Keep in mind that I have a manual 5-speed so it is much more engaging in my opinion than the automatic (Disclosure: I haven't driven an automatic SLK before so I am extremely biased). Overall, I believe that for $4K it is not a bad investment, and for a weekend driver, it is a very comfortable and "somewhat" sporty ride. But for anything maintenance wise, I'd recommend FCP Euro, RockAuto, ECS Tuning, and the usual TireRack. This is more emphasize more on the suspension parts, as there is not much aftermarket suspension solution for this car. Also just a heads up, there isn't much aftermarket support for this chassis but there are definitely companies out there that still make parts for this car. To counteract this, I have put in suspension mods as well as wheels+tires and now she handles very well. The understeer is very prevalent in this chassis due to the weight distribution - that is the weight basis is all in the front and barely in the rear. 2 seats and the same wheelbase as an S2K and similarily sized as a Miata - it handles like a pig. Yes, it's a supercharged 2.3L Inline-4 that has decent torque. Though beware, if you're looking for a sports car, this car could fool you. You will have many miles and lots of fun with it for $4K. This car is relatively easy to work on and there are guides online/technical articles by Pelican Parts ( ) that goes into pretty much most work that needs to be done for the SLK 230.Īt 109,000 miles, I believe that car is just recently broken in. For $4K, you're getting a decent car that will be relatively reliable - contrary to popular beliefs for being a "Mercedes". In terms of motor, I believe these M111 engines are tanks and I have seen another owner with 300K+ miles on his car. Also, one problem with my car are the light bulbs - but that is a relatively quick fix and I have recently got LED lights for my low beams and they are doing great. Full disclosure though, my car does not have a working convertible function, but I don't really mind for that since I can manually lower the top with some effort. Other than the usual wear items such as brake pads, tires, and some suspension components (shocks, bushings), the car hasn't given me any reliability issues that I can't repair myself. I have taken this car to the track, autocross, and driven hard on a daily basis and it being relatively "reliable" in a sense. I got this car around 150K miles and have driven it non-stop ever since. I currently drive a 2000 SLK 230 with the manual 5-speed and my car is at 215K miles so far. Thoughts? Am I setting myself up for failure/disappointment by going that old with that much mileage, or is it fair to think I could get a couple years out of this being a 'weekend driver?' 109,000 miles doesn't seem like too much to me, but I'm not sure what the expected lifespan of this model is? Should she have another 50-60k in her?Īlso, the car is 20 years old, but aesthetically, it appears to have been well cared for - no way to tell, mechanically. I'm not mechanically inclined, and any work I'd need to get done would end up being done by a mechanic. I've read some good things about the reliability of the 2.3L I4 in the early 2000's, but I'm curious how much of a risk do you guys think I'm taking IF everything 'appears' okay if I go to the dealership to check it out and test drive it? There's a dealership not too far from me that recently listed a 2000 SLK230 with 109,000 miles on it (around $4k). I've really wanted to get into a used 2-seater convertible, and I've had my eye on Mercedes SLKs for a while.
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