SLK - Autoshite’s most popular roadster?

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I paid £36 for that one, including post. More than I'd usually pay for a model, but when they make almost your exact car, what can you do?

[Split_Pin]

45 minutes ago, Conrad D. Conelrad said:

I paid £36 for that one, including post. More than I'd usually pay for a model, but when they make almost your exact car, what can you do?

They are £70 upwards now. I got a mint and boxed 1/24 one instead but it doesn't have the folding roof.

[Rod/b]

I think @RichardK is back in the fold - was this thread responsible?

https://x.com/rtkdrives/status/1706089729358258367

[loserone]

On 9/23/2023 at 11:45 PM, Barry Cade said:

I may be a minority here, but I found mine exceedingly meh. Took it to the Black forest,through France, which really should be what this car is made for but most of the time I'd wished we'd just gone in the Focus. I far, far,far preferred my MGF, which was second to an X1/9. 

Wouldn't have another. 

An MGF really is more than the sum of its parts.  You feel it all the time, as a cobbled together amalgamation of bits of metro, and yet the result is a comfortable sports car which has some of the most compliant suspension I've experienced.

An MX-5*is* a better driver's car, but the F is better on real roads.

[RichardK]

2 hours ago, Rod/b said:

I think @RichardK is back in the fold - was this thread responsible?

https://x.com/rtkdrives/status/1706089729358258367

It didn't hurt, put it that way...

[r.welfare]

That blue is the best colour IMHO.  And under £600 is sensational value.

[Shandylegs]

Had a latter r171 one for the past 3 years. Searched for and found a low mileage, well looked after car and haven’t had any problems with it in over 25k miles. Still a relatively quick car which can get a decent hussle on when required.

They aren’t immune to the tin worm though which left me in a bit of a dilemma - replace, or spend a bit of money bringing it back up to a decent standard.

I honestly couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather have for the budget so bit the bullet.

[Floatylight]

Force Hail thread for mine now live https://autoshite.com/topic/55692-for-sale-2001-slk320-£1300/

[mk2_craig]

I have nothing to add, other than a spot from today that’s nearly good enough for the Twinned Car Spots thread but not quite as only one of them is painted DDR. Otherwise - basically identical. 
 

[Rod/b]

Finished 

 

[Split_Pin]

A question for the hive mind - how do you get on with the seat adjustment and reaching the accelerator pedal?

My wife is not especially short and has never had a problem with any other car but in my SLK the seat does not slide forward enough for her to be able to reach it. Although I can reach it fine the pedal is inordinately far away and with the seat slid half way my leg is still almost fully outstretched (I am about 5' 10"). The passenger seat has the same range of movement ruling out 20p stuck in the seat rail.

Both height adjusting gas struts are completely missing and raising the seat would move it forward a touch but it would still not be enough.

I'm just trying to understand of there's something weird about my particular car.

[Rod/b]

I’m a right shortarse and I drive it no issues, even with the seat at the lowest setting. 

[gm]

anyone looking for a set of alloys ? proper staggered 7x16 front and 8x16 rear, presentable rather than mint 

£100 anyone ? 

durham dh2

 

[RichardK]

1 hour ago, gm said:

anyone looking for a set of alloys ? proper staggered 7x16 front and 8x16 rear, presentable rather than mint 

£100 anyone ? 

durham dh2

 

tempted, I prefer that style, but I've got decent tyres on the ones I have. Put me on the 'no-one took them and I'm sick of looking at them' list if no-one else really wants them?

[r.welfare]

On 9/27/2023 at 8:15 AM, Split_Pin said:

A question for the hive mind - how do you get on with the seat adjustment and reaching the accelerator pedal?

My wife is not especially short and has never had a problem with any other car but in my SLK the seat does not slide forward enough for her to be able to reach it. Although I can reach it fine the pedal is inordinately far away and with the seat slid half way my leg is still almost fully outstretched (I am about 5' 10"). 

Same height and I must admit the seat is a lot further forward on its runners than halfway for me to be comfortable with the clutch throw.  I do have the seat on its lowest setting though.  Your legs do go straight out which feels very odd coming from the MPV I drive normally.  Assume your seats are manual and not electric?  
 

The height adjuster does seem to tilt the seat forward quite a bit so maybe a cheap secondhand pair of fabric seats would be the way forward?  Not sure if yours are heated (mine aren’t) but the leather ones tend to take a beating on the bolsters anyway.

[Split_Pin]

I'm not keen on fabric seats on a nice car like the SLK tbh, leather ones seem to be the first thing to go on a breaker in a scrappy too. It's moot now as my.wife is keeping the TT and I'm actually really enjoying the SLK. Certainly something different for me.

[Rod/b]

My garage came and picked the car up while I was back in the UK because the mirrors were U/S after the paint job. Just a loose plug on the switch.

They took it to the paint protection guys for a ceramic coat while they had it - gotta keep that new paint looking well!

I also purchased the missing interior door mirror trim while I was back in the UK - and left it there. Doh!

[The_Equalizer]

On 9/24/2023 at 1:06 PM, RichardK said:

But many people don't realise steering dampers are there for a reason and are a consumable. And also piece of piss to replace.

Absolutely. Popped a new steering damper on my CLK (while doing other MoT work.) The steering was snatching when coming out of the drive. All sorted at a cost of £36 for a Sachs one and it is only two bolts.