The sporty acronym comes from Sporty, Light, and Short (or Kurz in German). This car, the SLK R170, was Mercedes first attempt at a smaller version of its SLK sports car. The SLK R170 was first produced in 1996, and its fans were immediate. The SLK was a sales powerhouse, starting with 50,000 units in its first production year. Time and competition were not kinds to the SLK, making it look old and aged. The Audi TT, its closest competitor, was starting the gain the edge. Then, it was looking stale when compared to the rest of the pack.
The SLK’s hard top is its best feature; the underpowered and sluggish engine, its worst. The SLK’s steering came fro the C-class, which wasn’t the best choice either.
When compared to rivals, the TT Roadster, the BMW Z3, and the Alfa Romero Spider, the Mercedes SLK 170 still stands out with its sex appeal. While its engine wasn’t as powerful as the others, this is preferred by North American drivers who desired relaxed driving styles.
The distinctive feature for this Mercedes was its retractable hardtop. Although going with the top-down, you should still be equipped with a windscreen. This lazy-man hard top has roots in the Mitsubishi 3000 GT Spyder, Peugeot 206cc, Lexus SC, Mercedes SL Class, and the Chrysler Sebring.
To address the shortcomings, the 2/3 liter Kompressor came out in 2000. This car gained extra power, different styling on the body, and improved handling. The engine fixed some of its initial roughness. Mercedes did improve the transmission experience, smoothing out the shifting. A new six speed transmission was installed, straight from the E-class line. Those wanting the automatic were given five speeds. Top-down driving is still problematic, need a windscreen. Next, a smoother and safer ride became possible with chassis improvement.
These changes are subtle, adding up to nothing revolutionary. The Mercedes SLK 170 is a car that still wows, handles well, and draws the eyes.
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When the author isn’t driving her SLK around, she’s a fan of the Mercedes Benz SLK windscreen windblocker wind deflector, the psychic readings, and the Seattle HCG Diet.
Tags: convertible, Mercedes SLK wind deflector, Mercedes SLK windblocker, Mercedes SLK windscreen, Top Down