Real Road Test: Mercedes-Benz SLK R170 (no Kompressor!)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ค. 2024
- Yes, pure HubNut. The most feeble of SLKs is put through its paces. Just how underwhelming is it? Contains feeble footage of the folding roof in action, because HubNut.
This one is a 200, which we didn't get in the UK. No supercharger. Not really a sports car!
HubNut goodies can be found via our lovely store, which you can find by visiting hubnut.org - there's a Donation option if you feel you already have quite enough random clothing and mugs. Thank you. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Standard issue for every "bosses wife" in the 90's.
I have the same SLK R170, but my car is in mint condition. Bought it 5 years ago. Still just love it ❤️
You still got her ? Had mine 19 years !
"It's so very much all bonnet and not very much of anything else." In Texas, the expression is that someone is "all hat and no cattle."
@Jack Beanstalk I'm only close to Texas (in New Mexico) and I drive a HubNut-worthy 2001 Honda Insight. But, true enough, the Big 3 pickup trucks (and a crew-cab version these days) still remain the top-selling vehicles across the U.S. not just Texas. Standard engine sizes are way down from 7 liters, however.
I think HubNut is the only person in the world who is not a taxi driver who feels beaded seatcovers are a luxury.
Still not installed though!
Oh forgot to mention love the passion you have for your cars and love watching your reviews and spannering. Been working on old cars myself for the last 50 years as my passion.
"Notice it's been de-badged, so no one knows the extent of your poverty" - that made me laugh so much! :)
Funny indeed 👍🏻
That totally cracked me up!
Thats a Jeremy Clarkson type of comment 😂😂😂
@Skodaman2 That was very humble of you :) That's the thing about the Fabia, it is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
@Skodaman2 ummm, no
The EC button turns the AC off. EC for economy. The idea being you’d use the AC most of the time. The bonnet pull you’ll be pleased to know moves to the drivers side on RHD vehicles
@@dizzy2020 it's not a bad idea, AC is a tremendous way of keeping the misted windows at bay inside the car without having to have the temperature turned up to "minicab driver preference" level. I drive a car model which is known for being horrendously difficult to demist (and it is without AC) but as soon as you turn the AC on the lowest fan setting it just disappears.
@@SPTSuperSprinter156 The reason why your windshield fogs is gasses from interior plastics. Once you clean the windscreen, all is good until it gets cold and damp.
What about sun visor mirror ? Are they on both visors ?
It really needs that AC as well. It doesn't work, and defogging of the interior is an issue.
@@dizzy2020 The W211 E-Class has a slightly confusing AC off button that lights up when it's turned off heh
Better than a confusing EC button though
I had one in 2001, and it did have a better quality interior . I quite liked it, it never felt boring or cheap to me. Was reasonable high quality as far as mine was concerned .
I have a 2003 SLK320. It seems a completely different car. 3.2 litre engine, real leather seats, wood graind interior, 6 speed transmission. My previous car was a 1989 MX5. It was lots of fun but not very fast. The SLK is well suited for a senior citizen. A few years ago I took a road trip across Canada, 15,000 kilometers and had a great time.
Very good road test, entertaining! And imagine my surprise this morning as I was watching 'The Motorbike Show' with Henry Cole, who should show up on screen - on real telly - our very own Ian Hubnut in the one and only TWC! The wife didn't understand my excitement! Well done Ian!
Always thought these looked sooo boring but great review nonetheless hubnut, always answering the questions that nobody asked! 👍
I wish you had this channel when my wife had a Cypriot spec 1.4 micra CC that was bound for a life as a hire car before motor point rescued it! Very hubnut
A great review! Thank you.
Glad this likely to be one of not many, A vehicle is an experience, not an ashore arrival, HubNut.Cheers
Hi Ian,nice review on this Mercedes Benz SLK,I do like these cars,some of the cars were automatic,this one went well for power.
I had an E class 240 year 2000 and it had the same climate controls. Air conditioning was constant until you pressed the EC button also if you pressed the rest button under that it would keep the car warm for 30 minutes after switching off the engine in the winter and that was a nice touch.
I've driven the thing. It is 'decent'. Pretty comfy, quick enough for the flat dutch roads. Doesn't get your heartbeat up at all, but overall a fine driving experience.
It's the Volvo 440 of sports cars.
"This is a dead end" is becoming a Hub Nut catchphrase having done it twice in recent vids - this one and the mkIII ? Escort !
Good and honest review.
My wife and I live in the USA, we own a 2006 slk280, love it!
