 MERCEDES JUICES UP SLK WITH V6 POWER
It's hard to get worked up about a sports car with an exhaust note that sounds like my six-year-old blowing milk bubbles through a straw.
So despite its brilliantly clean styling (this is a very pretty car) and ultra-stiff body (for flat cornering and a well-controlled ride), I've been less than enthusiastic about the Mercedes-Benz SLK230 two-seater. All show and not enough go from the 185 supercharged
four-banger the car was introduced with in 1997 - introduced, by the way, with only a five-speed automatic transmission. About 18 months ago Mercedes began offering a five-speed manual, but the shift action was less than elegant. Way less.
Imagine my delight, then, when Mercedes offered up an improved 2001 SLK lineup, just in time to have some topless fun this summer. Yes, I did say SLK lineup. And did I also mention the price reduction. Mercedes officials say the sticker has dropped five per cent for comparably equipped models.
No wonder Mercedes-Benz president Ernst Lieb seems to wear a perpetual grin these days. Somehow his 50-odd Canadian dealers are able to boost sales month after month, setting sales record after sales record. It helps to have a Mercedes luxury car lineup that totals almost 20 models. Which means that if you've got some bucks to spare, Mercedes probably has some kind of car or sport-utility you'll like.
Among them might be the SLK230 and the spanking new SLK320. The latter is powered by the same 215-horsepower V6 that drives the E320 sedan, among others. Not only does it give the SLK serious jump, it growls very nicely when you stomp on the throttle. Expect 0-100 km/h times in the seven-second range with the six-speed manual transmission.
Ah, the six-speed. That's new for 2001, too. It's the standard gearbox in both the 320 and the 230. Speaking of which, the supercharged latter (Mercedes calls it the
Kompressor) gets a modest horsepower boost of five, to 190. The extra ponies come via a redesigned cylinder head, coil-on-plug ignition and near-silent supercharger bearings. Still sounds like milk bubbling from a straw, though.
Prices- SLK230s go for $54,350/$55,750, manual/automatic, while the SLK320 lists at $60,150/$61,650, manual/auto. The auto, I should note, has Mercedes' own TouchShift feature, which allows the driver to control up- and downshifts by tapping the lever sideways.
Just as important, the SLK's suspension has been retuned (stiffer dampers and a new rear torsion bar) and Mercedes' own ESP stability-control system is now standard. If you find yourself too hot in a corner, ESP will save you from sliding into the ditch - or worse.
Then we have the SLK's updated looks. We're not talking dramatic changes here, mind you, but subtle improvements. Such as door handles in body
colour, new front and rear bumper covers, sculpted rocker panels under the doors for a more aggressive stance and a polished stainless steel exhaust tip. The side mirrors get turning signal lights on the leading edge, adding a measure of warning for those behind. The SLK320 gets its own front air dam, a shiny metal door sill and bigger five-spoke wheels and tires (205/55R16 front/225/50R16 rear).
There more on the styling front, too. Clear glass strips across the rear taillights for the turn signals and backup lights add a dressy touch. A nifty trunk release is hidden at the top edge of the licence plate, replacing the push-button gizmo of last year.
The cockpit has better news, still, The seats fit better, the new steering wheel is easier to manage (smaller in diameter, it's less bus-like) and the soft-return sun visor looks appropriate for an up-town roadster. Gone is the fake carbon fibre trim of last year's SLK230, replaced by sharp-looking aluminum bits. The SLK320, meanwhile, is decked out in wood, including inserts in the steering wheel and the gearshift knob. Rich. So, rich.
Somehow (and this is by no means a scientific analysis) the SLK with a V6 feels bigger than the identical car powered by a
four-banger. The lusty response of a much torquier engine changes the whole character of the
SLK. This roadster was always comfy and pleasant to drive; the V6 injects drama into the package. That said, the six-speed manual is not a sharp-shifter the equal of the BMW M Roadster and Honda's S2000. The Benz stickshift is good, but not quite that good.
On the other hand, nobody else offers a retractable hardtop quite as sophisticated as the one you get standard with the
SLK. Flick the switch and the top lifts and folds into the truck automatically in about 35 seconds. It's a mechanical wonder. And because this top seals so completely, the SLK is a legitimate four-seasons convertible.
What's next for the SLK? Rumour has it that Mercedes is planning a high-performance AMG version. Seems reasonable to assume AMG can punch out this engine to, say, 300-plus horsepower. My bet it'll come next year.
And you thought the 2001 model was fun!
2001 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 320
Engine: (front engine/rear-wheel drive) 3.2-litre V6, w/three valves per cylinder operated by single overhead camshaft
(SOHC); electronic engine management/sequential port fuel injection; 215 hp at rpm; torque rated at 229 ft-lbs at 3,200
rpm.
Transmission: six-speed manual or electronically controlled five-speed TouchShift
automatic.
Steering: power-assisted recirculating ball.
Brakes: power?assisted front disc/rear disc with four-wheel anti-lock (ABS) and
ESP.
Tires: P205/55R16 front/P225/55R16 rear.
Wheelbase: 2,400 mm. or 94.5 in.
Curb weight: 1,405 kg or 3,099 lbs.
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 12.7 city/8.0 hwy
 Price
(MSRP base): $60,150.
Key standard equipment: power hardtop, fine mesh wind deflector, foglamps, remote central locking, illuminated entry, AC, dust filter, REST mode, power windows/side mirrors, auto-dimming rearview mirrors, delayed cutoff courtesy lamps, wood/aluminum trim, Bose sound
system.
Key options (pricing unavailable): SLK sport package, Xenon headlamps, power seats, manually telescoping steering
column.
J.D Power & Associates Initial Quality Ratings (industry average 154)
SLK: 123
Mercedes-Benz lineup: 134
Consumer Reports predicted reliability: NA.
 Performance in 0-100 km/h:
7.0 seconds
Safety/security: dual airbags; side airbags; BabySmart system; no rating for headrest effectiveness; anti-theft device; no available rating for driver/passenger crash protection; no available rating for side impact crash protections; no available rating for collision claims; no available rating for comprehensive claims; no available rating for theft claims.
Warranty:
Basic & powertrain: 4 yrs./80,000 km.
Major components: 4 yrs/80,000 km.
Rust perforation: 5 yrs./Unl. km.
Roadside assistance: 4 yrs./60,000 km.
 Pros
* What a looker - and what improvements inside and out for 2001
* Brilliant top makes this a four-seasons roadster
* V6 power and sound make a world of difference
Cons
* Six-speed manual good, but not great
*Note: Pictures shown are of the
2000 Mercedes SLK 230
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