going to test drive a new SLK tomorrow...

[justin syder]

I'm in the market to buy a car and I pretty much have my eyes set on a used 190E Benz but for a short while was considering buying a new SLK350 or SLK280. After thinking it through I decided to pass as it would save me more money to go with the used Benz.

Tomorrow I'm going to request a test drive a SLK350, SLK280 and maybe a SLK55 AMG if its possible to do all three. I am legitimately in the market for a car but don't intend on buying anything tomorrow. What should I avoid saying/doing that will make me look like an ass or some douche that just wants to drive some new cars for a few blocks.

My plan was to tell them that I was looking at BMW and Corvettes and will test drive them before making any decisions. I will also say that I plan on buying within the next few months, definitely before the winter. I might also go to BMW to test drive the Z4 coupe or M coupe.

PS- At the Benz dealership in Manhattan that I will be going to there is also a SLR there. Should I bring my camera to take pics or will it make me look less like a customer and more like an enthusiast. I could say that I want to take pics of the SLK and its colors for comparison.

Give me some helpful hints and suggestions please, thanks!!!

[bartboy9891]

I don't know about the MB dealer in your area, but the BMW dealership around here is generally much much nicer than the MB one. You should have no problem test driving an SLK as long as you say you are looking to buy a car in the near future and you want to see what suits you best. Here, 75%-90% of the people that go into higher end auto dealerships just go in to check out the cars with no intention of buying. So if you show some serious interest in making a purchase, they'll do everything to make it happen.

For example, my cousin (age 25 or 26) was looking to buy a slightly used Z4. We went to the dealership unintentionally looking like bums and it looked like the guy there didn't take us seriously. But after we talked to him about buying a Z4 soon, he went out of his way to make the sale. He drove us maybe 15 miles to another BMW dealership owned by the same people to let us check out the selection there. My cousin bought a Z4 from him later that day. The person at the dealership was a nice guy, but he wouldn't have did all of this if we said we just wanted to see what a Z4 felt like to drive.

So what I am saying is, as long as you make it clear that you are seriously looking for a car (regardless of whether or not you are), the dealer should cooperate and let you drive just about everything. Make sure that you are informed about the cars so they know that you have been doing some research. There is nothing wrong with taking a camera, just make sure you spend some time around the SLK's instead of just on the SLR.

Oh and checkout the new Z4M for sure, it looks stunning in real life.

[MadCow809]

Having driven both the SLK, and an SLK200 Kompressor as a family car (dad's rubbish toy, but he seems to enjoy it alot). The SLK will disappoint you in terms of performace (not the 55AMG though, that a fucking monsta!), having driven both the 200K and 350. i feel that the steering wheel is a bit too wooly, brakes lack progessive feel and although they work fine, i dont get the feed back that i normally get from my BMW. Gearbox is absolute rubbish for performance driving, it works great as a cruiser, but terrible when you are giving it full, its always searching for a gear and it lags when the gearbox tries to kick down, also... it doesnt blip the throttle at downshift, unlike the BMW. The ride however is very comfortable, even though the suspension setup is a bit on the hard side, which makes this car a great cruiser. The folding metal roof is a joy to operate (lazy man's style - a touch of button) and an absolute piece of art to watch when closing/opening the roof. Look wise, i think the SLK looks fantastic, our SLK was white with the std 16" wheels, and i have to say, the car looks stunning in metal, if you are after the looks, then you wont go wrong with the SLK, much better than the crappy Audi TT IMHO. Ive seen the car in white(ours) black and silver, and i have to say that white with red leather looks the best(we didnt get the red leather.... dad wanted black leather). Oh yeah... If you love sending your car flying sideways, you will be disappointed to hear that the ESP can not be switched off completely in the SLK (not too sure about the 55AMG though, didnt get a chance to try it), and im not too sure if it was me or the car, but the computer had a problem within the first week, the tyre pressure monitor and the ESP was completely buggered. Had to take it back to Mercedes Workshop to get it sorted out, but fortunately the service was quick and professional, and soon i was giving the car on its limit again. lol

