Auto Car

Just in time for warm weather to grace our Michigan office, a 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 rolled into our test fleet for a fourteen-day stay. For 2009, Benz has removed the manual transmission from the 350, which was one of the best parts of the SLK we tested last year, but we weren’t completely turned off by the 7G-Tronic manu-matic setup which has been added in its place. The new SLK boasts more power and a revised appearance, and it quickly became a dear friend to all of us on staff.

Click through the jump to read our full impressions and click the images below to launch a gallery of our SLK350 test car.

Steven J. Ewing
Production Assistant

I feel like the 7G-Tronic transmission is poorly suited to the new SLK. Sure, the paddles are fun to play with, especially in manual mode, but I would give anything to have a third pedal and a proper stick-shift in this car. The last time we had an SLK350 in the fleet, one of the best parts about it was the six-speed manual, and I’m sad to realize that for 2009, only the base SLK300 benefits from a proper manual gearbox.

Transmission aside, I really like this car. The steering is very responsive, though I would like to have a smaller-diameter wheel to wrap my hands around. The revised V-6 has a lot of power, but it all comes on in a smooth, silky fashion, which is really appreciated. It’s good to see that Mercedes-Benz didn’t overboost the power in this V-6, especially since it leaves room for the SLK55 AMG. The interior of this car is not only comfortable but visually appealing, too. Our test car’s red leather seats look great, though I would like some more bolstering around my upper thighs. The seat backs themselves could use a bit more support, too. Oh, and did I mention the styling? Talk about gorgeous.

I might go so far as to say that I would drive this over a BMW Z4, but if I were in the market, I would go for a Porsche Boxster hands down.

Laura K. Cowan
Chief Copy Editor

I absolutely adore the looks of this car, especially that steeply raked front end. The interior is also very well executed, though I wish more of the controls were lit so I could find my way around the center console at night. The red leather is gorgeous, the shimmery side sills and thick, carpeted floor mats impeccable, and quality throughout feels really solid. I also would have preferred a little more side bolstering on the driver’s seat, as I found myself bracing my legs into turns. Rearward visibility isn’t great, due to the windscreen and thick headrests, but just put the top down to fix this. If you buy this car, you’ll be driving with the top down all the time anyway.

I was surprised that the SLK didn’t feel a little more powerful or have a better-sounding engine than it does, but there are other options in the Mercedes lineup if you’re looking for more muscle. Part of the blame here goes to the automatic transmission, which really limits performance. The shifter feels magnificently smooth in your hand, and shifting manually with it is pretty fun, but nothing compared to a traditional manual.

Handling is great, the brakes are just right, but what I like best about this car is what a great package it is all around. It doesn’t try to be everything to everybody, and what it does do it does beautifully.

Seyth Miersma
News Writer

The SLK350 continues the tradition of elegant Mercedes-Benz convertibles. The car looks not only beautiful but well made, both inside and out. The red leather covering a portion of the seats and interior is a little over the top, but the rest of the cabin is both comfortable and good to use, and the whole SLK package was (no surprise) a huge hit with my girlfriend.

The 350 doesn’t come with the option of a manual transmission, but paddle-shifting my way through the seven-speed auto was no chore as the unit was quite responsive. And though the option of keeping my hands on the well-weighted steering wheel through the bends was nice, simply selecting “drive” on this autobox will rob you of a lot of potential fun.

Chris Paukert
Editor-in-Chief

The SLK has, for ages now, endured the indignity of being labeled as a “hairdresser’s car.” A quick spin with the top down in Benz’s new 350 would quickly divorce naysayers of that notion, as this little droptop doesn’t exactly have the calmest interior at speed, even with the fabric windscreen installed (which looks for all the world like a pair of nylons stretched over the roll hoops).

But hang on. This car is a honey, and it finally has the enthusiast stones to run with the rest of the class. I’m still a tripedalist at heart, but I found the 7G-Tronic paddle-shift automatic to be a resourceful and enjoyable little transmission. There were the occasional approaching-a-stoplight lurches when downshifting from second gear to first in manual mode; these seem to plague all paddle-shift setups, but other than that niggle, the transmission snicked off shifts at will, offering plenty of well-chosen ratios just a finger-flick away. It’s likely that most SLK buyers will never know the Dr. Jekyll to the SLK’s Mr. Hyde if they leave the car in Comfort or Sport mode, particularly if the car’s folding hard top stays erect. In any case, enthusiasts will want to skip Comfort mode straight away, and head for full Manual control. Doing so will allow the driver to better keep the V-6 on boil, and the exhaust note hardens nicely (and surprisingly) when the revs climb. To drive this SLK through a tunnel or amid close-set buildings and enjoy its mechanical noises is to be surprised that this little Three-Pointer is so vocal.

The revamped interior is a winner, as well. I could do without the lipstick red leather seats and door inserts, but Airscarf (the in-seat HVAC vent located near one’s neck) is a revelation for those of us that prize all-season top-downery. Coupled with the heated seats, top- and window-down motoring in 50-degree weather is a pleasure, even in shirtsleeves. The gauges are clear and unadorned, and switchgear falls readily to hand.

All in, this car is a winner.

Nate Luzod
Art Director

I can barely describe my disappointment when I realized our new SLK350 lacked the amazingly brilliant six-speed manual that we had in last year’s model. The first two days spent driving the car, I let this disappointment cloud my perception, and drove around rather unemotionally. Call me old-fashioned, crazy, or lazy, but I’m still annoyed by paddle-shifting and tend to avoid it at all costs.

That said, in plain vanilla automatic mode, the SLK350 eventually won me over. I drove it in this morning, our last day with it, and at last felt comfortable and confident enough to throw it around the general 8 a.m. freeway scrum. It’s powerful enough to be very enjoyable, but not so over the top that you’ll find yourself “accidentally” hitting triple digits. It gets in and out of tight spots incredibly easily, making traffic-cluster negotiation flat out fun. That’s big points for those of us commuting ninety miles a day.

I love that a car this small can maintain the aggressive looks of larger roadsters. Styling is, as my co-workers agree, very tasteful. The interior design is elegant and comfortable—though the lipstick red in this model was a little too soft for me.

I’ve never been a fan of Mercedes nav systems or digital interfaces, and the setup in the SLK350 does little to improve that. They look horribly 8-bit, and aren’t easy to use. It’s great that there’s an iPod pigtail in the glove compartment, but it’s incredibly time-consuming (and dangerous, if attempted while driving) to navigate though your artists, albums, etc. Nothing quite as excellent as Audi’s MMI setup. The Mercedes interfaces actually seem a few steps behind GM and Ford, which I find surprising. But enough geekery.

It’s a great drive, if a bit mild-mannered. I’m not convinced that I’ll like it more than next week’s M Roadster, though.

2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350
Engine: V-6, 3.5 liters, 24v
Output: 300 hp/265 lb-ft
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
0-60 MPH: 5.3 sec
Top Speed: 155 mph (electronically limited)
Weight: 3318 lb

Price as tested: $54,000 (est.)