My dad let me take his 2000 Kompressor to school for the end of my senior year and it was the best month of my life lol (class of 2000 ftw!) Having one of these in HS made you instantly popular.
DOOSK Yes, you are right in that instance. Same with the linear powerband thing. Generally speaking though, you get better low end torque and towing capability out of a supercharger, and more top end from MOST turbo chargers (though some smaller ones seem to be good for getting more out of less fuel as well)
Depends on what type of supercharger. A Roots one, yes. A centrifugal one...no. It has the same peaky power of the turbo. It's not quite as powerful as a turbo and you don't get that mid range torque a turbo will give you, but it doesn't have the lag, either.
@Commendatore Handling is secure but not as tossable as , say, a Miata. It has a recirculating ball system rather than the more direct rack and pinion. It handles suberbly at higher speeds on long curvy roads, but no so much a parking lot racer.
@@user-ve7rz3pm3h Hi! I own a 2000 SLK 230 and in terms of reliability, it is pretty much solid. I hear that the engines are pretty much bulletproof (knock on wood), especially for a Mercedes. My car currently has 210,000 miles on it and the only issues that I have with it are electrical, specifically light bulbs blowing out and the convertible top is known for hydraulic failure. I've since refreshed the car with new suspension parts such as Koni Yellow shocks and HR Springs+Sway bars. These suspension "upgrades" helped the car with handling tremendously especially paired a good set of tires. I've autocross/track my SLK and I can attest to it being very capable. Though it must be mention that these chassis tend to understeer/push so some suspension/alignment tuning would def help!
@@user-ve7rz3pm3h I'm not very familiar with the Audi A4 chassis, but interesting choice! What is it that you're looking for? Fun weekend car? track car? reliable daily?
The gearing reminds me of my C5 Z06. Such long gears. The engine makes so much torque, you can keep the RPMs low. Helps a lot with fuel economy, especially the ridiculously tall 6th gear.
You wish, but as cool as this car is, its a fuel sucker. Consumption is around 9 liter /100 km which especially by modern standards is not that great. But thats worth the fun
This guy does not like this car, sees the Benz badge as a status symbol and completely ignores the incredible value this car offers as it approaches 20 years old. I bought one on Facebook Marketplace for $3600 which was garaged for nearly 12 of the 20 years, maintained meticulously by the original owner, no rust or body or interior damage (seats had covers on them then entire 19 years), and when I took it to my mechanic in Long Beach he offered me $7500 for it on the spot. I have owned a variety of convertibles/roadsters -- the Mercury Capri Roadster (Australian built), the BMW Z3 2.8L wide body, the BMW M Roadster, the Caddilac Allante with a Northstar V8, and I would compare this car more to the Cadillac for a comfortable safe ride with excellent acceleration than to any of the other cars. The best performing Roadster I have ever owned was the M Roadster, for which I paid I think over $50K new. It did donuts and 0-60 under 5 seconds. I was 39 years old and lived off of the 101 near Palo Alto. Now that I am 56 and living in Long Beach working at home and commuting to Whole Foods or taking my dog to our dog beach the Mercedes is more my style. I met up with a guy who had one, and he gave me a 'thumbs up'. He asked me "How many miles?" I said 76,000. Yep. I bought the car for $3600 in pristine condition with less than 75,000 original miles. I asked how many he had. He said 273,000. That means this car has another 20 years in it. And lastly -- the 5-disc changer saved me from a mid-life crisis. I spend afternoons at Fingerprints Music on 4th Street in Long Beach buying original 80's and 90's CDs for under $4 each -- everything from the English Beat to Psychodelic Furs to Depeche Mode. The car came standard with a fiber optic audio system, 8 speak BOSE stereo with subwoofers behind the seats, and an amplifier that packs a punch when the top is down. This car is analog -- all the way. Even my mechanic says he loves it because he can actually work on it. It's a keeper and will always be around -- probably long after I am!
I can't believe...I just sold my Honda Delsol SIR and bought an SLK 200 Komp. and you published both reviews in the arch of less then 24h. Today is Christmas for me. Love you Mr. R..
I love my blue r170 slk 230. Best car I've ever had, and the last. I'm 65. This is the first car that I always look forward to driving. Love driving with the roof down. just love it.
My friend used to have the SLK32 version with the supercharged V6.. went high 12s with only drag radials and minimal bolt-ons if any (it might have been stock if I remember right but eventually it had an aftermarket air/water intercooler and a smaller pulley for the s/c.. Car always got off the line well, surprisingly fast car..
The downside of the SLK32 AMG is that it had worse balance and tended to understeer in corners because of the heavier front end. The SLK230 Kompressor was the better balanced model, but if you live in an area with lots of fairly straight roads, you definitely wanted the AMG model for the excitement you got pushing that much more horsepower and torque in that small of a car.
an oddity, car and driver got faster times in the 5 speed auto than the manual. also one of the most rigid convertible chassis around, even today. I was in a new hardtop NC miata that constantly creaked and groaned, these rarely do. You can also operate the top while driving under 15 mph. FYI, the window button is by the shifter.
My '98 slk interior is trashed. I made the mistake of trying to respray it on my own. Better bet is just buy some factory correct touch up paint and use it every couple of months to address the constant peeling problem inherent with this mode.
If I remember correctly, it has the same basic interior materials as my C320 Coupe, which was a very thin layer of aluminum bonded to the plastic trim panels, so it does actually hold up quite well. It's also got some proper foam-backed vinyl bonded to the molded resin-impregnated fiber board that the door cards and dash are made from, so it doesn't crack and split as easily as the stuff from the 80's.
How thoughtful of you to call Mr. Regular and I a moron. I don't put my hands on the steering wheel at an 8 to 4 position so having the blinkers there is really inconvenient.
That car exemplifies an identity crisis. Also, why do you keep shifting back and forth for no reason when driving slowly-ish. I noticed you doing it in other videos also.
+RegularCars At least you can see somewhat where you are going unlike most POV videos on youtube. At least you try. Haha you notice the OKCupid comment.
