GTP Cool Wall: 1996-2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK (R170)

[Wiegert]

1996-2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK (R170) nominated by @ThrasherDBS

Body Style: 2-door retractable hardtop
Engines: 2.0L L4 (SLK200/SLK200 Kompressor), 2.3L L4 (SLK230 Kompressor), 3.2L V6 (SLK320 / SLK32 AMG) (Kompressor engines are supercharged)
Power: 136 hp (SLK200), 192 hp (SLK200 Kompressor, until 2000), 163 hp (SLK200 Kompressor, after 2000), 193 hp (SLK230, until 2000), 197 hp (SLK230, after 2000), 218 hp (SLK320), 354 hp (SLK32 AMG)
Torque: 140 ft-lb (1996-2000 base), 170 ft-lb (2001-2004 base)
Weight: 1377 kg
Transmission: 5-speed automatic, 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual
Drivetrain: Front-engine, rear wheel drive
Additional Information:
A small two-seater convertible made to compete with the Mazda MX-5's success. Upon introduction, competed with the Porsche Boxster and the BMW Z3.​

Spoiler: Additional Pictures

 

[ThrasherDBS]

Was probably a bit of an eye-catcher back then, kinda blends in with everyday traffic now.

Still the best looking SLK of the entire lineup to be honest.

Meh.

 

[Heldenzeit]

I like them a lot, especially in SLK32 guise, but I don't think they are that cool. Meh.

 

[Liquid]

Get in the bin.

Seriously Uncool

 

[Tornado]

I always really liked these, moreso than the Z3 and definitely more than the Boxster. There was an honesty to what they were that was completely lacking in the over-corrected, laughably aggressive later generations. And the facelift did a good job of making it look more interesting.



But they are a bit hopeless, aren't they?

 

[Ken]

I always thought of these as spoiled rich girl cars. Uncool.

 

[Wiegert]

Having experienced my dad's second mid-life crisis runabout SLK320, there's no way I can get over such a harsh ride and a horribly cheap interior by Merc standards, even with sufficient V6 grunt. But these days it's unassuming enough that people won't assume you're... some kind of specialist barber?

Something similarly '90s and sporty like a first gen TT might be cool someday, whereas this almost certainly won't. Though next to the R171 / R172, it's pretty much got a spot in the Fridge already.

Uncool.

 

[MoLiEG]

Was probably a bit of an eye-catcher back then, kinda blends in with everyday traffic now.

Still the best looking SLK of the entire lineup to be honest.

Meh.

That a very accurate description of what happened to this one.

Still, it's a low cool.

 

[bremics]

I must be the only one who likes the new one lol.

Although I haven't driven one so I can't comment on the quality, I like convertibles but I hate how cheap soft tops look.

 

[Neddo]

Z3, MX5, or even MGF are way better options. Worst looking SLK.

 

[Adamgp]

The folding top is pretty neat, and I liked this car in NFS High Stakes, but it just gets a Meh.

 

[LM7325]

I like these but I never found them cool. They are interesting compared to the dreadnought weight SL for sure, if Mercedes managed to pack any more mass in that fairly compact body it could cause a singularity.

 

[Mike458]

Something about the car doesn't do it for me, just too underwhelming to ever be considered cool. Meh.

 

[VXR]

I always liked the first gen in that yellow. They're OK, but not cool.

Uncool.

 

[Northstar]

I've always pictured these being driven by housewives and hairdressers. Neither of which are anywhere near cool.

 

[TexRex]

Expensive Miata.

 

[Roger the Horse]

Seriously ugly.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Sub Zero. Last decent sportscar Mercedes has built. It's light, sleek, looks good roof up and down, has various engine and transmission options and ricer crowd has mostly ignored them so unmolested ones are easy to come by. They've kept their price well, yet avoided the ricer tax unlike S2000. And BMW's equivalent being either the Z3 convertible (common and usually beat up to hell) or coupe (rare as hell and priced accordingly), SLK is the reasonable choice.

 

[AudiMan2011]

A car for hairdressers who didn't want an MX-5.

Uncool.

 

[Neddo]

yet avoided the ricer tax unlike S2000

S2000 is infinetly cooler than this junk! It isn't that riced like R34 or Supra. S2000 has good reputation which all SLKs lack.

 

[MisterWaffles]

Low cool, mostly for the AMG version.