One of those cars you always fancied,,,but relieved you couldn't afford,,,love all the tree planting in the Netherlands,well done! Tangenting as wot I do,,,😂😂😂
Still a nice chunky Merc always have a certain chic.....cheers Hubnut keep em coming.....love em....
Thank you Ian very good review, not the kind of car to get a second look although it did look better with the roof down 👍
Used to have one of these - a 53 plate SLK200 KOMPRESSOR in black like this one. Beautiful.
Agree, not our cup of tea for hub nut followers, but still watched and enjoyed
Your videos are quality 👍
We’ve had one of these (R170 SLK230K) for 2 years with no complaints. Pleasant on short and long runs.
Parts are plentiful and inexpensive. Would love the SLK32 AMG with 360+ bhp.
I have the supercharged version. My interior is really good, mostly repainted. All it needs is a louder pipe and some firmer dampers and you've got a nice comfortable tourer with the top down. I've also painted the grill chrome. I'm still enjoying your video though.
Roof works, I'm amazed!!!
we had a few Mercs in the passed your totally correct about Merc rust issues but drove a E320 estate to Donetsk Ukraine with near 300k on the clock loaded up with no issues at all and sold it there after a Black Sea holiday with the wifes family and flew home and i think shes still in use there over 5 years on we had the 320 SLK that was a good car for the wife but again let down by the body work ...well done ian good review
We call those cars a ladies' hairdressers car in the Netherlands. Wow, at first sight I thought that the owner did painted the interior himself. Bad quality by Mercedes.
I think that interior has been painted after the fact with tippex.
Same name for them in the UK.
@@ruk2023-- was gonna say the same thing
@@shaunsautorepairs5410 Great Shaun's think alike lol 😂
@@ruk2023-- Same name in Portugal!
I don't really see the point of having this type of car, but I feel obliged to say I really like its looks. Unlike many cars presented by HubNut, this one I saw before :). However, I never noticed how pretty and proportionate it looked. I like everything about its exterior design, including the front -- it's very elegant and cute at the same time. The interior is pretty nice as well -- a real shame that the materials its made of are so shabby.
Enjoyed this one ian 👍 i have to say i have driven the compressor version and they are still quite unexciting and the noise is still uninspiring, however i have also driven the generation that followed which where much more dynamic and exciting, altho still suffer from droning engines and sluggish gearbox. Still this generation your driving here still likeable and interesting somehow 🤔
A friend of mine had a V6 SLK. That sounded very nice! He's got a V8 Audi S5 now, that sounds even nicer!
It’s a lot prettier sans roof lol. Great video.
EC means economy. When illuminated the a/c compressor is disengaged.
Same as my Golf, AC is on by default and you have to switch it off manually. Not sure why this was a good idea.
@@hglf9764 having AC on with even the slightest fan setting is really good at keeping the windows demisted.
Yeah, not exactly user friendly that was it? :-/
nice to see an slk..mines an early 97 230k,hit 60,000 miles late last year..lovely to drive..never tried the un supercharged versions tho..
A special rubberized paint is available in the correct colour for restoring the interior, its quite cheap and easy to apply. The V6 Slk is a lovely drive..
I hope the owner of this beauty doesn't watch this.
You are crushing the apple of his eye.
Good content though, thanks 👍
He forced me to drive it. 😉
Apart from the terrible interior, that is a very refined cruising car. You were also sympathetic to what mattered, so a great Hubnut review Sir 👍 Tam.
Don't see an issue with the trim ,have you been in an up to date Toyota ,this is like a Jag compared to that
I bought a 1997 SLK 230 with 70,000m for £1500 in 2015 red in colour drove it to spain great car, thought it had some decent acceleration but it did have the supercharger.
A rarity! A Hubnut car I would never want to own ;-)
Ben Day me too. a horrid car but nice to see what we are not missing 😂
It's super robust.
Funny how you should say that, just thinking the opposite.
Your whole vibe was very different in this video. This must be the first video of yours that I've seen you review a car that you haven't been enthusiastic about. I do appreciate your honesty. Boring car for you makes for a less entertaining video. Still learnt stuff about the car though.
Try the Ford Escort Mk6 Cabriolet. I didn't like that either...
I had a 230 Kompressor in Australia in about 2003 and that was way better quality interior. And sounded good too!
I've got an R171 350 which I've got no intention of selling for a variety of reasons.
I used to have a number of Capris years ago including a B Reg 2.8i Special.
