SLK55 Road Test from CarBuyer Issue #14
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From: N.Virginia
BMW 323i
SLK55 Road Test from CarBuyer Issue #14
Not sure if this article has been posted before.
THE SLK GOES ON A POWER TRIP
By Colin Yong in Le Castellet, France
From CarBuyer, Issue 14
With the only V8 engine in its class, the fast, furious SLK 55 AMG trumps its rivals in the horsepower stakes
IF you thought Mercedes-Benz would be content with leading the horsepower race in the compact roadster segment, you're wrong. The 272bhp SLK 350 is already comfortably more powerful than the 231bhp BMW Z4 3.0 and 260bhp Porsche Boxster S. However, the ante has now been upped with the launch of the AMG-tuned SLK, which puts out a mighty 360bhp.
Fitted with an engine more than three times the size of the one in the entry-level SLK 200 Kompressor, the SLK 55 AMG is effectively in a class of its own. Not only is it by far the most powerful car of its type, it's also unique in having an eight-cylinder powerplant.
Like all AMG cars, the SLK 55 gets different front, rear and side body styling to distinguish it from the lesser models. Besides giving the car a more aggressive appearance, the heavily-contoured spoilers and skirts are fully functional, too.
The vents ahead of the front wheels allow hot air from the engine oil cooler to escape, while the subtle lip on the boot lid reduces lift at the rear by up to 35 percent for better high-speed stability.
DRIVING IT
What strikes you the first time you floor the throttle is not so much how quick this car is, but how good it sounds. The 5.4-litre V8 emits a cultured burble during normal driving, and this gives way to a progressively more intense bark as the revs climb. While the engine is always audible in the cabin even with the roof up, only tone-deaf occupants are likely to complain.
The seamless power delivery all the way to the redline means that acceleration feels brisk rather than explosive, but there's no argument about outright pace - the automatic SLK 55 charges from a standstill to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds, 0.8 seconds faster than the manual Boxster S.
Proving a good match for the engine is the smooth-shifting seven-speed gearbox, which has three user-selectable modes. "Sport" seems to be the best compromise for daily driving, but keen drivers would still prefer using "Manual", in conjunction with the steering wheel gearshift buttons, during hard driving.
Despite having sports suspension, the car's ride stays on the comfortable side of firm and its open-top structure feels very solid. Driving it rapidly requires real concentration on the driver's part, though. There is some steering kickback over bumps, and constant small corrections at the wheel are needed to keep the car on the chosen line.
Be smooth with the throttle and steering, and the car responds by turning into corners crisply, carrying a huge amount of speed through. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) can be turned off to allow Hollywood car chase-style tail slides, but the system will still intervene and brake the wheels if it thinks you are about to go off the road in a big way.
INSIDE IT
With the roof up, it's virtually impossible to tell that the SLK is a drop-top car. All-round visibility is good, and wind noise only starts to become apparent at speeds above 120km/h.
Finding a perfect driving position is easy, helped by the steering wheel that electrically adjusts for both height and reach. The high-backed AMG sports seats make the interior feel snug but there's no shortage of space for either the occupants or their belongings.
You'll never tire of watching the vario-roof doing its thing - it folds away in 22 seconds and takes up only 92 litres' worth of boot space, leaving enough room for a couple of soft bags. There's little wind buffeting in the cabin when driving with the top down too, so your hairstyle will remain intact at the end of a journey.
DOLLARS AND SENSE
Local pricing for the SLK 55 AMG hasn't been announced, but it's likely to command at least a 25 percent premium over the SLK 350, which now costs $256,888 with COE. This puts it on par with the current Boxster S, although that car is now on its last legs as its replacement is due to hit local showrooms by the end of this year.
Features unique to the SLK 55 include a redesigned instrument pack (complete with a tacky "V8" logo), a 320km/h speedometer, stainless steel door sill panels and nappa leather upholstery.
Several different colour combinations can be specified for the interior, while fully electronic climate control and a surround sound system are on the options list.
VERDICT
Just a few of years ago, squeezing a 5.4-litre V8 engine into a car of this size would have been considered a ludicrous idea, but Mercedes-Benz has shown that it can be done, and done well.
