Mercedes Benz SLK
Always destined to be a classic, the Mercedes Benz SLK is a sleek and stylish two-seater roadster that grips the road like a barnacle, but goes like a rocket. Priced between £29,830 and £52,215 this is an affordable high-performance car, despite being a touch more expensive than some of its rivals, for example the BMW Z4 and Audi TT.
One of the best aspects of this car is its build quality, which as might be expected from a company with the pedigree of Mercedes, is first-class. It features an excellent folding roof that once retracted, proves amazingly successful at keeping the occupants cocooned from the elements, ensuring that you will never look manic when you arrive at your destination. There is an additional wind-blocking device that can be brought into play if conditions become extremely wild. You are also sure to appreciate the complex suspension, which somehow manages to smooth out all those potholes that seem to appear every winter.
The Mercedes SLK comes in four versions, all of which are rear-wheel drive. The base model is the SLK300 featuring a 228bhp 3.0 litre V-6 engine. This is followed by the SLK350 with a 300bhp 3.5 litre V-6 and finally, the top of the range SLK55 AMG, which comes with a 355bhp 5.5 litre V-8. COS emissions are 184-288g/km, depending on the engine, quite respectable figures for this type of vehicle. With a 0-60mph time of around 4.9 seconds, it is undoubtedly quick off the mark and achieving 16mpg is about as much as you can expect for such a beast.
A minus point could be the steering, which is a little heavy and lacking in precision.
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