Driven: Mercedes-Benz SLK 200 (1999 R170)
Hey car freaks!
Today’s post regards my dream car. After spending a lot of time driving every kind of cars, I’m back at the wheel of something remotely special. Yes, for the first time since 2006, I’ve been back at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz SLK! However, this version is far from being my favourite amongst the range: it’s the non-facelift SLK 200, with a normally-aspirated engine, and in a very basic specification, indeed.
I remember the first time I saw this model as if it has been yesterday.
Back in March 1997, a 15-year old kid was giving a quick look to a car magazine, when he was faced with this slim, brilliant-silver sporty shape. He was everything but a car enthusiast, but the then-new SLK had a very profound effect on him. It was what can only be described as love at first sight! From there on, his passion for cars grew an awful lot, first concentrated on Mercedes-Benz (I must recognize that, for me, the vast majority of good Mercedes-Benzes ended by 2000-2004), afterwards expanded to the whole car universe.
Turning back to 2011, the privation of property of an SLK made me appreciate it on a different way. Starting with the lines, which I still find some of the best ones ever made. They’re the perfect blend of class, sportiness, elegance and function. Everything is there, yet nothing is too much (well, apart from this unit's undeserved chrome accents...). However, now I can see the substance underneath them. This car is an engineering masterpiece, a revolutionary concept that, soon afterwards, everyone followed. Nowadays, every car manufacturer has an electric folding hardtop somewhere in their range, but back in 1996 Mercedes-Benz had it working, not only in an engineering perspective, but also from an aesthetics one!
Inside, the pragmatic design makes you feel at home with every single control. Oh, apart from the stalk for dipped/high beams, blinkers and windscreen wipers: I don’t mind about the amount of functions it has, but it’s placed slightly too low. You may get familiar with that I think.
It’s very roomy, well built and still looks fine, but it’s also the place where the model’s age can be noticed the most. There is room to store everything one usually carries, plus some space behind both seats for something as a laptop, where it cannot be seen.
The driving position is sports-relaxed, despite the relatively high driving position. The seats are very supportive (this unit doesn’t have leather seats) and very comfortable, despite looking very hard at first. The truth is that, after a long drive, the body isn’t tired.
And that brings me to the dynamics.
Switching the engine on brings a somewhat loud and harsh engine note. With the roof up, the engine note is vastly reduced, which only confirms the great built quality. Even so, it’s a lot less sonorous than the post-facelift Kompressor engines, likely because of a different exhaust.
On the move, the long gear ratios are new for me – the Kompressor SLK 200 facelift has a 6-speed manual gearbox, with relatively short ratios – but, even so, the engine still feels decently responsive. The gearchange feels very mechanical, but the gear lever has a slightly long travel, something not very adequate for a sports car. The ratios are acceptable, except for the transition from 2nd to 3rd, which should be shorter.
Unsurprisingly, the engine isn’t particularly refined (unlike the Kompressor unit), but one can tell it’s a good 4-cylinder. It allows sub-1500 rpm cruise in top gear without complaints, revs reasonably well but has a sound that only suits some tastes. Something harsh, lower-pitched, that almost allows you to count the engine’s revolutions.
Ride comfort is very good, but the soft suspension setup makes itself noticed while cornering fast, in form of noticeable body-roll. The steering is reasonably direct, but provides absolutely no feedback. Maybe these thoughts came to my mind because my current dynamics benchmark is my smart roadster, one of the very best cars on these subjects. It doesn’t feel that solid either, even with the roof up. The car doesn’t behave like it’s a single brick, something even the latest-generation VW Polo accomplishes with some aplomb.
The truth is that this car is far from a driver’s car. It’s quiet, provides good wind protection with the roof down and, above all, feels very mature. It doesn’t encourage you to drive aggressively at any moment, and on that point it reminds me of the Audi A4 Convertible. Somewhat of a shame that those stunning looks promise so much, but then fail to realize. Fortunately, the facelift revealed in January 2000, solved most of these criticisms, not compromising the grand-tourer abilities. It definitely added some much-needed spicy!
Verdict: somewhat of a pensioner supermodel. Great looks, but little emotions.
Vital data
Engine and transmission:
1998cc, inline-4 cylinder, 4 valves per cylinder (Otto)
136 PS (100 kW)/ 5500 rpm
190 Nm/ 3700-4500 rpm
Red line: 6200 rpm
5-speed manual transmission
Dimensions and weights:
Length/ width/ height: 3,995/ 1,715/ 1,284 metres
Turning circle: 10,58 metres
Empty weight (icl. driver): 1270 kg
Boot: 308/ 145 litres (roof up/ down)
Fuel tank: 53 litres
Tires: 205/55 R16 (front)/ 225/50 R16 (rear)
Official performance:
Top speed: 208 km/h (130 mph)
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 9.3 seconds
Fuel consumption (urban/extra-urban/average): 12.9/ 6.9/ 9.1 l/100km (22/ 41/ 31 UK mpg)
CO2 emissions: 217 g/km
Main equipment:
Twin front and side airbags, radio with CD-player, fog lights, alloy wheels, ABS+ASR (traction control).