The SLK 55 AMG is significantly quicker than all of its rivals, yet it's as untemperamental and easy to live with as any other SLK. It's not particularly nimble in corners, but it will still reward those who drive it hard, while satisfying the other group who are content to cruise effortlessly fast.
NEED TO KNOW
Model: Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
Engine: 5,439cc, 24V V8
Max Power: 360bhp at 5750rpm
Max Torque: 510Nm at 4000rpm
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Top Speed: 250km/h
0-100 km/h: 4.9 seconds
Price: $ (TBA)
Warranty: TBA
Contact: Cycle & Carriage Industries, 6298-1818
AT A GLANCE
1. AMG bodykit, 18-inch alloys and darkened tail lamps set this car apart from other SLK models
2. The vario-roof folds away quickly and doesn't take up much space in the boot
3. Rear spoiler improves stability - useful when you're cruising at the 250km/h top speed
4. The sports steering wheel is equipped with buttons to work the 7-speed gearbox
5. Without a supercharger, the 360bhp 5.4-litre V8 engine still provides wicked performance
SIMILAR CARS WE HAVE DRIVEN
BMW Z4 3.0 $225,000 with COE
While the unusual-looking Z4 is now getting outgunned in the horsepower battle, it's still great fun to drive and the minimalist interior feels solidly put-together. It's good value for money, too.
Porsche Boxster S $308,888 without COE
A new model is on its way, but the current Boxster is still one of the best-handling cars - of any kind - in the world. Free-revving 3.2-litre flat-six engine sounds lovely, but the cabin now looks very dated.
Link: http://www.onemotoring.com.sg/publis...nz_slk_55.html
THE SLK GOES ON A POWER TRIP
By Colin Yong in Le Castellet, France
From CarBuyer, Issue 14
With the only V8 engine in its class, the fast, furious SLK 55 AMG trumps its rivals in the horsepower stakes
IF you thought Mercedes-Benz would be content with leading the horsepower race in the compact roadster segment, you're wrong. The 272bhp SLK 350 is already comfortably more powerful than the 231bhp BMW Z4 3.0 and 260bhp Porsche Boxster S. However, the ante has now been upped with the launch of the AMG-tuned SLK, which puts out a mighty 360bhp.
Fitted with an engine more than three times the size of the one in the entry-level SLK 200 Kompressor, the SLK 55 AMG is effectively in a class of its own. Not only is it by far the most powerful car of its type, it's also unique in having an eight-cylinder powerplant.
Like all AMG cars, the SLK 55 gets different front, rear and side body styling to distinguish it from the lesser models. Besides giving the car a more aggressive appearance, the heavily-contoured spoilers and skirts are fully functional, too.
The vents ahead of the front wheels allow hot air from the engine oil cooler to escape, while the subtle lip on the boot lid reduces lift at the rear by up to 35 percent for better high-speed stability.
DRIVING IT
What strikes you the first time you floor the throttle is not so much how quick this car is, but how good it sounds. The 5.4-litre V8 emits a cultured burble during normal driving, and this gives way to a progressively more intense bark as the revs climb. While the engine is always audible in the cabin even with the roof up, only tone-deaf occupants are likely to complain.
The seamless power delivery all the way to the redline means that acceleration feels brisk rather than explosive, but there's no argument about outright pace - the automatic SLK 55 charges from a standstill to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds, 0.8 seconds faster than the manual Boxster S.
Proving a good match for the engine is the smooth-shifting seven-speed gearbox, which has three user-selectable modes. "Sport" seems to be the best compromise for daily driving, but keen drivers would still prefer using "Manual", in conjunction with the steering wheel gearshift buttons, during hard driving.
Despite having sports suspension, the car's ride stays on the comfortable side of firm and its open-top structure feels very solid. Driving it rapidly requires real concentration on the driver's part, though. There is some steering kickback over bumps, and constant small corrections at the wheel are needed to keep the car on the chosen line.
Be smooth with the throttle and steering, and the car responds by turning into corners crisply, carrying a huge amount of speed through. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) can be turned off to allow Hollywood car chase-style tail slides, but the system will still intervene and brake the wheels if it thinks you are about to go off the road in a big way.
INSIDE IT
With the roof up, it's virtually impossible to tell that the SLK is a drop-top car. All-round visibility is good, and wind noise only starts to become apparent at speeds above 120km/h.