Great review! The car you're driving looks almost identical to my '01. I wanted black or silver but there were none in those colors in the entire state with less than 100K miles when I was shopping. Growing up driving land yachts, this was definitely a change... but the cabin is surprisingly roomy for 2 people and I have plenty of legroom to stretch out in while putting in long drives. I can even squeeze a week's worth of luggage in the trunk with the top down. It doesn't "feel" like a small car on the road, either... it rides very nicely and that combined with the comfy yet supportive seats allow me to spend hours behind the wheel with zero fatigue. It's EXTREMELY solid... even with the top down there are less squeaks and rattles than any hardtop I've owned. The 4 cylinder motor drives almost like a 6 to me... it cruises at very low RPMs for a 4. The 5 speed auto in mine works better than any transmission I've ever had... it clicks smoothly and cleanly through the gears. All the major mechanical components feel almost bomb-proof. It looks fantastic, even in "arrest me" red... I get a ton of attention in mine (and I'm an introvert- go figure). Problems? HOO BOY... I've had a TON of electrical issues. The sensor letting the ignition know my key was the right key failed, stranding me in NYC for almost a week... the transponder for the security system failed, making it impossible for me to start the car... the PSE pump in the trunk that controls the lights failed TWICE... the drive-by-wire accelerator pedal went haywire, resulting severely delayed acceleration especially when merging onto highways... sometimes I wish I'd gotten a Miata instead. But when my car works? It's fantastic.
Hi, im thinking about getting one but I’m a bit worried it might be boring and a old man’s car? Miata’s nowadays are way overpriced but these are still quite cheap. Is it fun or is it just good for cruising?
@@rubenmateboer2059 If you're looking for straight-out fun, I'd go with the Miata. I've heard the manual transmissions on those are amazingly good; much better than the one in the SLK... and they most likely handle better as well. The SLK is more like a mini-GT car, like a smaller SL.
Mercedes absolutely had some of the most comfortable seats at that time. They had decent bolstering and a moderate amount of lumbar support. I definitely miss my 03 C320 Coupe sometimes.
+Radi0he4d1 my family owns a clk430 with the same radio unit. And to just say about those long gears off the line the 430 feels very surge like but in the mid range gears (being a 5speed auto) it's very punchy I guess Mercedes doesn't like tire shredding launches unless your in an any lol
Not a big fan of the head light design though they make some decent looking aftermarket ones with small halos. You do mention that the engine is complicated and it really isn't. Just further examination of the components and how they work isn't exactly rocket science.
No matter how many terrible things I hear about this car, its still the number 1 choice for my next car. In red. And im 34. Not sure what my punk rock friends will think of it, but fuck them anyway.
In regards to the article for R&T: I have driven both and you are comparing apples and oranges. They are both great cars but for different reasons! The first generation SLK 230(R170) was designed to be a luxury roadster for grand touring. Hence all the comfort features like leg room, etc. The Masada Miata was designed to be a mass appeal ‘light weight’, simple, nimble sports car. They are two different engineered machines for two different driving experiences. There is no real comparison except both are convertible roadsters that seat two people.
2:42 -- If it's anything like my 2001 E320 wagon (the radio looks identical), it actually does have a tape player. It's hidden behind the LCD. You press the tape button, and then you press one of the buttons underneath the LCD to eject the tape. The LCD flips down, revealing a slot for the tape. Then, you just flip the LCD back up and clicks into place again.
Like a Miata I keep hearing , I had a mx5 , loved it but hated it ! mpg poor for a tiny light car , sold it and saw a Slk200K on ebay for £2000 in silver , it is like the mx , its a tiny cabin but my god it's 1000% better car , roof is fab , interior amazing after 2 year's in my mx5 with no mod con's at all , drive's a lot better , 3 time's as fast and hit's 40 mpg on a motorway doing 80mph and eveyony stare's at them ! best car out there now on classic car insurance !
It's worth noting that the interior plastics tend to get brittle with age. My dad had a 1996 SLK 200, he took really good care of the car, rarely drives it out, parks in a covered basement, the dashboard still ended up cracking. It was still a very nice car though.
The finish on the center console is notorious for flaking off in these things. Mine has this issue... I haven't really done anything to fix it because to me it actually looks pretty cool.
I've driven one of the Mercedes Kompressor cars with an automatic and it is a surprisingly energetic experience, since the auto doesn't forcibly upshift under acceleration like you might expect. The high low-end torque helps everything. I'm a fan and, if I could reasonably afford to have one of those as a second vehicle, I definitely would. Edit much later on to clarify: this car does, in fact, have a tape deck. It's behind the display on the head unit. It just flops down and you load in your cassette, pop it back up and you're on your way. But you definitely want to use the CD changer for physical media and replace the deck with literally anything else if you want more power and quality. This was a time in which Mercedes definitely didn't have good audio from the factory. I mean, nobody really had particularly great audio, but you could get VW with Blaupunkt and Audis with Bang&Olufson, Ford had Bose (for what they were worth in the mid-term once the foam surrounds fell apart). Anyway, if you do own one of these, I'd highly recommend going on ebay and buying a set of Eton factory upgrade speaker kits for them. They're not the best quality you can get, even from that manufacturer, but they have factory wiring loom attachments, they clip into place the way factory speakers do, and they're better than factory. A lot better than factory. Mercedes uses 5.25" speakers by default and they're not particularly deep because the door cards aren't particularly deep, so you get no bass.
Mr. Regular, on every POV drive of late, I've noticed the driver's door mirror is aimed in so you can likely see the side of the car. Why? If you point it to where the "blind spot" is, while you can't see your own car anymore, at least you don't have a blind spot.
I love this description of this car I just bought a 01 slk230 back in November for my first car (5k and only 66k miles) I love it too death and I’m working on fixing up everything wrong with it rn which isn’t much but it’s a work in progress!
My parents own a 2001 Mercedes SLK 320. I absolutely love the car, especially the v6 which sounds so good. The only problem we really have with the car is that there is a slow leak with the hydraulic roof.
If you are at all mechanically able you can do it yourself for 40-400 bucks depending on your own time and damage to the headliner. I did mine for right around 80-100 I believe dumping a lot of time into it to repair the headliner. Between the kit I got and hydronic fluid it cost me 40 dollars to repair the roof than another 40 or so for some MEK (very expensive however effective and semi dangerous industrial strength cleaner), headliner glue and headliner material.
One thing you seem to have missed, a standard Mercedes feature, is the "kickdown" on the accelerator. You sort of press the pedal past the bottom, it clicks into kickdown, and that's where the top end of your powerband is found. That, and the secret tape deck. Other than that, good POV review! Audio was pretty good for open air, I have to say. Nice job finding a stick-shift too, it's night and day with that car.
