SLK55 Review by MPH Magazine
11-30-2004 | 03:21 PM
#1
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23
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From: N.Virginia
BMW 323i
SLK55 Review by MPH Magazine
Check out this review from their second issue... 
THE HERMAPHRODITE
A Very Hairy Car
By: Michael Austin
"It's a man's car," AMG head Hubertus Troska tells us, somewhat defensively, about the new SLK55 AMG. In case you didn't know, the previous SLK had a somewhat feminine air about it. To be polite, it was more beautiful than fast, which doomed it forever to chick-car status.
With the new SLK, Mercedes isn't taking any chances. The base SLK350 comes with enough oomph (268 hp) for a solid mid-pack position in its crowded roadster segment. The SLK55 overcompensates with the only V-8 and the quickest acceleration in its class. It's all very manly indeed. And just in case you didn't get that message, there's a nice phallus on the hood to drive the point home.
A new front apron and side skirts, fins on the hood vents, a rear spoiler lip, and four exhaust pipes add additional male-musk to the AMG-spec SLK. Due to its size, it still looks a bit feminine, but to be honest so does pretty much every other roadster.
But let's go back to those four exhaust pipes, because they are the source of the SLK55's exhaust note, which is by far the car's best attribute. This is how a car is supposed to sound-deep and throaty but still smooth, and never too quiet. Follow those pipes to the front of the car and you'll find the 5.4-liter V-8 that is the source of the magic. With 355 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, the SLK55 has enough muscle to pump itself up into the realm of dedicated sports cars. Supposedly the SLK55 has a seven-speed gearbox. It's so smooth we didn't feel the gear shifts. And we only got five fingers fer countin'.
Unfortunately, the fat, comfortable steering wheel speaks with a little bit more of a lisp than the engine. The steering effort is light and (like many a Mercedes) generally vague about what's happening with the front tires. The SLK55 is still easy (and, yes, fun) to drive, mostly because of the instantaneous torque. The AMG sport seats feel the driver up with their ample side bolsters, and the Nappa-leather trim is a nice touch.
The big question here is what kind of car is the SLK55? It's no longer a chick car-the engine makes sure of that-but it's a little too soft around the edges to be a full-on sports car. The retractable hardtop adds further confusion-is this a sunny-day roaster or an everyday coupe? The answer, we think, is that the SLK55 is a little bit of everything. Can you get comfortable with that?
Link: http://www.mphmagazineonline.com/spins/3
THE HERMAPHRODITE
A Very Hairy Car
By: Michael Austin
"It's a man's car," AMG head Hubertus Troska tells us, somewhat defensively, about the new SLK55 AMG. In case you didn't know, the previous SLK had a somewhat feminine air about it. To be polite, it was more beautiful than fast, which doomed it forever to chick-car status.
With the new SLK, Mercedes isn't taking any chances. The base SLK350 comes with enough oomph (268 hp) for a solid mid-pack position in its crowded roadster segment. The SLK55 overcompensates with the only V-8 and the quickest acceleration in its class. It's all very manly indeed. And just in case you didn't get that message, there's a nice phallus on the hood to drive the point home.
A new front apron and side skirts, fins on the hood vents, a rear spoiler lip, and four exhaust pipes add additional male-musk to the AMG-spec SLK. Due to its size, it still looks a bit feminine, but to be honest so does pretty much every other roadster.
But let's go back to those four exhaust pipes, because they are the source of the SLK55's exhaust note, which is by far the car's best attribute. This is how a car is supposed to sound-deep and throaty but still smooth, and never too quiet. Follow those pipes to the front of the car and you'll find the 5.4-liter V-8 that is the source of the magic. With 355 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, the SLK55 has enough muscle to pump itself up into the realm of dedicated sports cars. Supposedly the SLK55 has a seven-speed gearbox. It's so smooth we didn't feel the gear shifts. And we only got five fingers fer countin'.
Unfortunately, the fat, comfortable steering wheel speaks with a little bit more of a lisp than the engine. The steering effort is light and (like many a Mercedes) generally vague about what's happening with the front tires. The SLK55 is still easy (and, yes, fun) to drive, mostly because of the instantaneous torque. The AMG sport seats feel the driver up with their ample side bolsters, and the Nappa-leather trim is a nice touch.
The big question here is what kind of car is the SLK55? It's no longer a chick car-the engine makes sure of that-but it's a little too soft around the edges to be a full-on sports car. The retractable hardtop adds further confusion-is this a sunny-day roaster or an everyday coupe? The answer, we think, is that the SLK55 is a little bit of everything. Can you get comfortable with that?
