Hi everybody,
I'm thinking to buy the SLK 55; however, I still struggling on the MZ4 and the Boxters S choices.
Please give me some unbiased opinions and experiences on these vehicles.
I currently drive Z4 3.0 and will return it to Lease Dept next month.
Regards,

 

very hard choices ! but the best is Boxster S , Porsche was meant to be a sport car , bmw and mercedes-benz aren't actually...

Knowledge of how to make a sport car must be Porsche .. kudos to porsche

 

I see the Boxter S as more comparable to the SLK350 - price and specifications bear this out. When I went to buy my old SLK350 I test drove the Boxter S first. I loved it. It handled a bit better than the SLK350 and the acceleration was awesome. However, the deal-breaker for me was that the Boxter S was just too damn loud in the driver's seat. The wind noise at high speeds was terrible. That soft-top just can't compare with the retractable hard-top in any way. The smoothness of the hard-top, quieter ride and plain "wow" factor lead me to purchase the SLK350. You see too many damn Boxters on the road. I wanted something unique.

Now, when we turn to the SLK55, the Boxter just can't hang. The SLK55 is just in a different class in terms of price and performance. I think you really have to go to the Cayman S in order to get a comparable car. I have to be honest with you - the Cayman S simply beats a stock SLK55 in every category from looks to handling to acceleration. It runs roughly the same price as well. But, it is simply a better sports car - hands down. I purchased an SLK55 for several reasons. First, as mentioned, I love the retractable hard top. Second, I was very interested in the after-market options for the SLK55 (e.g., BRABUS, Kleemann, Renntech, Carlsson, etc.). I already had my eye on the bumper-to-bumper BRABUS kit for the SLK and was dead-set on it. Finally, I just love Mercedes Benz. When I was a boy, my Dad always had an MB. It got into my blood. With the engine modifications I got on my SLK55, I can probably come close to hanging with the Cayman in terms of acceleration - or a 911 for that matter. But the Porsche will always handle better than the SLK55. You get a Mercedes for both performance and as a luxury car. The Porsche is pure power.

That is some brutal honesty. I think that the Boxter S has nothing on the SLK55 in any way. If your choice is between the SLK55 and a Boxter S then go with the AMG engine and retractable hard top. I won't even mention anything from BMW - that is a no-brainer in IMHO. But if you can find a Cayman S in the color and option combination you like, you would have a hard decision to make. But don't take mine - or anyone else's word for it. The only way to be sure is to test drive them both. What's on paper can't compare to what you feel when you are behind the wheel.

That is my take.

 

i would agree with most of what you say but to suggest that a cayman s will out accelerate a slk 55 i find very hard to believe, it has nowhere near the the power or torque has a lower power to weight ratio and according to what i have read it is a low 5 second 60 and a low to mid 13 sec qtr miler, figures a slk 55 should easily match/beat

 

I appreciate your opinion. But I am speaking from experience. I own an SLK55 and have driven the Cayman S on 2 separate occasions. I felt like the Cayman S accelerated at least as well as a stock SLK55. They both have exceptional acceleration. One distinction is that both Cayman S test drives involved a 6-speed manual while the SLK55 only offers an automatic. As is often the case with a manual, I felt like I had more power at the ready with which to accelerate at all times and through all gear shifts.

Once again, you can't gauge what these cars "should" do just from reading specs in a car mag. About 2 weeks ago I had the opportunity to drive my partner's Ferrari F430. Of course, it was awesome. But I didn't feel that it was tremendously better than my SLK55. I mean it was "better" - but not what you would expect for twice the price.

In the end, you really need to get out and drive these cars before you can really appreciate what each can do in the real world.

 

I understand that you drove both cars ... but did you drive each car against each other(side by side race)? From what we have seen from every article ... not to mention RL races ... the SLK55 owns the Cayman S in acceleration. Now of course the cayman handles better. But lets be real.

Personally I looked at the Cayman S first and while I loved the looks of the car, my wife and I both felt that I would have gotten bored with the car soon. (Not enough HP) I also hated the fact that the Cayman S costs around 7k more than a boxster S. I feel Porsche is just stiffing its customers there. What I also hated was that with the options I wanted, the Cayman was only a few K less than a 997S. Just so you know I picked the 997S over the cayman and then the SLK55 over the 997S.

While these cars are comparable ... lets all remember that there are significant differences between the two. Ex. Conver vs coupe, 6 vs 8, manaul vs auto etc.

For the started of this post ... are you looking for flat out acceleration and torque? (SLK55 wins). Are you looking for the newest car out there? (BMW) or are you looking for the best handling car out of these 3(Cayman)?

