I am trading up from a SLK350 to an SLK55 AMG. It's only around .5second faster to 60mph. Is it worth the extra?. I get it on the 14th dec. Has anybody yet driven one?.

 

boy, its not about the .6 or .200 , its a different car, the engine , the suspension , the looks and most important of all it is an AMG , its the history behind these 3 letters ....

 

In a word no. Historically the retained value of the AMG versions has been lower (there is a perception that Boy Racers have been at work overworking the engine and suspension), as you noted there is only minimal performance increase (partly explained by the extra weight that comes with the AMG engine), and it really isn't any better looking of a car.

Now with all that said, there is an emotional element and a subjective component that only you can determine. On that basis many have convinced themselves that the upgrade is in fact "worth it." If money is no object then "value" and what is "worth it" really are not meaningfull factors.

Personally, having driven the SLK350 on the Autobahns of Germany and through the mountain passes of Europe I find it hard to see what the SLK55 could meaningfully add. In my opinion the 350 engine is the perfect match for this car. Of course, if you already have a SLK350 you already know that.

 

I disagree - as done elsewhere on this forum, there is a clear value to the SLK55 over the 350. There are a slew of options that either come standard on the SLK55 that you'd have to pay for on the 350, or only come on the 55 exclusively. The 55 has different brakes, different suspension, different 7G programming, different engine, and on on - in addition to the slew of convenience features. Still with very good weight center I might add.
I can't argue that the 350 drives fine, but to say the 55, isn't bringing anything new to the table is, pardon my saying (and not meant in a disrespectful way :-) ), ignorant. That's like saying a Mustang GT has no value over the V6 versions (and here, the engine really IS the only difference).

The AMG is retaining value very well. What's more so, the SLK is one of the best value retaining cars on the market today! (#1 in Germany in fact !). It might not be completely proportional to the AMG money you pay - but it's no different if you choose to buy $10k in options for any car - you never quite get that investment out of it (if you want to call a car an investment...).

I think you get a lot for the extra money you pay on the SLK55. And freankly, $60.500 is a lot less than I expected the US release price to be. IF you want none of the extra options (and wouldn't buy them IF you had a choice) and don't care about the sportyness (not the looks, the handling!) of an AMG, sure, the 350 is fine. But I think you ought to drive the 55 before being able to compare the 2. The 55 is a whole different league than the 350 - and even fully spec'd, you couldn't get a lot of the 55 AMG versions enhancements. If you WANT them, that's up to you of course. But if you are truly curious AND can afford it, don't dismiss it.

Cheers,
Dan

 

dosers is correct. How can you discount a car you've never driven. I think the huge plus for the 55 is the value. Performance-wise and prestige-wise it should be priced slightly less than the SL somewhere around $70k-$80k. Luckily, MBUSA appears to be pricing it in coorelation with the outgoing SLK32.

Comparatively equipped the SLK55 will be around $7k more than the SLK350. There will only be about 1000 55's shipped to the US. SLK350's will be as plentiful as 350Z's in few months.

I think it will also drive fine. The MBUSA brochures have the SLK55 weighing 150lbs more than the SLK350 BUT the SLK55 is 150lbs LESS than the C55 which has already run a 4.7 0-60 in Motor Trend in the US.

 

twin turbocharged SLK350.... :p hehe, just a thought

 

I like a blown SLK55 better (493 horse & over 500 ft lbs of torque)

-Matt

 

"The prestige of driving a SLK 55 AMG"

Oh please, the SLK 55 AMG is not a car which carries prestige. It's a toy, a fast go kart.

If you want Prestige move up to the Ferraris, Masserattis, Lambos, Maybachs, Rolls, - then you're talking prestige.

The SL class - yes - luxury and prestige.

The SLK - NO - your not going to get very much prestige out of a $60K car. Try double - triple that amount and hang with the big boys. That's prestige.

Think about it, you're driving down the street on a sunny day, the top is down and the music is going. You think you're the shlts and checking out other people's ride and the girls. All of a sudden a Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet pulls up next to you at the stop light. - Your **** shrivels up a bit doesn't it.