+John Q Miller Kickdown is a autotransmission feature and it drops one gear (You have to floor it to press it soit drops at least 2gears), but it doesnt change how the engines operates.
it's funny how this guy puts down this vehicle, very obvious that he's pro BMW or Porsche, I own this car with the amg package and it's excellent in every way and no the engine is not full of vacuum hoses lol its definitely one of the cleaner motors I've seen much cleaner and stronger than BMW by miles
Why are people afraid of vehicles that stay on their own lane? Yes that was not a wide road but stopping to the bank when it passes by? I have always wanted to ask this from people who does this because i always laugh when people do that even when there is room like 2-3 meters between your vehicles.
+Towel1e Because you can't control other drivers and sometimes road's while lined up dont neccessarily account for all car's of certain widths and such. More a less a extra-precautionary thing.
Know a guy who owned one of these,painted in canary yellow for the 2000 Olympics in Australia.His girlfriend parked it behind his tractor and it got flattened,good for insurance.
That car has the same exact stereo as my C230 from 2000. Also there is a cassette player, you gotta turn the radio, click cassette, then click eject. The cassette will open up. Edit: Almost all of the dash & center console is the same on my 230.
RegularCars, there is a tape player in the stereo, push the tape button then the eject button and the LCD will fold down to reveal the cassette player. The vario roof is slow but I suspect that its slow on purpose for safety reasons. But if you install a smartTop controller, then you get single touch roof operation, up/down while driving and roof operation with key fob and other cool stuff. The 2001 has a much better manual transmission and the AMG package turns it into a solid handsome car that I think looks better than the R171 & R172 The only down side is that the simple and elegant interior finished with latex paint instead of leather to offset the cost of the roof. All in all its a great if you want a quality convertible sporty car (roadster). Its more of a GT car not a track car. And the trunk/boot is bigger than most sports cars.
The 196hp 230K engine can be remapped; as well as upping the supercharger pressures, the engine then revs to 6500. This combination takes the 230K to a 320 V6 beating 238hp !!
The cruise control/turn signal location is confusing for a week or so but then becomes second nature. I now like the easy access to the cruise control.
I like the car. My friend picked up a 2000 manual and I drove it. Found someone recently that wants to trade a 99 for the 97 BMW 740iL I have now. I want something smaller and although his is an auto I can live without an manual no problem. I do like the hard top convertible. Tired of the maintenance of soft top cars.
Didn't check the market in the US at this time, but I baught my 20000 SLK 230K in late 2020 here in Europe for 4,500 Euros from a dealership and just because I didn't want to take my SL55 on a trip to Italy. I had planned to sell the SLK immediately after that one trip, but I then decided to keep it. It's just way too much fun for basically no money - at least not compared to my SL. This is a fun little car that doesn't blow one's wallet and still delivers evrything one could ask for from a small roadster.
ive owned both 230slk's and miata's and there is no comparison... the miata will beat you to death it rides like a wagon.... no power and its a tin can... nothing even close to the mercedes 230slk wow...seriously..?
@@victorvictor8587 get the SLK320 with the 3.2 liter V6 and that compensates it very much. And if you really want to have fun get the SLK 32 AMG that has a supercharger strapped to the same V6 and you really start having fun!
We owned a 1999 black on black with the 5speed. Fully custom, great car, originally paid $5,100 with 92,500 miles on it in september 2015. Great car, just sold for $8000 with 101,000 with tons of custom equippment. They got a great deal.
It's crazy to think that a car made in 2000 is stuck in the "early 2000's". Just giving you some shit, I love your weird reviews. They always make me laugh.
i own a 2003 facelifted slk 230 and he is just talking shit. my car stock eats civics miatas even new v6 camaros. yes it is heavy but this car is a sleeper even just being stock. the car is not a rocket but it aint slow either. not just thay i get complimented on the car. no one believes me when i say its a 2003. i tale it often to car meets and people tell me how beautiful it is and the shock when you show them the vario roof. it is not an over proced luxurious miata. this is more capable than a miata light years away. nevertheless the first roadster to have a convertible hard top. 0 to 60 in low 6's is not the best but it ecxeeds its expectation. not only do you get the looks and it doesnt dissapoint. this guys slk sounds like it has a maf malfunction anyway. the car accelerates quick and stays fast. so far the only car i have lost to is a Camaro SS so far no complaints.
The one thing I can recommend for any Mercedes owner of a early 2000s model (aside from the AMG versions) is to put wider wheels and tires under it. As wide as you can go without scrubbing. Because they feel like they can handle far better than they actually can, and that makes them dangerous once you reach the limits of traction.
I enjoy your obsession over the inane details of all cars. that has to be the silliest cupholder of all time. although this car seems kinda sweet to me.
this engine is complicated if u only worked on 49cc one cylinder engines before. otherwise, for any sunday mechanic, this is pretty straight forward to work on.
This is what happens when you let someone who knows nothing about Mercedes vehicles tell you about a Mercedes. You get an extremely ignorant video from someone who talks more than drives. That engine is so powerful and if you don't floor it and let the sound of that supercharger deafen people, don't make a video with another merc video
M111 2.0/2.3 are known to go up to 250-270hp NA and support pro charger, so this engines can take Supercharger, M62-M45 and a Garrett, ez, 2000-2003 M111 got upgrades, reinforced belts, pistons, a lot more, for higher compression. I know a CLK200 with Turbo, and got 581WHP, well... More like RWHP, so, kind of 670HP at the crank. CLK230K facelifted, 2001-2002 model is what I really want.
My parents got a 2001 CLK 200 kompressor elegance with an automatic gearbox. The engine is great for just driving if the car has an automatic gearbox. Composed, the low rpm power nature makes it feel like it has a bigger engine than it truly has when cruising and the car is silly comfortable and neat when it comes to interior and ride of a 2001 car. I guess most Mercedes cars are great for cruising and not so much for things you would use a sports car for even though they often look like sports cars..
There is a tape deck on these things, i have one! you have to hit tape, then eject and the whole face plate flips to reveal the deck opening! Also, any chance you'd want to review mine? I have a 2000 SLK230, which has been highly modified
As far as the lack of RPM from the DOHC 16v layout goes, it's probably because of the supercharger. When you boost an engine you're getting more air essentially, so you need more fuel as well to maintain the proper AFR. Instead of upgrading the fuel injectors, they probably limited the RPM instead, it's cheaper and most people don't use the power.