but while the 200k is great with fuel consumption and it looks, it lacks the power and torque, and the exhaust note sounds............ sounds like a 4pot engine, nothing special about it, they tried to make it sporty.... but somehow fucked up, i guess it needs more rev to make it sound better. The V6 version however have a much deeper, throatier bark to it. Its actually not that bad, definetely puts a smile on your face when you floor the throttle, but miles off from the rivals like BMW Z4 3.0... I rekon that should be your car of choice, the beemer's engine note is spot on, very sporty and racey, the straight 6 is menacing at the final 2000rpm. The power delivery is smooth and progessive, it will rev to its limiter with ease, especially when you shove it in 4th gear and hear the engine rev up to 7500rpm slowly... its a joy to listen to this engine go bonkers, also typical BMW power delivery so max rpm = max power so you will find yourself revving the engine half the time. Trust me and go for the BMW, you wont regret it.

[triumph]

if you're testing a SLK 200 , it has to be in manual (the automatic gearbox is R U B B I S H and the "f1 paddles" are just here to look good).
And ask if the SLK's you're testing have all the sport pack option.
I wasn' t able to drive the 55 but what I can tell you is that although the 200 K is a bit slow , the 280 and the 350 are really quick.

I don't know what road you'll be planning on to take, but on the twisty roads of the black forest every slk makes your normal day into a fantastic journey.

Have fun

[SL65]

Originally Posted by justin syder

What should I avoid saying/doing that will make me look like an ass or some douche that just wants to drive some new cars for a few blocks.

The best suggestion I could give in this particular situation is to say something like, "I'm interested in the SLK 350 however I want to test drive a '280 to see if the difference in price is justified."

As for test driving the AMG - state that you want a sense of what the AMG kit offers over the regular line models or something like that.


If you have any questions regarding the 3.0L V6, feel free to ask as I drive one fairly regularly. I have also had a few hours experience behind the wheel of a 3.5 and can give my impressions on that. I think it would be smart to go with the 3.0L as in lightweight car like this, you need less power to 'get it going' if you know what I mean. If you opt for the SLK 280, make sure you get COMAND because I'm not sure if thats standard.

My final point is to remember the upcoming mid-life update where the 63 AMG engine will most likely get slotted in. But also - they will no doubt improve the steering and the brakes as they tend to do with other models.

[Spectre]

Originally Posted by MadCow809

Having driven both the SLK, and an SLK200 Kompressor as a family car (dad's rubbish toy, but he seems to enjoy it alot).

Originally Posted by triumph

if you're testing a SLK 200 , it has to be in manual

Fortuantely, we do not get the SLK *200* in the US. 280, 350, and 55 only.

[bartboy9891]

^ The 350 is offered with a manual apparently, though I've never seen one and probably 99% of the buyers go for the automatic.

[triumph]

only drove the SLK 200 in automatic (5gears) don't know how the 280 and 350 perfoms with an auto yet the 280 and 350 have the 7G tronic gearbox which is brilliant

[British_Rover]

Ahh just be yourself at the dealership and try not dress like a bum. I try to treat everyone equally no matter what as I have sold cars to people that look like they just stumbled out of an AA meeting. Not every high line salesman thinks that way and at a higher volume BMW or Merc store you do have to be a bit more picky and selective. I don't get many joy ridders at my store but at a BMW or Merc store you can get a lot of them.


Just tell them that you are looking to buy in the next couple of months and want to test drive these cars. Depending on the dealerships policies you may or may not have a hard time driving the AMG car. Just depends on what their policy is on test driving low production vehicles.

If I only have one Supercharged Rover then that car is not being driven by just anyone. I need to see some proof of how serious they are or they need to be repeat/referral customers.

[justin syder]

British_Rover, straight from the horses mouth! Thanks for your advice. Thank you guys for your input too.

I didn't go, I will go on Mon, midday and will have pics up and a full report on what happened. (Maybe some nice brochures as well.) Initially I wanted to go test drive the SLK and now I decided to test drive a Z4 as well. I WILL NOT BUY, I am simply going out to have fun but will appear and act as if I want to buy in the coming months. That is part true as some may know that I'm going to buy a used 190E when I get back from summer vacation.