Finding a perfect driving position is easy, helped by the steering wheel that electrically adjusts for both height and reach. The high-backed AMG sports seats make the interior feel snug but there's no shortage of space for either the occupants or their belongings.
You'll never tire of watching the vario-roof doing its thing - it folds away in 22 seconds and takes up only 92 litres' worth of boot space, leaving enough room for a couple of soft bags. There's little wind buffeting in the cabin when driving with the top down too, so your hairstyle will remain intact at the end of a journey.
DOLLARS AND SENSE
Local pricing for the SLK 55 AMG hasn't been announced, but it's likely to command at least a 25 percent premium over the SLK 350, which now costs $256,888 with COE. This puts it on par with the current Boxster S, although that car is now on its last legs as its replacement is due to hit local showrooms by the end of this year.
Features unique to the SLK 55 include a redesigned instrument pack (complete with a tacky "V8" logo), a 320km/h speedometer, stainless steel door sill panels and nappa leather upholstery.
Several different colour combinations can be specified for the interior, while fully electronic climate control and a surround sound system are on the options list.
VERDICT
Just a few of years ago, squeezing a 5.4-litre V8 engine into a car of this size would have been considered a ludicrous idea, but Mercedes-Benz has shown that it can be done, and done well.
The SLK 55 AMG is significantly quicker than all of its rivals, yet it's as untemperamental and easy to live with as any other SLK. It's not particularly nimble in corners, but it will still reward those who drive it hard, while satisfying the other group who are content to cruise effortlessly fast.
NEED TO KNOW
Model: Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
Engine: 5,439cc, 24V V8
Max Power: 360bhp at 5750rpm
Max Torque: 510Nm at 4000rpm
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Top Speed: 250km/h
0-100 km/h: 4.9 seconds
Price: $ (TBA)
Warranty: TBA
Contact: Cycle & Carriage Industries, 6298-1818
AT A GLANCE
1. AMG bodykit, 18-inch alloys and darkened tail lamps set this car apart from other SLK models
2. The vario-roof folds away quickly and doesn't take up much space in the boot
3. Rear spoiler improves stability - useful when you're cruising at the 250km/h top speed
4. The sports steering wheel is equipped with buttons to work the 7-speed gearbox
5. Without a supercharger, the 360bhp 5.4-litre V8 engine still provides wicked performance
SIMILAR CARS WE HAVE DRIVEN
BMW Z4 3.0 $225,000 with COE
While the unusual-looking Z4 is now getting outgunned in the horsepower battle, it's still great fun to drive and the minimalist interior feels solidly put-together. It's good value for money, too.
Porsche Boxster S $308,888 without COE
A new model is on its way, but the current Boxster is still one of the best-handling cars - of any kind - in the world. Free-revving 3.2-litre flat-six engine sounds lovely, but the cabin now looks very dated.
Link: http://www.onemotoring.com.sg/publis...nz_slk_55.html
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 89
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This is a quote from the review above, not what the guy wrote, but of the link he put on the buttom of his post.
"DOLLARS AND SENSE
Local pricing for the SLK 55 AMG hasn't been announced, but it's likely to command at least a 25 percent premium over the SLK 350, which now costs $256,888 with COE."
When did the SLK 55 AMG ever cost over 250,000 U.S. dollars? This is the United States dollar sign ---> $.
"DOLLARS AND SENSE
Local pricing for the SLK 55 AMG hasn't been announced, but it's likely to command at least a 25 percent premium over the SLK 350, which now costs $256,888 with COE."
When did the SLK 55 AMG ever cost over 250,000 U.S. dollars? This is the United States dollar sign ---> $.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: N.Virginia
BMW 323i
SLK 350, as Roadruner pointed out, the article is from Singapore. The "$" symbol is universal and not exclusive to the U.S. In Singapore dollars, the SLK55 costs SG$250,000.00, which is approximately US$157,031.60. Not unusual considering the country's notoriously high import car tax and premiums.
I am originally from Hong Kong, where cars are almost as expensive as Singapore. I am most thankful to now live in the US, as I would not be able to afford the same car otherwise!
I am originally from Hong Kong, where cars are almost as expensive as Singapore. I am most thankful to now live in the US, as I would not be able to afford the same car otherwise!