Superchargers are geared for certain rev ranges. It is more driveable on the road with a lower rev range. They are really quick for what they are. I love them, lots of fun.
just because an engine doesn't Rev, doesn't make it a bad engine. And I realize that you know that as well. I'm not saying you don't. But that's a actually a pretty willing little motor in that slk. It's too bad that they didn't try to make the car a little lighter and refine the steering feel and handling a little bit. it could have been a much better little car. I've driven one on numerous occasions.
Just bought a used 2001 SLK320 and I've never driven a kompressor but the naturally aspirated engines in these and the lightweight bodies (for Mercedes) makes its way quicker than say my old e350 , at 110,000
So you usually talk to others while driving to formulate your thoughts and later refine then after watching footage/taking notes? I didn't notice much of a difference between you driving with out without someone. Keep up the good work!
I drive a Mercedes Benz clk 200 build in 2000 but it drives like a dream it’s a aventgarde (luxury car) if you get the change try one it drives like a dream
When I saw that hat in the passenger seat I instantly got the picture that you are that guy from Tim Allan TV show "home improvident". You know that guy other side of the fence you only saw half his face
The new Turbo 2.0L engines from Germany (BMW/MB/Audi/VW) and Cadillac and Ford ecoboost have same direction: low/mid range torque. Mostly for fuel economy (low rpms w/tall gearing). You're going to see a lot of this in the future.
You push the tape button then screen on radio says eject push second button from left ( like station presets) and small screen folds down to insert tape
Fun Fact: In Europe these are usually cheaper than an NB Miata!
I'm in France and i approve clearly this fact. 7000€ for an Mx5 and 6000 for an Slk 230
in portugal u can get the for just 1k more than a miata
@@alextinction but why??? too many problems??? i am asking because i want one
@@breakingoutin2212 no it's just that the mx5 is rarer, there were few sales in France. The SLK is fine, don't worry 😉
Sadly -.-
My dad let me take his 2000 Kompressor to school for the end of my senior year and it was the best month of my life lol (class of 2000 ftw!) Having one of these in HS made you instantly popular.
Your dad let you drive his brand new 60k car for a whole month? Crazy
Jealous? 😂@@r-jthecookie3126
superchargers are not for high-revving. They are for low-end torque. Somewhat the opposite of what a turbo does.
This guy knows it!
superchargers are for a linear powerband the engine is what determines how high it revs.
a small trim turbo will always produce higher torque but it will fall off top end
DOOSK Yes, you are right in that instance. Same with the linear powerband thing. Generally speaking though, you get better low end torque and towing capability out of a supercharger, and more top end from MOST turbo chargers (though some smaller ones seem to be good for getting more out of less fuel as well)
Depends on what type of supercharger. A Roots one, yes. A centrifugal one...no. It has the same peaky power of the turbo. It's not quite as powerful as a turbo and you don't get that mid range torque a turbo will give you, but it doesn't have the lag, either.
"You'd think this engine would be great ... but it itsn't, haha"
Accelerates in first gear, holds on for dear life and switches to fifth... LOL
yea i have the SLK 200 but my dad has the CLK 230 kompressor and that thing realy does a good job
That would be the transmissions fault not the Engine. Haha
I have a manual best gear box i haver driven super short to 😂 yall know they came manual to right ?
SLKs are fun cars
Absolutely.
@Commendatore
Handling is secure but not as tossable as , say, a Miata. It has a recirculating ball system rather than the more direct rack and pinion.
It handles suberbly at higher speeds on long curvy roads, but no so much a parking lot racer.
I own an 03 SLK320
@@user-ve7rz3pm3h Hi! I own a 2000 SLK 230 and in terms of reliability, it is pretty much solid. I hear that the engines are pretty much bulletproof (knock on wood), especially for a Mercedes. My car currently has 210,000 miles on it and the only issues that I have with it are electrical, specifically light bulbs blowing out and the convertible top is known for hydraulic failure. I've since refreshed the car with new suspension parts such as Koni Yellow shocks and HR Springs+Sway bars. These suspension "upgrades" helped the car with handling tremendously especially paired a good set of tires. I've autocross/track my SLK and I can attest to it being very capable. Though it must be mention that these chassis tend to understeer/push so some suspension/alignment tuning would def help!
@@user-ve7rz3pm3h I'm not very familiar with the Audi A4 chassis, but interesting choice! What is it that you're looking for? Fun weekend car? track car? reliable daily?
pro tip: the little screen flips down to reveal the tape player.
+Samwise Drogod too complicated for regular Americans
Was gonna say the same thing but I did not know there was cd changer in trunk
The gearing reminds me of my C5 Z06. Such long gears. The engine makes so much torque, you can keep the RPMs low. Helps a lot with fuel economy, especially the ridiculously tall 6th gear.
You wish, but as cool as this car is, its a fuel sucker. Consumption is around 9 liter /100 km which especially by modern standards is not that great. But thats worth the fun
Holy shit a Mercedes with a manual transmission? Today I learned something.
+OhHeyThereGuy Only manual Merc's sold in America were the SLK
+Zack Lewine You could configure a C class with a manual in the last gen in the USA
Really? I could have sworn they were all 7spd autos. you mean the W204?
+Zack Lewine Yes. I've driven one.
+OhHeyThereGuy They sell the new 2015 C class in Mexico with a 6 speed manual, i noticed while poking into someones car lol
This guy does not like this car, sees the Benz badge as a status symbol and completely ignores the incredible value this car offers as it approaches 20 years old. I bought one on Facebook Marketplace for $3600 which was garaged for nearly 12 of the 20 years, maintained meticulously by the original owner, no rust or body or interior damage (seats had covers on them then entire 19 years), and when I took it to my mechanic in Long Beach he offered me $7500 for it on the spot. I have owned a variety of convertibles/roadsters -- the Mercury Capri Roadster (Australian built), the BMW Z3 2.8L wide body, the BMW M Roadster, the Caddilac Allante with a Northstar V8, and I would compare this car more to the Cadillac for a comfortable safe ride with excellent acceleration than to any of the other cars. The best performing Roadster I have ever owned was the M Roadster, for which I paid I think over $50K new. It did donuts and 0-60 under 5 seconds. I was 39 years old and lived off of the 101 near Palo Alto. Now that I am 56 and living in Long Beach working at home and commuting to Whole Foods or taking my dog to our dog beach the Mercedes is more my style. I met up with a guy who had one, and he gave me a 'thumbs up'. He asked me "How many miles?" I said 76,000. Yep. I bought the car for $3600 in pristine condition with less than 75,000 original miles. I asked how many he had. He said 273,000. That means this car has another 20 years in it. And lastly -- the 5-disc changer saved me from a mid-life crisis. I spend afternoons at Fingerprints Music on 4th Street in Long Beach buying original 80's and 90's CDs for under $4 each -- everything from the English Beat to Psychodelic Furs to Depeche Mode. The car came standard with a fiber optic audio system, 8 speak BOSE stereo with subwoofers behind the seats, and an amplifier that packs a punch when the top is down. This car is analog -- all the way. Even my mechanic says he loves it because he can actually work on it. It's a keeper and will always be around -- probably long after I am!