Insurance on a SLK55 is over $750 a month for me, i got a quote today and a SLK350 is about $631 a month. So I can barely afford the car but could not afford to insure it.

Come Mon. Ill look to test drive the following, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, SLK280 and SLK350. I decided not to look at the M or AMG cars as I prob wouldn't be able to unless they knew I would buy. Plus who test drives the entire lineup? It comes off as a bit unrealistic. Like going into an ice cream shop as asking for samples of all flavors, they know you're not buying. They will see that I want to compare between the two cars of each brand and It will seem legit.

[MadCow809]

Originally Posted by justin syder

British_Rover, straight from the horses mouth! Thanks for your advice. Thank you guys for your input too.

I didn't go, I will go on Mon, midday and will have pics up and a full report on what happened. (Maybe some nice brochures as well.) Initially I wanted to go test drive the SLK and now I decided to test drive a Z4 as well. I WILL NOT BUY, I am simply going out to have fun but will appear and act as if I want to buy in the coming months. That is part true as some may know that I'm going to buy a used 190E when I get back from summer vacation.

Insurance on a SLK55 is over $750 a month for me, i got a quote today and a SLK350 is about $631 a month. So I can barely afford the car but could not afford to insure it.

Come Mon. Ill look to test drive the following, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, SLK280 and SLK350. I decided not to look at the M or AMG cars as I prob wouldn't be able to unless they knew I would buy. Plus who test drives the entire lineup? It comes off as a bit unrealistic. Like going into an ice cream shop as asking for samples of all flavors, they know you're not buying. They will see that I want to compare between the two cars of each brand and It will seem legit.

NO NO NO NO NO!!!! Dont think like that, ask them, you never know... you will probably have a hell of a ride in either the M coupe or the AMG model.. hm... more of a chance in the //M though, i find that Mercedes sales are more snoobish and give more crap, but then again, the SLK 55 AMG is priced alot more than the Z4M. And the chances are they wont have a demo mode on their showroom floor. But you never know, just ask the sales, he wont bite.

I remember the first time when i took a second hand M3 out for a spin... OMFG, i nearly wet myself.. it was better than sex. i was smiling the whole day after the test drive, and mind you... the sales know that i have no intention of buying the car. AHHH... the freedom behind the wheel... im smiling again

[justin syder]

I'm not afraid but I don't want to seem like some guy that wants to take joy rides, even if I am.

I will ask AFTER I get my drives in the SLK350 and SLK280, for a ride in the AMG. Same goes for BMW, after the regular Z4s Ill ask for the M. I just want to test drive them and not be pressured to buy or not taken seriously. Hell I'd also love to take the SL55 for a test drive but that is why I am going to look at the SLKs only.

the sales know that i have no intention of buying the car. AHHH... the freedom behind the wheel... im smiling again

If I was a salesman, and at a BMW or Merc dealer no less, I wouldn't let someone take a test drive unless I had a good impression that they were buying or might want to. Did you flat out say "I will not buy and just want to take a test drive?"

[MadCow809]

Originally Posted by justin syder

I'm not afraid but I don't want to seem like some guy that wants to take joy rides, even if I am.

I will ask AFTER I get my drives in the SLK350 and SLK280, for a ride in the AMG. Same goes for BMW, after the regular Z4s Ill ask for the M. I just want to test drive them and not be pressured to buy or not taken seriously. Hell I'd also love to take the SL55 for a test drive but that is why I am going to look at the SLKs only.



If I was a salesman, and at a BMW or Merc dealer no less, I wouldn't let someone take a test drive unless I had a good impression that they were buying or might want to. Did you flat out say "I will not buy and just want to take a test drive?"

no, didnt say that. we were closing the deal on the purchase of my 130i, and i asked him how much a pre-owned M3 was going for, turned out the M3 that i drove was about roughly about the same price as the 130i brand new (slightly more expensive). The sales didnt hesitate to offer me a test drive, but ive already made it clear to him before that i didnt want any pre-owned car, but still he said "take it for a spin, you might change your mind" even though it didnt change my mind about buying a pre-owned car, it was one a hell of a ride.