My SLK drives very much like the 2.8i. Low, long bonnet, harsh suspension, less than brick wall brakes, scratchy interior quality, effortless acceleration although no rocket ship, V6 noises, hard seats, light steering, light arse end (the car, not me) in the wet.
Great review Ian, do film with your phone a lot of the time? I love the informal style of your vlogs
Thank you Ian for a great video as usual but I think I would rather have the 1982 escort
Love these cars would have one in an heartbeat
I’ve heard many words used to describe cars. But this may be the first time I’ve ever heard “scabby”. But, for this car it seems quite appropriate.
Feels like a review of my Megane CC. 🤣👍
And very well engineered...
Yes, it's Stijn to blame that you had to drive with "that". Stijn is also a good boy.
I owned a C180 and E200 both 90’s cars. They were both nice cars but I was amazed how quickly they rusted particularly around the wheel arches and they weren’t that old and had done fairly low mileage. I gave up on Mercs after that.
That is good obviously a different experience to mine. I’m not familiar with the climate in Ohio but here in Scotland with the snow and salt covered roads in Winter it seems to have had an effect on my Mercs.
I kinda like that roundy plain front end
There was an SLK32 AMG, with the supercharged 3.2 litre V6 chucking out around 350 bhp, but they were rare and expensive, and never sold officially in the UK.
I had one of these about ten years ago. Well, sort of. It was a totally beaten example that I bought just out of grad school thinking I'd look cool pulling into the executive end of the parking lot. I say I had one of these ^^^ because the supercharger sound I thought was part of the package was just the supercharger dying a slow death and once it had thrown its bearings I wound up having exactly this. Not that being 6'2" was much a problem with it either,,,,
Not the most interesting car but still a very entertaining video thank you 😀
I'd have to strip and respray that interior, it would do my head in! Currently doing just that on a 2004 Volvo s80
1500 euros to have it done. 100 to do it yourself. Parts are already done. The door covers and glove box also looked tatty when we bought it.
The AMG SLK 32 had a 3.2 V6 with 349bhp, quite a lot at the time!
I've never owned or driven an R170 but have owned several SLk's all without forced induction . R171 280, 3L 6Cylinder , 240BHP version , R172 300, 3L 6 Cylinder , 240BHP and a R172 350, 6 Cylinder , 302 BHP. All these cars have had no major faults, no squeaks or rattles and no rust issues. The build quality on the R171 was good but the R172 is definitely a step up. I chose these cars over the S2000, BMW Z4 , Mazda MX5 etc because even with the roof down I can get two medium sized suitcases in the boot. So Holidays and weekend trips away from home are not a problem. Handling on the AMG suspension set up is definitely a plus and I have never felt a lack of power. What don't I like? Three things spring to mind. First is that you can never really turn the stability control (ESP) off! It turns itself back on as you approach the limit. Second is the R172 350 only comes with an auto box and shift paddles, no manual option. Thirdly there is no N/A option in the latest models. The latest SLK's/SLC's are 4 or 6 Cylinder Turbo motors. That's just my experience of these cars and I realize the cars I have owned are no t really 'Hubnut'
I don't know if it's just the parts featured in Ian's videos, but for some reason the Netherlands all seems to resemble an out-of-town office park: straight roads, mini-roundabouts, neatly trimmed grass and lollipop trees. All very clean and orderly in a way of which the UK can only dream, but not very interesting.
EC means "Economical" as in "AC - Off" (Ventilation/Heater only)
Quite a good looking car.
Same 2.0 engine and exact same horsepower as my astra 2.0 sri 1999.
Not as fast as mine though mine is 1 second faster to 60.
You would want the kompressor version though if you were to buy one.
I would still rather have mine though.
You could have picked a car that was not abused. Mine still looks great inside after 20 years of fun in the sun. Runs perfectly as well.
That's a Mercedes for you, safe n comfy. A long distance runner.
My '96 W210 diesel 3.0L has 310,000miles n hits 160km without any problems so far. Except for brakes n fluids changes , there's nothing to do on it. Its smooth, safe n comfy, which makes it boring but i enjoy myself being comfy at all speeds on long distance trips. Am hoping to get to my first Million Miles in this one n i won't be surprised if i do 😊
No car maker can ever make a car for everyone, but this was something Mercedes had to do to survive. It opened a whole new opportunity for them. I prefer the next generation, but roots of that concept start here. I like these reviews as we get to see what various car from over the years were like, how they have aged and if we would like to try one...