Fantastic cars. I love mine. Feels solid and obviously well made. Fast enough for me and I love driving with the roof down. MX5? No thanks.
Agreed 100%.
🤟🏾🤟🏾
Absolutely agree, mine has 240.000 km on it, it's much faster than a miata, although it will never be as quick around corners
@Aleister Owley Hahah I Know, Bilstein is expenisve though
I can't believe...I just sold my Honda Delsol SIR and bought an SLK 200 Komp. and you published both reviews in the arch of less then 24h. Today is Christmas for me. Love you Mr. R..
I would cruise around with the roof halfway retracted just because.
Channeling your inner Hunter S Thompson?
lol if you wanto completely destroy that delice mechanism, that thing just falls apart every 5 months
@@dominikfulop7188 no it doesnt
"Because it's Mercedes, they like to do everything in a complicated way." That line describes every European manufacturer ever.
I love my blue r170 slk 230. Best car I've ever had, and the last. I'm 65. This is the first car that I always look forward to driving. Love driving with the roof down. just love it.
I own an 03 SLK320, she isn't my primary car but she is fun to drive and loves to drink gas.
I bought one a few days ago, 20 years old but still hot 🔥❤🔥
Not red, not black. Silver. German cars are to be made silver. The most tasteful and boring and Teutonic of colours.
thats damn true. with that colour, you dont see the dirt that much :D
but i dont like silver at all.
greetings from germany
Golf Mk7s look best in white, while Golf Mk6s look best in black.
I own a silver one
My friend used to have the SLK32 version with the supercharged V6.. went high 12s with only drag radials and minimal bolt-ons if any (it might have been stock if I remember right but eventually it had an aftermarket air/water intercooler and a smaller pulley for the s/c.. Car always got off the line well, surprisingly fast car..
The downside of the SLK32 AMG is that it had worse balance and tended to understeer in corners because of the heavier front end. The SLK230 Kompressor was the better balanced model, but if you live in an area with lots of fairly straight roads, you definitely wanted the AMG model for the excitement you got pushing that much more horsepower and torque in that small of a car.
an oddity, car and driver got faster times in the 5 speed auto than the manual. also one of the most rigid convertible chassis around, even today. I was in a new hardtop NC miata that constantly creaked and groaned, these rarely do. You can also operate the top while driving under 15 mph. FYI, the window button is by the shifter.
There is a tape player, i had one of these, its behind the little display lol
is there a boost gauge?
Easy to change the head unit in these older German cars. I have done many BMWs and Mercedes stereo upgrades.
We had one as well, tape playerdoor, coin holder and cup holders are cool mechanisms
Dragunov302
You mean turbo Bar/PSI gauge?
Yeah, you push "tape" then the option will come up to eject it on the screen and you push the button under it.
2:20 "It has a CD changer, IN DA trunk *HYUHHH*"
lmaooo dying
the interior looks like it held up pretty well
icemanroyal like all Mercedes...
My '98 slk interior is trashed. I made the mistake of trying to respray it on my own.
Better bet is just buy some factory correct touch up paint and use it every couple of months to address the constant peeling problem inherent with this mode.
yeah mine is brand new to this day, its actualy preaty good
@@gregghorner9107 I wanna have mine wrapped in alcantara to look like a clkgtr
If I remember correctly, it has the same basic interior materials as my C320 Coupe, which was a very thin layer of aluminum bonded to the plastic trim panels, so it does actually hold up quite well. It's also got some proper foam-backed vinyl bonded to the molded resin-impregnated fiber board that the door cards and dash are made from, so it doesn't crack and split as easily as the stuff from the 80's.
"College radio days..."
Shoutout to KUR!
I just finished my first show of the semester tonight!
+thebensho KUR! yay!
Heard from a friend on the exec board that you're thinking of doing a car-talk show. I'd definitely be interested in helping out.
kur means dick in Bulgarian. so yeah thumb ups for kur.
These POV Drives are really great and yes I agree that the stalk placement for the turn signals is terrible. The C230 I drove was set up the same way.
+VolkswagenGamer idk, my dad has an 04 c230K with the blinker/cruise like that and I've never once had a prob with it
+VolkswagenGamer I have a c230 and I have never once had a issue. It's called not being a moron
How thoughtful of you to call Mr. Regular and I a moron. I don't put my hands on the steering wheel at an 8 to 4 position so having the blinkers there is really inconvenient.
+VolkswagenGamer "8 to 4" - LOL !
tuycvbnm,.zxasdfg
That car exemplifies an identity crisis.
Also, why do you keep shifting back and forth for no reason when driving slowly-ish. I noticed you doing it in other videos also.
+TheSpeedula I gesture with my head. I am working on keeping my head still while talking. It is hard
I suggest duct tape/ratchet straps. I actually don't suggest either of those, trust me I'm not a doctor.
+RegularCars At least you can see somewhat where you are going unlike most POV videos on youtube. At least you try. Haha you notice the OKCupid comment.
+RegularCars I think he meant gears. I noticed a lot of 2nd to 3rd then back to 2nd.
+TheSpeedula yea. 2000. this was Mercedes's low point. thankfully their quality standards are back up they are producing really decent cars now.