 

I didn't see anyone post "prestige" but yourself in this entire thread.

I also think people are comparing the 350 to the 55, not the 55 to a Maybach or a 911 Turbo (according to the original posters question).

My guess is most people on this board are not buying an SLK55 to try & impress anyone. They like the car because its built well, quick, and will be somewhat exclusive/different than other cars in its price range (there are more 911s where I live than Mustangs - they are that common - a major reason why my wife didn't want one).

People buy cars for different reasons. I don't think anyone on this forum that is looking to buy an SLK55 has a superiority complex as you seem to be insinuating with your commentary? At least I haven't seen it.

-Matt

 

Whatever. All you have to do is rebadge your SLK to say SLR and then it's HIS d1ck that will be shriveling!!!!!!!!

 

i agree with you ! well said my friend

 

okay, as you like you own the best car and you are the wisest man ! bravo

 

YellowR1 - see UStifosi 's post,

Specifically the end of the first line.

DiamondNoir - "REBADGE" ???? WTF???
Since you're rebadging anyways why not get one of those kits that turn a Fiero into something that looks somewhat like a Lambo and then just rebadge it. You'll save yourself around $200K that way.
With that car you can have half the world laughing their nutts off at you.

 

Dude, I am joking.

 

you are the most pretigious billy ***** ***** billy ... you are the most VIP ... girls will suddenly pass by you and die , nice isn't it

 

smelly_willy,

Why is a Maserati more prestigious than a SLK55?

 

Thanks for the pointer on the "prestige" - I had missed it! In any case, UStifosi is comparing price/performance, and yes, prestige between 2 different variants of the same model (SLK) by the same manufacturer. Nobody was comparing an SLK55 to a 911 TT or a Ferrari (they are not in the same price range). You can't take a mid range Benz & compare it to Porsche's flagship - its not "apples to apples". And actually, the SLK55's performance will be pretty close to the 911 TT Cab (the AMG Sedan ran a 4.5 0-60 sprint, the SLK is 300lbs lighter ).

If you can pull out a $128k Porsche, there are 2 vert Benzes that compete with it, the SL600 & the AMG SL55. If you refer to a 911 GT2, Benz's answer is the AMG SL65 (with 738 ft lbs of torque & an 11.9 sec 1/4). The Porsche's will handle better, but will lose luxury & comfort points. Its a simple tradeoff - depends on what you want.

Benz is a larger firm than Porsche. They nearly bought Porsche out in '92/'93 due to Porsche's poor financials. Mercedes is the largest auto manufacturer on the planet. I don't think they are loosing any prestige points to anyone, especially now that they have their own "Supercar" in the SLR (not to mention their racing heritage, for which Lamborghini, BTW, has none).

-Matt

 

i would not even compare Porsche with Ferrari , most likely Ferrari with Lambo... Porsche isn't categorized as Exotic

 

Some of you guys got me all wrong here.

I'm not trying to compare a Benz with a Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche or some other exotic.

I'm simply saying the SLK is not a "PRESTIGE" car. I own a new R171. It's a nice ride but if I wanted prestige this is not the car I would have chosen.

 

you own SLK 350?

 

It is hard to argue with the "value added" point if one is going to go for a fully optioned SLK350 anyway. Apart from that though, the point in the Northbenz post was that the SLK350 has such a perfect balance that it is hard to imagine how it could be improved upon for spirited roadway driving. One can imagine how on a racetrack the SLK55 would be a better choice, but for real life driving the SLK350 is going to be hard to beat. Of course it remains unknown how the SLK55 will in fact compare since no one in the US on this forum has yet had the opportunity to drive both. Perhaps some of the European posters have??? As far as retained value though even though the supply of the SLK55 will be more limited the demand in the secondary market for one after a year or two of use will likely be more limited as well suggeting it may be harder to get the premium paid back.

 

does this mean we have 2 exotics at home ?! great , thank you big *****