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2006 Mercedes Benz SLK Class Review

Pros: SLR look, nice grunt fron the 6 cylinder, refined interior, good value

Cons: If you dont get the GPS, the console looks empty

Fast and yet smooth to drive, the most comfortable and roomy 2 seater ever made. A total Beauty! I test drove almost every sport car before. But when I saw this car at the dealer I fell in love inmediately and it just took 3 seconds to decide that the SLK is what I wanted. I trade in my AUDI TT



Walkaround

The Mercedes-Benz SLK was thoroughly redesigned for 2005 and the objectives were obvious. Where the first-generation SLK was cute, almost dainty, the current one has a more aggressive appearance.

The SLK imitates the Mercedes McLaren SLR road car, which is hand-built in conjunction with the McLaren Formula 1 team and sells for $700,000. The resemblance is even more pronounced on SLKs with the AMG sport package, with its more aggressive air dams and side sills. The wedge-shaped SLK sports a long, sloping hood and a short rear deck with wide doors in between. If the 2006 model is more macho than the first-generation SLK, its also more cluttered, and a tad schizophrenic, as if two different designers did the front and back. Its face is busy, so theres almost too much to look at, while the back end is clean and sleek.

The design overhaul was not entirely cosmetic, however. The SLK introduced a new generation of high-tech Mercedes paint, which was developed to be more scratch-resistant than conventional paint. The 2006 is larger than the first-generation SLK and the larger dimensions allow for a roomier cabin, albeit still cozy. Trunk capacity increased to 6.6 cubic feet.
The SLK features a retractable roof that folds in 22 seconds. The original design of this roof dazzled crowds when it was first shown at the 1994 Turin auto show, and the current top still draws spectators when operated.

Driving Impressions

Most small, luxury two-seat sports cars present buyers with a choice: They can choose a folding soft top like the Porsche Boxster or BMW Z4, or a fixed metal roof like the Audi TT coupe.
The Mercedes-Benz SLK offers the best of both worlds. Open motoring is the touch of a button away. Yet when the SLKs retractable metal roof is up and closed, this two-seater is bit quieter than its soft-top counterparts and a bit snugger against the elements. The SLKs solid roof also reduces the windshield flex and shimmy present in even the best-built convertibles. This is the tightest, most rattle-free SLK yet.

The new SLK280 generates an impressive 228 horsepower, more than the upgrade engine in the previous generation. Our test car, an SLK350, delivers 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, more than any of its primary competitors.

Combined with the six-speed manual transmission, the SLK350s engine moves this car from pretty around-town cruiser to true sports car. Indeed, with 0-60 mph times in the mid five-second range, the SLK350 is one of the quickest cars in its class. It packs plenty of punch when taking off from a stoplight or accelerating onto the highway. Better still, the new V6s deliver plenty of acceleration-producing torque at any engine speed: down low near idle, cruising at highway speed, or up near the redline. The SLK350 engine is impressively flexible. A jab at the gas pedal enables quick, safe passing maneuvers.

The SLKs rigid body structure reduces shakes and rattles and improves handling. The rack-and-pinion steering is precise, and well suited for point-and-shoot blasts through tight hairpins turns. Unlike the previous generation SLK, the current models seem to relish spirited driving, and do so with no degradation in ride quality. In fact, because it shimmies and vibrates less, the current SLK is much more pleasant than its predecessors for profiling at a leisurely pace.
The ultimate SLK, of course, is the V8-powered SLK55 AMG. This hot rod is intended to sell in the hundreds, and its priced accordingly. Its the SLK for those who must have the most horsepower, grip and stopping power. Take the SLK350 at its most exhilarating, multiply times two, and you get a hint of the AMG. We wish this model were offered with a manual transmission. Still, its beefed-up seven-speed automatic, with full manual shift control via buttons on the steering wheel spokes, can make for a truly engaging driving experience.

2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Summary

The 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is a 2-door, 2-passenger convertible sports car, available in 3 trims, ranging from the SLK280 Roadster to the SLK55 AMG Roadster.

Upon introduction, the SLK280 Roadster is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, V6, 228-horsepower engine that achieves 19-mpg in the city and 27-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 7-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The SLK55 AMG Roadster is equipped with a standard 5.5-liter, V8, 355-horsepower engine that achieves 16-mpg in the city and 22-mpg on the highway. A 7-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.