Great review! The car you're driving looks almost identical to my '01. I wanted black or silver but there were none in those colors in the entire state with less than 100K miles when I was shopping. Growing up driving land yachts, this was definitely a change... but the cabin is surprisingly roomy for 2 people and I have plenty of legroom to stretch out in while putting in long drives. I can even squeeze a week's worth of luggage in the trunk with the top down. It doesn't "feel" like a small car on the road, either... it rides very nicely and that combined with the comfy yet supportive seats allow me to spend hours behind the wheel with zero fatigue. It's EXTREMELY solid... even with the top down there are less squeaks and rattles than any hardtop I've owned. The 4 cylinder motor drives almost like a 6 to me... it cruises at very low RPMs for a 4. The 5 speed auto in mine works better than any transmission I've ever had... it clicks smoothly and cleanly through the gears. All the major mechanical components feel almost bomb-proof. It looks fantastic, even in "arrest me" red... I get a ton of attention in mine (and I'm an introvert- go figure). Problems? HOO BOY... I've had a TON of electrical issues. The sensor letting the ignition know my key was the right key failed, stranding me in NYC for almost a week... the transponder for the security system failed, making it impossible for me to start the car... the PSE pump in the trunk that controls the lights failed TWICE... the drive-by-wire accelerator pedal went haywire, resulting severely delayed acceleration especially when merging onto highways... sometimes I wish I'd gotten a Miata instead. But when my car works? It's fantastic.
Hi, im thinking about getting one but I’m a bit worried it might be boring and a old man’s car? Miata’s nowadays are way overpriced but these are still quite cheap. Is it fun or is it just good for cruising?
@@rubenmateboer2059 If you're looking for straight-out fun, I'd go with the Miata. I've heard the manual transmissions on those are amazingly good; much better than the one in the SLK... and they most likely handle better as well. The SLK is more like a mini-GT car, like a smaller SL.
Mercedes absolutely had some of the most comfortable seats at that time. They had decent bolstering and a moderate amount of lumbar support. I definitely miss my 03 C320 Coupe sometimes.
Other cassette player is behind the radio screen
If you hit the tape button and then the second from the left little button under the screen
+Gino Caloiero Oh those European cars.
+Radi0he4d1 my family owns a clk430 with the same radio unit. And to just say about those long gears off the line the 430 feels very surge like but in the mid range gears (being a 5speed auto) it's very punchy I guess Mercedes doesn't like tire shredding launches unless your in an any lol
Not a big fan of the head light design though they make some decent looking aftermarket ones with small halos. You do mention that the engine is complicated and it really isn't. Just further examination of the components and how they work isn't exactly rocket science.
So weird that MX-5s are called Miatas in America.
I prefer these solo vids. it's more serious almost like an actual car review
No matter how many terrible things I hear about this car, its still the number 1 choice for my next car. In red. And im 34. Not sure what my punk rock friends will think of it, but fuck them anyway.
If they are true punks they won't care remember punk is thinking for your self
Have you bought it already?
The tape deck is behind the screen on these early 00 era single DIN headunits
In regards to the article for R&T: I have driven both and you are comparing apples and oranges. They are both great cars but for different reasons! The first generation SLK 230(R170) was designed to be a luxury roadster for grand touring. Hence all the comfort features like leg room, etc. The Masada Miata was designed to be a mass appeal ‘light weight’, simple, nimble sports car. They are two different engineered machines for two different driving experiences. There is no real comparison except both are convertible roadsters that seat two people.
Great roadster, for the intro of the rigid convertible top. More than the "poor man's SL", it will be a good future classic roadster.
this car was my first car :)
That turn signal/cruise thing is in nearly every Mercedes, it's fucking frustrating and makes me want to punch a small dog.
+Joey DH It's even in their damn vans!
+Joey DH In ML it isnt, same for W124, W210.
+Joey DH Dude, don't hurt dogs. punch a baby instead!
+Joey DH You should try the first generation Audi A4s. The light switch is where the signal should be and the signal is behind it.
Ezalian I love the W202, it's one of my favorite cars alongside the e39 BMW and all of the V classes and Vitos.
2:42 -- If it's anything like my 2001 E320 wagon (the radio looks identical), it actually does have a tape player. It's hidden behind the LCD. You press the tape button, and then you press one of the buttons underneath the LCD to eject the tape. The LCD flips down, revealing a slot for the tape. Then, you just flip the LCD back up and clicks into place again.
Like a Miata I keep hearing , I had a mx5 , loved it but hated it ! mpg poor for a tiny light car , sold it and saw a Slk200K on ebay for £2000 in silver , it is like the mx , its a tiny cabin but my god it's 1000% better car , roof is fab , interior amazing after 2 year's in my mx5 with no mod con's at all , drive's a lot better , 3 time's as fast and hit's 40 mpg on a motorway doing 80mph and eveyony stare's at them ! best car out there now on classic car insurance !
It's worth noting that the interior plastics tend to get brittle with age. My dad had a 1996 SLK 200, he took really good care of the car, rarely drives it out, parks in a covered basement, the dashboard still ended up cracking. It was still a very nice car though.
The finish on the center console is notorious for flaking off in these things. Mine has this issue... I haven't really done anything to fix it because to me it actually looks pretty cool.
Dan McCarthy Used on mine, it looks like new.
You can keep the Mazda MX5 thanks. The SLK is a far superior car in all respects.
Ughhhhh This car is getting me tempted. Looks like a fun Sunday driver.
Great review. What are the manual gearboxes like in these cars? (I have this car in automatic, very interested to know how the manual compares!)
you held up great by yourself! you got to drive how you wanted and tell us about it freely without having to appease the owner next to you
I've driven one of the Mercedes Kompressor cars with an automatic and it is a surprisingly energetic experience, since the auto doesn't forcibly upshift under acceleration like you might expect. The high low-end torque helps everything. I'm a fan and, if I could reasonably afford to have one of those as a second vehicle, I definitely would.
Edit much later on to clarify: this car does, in fact, have a tape deck. It's behind the display on the head unit. It just flops down and you load in your cassette, pop it back up and you're on your way. But you definitely want to use the CD changer for physical media and replace the deck with literally anything else if you want more power and quality. This was a time in which Mercedes definitely didn't have good audio from the factory. I mean, nobody really had particularly great audio, but you could get VW with Blaupunkt and Audis with Bang&Olufson, Ford had Bose (for what they were worth in the mid-term once the foam surrounds fell apart). Anyway, if you do own one of these, I'd highly recommend going on ebay and buying a set of Eton factory upgrade speaker kits for them. They're not the best quality you can get, even from that manufacturer, but they have factory wiring loom attachments, they clip into place the way factory speakers do, and they're better than factory. A lot better than factory. Mercedes uses 5.25" speakers by default and they're not particularly deep because the door cards aren't particularly deep, so you get no bass.
