Never considered the SLK till now...

Mercedes has been in the family since I was a toddler, so I would like to say that there is a bit of a bias in this review. I would also like to add that I really was never a fan of the 90's SLK, and that distaste unfairly carried over to the newer style SLK. It happen to be a fantastic lease deal at my dealership that put me in to the drivers seat of one of the cars.

I ended up leases a 2007 SLK280. Having had an older 87 SL, I am quite familiar with the roadster experience. And where todays SL has taken to luxurious proportions, todays SLK takes over where the 80's SL roadsters left off.

The one thing I love about todays roadster is the automatic hard top convertible feature. Its amazing the way it works, and really is a head turner. To bad you cant push the button to roll the roof back while driving, which would really be cool. Apparently MB has designed it this way for safety reasons. You dont want someone opening up a hardtop convertible at 70mph. But you can buy an aftermarket device that allows you to open the top while driving below 25mph.

I like the driving dynamics of the car with the top down. I dont know if it centers the weight better close to the road or if its phsychological, but something seems alot different. So test drive with the roof down in you can.

With the windows up and the top down, it dosent seem to be that drafty, compared to some older convertibles i have driven. You can get an added accessory which will actually reduce the draft in the cabin of the car. In addition, you can buy the Mercedes Air Scarf. I didnt get it, but I test drove one with it, and it works very well. It basically delivers a warm air around your neck and head to insulate you a bit from the outside elements. Nice on the colder sunny days. Mine was a lease, but if I bought the car id get it.

C/S mode. Comfort/Sport Mode. I used this mode in older mercedes and I cant really tell that much of a difference. But I can sense a tremendous difference in shifts points, and straight away acceleration when I am in Sport Mode in the 2007 SLK. The comfort mode is great, because its reduces the engine noise and makes for a smoother ride around town, when you dont want the engine working hard for you. Auto shifting is ok, but not as good as the optional paddle shifters. Again, its a lease, so I didnt get the paddle shifters.

I have the 280 engine, which is more then adequate for the car and you can have fun in it. But I would probably prefer the 350 engine if you really want to enjoy the drive of the car.

At first when I sat in teh SLK, I felt so uncomfortable and confined. I have read the opposite about the car, so I was really amazed to hear that because Im only 5'8". But I later found out what the issue was after a week of driving the car. When yo have the seat height set higher, you cant move the car seat back far enough, because the higher seat high is made for really short drivers. So it makes sense. And if you can be lower to the floor it ads to the driving comfort because you have a lower sense of gravity. So that really wasnt a problem, and the seats are pretty comfy for a roadster.

Radio and glove compartment CD changer arent that bad either. Everything in the car seems a little plasticy, but I hear they do that to reduce curb weight. But everything feels solid, Im not worried about something breadking if I push a little to hard.

I like the car, and am impressed by how fun this mercedes is to drive. I would recommend the SLK350 or SLK55 to anyone considering the car.