Everything looks so similar to my 2002 e200k estate. The auxiliary belt is huge and needs replacing often
I was working away up north about 15 years ago or so, and a colleague drove me back to my Hotel in her SLK. I must say I was expecting a lot more going down the bypass. From the car I hasten to add!
I really want to make a joke full of sexual content and even innuendo but I shall refrain 😂
I have the slk200 NA and with a tune up and the intake mod the car can keep up with modern traffic just fine.
Great! If I could get one of those should be without Kompressor
love to see you drive a merc 190 d . my perfect car ...
I had a silver SLK 230 Kompressor, great and fun car
Some rust reperation on after 6 years!
2000€ :-(
But nonetheless I miss it still
Nice car and abit of fetteling would make it even better. The creaking plastic would be torture for my OCD but maybe a little silicone spray would help quieter things down
Not surprised you thought it was boring, you chose an SLK R170 in Ford Popular spec. I have one of the 200 odd imported SLK32 AMG R170's, 354 bhp standard. On mine I upgraded the SC to increase boost and the air intake with SL55 AMG air boxes and piping, it was then remapped for the SC and air intake upgrades. I also upgraded the TCU on the box with software to get it to shift faster. The car in now over 410 bhp, 0-60 is in the 4 second range and a top speed that requires Y rated tyres. So the SLK 200 R170 in non SC form is a slug.
Jeepers. That'd be far too much power for the likes of me.
I seem to remember driving a C-class in the 90s, and it had a clutch pedal which was hinged on the floor rather than the usual arrangement--really couldn't get the hang of it at all!
Oh, dumper truck style !
And that's what a Merc is all about: easy driving and comfort. I have owned and driven a W124 and W201. Great cars, especially the W201 (190), certainly if you compare them with other cars of their era.
Agree, I daily driven w201(190E) for 4 years. Last month I just bought an R170 for having fun on holiday. Totally in love with both of them.
I have had a hankering for one for a while except when I see one with grey old man like me in it! Then it is a rather sad look of desperation I fear.
Also as I feared, only room for a set of golf bats in the back!
That plastic interior reminds me of the Chrysler Crossfire I once owned, the dashboard always creaked, and some of the switch gear looked the same. It would be good if you could find a crossfire to review.
Thought about one (the English version) but did'nt have enough room for a wheelchair in the boot. In fact I looked at loads of convertables but had to buy a Ford Focus CC! Huge boot (trunk for the less well informed), open top motoring in the summer & a reasonable coupe in the winter, four seats & no rust (unlike mercs of the £2500 price).
Merc’s Capri 1.3L !
That slang causes quite a bit of confusion on this side of the pond. In the US, "Merc" is short for Mercury and Capri's were badged as Mercury rather than Ford.
Yes I see what you mean... oops !
But you saw what I meant...
and of course Mercury made a Montego as well as the Capri !
The Mercedes you always promised yourself.
Really like your videos - this one in particular caught my eye! I own a 2004 230K, tend to agree overall with your analysis. Quality isn't up to MB standards of the 1980's into the early 1990s - had a couple of W201 190's that were marvellous. The USP of the SLK is the vario roof, which is great, and in 2.3 supercharged form, it does shift.. shame the engine sounds like something out of a van though... These things rust - seriously rust. Mine is OK, but showing signs.. Beware of faulty electronics, too - and parts are not cheap (unlike the 190s, which were dirt cheap to run using pattern parts from Euro Car Parts). Steering and handling are.. boring to be honest, but also beware wet weather grip, it isn't confidence-inspiring... The 190 was a better drive, 'sports car' or no... Still, R170s are plentiful and now very cheap, so for fun in the sun, they're OK, and the added security of a proper roof.. Pity the quality tanked at the time..
10:36 Another delightfully HubNut vehicle coming the other way...
Come on Hubnut, admit it. You enjoyed it. As did i !
Had a low miles 06 Chrysler Crossfire which was based on the same platform and made mostly of Merc parts. Crossfire had a 3.2 V6 though so had plenty of punch.
please one day do a 1980s Chrysler Lebaron the ultimate squishy, plasticky cabrio.
Don’t you be dissin the retracting roof mechanism it saved my bacon when i rolled mine, makes quite a nice safety cage. LOL
No triangle of doom? Well there you go, it can't be all bad! 😁 She definitely had pose-ability, so long as you don't start the engine!
Maybe it'd deliver more grunt as a diesel variant ;)
Strip the interior and airbags, fit a race cage, great for banger racing. Good bit of heft.
I remember a supercharged version of one of these zipping passed me on the interstate during an ice storm and then passing said car spun off the road and wrecked about thirty minutes later.
