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Mercedes-Benz SLK
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Comments
I would not tell the dealer you need to do a deal by the 17th of August. Tell him you would like to, but have another car available in the meantime, if it takes longer. The European Delivery process takes at least 2-3 months and the dealer will know that if you really need a car by August 17th, he's in the driver's seat, so to speak. Also, don't go ga-ga over a stock car. Even if it's exactly the color and option combo you want, keep them thinking that you still might prefer to order a 2006 to your exact specs and take a trip to Europe for that 7% discount.
I believe you can lease thorugh European Delivery as well but you might want to check out the Mercedes website first.
FWIW, I'm no expert at this, but I've gone from having a dealer claim they didn't have any reason to discount a 2005 Porsche Boxster S in early July to now having an offer of $6,000 under MSRP. I had told them that I'd just as soon order a 2006 to my exact specs than pay full MSRP for a 2005. Which, in my case, was true. Now they finally are making it worth my while to take a new 2005. And I didn't have the advantage of a European Delivery discount to use as a negotiating tool. Those obnoxious Porscheons charge an extra $2,000 to show you the factory!
ClaireS, Host
Coupes & Convertibles | Vans & Minivans
MODERATOR
Need help getting around? claires@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Tell everyone about your buying experience: Write a Dealer Review
The Boxster looks like a good starting point and I will test drive but not sure about the noise level. Sometimes I can be in the car for 2 hours plus and I don't want to walk out with a headache. I am also considering going back to a stick (have not been there for a long time) and just wanted to know if the trade offs of city congestion are worth the pleasure of the drive on open roads.
Thank you for any input and suggestions.
M
Thx in advance
Thanks.
At that number each dealer would only get one SLK to sell. The dealer here has 4 SLK280s and 2 SLK55s.
M
I've only put 1300mi. on the car so far, but it seems simply AMAZING!!
Excited? I have never experienced an automobile as stunning as this SLK55. Even tho I read about it for months, it is far more car than I thought it would be; every time I drive it, I discover some neat new thing Mercedes has done. (Now, if it only doesn't break down.)
Dare I use the word "bargain"? It cost me about $65k, but seems well worth it. Far less than a Viper, and a Vette convertible, loaded to match, would cost about the same, and you'd STILL only have a cloth top.
I took delivery in June and had ordered it in Feb. I'm told that if one were ordered now, delivery would be next May.
I too hope we don't have reliability problems!
The 55 AMG is the one to have, no doubt about it.It's more car than you can imagine! The way I add it up, an SLK350 optioned like the AMG would run about $52k, 10k under the AMG. But, you STILL would not have the magic V8, the stiffened 7 speed, the upgraded tires and wheels, and those huge Brembo brakes. Not that i'd call $65k cheap, but you do seem to be getting your money's worth.
I asked my dealer about the transmission probs. that had apparently plagued last years 350 and he felt that much of the electronic stuff had been ironed out. I sure hope he's right 'cause no one wants to pay 60K for a car only to see it return to the shop on a regular basis.
It's really beyond me that AMG can put 602 hp into a family sedan, but apparantly can't figure out how to put a manual transmission into a so-called sports car? As I have been shopping around for the past few months and doing my anecdotal research, I have not found a single serious driving enthusiast that would consider the SLK55, primarily because of the lack of a manual. It seems Mercedes/AMG have all but punted that demographic over Porsche and BMW's Motorsport division.
Too bad, because I do think the new SLK is a huge improvement over the prior version. It's just not a sports car and that's what I am shopping for.
But please understand, that's just my opinion. And in fairness, the SLK55/65 are infinitely better handlers than the GTO's of the 60's and 70's. I just happen to think that - at least for me - a big part of any sports car has to be the driver input that comes with a true manual transmission, clutch and all. Hell, I've never been able to bring myself to buy an automatic equiped family (sport) sedan in 30 years, so the likelihood of my opinion changing relative to a full blooded sports car is nill. I can accept that others have different opinions and AMG appears to be content catering to them and not my demographic.
Thx for any and all replies
MODERATOR
Need help getting around? claires@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Tell everyone about your buying experience: Write a Dealer Review
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I am glad you catagorized this as a general rule. It is my opinion - based upon the experience of friends, relatives and business associates, as well as third party research reports - that Mercedes has fallen well behind BMW and Porsche, to name just two luxury brands. Both ot those brands have made significant improvements to their reliability records. Mercedes, on the other hand, has dropped significantly. My brother in law had an SL500 bought back by Mercedes 18 months ago, gave them a second chance on an SL55 which he then dumped himself at a significant loss and is now happily driving a new 911. His first Mercedes was a 300 SEL 6.3, so it should pain AMG/Mercedes that he has been permanantly lost as a customer nearly 30 years and at least 8-10 cars later.
I could give numerous other examples, but I am not here to bash Mercedes. I happened to click on this forum by accident. But I couldn't help but think after reading about some of the problems that this is not the same Mercedes that prided itself - almost arrogantly - on their penchant for quality.
Thanks.
The AMG package does jazz up the SLK considerably so for someone that wants that package the sports suspension is a nice bonus, but for those that just want the suspension it kinda sucks.
M
My car used to display the cruise speed under the temperature but after they installed my iPod Adaptor, that feature went away. The dealership claims it never should have displayed anything under the temperature in the lower display. We took out a 2006 SLK 350 and it didn’t display the speed. So now the dealership thinks I’m crazy. I’m hoping that someone out there has seen this and can take a picture of it for me.
Thanks for your help
I concluded an auction purchase from this seller on 10/06/05 and paid immediatly with Pay Pal, and can't get any responses to my many email inquirys about the lights I bought . I have also been unsuccessful trying to reach him by phone. He always seems to be out.
He has a few negatives in his feedback,all for communication, or the lack thereof.He still carries a 97% positive although.
I'm not slamming the guy yet, just issuing a caution to anyone else looking to buy from Trivisionauto.
I'll post more information as I learn more.
Thanks.
Thanks
Glenn
bkman
The other day my fuel indicator light started to blink and then the next time I started the car the Check Engine light was illuminated (which, according to the manual, suggests a possible Fuel System issue). First thing I'd like to do, though, is reset the computer to check that the Check Engine light still illuminates, can one of you tell me how to reset it?
Second question is then any thoughts on what may have caused this problem, before I end up taking it to the dealer and shelling out money for a diagnostic.
Thanks much.