Life in the Fast Lane

About two years ago I bought a pre-owned 1999 Mercedes SLK 230 complete with karman convertible top. Judging from its appearance, low mileage, and mint condition the car had spent most of its forlorn life gathering dust in someone’s garage. I have driven quite a few other automatics including a nearly dead KIA at driving school and my father’s pretentious Audi (his second child),  but my Mercedes was the first car that, as Goldilocks would say, “was just right.”

The Main Schbang: How it Drives

This particular model has 185 horsepower, a surprisingly good amount for a small car with a 2.3 liter, 4-cylinder engine. It has a four speed automatic transmission and shifts smoothly and quickly.

Now that I’ve thrown some technical terms around (just too prove that I can) let’s put it in layman’s terms. I strongly dislike those touchy automobiles that with the slightest amount of unthinking pressure from a timid driver’s foot blasts off like a rocket obliterating the neighborhood trashcans and conversely come to a squealing to a sudden, rubber burning stop when the same amount of timid pressure is applied to the brakes. Being a driver with what one terrified driving instructor called “a lead foot,” touchy cars don’t work well with me. But never fear, the SLK 230 requires a heavier, more deliberate push that gives the driver ultimate control in both accelerating and braking. True, I can still manage to suddenly burn rubber when I want to – but it’s always intentional and the neighborhood children are fairly safe. On the other hand, my father dislikes this quality when driving my car since he prefers those erratically touchy automobiles so, caveat emptor, always test drive and see which category better exemplifies your driving tastes.

Accelerating: Burning Rubber Despite a Turbo Lag

Returning to the entire accelerating theme, the SLK 230 is very responsive and, despite a small turbo lag, achieving interstate speeds takes only a few exhilarating seconds. If you really want to put the pedal to the medal, 100 mph is only a slight push away from 60mph and, despite the possible tickets, proves a safe and rewarding experience in this well built model. Despite the high speeds and dare devil stunts I’ve subjected this car to, it responds instantly and handles corners and sharp turns perfectly – almost as though it were flying. There is nothing like the feeling of taking this baby onto a back road and cooking the turbos – a safe, yet exhilarating experience where driver and machine become practically one mind.

However, despite the car’s excellent handling and delightful ability to attain high speeds instantly, there is a slight turbo lag which, after having driven my father’s peppy Audi, is slightly annoying especially in the heavy DC traffic when shifting ten lanes of packed cars with cursing, irate drivers in that “Monday morning mood” is a daily annoyance. Normally, turbo lag can’t really be noticed by the driver unless s/he mashes the accelerator. A small price to pay for perfection, but a price none the less.

Don’t Run Over the Neighbor’s Kids: Braking


This model has ABS four wheel disc brakes making this car safe on ice and in inclement weather. Unlike other rear-wheel drive automobiles which tend to lose traction often, the SLK 230 more than holds its own and a safe, reliable design makes inclement weather less of a worry. Similarly, the car can handle gravelly backwoods’ roads and, although the ASR lights up on the dashboard during these circumstances, the car never loses control and the driver can feel it correcting itself and overcoming obstacles on bad roads. As with the cushy acceleration, the brakes respond instantly but require deliberate pressure. The driver will always be in ultimate control when driving this car and will be able to accelerate and brake precisely.

A Bestial Roar: Lovely Engine Sound
 
Unlike some other high end European automobiles, Mercedes holds true to my own personal preference and delivers a car with a loud, aggressive engine. Sounding almost industrial at low speeds, this puppy can also crank the turbos and produce a high, keening exhaust note. Overall, a beautiful, powerful sound for those who prefer guttural exhaust notes.  

Convertible Weather

The convertible mechanism is ingenious and completely automatic. Recall that since this model sports a karman top, which means that it is a hard top with a glass back window, it is not designed to be manually lowered. There is a red button in the interior of the car, between the driver and passenger seats, that when pressed handles the condensing of the top, folding it neatly into the trunk. Pressing this same button in the reverse direction unfolds the top and places it back securely making for a convenient (and rather impressive) display. But . . . convertibles have a price – they invariably leak. My car has developed a nasty leak on the driver’s side that, as luck would have it, drips directly onto my lap and into my seat. Over time the leak has gotten more pronounced and I will be putting the car in the shop this week.

Features, Features, Features: Show Me the Money
 
Mercedes is a great brand overall and the SLK 230 design is ingenious, appealing, and comfortable, however Mercedes either had a wave of apathy or penury when choosing materials for the sound system, dashboard, and upholstery.

Sound System:
 
I personally feel that driving and jamming tunes at ear splitting levels are simultaneous activities. Imagine my discontent then when I discovered the sub-par sound system. This is Mercedes! Shower me in luxury for gosh sakes! The CD player is a bane to my existence and never fails to jam on a daily basis. At the beginning of this semester it finally just gave up the ghost and I am stuck with morning radio! Needless to say, it’s going to the dealer THIS week before I lose my sanity.

As for the radio portion, the antenna picks up next to nothing. Baltimore stations barely fuzz in and local DC stations are little better. I’ve finally decided to put this puppy in the shop and get a sound system overhaul.  However, on the good side, this particular standard Mercedes radio does have AM, FM, Weather, and a phone attachment (although I don’t have the service currently engaged.)