Link: http://www.mphmagazineonline.com/spins/3
12-01-2004 | 01:48 PM
#2
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, Canada
2005 SLK55 2003 Acura MDX
I totally agree. MB got all the major parts correct, except the steering! I am not concerned with the steering being light. But I am concerned that it is not very well connected to the road; not enough feed back, not at all sharp, dull! The steering is no where near a Porsche! Too bad!
Originally Posted by moekuan
Check out this review from their second issue...
THE HERMAPHRODITE
A Very Hairy Car
By: Michael Austin
"It's a man's car," AMG head Hubertus Troska tells us, somewhat defensively, about the new SLK55 AMG. In case you didn't know, the previous SLK had a somewhat feminine air about it. To be polite, it was more beautiful than fast, which doomed it forever to chick-car status.
With the new SLK, Mercedes isn't taking any chances. The base SLK350 comes with enough oomph (268 hp) for a solid mid-pack position in its crowded roadster segment. The SLK55 overcompensates with the only V-8 and the quickest acceleration in its class. It's all very manly indeed. And just in case you didn't get that message, there's a nice phallus on the hood to drive the point home.
A new front apron and side skirts, fins on the hood vents, a rear spoiler lip, and four exhaust pipes add additional male-musk to the AMG-spec SLK. Due to its size, it still looks a bit feminine, but to be honest so does pretty much every other roadster.
But let's go back to those four exhaust pipes, because they are the source of the SLK55's exhaust note, which is by far the car's best attribute. This is how a car is supposed to sound-deep and throaty but still smooth, and never too quiet. Follow those pipes to the front of the car and you'll find the 5.4-liter V-8 that is the source of the magic. With 355 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, the SLK55 has enough muscle to pump itself up into the realm of dedicated sports cars. Supposedly the SLK55 has a seven-speed gearbox. It's so smooth we didn't feel the gear shifts. And we only got five fingers fer countin'.
Unfortunately, the fat, comfortable steering wheel speaks with a little bit more of a lisp than the engine. The steering effort is light and (like many a Mercedes) generally vague about what's happening with the front tires. The SLK55 is still easy (and, yes, fun) to drive, mostly because of the instantaneous torque. The AMG sport seats feel the driver up with their ample side bolsters, and the Nappa-leather trim is a nice touch.
The big question here is what kind of car is the SLK55? It's no longer a chick car-the engine makes sure of that-but it's a little too soft around the edges to be a full-on sports car. The retractable hardtop adds further confusion-is this a sunny-day roaster or an everyday coupe? The answer, we think, is that the SLK55 is a little bit of everything. Can you get comfortable with that?
Link: http://www.mphmagazineonline.com/spins/3
THE HERMAPHRODITE
A Very Hairy Car
By: Michael Austin
"It's a man's car," AMG head Hubertus Troska tells us, somewhat defensively, about the new SLK55 AMG. In case you didn't know, the previous SLK had a somewhat feminine air about it. To be polite, it was more beautiful than fast, which doomed it forever to chick-car status.
With the new SLK, Mercedes isn't taking any chances. The base SLK350 comes with enough oomph (268 hp) for a solid mid-pack position in its crowded roadster segment. The SLK55 overcompensates with the only V-8 and the quickest acceleration in its class. It's all very manly indeed. And just in case you didn't get that message, there's a nice phallus on the hood to drive the point home.
A new front apron and side skirts, fins on the hood vents, a rear spoiler lip, and four exhaust pipes add additional male-musk to the AMG-spec SLK. Due to its size, it still looks a bit feminine, but to be honest so does pretty much every other roadster.
But let's go back to those four exhaust pipes, because they are the source of the SLK55's exhaust note, which is by far the car's best attribute. This is how a car is supposed to sound-deep and throaty but still smooth, and never too quiet. Follow those pipes to the front of the car and you'll find the 5.4-liter V-8 that is the source of the magic. With 355 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, the SLK55 has enough muscle to pump itself up into the realm of dedicated sports cars. Supposedly the SLK55 has a seven-speed gearbox. It's so smooth we didn't feel the gear shifts. And we only got five fingers fer countin'.
Unfortunately, the fat, comfortable steering wheel speaks with a little bit more of a lisp than the engine. The steering effort is light and (like many a Mercedes) generally vague about what's happening with the front tires. The SLK55 is still easy (and, yes, fun) to drive, mostly because of the instantaneous torque. The AMG sport seats feel the driver up with their ample side bolsters, and the Nappa-leather trim is a nice touch.
The big question here is what kind of car is the SLK55? It's no longer a chick car-the engine makes sure of that-but it's a little too soft around the edges to be a full-on sports car. The retractable hardtop adds further confusion-is this a sunny-day roaster or an everyday coupe? The answer, we think, is that the SLK55 is a little bit of everything. Can you get comfortable with that?
Link: http://www.mphmagazineonline.com/spins/3
