MarcusBenz

MBUSA just released the base MSRP for the '05 SLK55!

$60,500 plus options and destination

FIXEDupW209

wow!!!! a 15g increase over the slk350. I think they should have priced it close to 54g msrp. They would deffinatly sell more that way.

masmole

Are you serious? I think $60,500 is one hell of a bargain.

A similarly equipped SLK350 minus the 362hp V8 will ring you up at already $54K!

Break is down this way:

Take an SLK350 base price: $46,220

+ $4,000 for the AMG Sport Package (standard on SLK55)
+ $1,125 for the Comfort Package (standard on SLK55)
+ $1,390 for the 7G-tronic transmission (standard on SLK55)
+ $680 for the Heated Front seats (standard on SLK55)

= a grand total of $53,415 similarly-equipped SLK350! That's only $7,085 short of the SLK55's base price.

So for an mere extra $7K by stepping up to an SLK55, you get:

1) 362hp hand-built AMG V8
2) AMG 6-pot front brakes/4-pot rears with larger rotors (aftermarket brake 4-wheel upgrades usually cost upwards of $4k+ but this is stock and under warranty)
3) AMG-design seats with alcantara shoulder inserts
4) AMG designed interior with 200mph speedometer (how often do you get that?)
5) 18" AMG DTM-style wheels
6) AMG-enhanced 7G-tronic shift programming with 35% faster shifts and modified steering wheel shift-button functionality
7) Quad-outlet exhaust with an excellent soundtrack that will beat anything coming out of the stock sound system
8) Rear-spoiler (~$400 cost in parts)
9) Front bumper gills for oil-cooler ventilation and added style points
10) AMG badging (adds another 1000 hp IMO)

If that isn't a bargain, I don't know what is. For a base of $60,500 on the SLK55, I really don't see why anyone would opt for heavily-optioned SLK350 unless they need to have a 6-speed manual, don't like the V8's gas mileage, or just don't think the V8 and other tidbits are worth the extra few bucks.

Besides, I don't think MB's aim is to sell these cars like hotcakes... that's what the SLK350 is for. I'm sure that any unclaimed SLK55 will not last at any dealership's inventory for longer than a few days as is the case with most AMG cars. They will sell themselves regardless of price.

DiamondNoir2K5

Marcus,

What 350 options does the 55 come with as standard?

FIXEDupW209

i have to disagree with you on this comment. Although manufacturers put out limited quantity's of some cars, their goal is to maximize profit. The fewer the cars, the more expensive it is. With the SLK55 they don't really care if its rare, they want to sell as many as possible. With the SLR on the other hand, the fact that it is rare is what justifies the insane price. Placing the slk55 in my opinion closes to a fully loaded slk350 will tempt someone buying a fully loaded slk350 to spring for hte extra 2 or 3 g's to get the slk55. Not the extra 7g's.

masmole

I can answer that question...

AMG sport package ($4000), Comfort package ($1125), 7G-tronic automatic transmission ($1390), Heated Seats ($680) are all options on the SLK350 that come standard on the SLK55. That's $7195 worth of options.

Also note that a few components of the SLK350's Premium package ($1450) are standard on the SLK55: Auto-dimming mirrors, ambient light package, IR roof automation. All this means is that the SLK55's Premium package option will be probably slightly less than the same named option for the SLK350 because some items are already standard.

SLK55_AMG

$60,000 is good! i'll be paying $14,000 extra , it will be german spec + Fully damn loaded + will get it in 43,200 minutes! an early xmas giftand bday gift for myself

bbjai

masmole, not picking up an argument but think of it in terms of ppl who want a car but doesn't want such an expensive price because they like the car, not the performance and options.
Words are meaningless sometimes so here's my example.
46000 around for slk350 and 53000 for fully loaded slk350 and 60000 for slk55 rite.
as a customer i pay 7000 more for those options u listed to the slk350 but i only like the car and more horsepower doesn't hurt. So can i ask the salesperson hey i like the slk55 but i dun need those 7000 options of the car, the amg kit, comfort package and those two other stuff u listed. How bout this, i buy the slk55 and u take away those four options and 7000 price off the car. No, no one would do that rite. but i just want a cheaper car instead and it's only 7000 dollars difference compared to the 60000 base price. It's like teh complete opposite of what you're saying in a way so u gotta think in terms of other ppl's needs.

dinko

Great Price! Better than I expected. Now I'm gonna go spend 2 or 3 g's that I thought were not left over

scorchie

Not that they would sell more that way, but agreed that the pricing should be close to $55K. This would slot in the way the SLK32 did.

So a fully loaded one is going to top out at over $70K, once again into that territory where an SLK should not be (but then again, neither should a CLK).

-s-

JoeShark

Have to agree as I was figuring it was going to come in right at 70K base. As I won't be getting mine until June 2005 (I'm #5 on the list at my local dealership), I hope they don't have a price increase before than.

DiamondNoir2K5

Thanks! It's a great package then.

Do you know if the SLK55 has garage door opener standard? If so, I think the base model has pretty much everything I would want (except maybe a CD changer).

masmole

The garage door opener or "Homelink" is part of the optional Premium package on the SLK350 and SLK55.

The premium package for the SLK55 is only $750 because some items of the premium package for the SLK350 are already standard on the SLK55. The premium package for the SLK350 is $1450. Homelink is not one of those standard items so the premium package must be ordered if you want it for either car.

scorchie

Hey, we got quite a few of those CD changers in stock if you decide you need one later.

-s-

SLK55_AMG

I agree with what you have said

DiamondNoir2K5

Hey, would the CD-changer from my '05 C230 sedan work too?

scorchie

It won't fit in the stock mounting location, as the R171 SLK changer is a slot-load 5.25" half-height (computer terms) drive. The C230 sedan uses a cartridge-load changer that is quite a bit larger.

If you'd like to trade up to it at some point, let me know!

-s-