The Kompreasor versions sound like a vacuum cleaner, but I still wanted one when they first came out
freepieanchipsgarage Yes but the 2.3L Kompressor doesn’t have a particularly sporty engine note, sounds like a Hoover.
Dear hubnut, you're welcome to "test"my 2007 Alfa GT 2.JTS. She has a few minor parking dents, new shocks at the rear, new tyres and a fresh MOT.
Very nice car tho I think Ian
Never been a big 'drop-top' fan myself, but I've always had a soft spot for the SLK. That roof is very 'Thunderbird 2' isn't it!
My neighbour has one , it is constantly leaking oil , when it rains you see the multi colour puddle under it but i think thats more down to him only driving it once a month lol
I didn't hear him say what year this model is. I have a built in Germany but sold in US 2001 SLK 320 that is exactly the same on the interior but the engine bay looks very different and my experience of the car from a sportscar perspective (although I am no sport driving expert to be sure) is that it has very nice very smooth and fast acceleration and was taken care of pretty well before I bought it so it is running just fine at about 250K miles on it.
About 40 years ago there were roads enough to be found in the Netherlands were you could drive a sportscar in a challenging way.
But during the nineties the nanny state virus blew over from the West side of the North Sea. Consequently over a course of 10 years every back road became riddled with drempels, chicanes, barriers, roundabouts and speedcamera's.
I've just got a 200 compressor and it's fairly quick tbh, def faster than a 1.8 mx5
Oh, and Carbonfibre-tastic trim was standard until the phase 2 cars, which got slightly less tacky turned aluminium instead.
Yes, people were obsessed with carbon fibre in the late 90s. A C180 Esprit I knew had carbon dash, door trims and accent panels. For those unable to afford a Merc, there were stick-on Fablon rolls of the stuff so you could make your 1.3 Escort look like a touring car 🏁
A neighbour owns a Slk 230 in bright yellow. Looks very cool, it is probably very fun to drive, but it probably is falling apart.
I actually considered one of these on my list. I wanted a convertible that was practical (MX5 crossed off), plenty of space and a comfy driving position (Pug 206CC crossed off), reliable/dependable (BMW 3-series off the list), Cheap (VW EOS, Ford Focus Convertible, Astra Twintop crossed off), left th SLK (lowest spec I could find) and Tigra TwinTop. 'Sportiness' was a consideration.
The mechanism is almost exactly the same as the Tigra Twintop and the roof ECU is produced by the same company.
I got the Twintop Exclusiv (50k miles) after realising just why these little SLKs were so cheap (after 120k miles). Interestingly the twintop's interior aged better and even has the same interior equipment - including heated seats and aircon.
At 30,000 units for the global market it's probably rarer too.
As for the hard top roof, the Tigra also gives a cavernous boot when the roof is folded away, when the roof is up the barrier can be moved forward to reveal a boot the size of a Mondeo's! It's no less complicated than a soft top roof but no one's going to take a stab at it. Best thing about a hardtop convertible? Less scuttle shake, as you have demonstrated.
Would love to see a back to back road test.
With more modern German cars it's not the plastic in the interior that you need to worry about it's the plastic parts in and on the engine! Plastic intake manifolds, plastic vanes on the water pump, etc., etc., First owner who changes his car every three years won't have any trouble! Third and fourth owners ten years down the line who can finally have the kudos of driving a Merk will suffer! I think modern manufacturer's have learnt this lesson well. But it does chip away at their engineering reputation for a short term profit motive. And of course Mercedes are now putting GPS trackers in their cars to aid the repossession people should the owner fail to keep up the payments! Naughty that one I think. Privacy and all that. Gangsters who drive Mercedes definitely won't like it!
I was actually impressed that the electrics for the roof still seemed to work OK. But one of the motors seemed to run on after everything had settled in place. Normal?
It had no character, no soul. TWC ("Taken without consent"!) has sheds load of both.
I think the run-on is the tonneau cover 'compressing' in to the body. As I mentioned about it is related (somehow) to the Saab 9-3 roof hydraulics and mine run on for a second or two to tighten down the tonneau as well as deal with the 'flaps' and no doubt a few other bits it adjusts to tension.
The motor sounds 100% identical to the Saab system and is fully hydraulic.
Maybe longer motor noise was activating a locking mech that holds everything in place when folded ?
It does look like it'd withstand being operated at 80 mph 1
Yes. Plastic cogs in the drivetrain and like you say, manifolds. All to save weight and production costs. No thank you sir!