Take Note, Lose Reason

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday November 1, 2008

Jaedene Hudson & Richard Blackburn

HE Mercedes-Benz has given the SLK roadster a mid-life nip-and-tuck, with the usual redesigned bumpers and new seat fabrics. We've got the most expensive model, the SLK55, which has a 5.4-litre V8 under the bonnet. It puts out 265kW of power and 510Nm of torque, or pulling power. Powerful enough for you?

SHE Isn't it just so much fun? The engine note is so addictive it makes you want to tape it and just play it over and over. It is knock-you-back-in-the-seat power.

HE The larger CLK convertible gets a 6.2-litre V8 but that would just be greedy, wouldn't it? I agree about the exhaust note - the sound is almost good enough to keep the top down in the rain. I was torn a little bit, though, because the Harman Kardon sound system is a ripper. Every time I hopped out of the car my ears were ringing.

SHE Yeah, tunes or engine note? Hmm, that really is a tough one.

HE The new red-and-black leather seats look the part and the carbon-fibre highlights on the handbrake and door handles fit in well with the car's intended purpose. I like the new contoured steering wheel and the digital speedo is a good idea - it tells you when the fun stops, which around town takes about two seconds if you're in a 60kmh zone. What did you think of the cabin layout?

SHE It is simple, functional and very stylish. Although the carbon-fibre highlight on the handbrake came off in my hand ... a bit more glue required.

HE Apart from the cosmetic changes, the most notable difference is the new direct steering system, which is supposed to make the steering light for parking and meatier out on the open road. How did you find it?

SHE I thought it was well-weighted and the car's proportions make it a dream to park.

HE The other area where Mercedes claims to have improved the car is its seven-speed automatic transmission. The gearshifts in sport and manual mode are supposed to be 10 per cent quicker. I found the paddle shift levers behind the steering wheel worked well but it's still an automatic transmission and there's a delay on the upshifts. I think Mercedes is in danger of falling behind its rivals on this score. BMW, Porsche, Audi and even Nissan and Mitsubishi all have double-clutch transmissions that shift automatically but are quicker than manuals.

SHE That was the biggest flaw for me. Why bother putting paddles in a car when the transmission still does what it wants? There was a delay on downshifts as well, which meant during spirited driving you had to wait until it was ready and that affected how smoothly you could negotiate a twisty road.

HE It's a lot of money, thanks partly to Mr Rudd (now more than $6000 more expensive than when it was launched in June, because of the increase in the luxury-car tax). Overall, you're paying more than $50,000 in taxes and duties if you buy one new. I'd love to have one, though, and I bet you could get a good deal on a second-hand one with the way the sharemarket's going at the moment.

SHE It defies all logic when you think that you will pay close to $200,000 when you add any options and on-roads but then I guess all you have to do is turn the key and the voice of reason goes out the window.

The car Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG.

The price $171,270.

Vital statistics 5.4-litre V8. Seven-speed automatic transmission.

Consumption and emissions 12.1L/100km and 288g/km.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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