Portuguese price in 1999: 42 500€.
3000 rpm, 5th gear: 114 km/h (71 mph)
Driven: approx. 100 km (62 miles); car left with approx. 74 500 km (46 560 miles).
Classification: 14 out of 20
Hey car freaks!
Today’s post regards my dream car. After spending a lot of time driving every kind of cars, I’m back at the wheel of something remotely special. Yes, for the first time since 2006, I’ve been back at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz SLK! However, this version is far from being my favourite amongst the range: it’s the non-facelift SLK 200, with a normally-aspirated engine, and in a very basic specification, indeed.
I remember the first time I saw this model as if it has been yesterday.
Back in March 1997, a 15-year old kid was giving a quick look to a car magazine, when he was faced with this slim, brilliant-silver sporty shape. He was everything but a car enthusiast, but the then-new SLK had a very profound effect on him. It was what can only be described as love at first sight! From there on, his passion for cars grew an awful lot, first concentrated on Mercedes-Benz (I must recognize that, for me, the vast majority of good Mercedes-Benzes ended by 2000-2004), afterwards expanded to the whole car universe.
Turning back to 2011, the privation of property of an SLK made me appreciate it on a different way. Starting with the lines, which I still find some of the best ones ever made. They’re the perfect blend of class, sportiness, elegance and function. Everything is there, yet nothing is too much (well, apart from this unit's undeserved chrome accents...). However, now I can see the substance underneath them. This car is an engineering masterpiece, a revolutionary concept that, soon afterwards, everyone followed. Nowadays, every car manufacturer has an electric folding hardtop somewhere in their range, but back in 1996 Mercedes-Benz had it working, not only in an engineering perspective, but also from an aesthetics one!
Inside, the pragmatic design makes you feel at home with every single control. Oh, apart from the stalk for dipped/high beams, blinkers and windscreen wipers: I don’t mind about the amount of functions it has, but it’s placed slightly too low. You may get familiar with that I think.
It’s very roomy, well built and still looks fine, but it’s also the place where the model’s age can be noticed the most. There is room to store everything one usually carries, plus some space behind both seats for something as a laptop, where it cannot be seen.
The driving position is sports-relaxed, despite the relatively high driving position. The seats are very supportive (this unit doesn’t have leather seats) and very comfortable, despite looking very hard at first. The truth is that, after a long drive, the body isn’t tired.
And that brings me to the dynamics.
Switching the engine on brings a somewhat loud and harsh engine note. With the roof up, the engine note is vastly reduced, which only confirms the great built quality. Even so, it’s a lot less sonorous than the post-facelift Kompressor engines, likely because of a different exhaust.
Unsurprisingly, the engine isn’t particularly refined (unlike the Kompressor unit), but one can tell it’s a good 4-cylinder. It allows sub-1500 rpm cruise in top gear without complaints, revs reasonably well but has a sound that only suits some tastes. Something harsh, lower-pitched, that almost allows you to count the engine’s revolutions.
Ride comfort is very good, but the soft suspension setup makes itself noticed while cornering fast, in form of noticeable body-roll. The steering is reasonably direct, but provides absolutely no feedback. Maybe these thoughts came to my mind because my current dynamics benchmark is my smart roadster, one of the very best cars on these subjects. It doesn’t feel that solid either, even with the roof up. The car doesn’t behave like it’s a single brick, something even the latest-generation VW Polo accomplishes with some aplomb.
Verdict: somewhat of a pensioner supermodel. Great looks, but little emotions.
Vital data
Engine and transmission:
1998cc, inline-4 cylinder, 4 valves per cylinder (Otto)
136 PS (100 kW)/ 5500 rpm
190 Nm/ 3700-4500 rpm
Red line: 6200 rpm
5-speed manual transmission
Dimensions and weights:
Length/ width/ height: 3,995/ 1,715/ 1,284 metres
Turning circle: 10,58 metres
Empty weight (icl. driver): 1270 kg
Boot: 308/ 145 litres (roof up/ down)
Fuel tank: 53 litres
Tires: 205/55 R16 (front)/ 225/50 R16 (rear)
Official performance:
Top speed: 208 km/h (130 mph)
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 9.3 seconds
Fuel consumption (urban/extra-urban/average): 12.9/ 6.9/ 9.1 l/100km (22/ 41/ 31 UK mpg)
CO2 emissions: 217 g/km
Main equipment:
Twin front and side airbags, radio with CD-player, fog lights, alloy wheels, ABS+ASR (traction control).
Portuguese price in 1999: 42 500€.
3000 rpm, 5th gear: 114 km/h (71 mph)
Driven: approx. 100 km (62 miles); car left with approx. 74 500 km (46 560 miles).
Classification: 14 out of 20
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