ShawnOk

iTrader: (1)

I know this is a weak comparison, but I drove a 2006 SLK280 AMG today and I gotta say I was not impressed. 44k miles for $17k asking price. One of my parents' 87 year old patient wants to sell his car so my Mom called me to have a look since I'm the family mechanic. Possibly a new addition/adoption to our Toyota/Lexus fleet ('02 SC430, '96 LS400, '12 Avalon, '10 Sequoia, '98 4-Runner (sold), '02 Celica (sold)). I took it out for a spin and was not happy at all. Compared to my SC it wasn't fun to drive. The interior looked nice with the two tone leather and panel dressings. I really liked how clean and "futuristic" the door panels looked with the "metal" armrests and window switches. It also had a very nice Harman/Kardon sound system, but not as sweet as the stock SC430 ML (given that it doesn't fall apart with time). Even though it's an AMG it felt sluggish (understandably only a V6 pushing 228hp, but I guess I was fooled by the AMG hype). Lots of body vibration and noise when the top was up and def a stiffer suspension (good and bad, I guess). Lots of little switches to get the steering wheel paddle shifters/sport mode activated. And there was a ton of clanky noise and "jerky" movement when dropping the top. Not smooth, quiet, and fluid like the SC. Also, HUGE blindpots when the top is up. The interior seemed really cluttered with tons of little buttons for the Nav/Media/Phone screen, center stack, and even more buttons on the steering wheel. The instrument cluster was nice, but the multifunction display was a little hard to use. Flipping between the trip, odo, and status/phone display took some patience. It felt overwhelming. Plus, I felt it was really confining. Now I'm not one to feel claustrophobic, but I will say that the backseats in the SC430 really do serve a purpose: to keep the driver from feeling trapped. My recommendation was to pass on it. Anyway, just my two cents.

SlvBullet

iTrader: (8)

I test drove one of those before I bought the silver bullet and totally agree with you. Furthermore, I needed help getting out! On the other hand I loved driving the sc from the moment I got in.

OBP

If it was indeed an SLK280, it was probably not an AMG engine. The AMG engine cars would have only two digits ( like SLK 55 or something ). So maybe just an AMG bodykit on a non AMG car ? Which would explain why the standard V6 felt weak.

Autoplak

Agreed,
Search revealed that there is no SLK280 AMG.
There is an
SLK280
SLK350
SLK55 AMG (~5.5 liter)

If the car was of interest, the mileage (44k) and price ($17k) are very competitive.

.

ShawnOk

iTrader: (1)

So how do you tell the difference if it's just the AMG sports body package or the actual AMG engine performance package? Seems like the old bait and switch from MBenz. Like throwing Shelby Cobra emblems on a 4 cylinder Mustang. Fake out.

As a side note, I was always told that German cars (ie. MBenz and BMW specifically) were just time bombs. Something will eventually go wrong and will costs huge amounts of money and labor, which was another huge blackball against this purchase. I used to have a "girlfriend" who worked for the local BMW dealership in KC who drove a 5 series and she used to call my Lexus, "A Toyota in a Prom Dress." In retaliation I always called her BMW, "The Hindenburg." She works for BMW Corporate in FL now. Go figure.

OBP

So an AMG engine would generally have a plaque on it saying it was from AMG and there is a signature of the tech who built the engine. A regular MB engine would be mass produced and no AMG plaque with signature would be stuck to it. AMG engines usually are significantly more powerful than regular ones. My guess is the SLK 55 would put out around 350 to 380 HP while the SLK 280 would be well below 300, maybe even low 200s in output. Just guessing ....

grabber2

I test one before I got the SC430, you can't compare it. Its in a different class. SC430 is compare to the SL series.

Regardign the AMG, its just the AMG package added on the SLK280, like the M-sport package & not the real AMG/M car

Its like the deifferent between Lexus IS350 F-sport & IS-F,

tromly

good point, that's what I was thinking!