 4 times, in different driving conditions, before deciding the buy the car, and I was very impressed with the 7 speed transmission, and with the ability to put it in a semi manual mode to down shift for curves. With a little more experience, I suspect I will get the hang of it even more.
3. I have a very bad left knee, and sometime in the next 5 to 7 years I will probably need a total knee replacement. With a manual, I would not be able to drive my car for several months. I would have to let my wife drive it exclusively, and I would be back to her automatic wagon. (And then I probably would not be able to get the SLK back.) Decision made.
I have only owned 5 cars in 37 years - 3 sports cars with manual and 2 station wagons with automatic. And yes, for a true sports car experience I think you need a manual.
That said however, I made the decision for the automatic for a number of practical reasons:
1. I have to be realistic. 90% of my driving is done on the freeway, and typically in stop and go traffic, which is made that much more irritating when you have a manual. (clutch in, out, in, out, in, etc.)
2. I test drove the automatic 4 times, in different driving conditions, before deciding the buy the car, and I was very impressed with the 7 speed transmission, and with the ability to put it in a semi manual mode to down shift for curves. With a little more experience, I suspect I will get the hang of it even more.
3. I have a very bad left knee, and sometime in the next 5 to 7 years I will probably need a total knee replacement. With a manual, I would not be able to drive my car for several months. I would have to let my wife drive it exclusively, and I would be back to her automatic wagon. (And then I probably would not be able to get the SLK back.) Decision made.
Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Washington D.C.
11' E-350 BlueTec
I opted for manual because back in Argentina I learned that way and I have no problems doing it. Plus, being this a truly sports car I think the driving experience gets improved and I feel more in control.
I also have to mention that it is a lot better than the one on my previous C230K.
Cheers,
Angel
I also have to mention that it is a lot better than the one on my previous C230K.
Cheers,
Angel
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Hawaii
05 SLK 350, 97 S420, 92 Jeep, 04 Kia, 28 Ford Tudor, 51 Ford F3, 01 Harley, 03 Harley
I agree, thought more would have the auto. I am a manual person but wanted this certain edition so got the auto... I am very pleased with it and very surprised as to how it responds. Definitely better than the BMW Z4 I drove, and actually think it may respond quicker than a manual... but then I am getting older so maybe it is me that is slower.....
