Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster (1996 - 2004) 230K 2d Tip Auto (02) (2002/52) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I've landed.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Jealousy is a wonderful thing.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I wouldn't buy it again as it's a rot box but I do forget all that as soon as I drive it.

What are you likely to buy next?

They've stopped making the Honda engined Rover Sterling so I'd be hard pressed to think of what comes next. Definitely not a Mercedes and I have a 1 Series BMW company car that is specced up to the hilt but is still uninspiring to drive. Perhaps another Triumph Stag - at least it put a permanent smile on my face the whole time I owned it.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£32,500

When did you buy the car?

September 2002

Did you get a good deal and why?

I did ok with the deal although that was mainly down to them getting their figures wrong.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I bought the car because it was a secure convertible with the roof up.

What was the dealer like?

Dealer didn't seem to know too much about the vehicle.

What's it like to drive?

It goes exactly where you point it. The power is instant. The road holding combined with ESP is legendary. I've tried my best to put it into a ditch but it's impossible. The ESP is tiresome though on long motorway journeys and I tend to turn it off.

What's it like to park?

Dreadful to reverse park. I don't like reversing sensors but these should be standard issue on this vehicle as the rear vision is guesswork. The worst thing is wanting to find that one space where nobody can dent or scratch it. I've managed for 11 years so far but it takes all day just to park up to buy some socks.

Have you had any problems with the car?

The alloys have rotted away from the blind side out within 2 years. There is rot on the underneath of the bonnet, on the bonnet support member, behind the rear screen glass and under every wheel arch. Apparently none of this is covered by the 'extensive' body corrosion warranty. It flattens and destroys batteries alarmingly. The ABS light is an endless talking point. The tyres have to be pumped up everyday due to the alloy corrosion. The supercharger makes a shocking noise on initial startup. After an emergency stop reverse does not select which has almost caused death and is irritating at the very least. (This is acceptible apparently.) The Xenon highlights are little more than candles.

What's most practical about your car?

The folding roof.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The folding roof. The electric seats are pointless because there is no memory function.