In my everyday driving I wanted something that accelerated very fast and had great handling. The SLK55 does have good handling. Its not like a porsche but for me I would rarely if ever need to take a porsche to 100% of its ability(handling). I wasn't looking for a convertible but after driving the SLK55 I would say that the hardtop is amazing. Also a little option called Airscarf is probably one of the best inventions for convertibles.

By the way there are videos out there (tsukeba comes to mind) where the SLK55 killed a boxster S on the track. I think it was close to 2 secs faster a lap.

 

The is also a great Boxster vs SLK55 video out there from "Top Gear" , it's incredibly entertaining because the host Jeremy Clarkson takes both cars to an army base and ask the army to shoot at him while he's in the car going through the area where they usually do shooting pratice as an driving test.

http://www.racingvideoz.com/mercedes...op-gear-video/

 

Hi everybody again,
Thank you for your inputs. This morning I have tested the SLK 55 at the dealer and loved it. I have placed an order right on the spot. Here are the reasons that I like about the SLK 55:
1) It accelerates much faster than my Z4. It probably is fastest of the three.
2) The engine sounds more powerful like racecar.
3) SLK 55 is much quieter than Z4 when Top up (thanks for the Hardtop Convertible)
4) It’s more comfortable and practical for my daily driving in the city.

Once again, thank you all for the opinions.
BTW, I only like the convertible; Cayman is not on my list.

 

Well well well another debate along the same lines and i have to say it just depends what you want in the car.

The SLK is an ok drive but the real winner is the retractable hardroof which gives it a real edge. The problem you have is that here in the UK I always see them being driven by women - but we seem to have more and more wealthier women nowadays!

Porsche is a nice car but i agree that the Cayman S is a surperior ride to the Boxster and if you don't want a convertible then it is a fantastic car.

BMW - if you like the styling then you can't go wrong with a M car but it is a softtop but a nice one.

So over all it depends what you want in a car - they are all nice - but fulfill very different needs.

I don't understand people who say well don't get that car because it is too popular, firstly cars are made in thousands so of course they are going to be around and it isn't a bad endorsement if everyone else is driving one - if you want a truely unique car then mod it or earn more money and go into the super car league!

If I had the money personally if I wanted an M I'd go for an M3. I would rather go for a lower engined SL rather than a fast SLK (but only because I have the old model and another SLK would just be boring for me) but for the way it drives the Cayman S just has the edge, 911 driveability for half the price - can't beat that!

 

you are welcome... fun doesnt mean the car must be fast .. just my 0.2 cent

 

SLK55 always a great choice -- it is a fantastic car.

Congrats, and enjoy!

 

I'm sorry but I have driven the Cayman S and it will get nowhere near the SLK55 in terms of acceleration. It felt gutless to me in comparison. Fine it was quick but it wasn't SLK55 quick. All the figures prove that. Every in gear time, torque figures, power figures, power to weight, torque to weight, 0-60, 0-100, qtr mile, the SLK55 is in different territory. To put it into perspective the 997 Carrera S has worse in gear times than the SLK55. I have driven both and the 997 would hang onto the SLK55 and vice versa depending on who was following who but the Cayman, no way. I have just sold my M3 CSL with 360bhp, 1385kg and 295lb/ft and the SLK55 feels as quick if not quicker and the CSL would've left the Cayman for dead, and it was damn quick in the twisties as well. I have owned and driven some fast cars, and trust me the SLK55 is right up there as one of the quickest, especially on normal day to day roads.

 

M3 CSL is one of fav. handling cars + GT3

 

But do you actually OWN an SLK55?

 

im thinking of mcoupe (z4), cayman s or z06

i need a sports car , no more mercedes for me
they dont make proper sportrs cars

 

Yes!!!! See my profile on Benz World.

 

Great choice and CONGRATS!!!
I hope you enjoy the car as much as the rest of us SLK owners. I have only had mine for about 5 weeks and I love it, I looked at the CaymanS as well, not the Boxster, and I am not looking back!

 

That's good. Sorry about that. Didn't realize you were the same anissut as over at benzworld. It just seemed from your post that you were talking hypothetically or from a test-driver's perspective. Too many people on the forums do that.

 

No worries. Anyway you can be immune to all this talk, as when you have your Brabus baby back then the Cayman won't even come into the equation. Shouldn't it be back soon? We all want to see photos.

 

Thanks. BRABUS has had my car for 3 full days. It will probably be another 2 before all the work is done. I am also having some interior work done. Things take a while over at BRABUS. Let's hope it is worth it.