Mr. Regular, on every POV drive of late, I've noticed the driver's door mirror is aimed in so you can likely see the side of the car. Why? If you point it to where the "blind spot" is, while you can't see your own car anymore, at least you don't have a blind spot.
I love this description of this car I just bought a 01 slk230 back in November for my first car (5k and only 66k miles) I love it too death and I’m working on fixing up everything wrong with it rn which isn’t much but it’s a work in progress!
My parents own a 2001 Mercedes SLK 320. I absolutely love the car, especially the v6 which sounds so good. The only problem we really have with the car is that there is a slow leak with the hydraulic roof.
The Vario roof is very expensive to refurbish. Cost me $2400 to replace a couple of leaking hydraulic pumps.
If you are at all mechanically able you can do it yourself for 40-400 bucks depending on your own time and damage to the headliner. I did mine for right around 80-100 I believe dumping a lot of time into it to repair the headliner. Between the kit I got and hydronic fluid it cost me 40 dollars to repair the roof than another 40 or so for some MEK (very expensive however effective and semi dangerous industrial strength cleaner), headliner glue and headliner material.
😂😂😂 the rich guy voice was killing me 😂😂👏🏾
One thing you seem to have missed, a standard Mercedes feature, is the "kickdown" on the accelerator. You sort of press the pedal past the bottom, it clicks into kickdown, and that's where the top end of your powerband is found.
That, and the secret tape deck. Other than that, good POV review! Audio was pretty good for open air, I have to say. Nice job finding a stick-shift too, it's night and day with that car.
+John Q Miller Kickdown is a autotransmission feature and it drops one gear (You have to floor it to press it soit drops at least 2gears), but it doesnt change how the engines operates.
it's funny how this guy puts down this vehicle, very obvious that he's pro BMW or Porsche, I own this car with the amg package and it's excellent in every way and no the engine is not full of vacuum hoses lol its definitely one of the cleaner motors I've seen much cleaner and stronger than BMW by miles
Why are people afraid of vehicles that stay on their own lane? Yes that was not a wide road but stopping to the bank when it passes by? I have always wanted to ask this from people who does this because i always laugh when people do that even when there is room like 2-3 meters between your vehicles.
It's not his car so I'm sure he doesn't want to take the risk.
+Towel1e Because you can't control other drivers and sometimes road's while lined up dont neccessarily account for all car's of certain widths and such. More a less a extra-precautionary thing.
+Towel1e As a dually driver, I laugh all the time when they fear they cant go , and I go after them like nothing !
Know a guy who owned one of these,painted in canary yellow for the 2000 Olympics in Australia.His girlfriend parked it behind his tractor and it got flattened,good for insurance.
That car has the same exact stereo as my C230 from 2000. Also there is a cassette player, you gotta turn the radio, click cassette, then click eject. The cassette will open up.
Edit: Almost all of the dash & center console is the same on my 230.
RegularCars, there is a tape player in the stereo, push the tape button then the eject button and the LCD will fold down to reveal the cassette player.
The vario roof is slow but I suspect that its slow on purpose for safety reasons. But if you install a smartTop controller, then you get single touch roof operation, up/down while driving and roof operation with key fob and other cool stuff.
The 2001 has a much better manual transmission and the AMG package turns it into a solid handsome car that I think looks better than the R171 & R172
The only down side is that the simple and elegant interior finished with latex paint instead of leather to offset the cost of the roof.
All in all its a great if you want a quality convertible sporty car (roadster). Its more of a GT car not a track car. And the trunk/boot is bigger than most sports cars.
The 196hp 230K engine can be remapped; as well as upping the supercharger pressures, the engine then revs to 6500. This combination takes the 230K to a 320 V6 beating 238hp !!
The cruise control/turn signal location is confusing for a week or so but then becomes second nature. I now like the easy access to the cruise control.
I like the car. My friend picked up a 2000 manual and I drove it.
Found someone recently that wants to trade a 99 for the 97 BMW 740iL I have now.
I want something smaller and although his is an auto I can live without an manual no problem. I do like the hard top convertible. Tired of the maintenance of soft top cars.
Didn't check the market in the US at this time, but I baught my 20000 SLK 230K in late 2020 here in Europe for 4,500 Euros from a dealership and just because I didn't want to take my SL55 on a trip to Italy. I had planned to sell the SLK immediately after that one trip, but I then decided to keep it. It's just way too much fun for basically no money - at least not compared to my SL.
This is a fun little car that doesn't blow one's wallet and still delivers evrything one could ask for from a small roadster.
You need to review the c230 kompressor
Sedan
love mine :p i sent him a message offering it when he passed though Atlanta but im sure he got a ton of offers
In europe this is cheaper than the miata
sorsorsor11 No.
They're dirt cheap here in the UK. you can get something driveable for 900 quid, 2 grand gets you a nice one.
More or less the same price range, yes! MBs are more likely to have been odoed back, though.
(Looking to buy a 320.)
It totally is, you can get an slk for 1k euro and miatas start aroud 2k euro.
@@DravgonPL no way you get a good slk for 1k or a good mx5 for 2k in Germany
ive owned both 230slk's and miata's and there is no comparison... the miata will beat you to death it rides like a wagon.... no power and its a tin can... nothing even close to the mercedes 230slk wow...seriously..?
I agree. I think that this guy has something against Mercedes.
Christian Cox
That car weighs 3500 Pounds unbelievable for a Small Car that’s Nearly the weight of full size cars from the 90’s and early 2000 .
@@victorvictor8587 get the SLK320 with the 3.2 liter V6 and that compensates it very much.
And if you really want to have fun get the SLK 32 AMG that has a supercharger strapped to the same V6 and you really start having fun!
We owned a 1999 black on black with the 5speed. Fully custom, great car, originally paid $5,100 with 92,500 miles on it in september 2015. Great car, just sold for $8000 with 101,000 with tons of custom equippment. They got a great deal.
My brother has one of these. A lot of fun honestly. He has a new pulley on his sc and hes pushing almost ten pounds of boost and it moves.
What a great looking Mercedes Benz SLK230, especially in that color of red.