The best time to ask for an expensive ride is after you have made your mind up about the deal, ask the sales if there are any demo/pre-owned models on the showroom floor that you can take a test drive. Most sales should do their best to hook you up with a ride, because they know that there is always that little chance of you just might spend the extra bit of money and buy the pre-owned/demo flagship model. Because when i tried the 120i at first, i was completely put off by the performance level, and i said it to the sales very bluntly: "its slow, i dont like it" and the second day, he rang me up on my cell, dropped off a blue 130i at my office, offering me a drive in that. The very same day i comfirmed my order of the 130 from him. About a week later he found a 130i that have landed in SA, but cancelled by the guy who ordered it, and i decided to take the car knowing that if i have to wait for my order it will take more than 6month for the one that i specced up to be delivered. The car was pretty much the same one that i specced up, expect for the interior colour, i wanted tan leather and it came with black. Apart from that everything else is pretty much the same, sun roof, PDC, flappy paddle gearbox (parents wanted an autobox ) etc...

Now im not so sure about how BMW/Mercedes works in USA, im not sure if the cars are all imported from Germany or made locally in USA. Depending on where its manufacturered, you might have to wait for your new car. Therefore, ask the sales if there are any cars thats available. My dad waited over an year for his E320, even though he got the car EXACTLY how he wanted it to be, it was an awful experience waiting for a car for that long.

oh yeah.. one last thing, i dont really like going to a busy branch. Reason being that most sales tend to be a little bit snoobish, and they know that if they cant get the deal from you, someone else is going to take the deal. So its very hard to slash the price down and ask for a few extra what not, therefore try a few different branches, you dont have to go there.. just make some phone calls, ask around for prices, most of the time a smaller branch will offer you alot more customer service than the main branch, because they need you, Where as going to the main brach is the other way around... you need them. For example, my boss bought a Honda Civic Sedan for R10 000 (US $1250) less from a small branch in PMB (about 100km from where he lives) it might not sound alot, but since he was on a tight budget, 10grand discount was a magnificent deal for him, also this will make his future re-sale value alot more flexible (since he didnt pay the extra 10grand markup).

Good luck with your purchase.

[poptya]

I've only had one dealership get annoyed with me. I was at a VW/Porsche/Audi lot to check out a GTI, but my mind wandered and I ended up in a cayman and an rs4

[British_Rover]

Just make sure you go in at a slow time of the day on a weekday. I hate when people waste my time on a busy Saturday or weekday right before a holiday.

People that have been in the business for a while know when someone is just kicking tires and when they are seriously in the market. In general the people at high line stores have been in auto sales for a long time.

I was the exception to that rule as I had never sold cars before I started at my dealership. I had almost a decade of automotive experience but it was all on the service side. That experience. my outstanding interview skills and the fact that they were looking for someone with no sales experience so they wouldn't have any bad habits to brake is what got me the job.

[DreamAwake]

I believe JC termed it an "SL gay".

The tiny merc roadster especially in silver looks especially feminine in a supermarket parking lot.

That said, my uncle drives a yellow AMG slk and it rocks. I wouldn't buy it though. Enjoy your test drives.

[powah]

How about a new SLK500?

[MadCow809]

Originally Posted by brownVantage

I believe JC termed it an "SL gay".

The tiny merc roadster especially in silver looks especially feminine in a supermarket parking lot.

That said, my uncle drives a yellow AMG slk and it rocks. I wouldn't buy it though. Enjoy your test drives.

well then... if thats the case, than he is probably the gay. seeing as he actually made an effort to order an SLK 55 AMG, but backed off because he doesnt want to wait for it or something...

[SL65]

Originally Posted by powerof1000

How about a new SLK500?

If one existed...why not go all the way and get the full-blown AMG monster

[hajj]

I think the Merc 5.5 litre engine as offered in other cars has more bhp than the AMG 5.5, so Mercedes would be stupid to introduce a SLK500 and keep the old SLK55. I think however that the SLK deserves a 63AMG, that would be nice. Even with only 450bhp as in the C63.