Dashboard:
 
Unlike other European made cars that I have puttered around in, the SLK 230’s dashboard consists of plastic and graphite albeit damn good cup holders with ample room for 20oz coffees and one liter soda bottles. So, good side: my car doubles as a bottomless beverage barge. Bad side: I want some wood paneling and some expensive looking fluff stuck on my dash! This is Mercedes, don’t get cheap out on me now!

Upholstery:
 
The SLK 230 does boast expensive leather seats which are both beautiful and luxurious but . . . they are very thin and develop rips and tears from normal driving practices. My car has developed a nasty little tear in the driver’s seat. *Sigh*. It’s going to be an expensive week.  


Trunk Space:

The trunk space (9.5 cubic feet) is rather decent for the car’s small size and, even with the convertible down (which takes up half the trunk space), one messy college student with school books, groceries, and everything but the kitchen sink can get a surprising amount of totally unnecessary stuff squeezed in the back. Heck, last year I moved out most of my dorm room in the back of this car – including a large lamp and a full sized (although somewhat scrunched) rug. Of course, my trunk was larger than my dorm room . . .

I’ve also used the trunk for some serious grocery shopping and once got an entire rose bush to fit in the back. Needless to repeat – there’s some great trunk space here for a small car even for a completely disorderly, junky college student.

Interior Space:
 
Even if you do manage to get the trunk jam packed, the car’s interior is fairly spacious for a two seater. The seats can be adjusted (albeit manually) and I have managed to store a plethora of shoes, books, and horse riding material behind the seats and in the floorboards. I have even typed computer essays and done homework in my car on rare occasions.

Headlights:
 
One little word of warning concerns the car’s headlights. This model does have a warning beep that tells totally oblivious owners (yours truly) if the parking brake is still engaged when driving or if the headlights are still on after turning the car off. However, it does have a weird little practice of turning on the headlights after I have locked the car and then turning them off again a few minutes later even when the headlight control is firmly switched to off. I speculate that this is intended to be a safety feature but it often causes me to scurry back to the car and double check the light switch. As long as the switch is placed to off, the lights will turn themselves off after several minutes. Strange but true.

The Horn:
 
Another small warning concerns the horn. Instead of being in the middle of the steering wheel, the button for the horn is on the sides. Because I didn’t actually pay attention to this, I pushed in the wrong place on the steering wheel when someone was backing into me on a convenience store parking lot. I now have a new fender.
 

Other Stuff: Air Conditioning, Electronics, Etc.
 
The SLK 230 has a mechanical key (which is preferable), power windows, door locks, and mirrors but, astonishingly, the seats are manual (which is annoying) and the air conditioning functions as an on-off (albeit duel climate) unit instead of having the much preferable climate control package. There is a rear window defroster (wonderful for icy weather), fog lights, brights, and vanity mirrors for your vain passengers. Complimenting the glove compartment, there is a little cubby hole below the radio for sunglasses or your cell phone, ample storage in the armrest, and a smaller, narrower, inset between the arm rest and the convertible button that holds small items such as pens (it’s also a great place to stick old McDonalds receipts).  There are of course duel front and side air bags which, luckily, I have never had occasion to test.

Economy Matters: Got to Get More Mileage Today

Concerning recent horrific gas prices, the SLK 230 isn’t exactly economical (such as those new cubey looking electric cars) but it’s not a gas guzzler either. I usually drive to and from college two or three times a day, and up to the barn about twice a week and only have to refill the tank about once every eight or so days. Overall I have 25 miles to a gallon – definitely not bad. Also, the tank holds 14 gallons – pretty damn good for a small car.


Dealing with the Dealer
 
Considering my imminent foray to the dealer – even when buying a Mercedes used one can easily drop $1,000 for a routine check up. After all, this is Mercedes and everything is expensive. On the good side, the dealer is polite and the service is always luxurious, if not exactly affordable.

Paint


My particular car is painted a regal black and shines up quite nicely. Even after ten years the paint isn’t oxidized and so long as the owner takes proper care of the car (with frequent washes and waxings) the exterior holds up to the elements quite nicely and the car always looks classy.
 
Snazzy, Classy, and Sleek: Looks Matter
 

Because the driver appears to sit in the back seat of this car, the long hood and streamlined body complete with large headlights and wide wheels combine to give the car a sporty, testosterone filled look. Aggressively beautiful and deceptively small, this is one car that practically eats the road. Low setting and tight suspension combine to give the riders a rougher ride complimenting the sporty feel and making the most out of speed. The SLK 230 is a car that can be taken for a slow cruise around downtown and then be taken for a white knuckle, race track like ride down the backloads of Virginia without ever losing its sense of class and the luxurious connotation of a big brand name.

The Summation of the Sums

Once again, returning to the Goldilocks theme, this car was “just right” for me. It has the sporty aura of a Ferrari yet it is also suitable for slow city cruising and an evening on the town. A real show-stopper, a cute little sports car with a powerful engine, the 1999 Mercedes SLK 230 makes a great used car that holds up over time and delivers quality and an enjoyable driving experience. Simply the best car I have ever driven! Highly recommended!

Countess_Eva