I have one for a daily. Offset 18s helps with traction and every Vegas highway is my playground 🚗💨
It's crazy to think that a car made in 2000 is stuck in the "early 2000's". Just giving you some shit, I love your weird reviews. They always make me laugh.
i own a 2003 facelifted slk 230 and he is just talking shit. my car stock eats civics miatas even new v6 camaros. yes it is heavy but this car is a sleeper even just being stock. the car is not a rocket but it aint slow either. not just thay i get complimented on the car. no one believes me when i say its a 2003. i tale it often to car meets and people tell me how beautiful it is and the shock when you show them the vario roof. it is not an over proced luxurious miata. this is more capable than a miata light years away. nevertheless the first roadster to have a convertible hard top. 0 to 60 in low 6's is not the best but it ecxeeds its expectation. not only do you get the looks and it doesnt dissapoint. this guys slk sounds like it has a maf malfunction anyway. the car accelerates quick and stays fast. so far the only car i have lost to is a Camaro SS so far no complaints.
You should review that new Volvo XC90
I had a mk1 mx5 prior to my current SLK230. Apart from have a retractable roof, it’s nothing like an mx5. I also prefer the Mercedes. :)
The one thing I can recommend for any Mercedes owner of a early 2000s model (aside from the AMG versions) is to put wider wheels and tires under it. As wide as you can go without scrubbing. Because they feel like they can handle far better than they actually can, and that makes them dangerous once you reach the limits of traction.
the turn signals/cruise control thingy you'll get use to it after few days of driving it
I enjoy your obsession over the inane details of all cars. that has to be the silliest cupholder of all time. although this car seems kinda sweet to me.
this engine is complicated if u only worked on 49cc one cylinder engines before. otherwise, for any sunday mechanic, this is pretty straight forward to work on.
5:52 Did you say "lots of manure on these roads"?
This is what happens when you let someone who knows nothing about Mercedes vehicles tell you about a Mercedes. You get an extremely ignorant video from someone who talks more than drives. That engine is so powerful and if you don't floor it and let the sound of that supercharger deafen people, don't make a video with another merc video
right?This dude just wasted gas on a shitty review
M111 2.0/2.3 are known to go up to 250-270hp NA and support pro charger, so this engines can take Supercharger, M62-M45 and a Garrett, ez, 2000-2003 M111 got upgrades, reinforced belts, pistons, a lot more, for higher compression. I know a CLK200 with Turbo, and got 581WHP, well... More like RWHP, so, kind of 670HP at the crank. CLK230K facelifted, 2001-2002 model is what I really want.
Finally they reviewed a Mercedes! Now we just need a review on other Mercedes
The wind buffering is really good. It’s almost as if the roof is up. Mercedes engineering.
Just an FYI, there is a tape player behind the lcd on the radio.
I remember seeing this car in Gran Turismo 4 and it was always in last place since the gears were so long
My parents got a 2001 CLK 200 kompressor elegance with an automatic gearbox.
The engine is great for just driving if the car has an automatic gearbox. Composed, the low rpm power nature makes it feel like it has a bigger engine than it truly has when cruising and the car is silly comfortable and neat when it comes to interior and ride of a 2001 car.
I guess most Mercedes cars are great for cruising and not so much for things you would use a sports car for even though they often look like sports cars..
Finally, Mr. R drives a mercedes! Come drive mine up in Oregon on the Pacific Fister!
There is a tape deck on these things, i have one! you have to hit tape, then eject and the whole face plate flips to reveal the deck opening!
Also, any chance you'd want to review mine? I have a 2000 SLK230, which has been highly modified
As far as the lack of RPM from the DOHC 16v layout goes, it's probably because of the supercharger. When you boost an engine you're getting more air essentially, so you need more fuel as well to maintain the proper AFR. Instead of upgrading the fuel injectors, they probably limited the RPM instead, it's cheaper and most people don't use the power.
Superchargers are geared for certain rev ranges. It is more driveable on the road with a lower rev range. They are really quick for what they are. I love them, lots of fun.
That kick in the pants to drive a kick in the nuts to own
jaa , that is what kind of car reviews are needed
This, the del sol, and the s13 videos all make me think one thing
GRAN TURSIMO 3!
The passenger side dashboard looks early 1990s. The glovebox and airbag positioning reminds me of earlier Camries and Tahoes.
We got an slk230 for free previous owner didn't want it 🤘🏽😁 we just replaced Mass Air Flow Sensor and basic tune up runs like a champ
Is there a regular review to go with this POV?
just because an engine doesn't Rev, doesn't make it a bad engine. And I realize that you know that as well. I'm not saying you don't. But that's a actually a pretty willing little motor in that slk. It's too bad that they didn't try to make the car a little lighter and refine the steering feel and handling a little bit. it could have been a much better little car. I've driven one on numerous occasions.
also, that stick version is pretty rare. The vast majority of them were automatic. And the auto essentially killed the cars potential for real fun.
Just bought a used 2001 SLK320 and I've never driven a kompressor but the naturally aspirated engines in these and the lightweight bodies (for Mercedes) makes its way quicker than say my old e350 , at 110,000
Really liked this review style it was a nice change of pace.
So you usually talk to others while driving to formulate your thoughts and later refine then after watching footage/taking notes? I didn't notice much of a difference between you driving with out without someone. Keep up the good work!
I drive a Mercedes Benz clk 200 build in 2000 but it drives like a dream it’s a aventgarde (luxury car) if you get the change try one it drives like a dream
RE-REVIEW THIS PLEASE
there is a tape cassette player. when you press tape the LCD screen on the radio itself flips down and you can insert a tape there.
When I saw that hat in the passenger seat I instantly got the picture that you are that guy from Tim Allan TV show "home improvident". You know that guy other side of the fence you only saw half his face
The new Turbo 2.0L engines from Germany (BMW/MB/Audi/VW) and Cadillac and Ford ecoboost have same direction: low/mid range torque. Mostly for fuel economy (low rpms w/tall gearing). You're going to see a lot of this in the future.
So diesel is the future?
You have to keep holding the roof button in most new cars, including a 2015 Jaguar F-Type (I was shocked).
Loved the Road and Track article
Thank you exactly what i wanted to know ,,👍🙏👌🙏👍 very good, technically, entertaining , talk about everything , bravo
I love the POV drives..
Not sure if this is true in the 2000 one but in my 2003 one the screen flips out to reveal the cassette player
You push the tape button then screen on radio says eject push second button from left ( like station presets) and small screen folds down to insert tape
the tape slot is behind the radio display screen