Well my wife and I went to the Houston Auto Show today, looking at all the new cars. It was a mixed bag with some hybrids, E 85% cars and a few new models. We are retired so went during the middle of the day. The place was almost empty, kinda sad.

I took some pics of the 2009 SLK-350 black in color fully loaded. I will try to load pics later but here is the factory web link http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/#/vehi...SLK350&yr=2009

My wife was all excited setting in the beautiful car (NOT near as pretty lines external like the xFire, but the insides looked really nice updated and cool nav GPS) Of course $50,000 as equipped.
Our xFires are still way better looking outside, but oh wouldn't it have been nice to see a new updated 2009, 2010 xFire, I bet it would have been really cool.
No complaints here but seeing the new SLK made me dream, but not about the whopping big price. We xFires owners are big winners and have something to be proud of.
Best regards,
CAPT George

 

Yes, a supercharged version would be awesome considering it puts down 300 hp in the n/a.

 

So...when is someone going to try and drop an SLK350 engine into a XF?

 

that part, v8 was being tried earlier in 08, search the thread for it, don't know what ever happened with it...but, if you think of it, it has prolly been tried on here....LOL

 

I actually test drove both the SLK300 and the SLK350 a month or so ago.
Both drove quite nice, and they handled a bit better than the Crossfire, but still gave that solid, well planted to the ground feeling that the Crossfire gives.

The interiors on both cars are such a step up over the Crossfire, its easy to see where the extra money went. Also, the new steering gearbox they are using feels more natural to those of us whom have gotten used to driving cars that have rack and pinion steering. Just a more linear, steady feel, with better weighting of the steering wheel.

Both cars I drove had the automatic transmissions, but only the SLK offers a manual gearbox (shame on MB). Both engines offered lots of pep, and were silky smooth, just like the Crossfire's engine. I would most likely choose the SLK300 with a manual over the SLK350 with an automatic, just simply because I prefer manuals.

The only complaint I had about the SLK300 was the stock brakes. Even though the components are pretty much the same as what is on the Crossfire, they just did not perform as well as the Crossfire's, in my opinion. Major disappointment, in my opinion.

The only problem with the SLK's is that the Porsche Boxster exists.
Every time I test drive one, all I can think about afterwards is what all can I sell to buy one. It will be my next car, that has been decided.

But the SLK's are nice cars, drive fantastic, and have great engines in them.
That's why the Crossfire's have been fantastic cars, too.

BC.

 

Man, I drool everytime I see one. Love those cars.

 

They sure are pretty little things. I noticed you mentioned the rack/pinion feel. Crossfires have steering boxes, not racks, right? I think thats partially why we have such a tight turning radius.

 

Yup, the Crossfire is using a recirculating ball type of steering gearbox, but the SLK's also had the same tight turning radius on them, too. Not a noticeable difference, in my opinion.

Basically it comes down to these reasons why I prefer each car:

SLK:
Better interior
Both seats are fully adjustable.
More useable trunk space with the top down.
Better visibility with the top up (rearwards due to MUCH larger window, and to the rear sides).
Engine has more top end due to 4 valve per cylinder design.
Lots more power on the 350, just a bit more power on the 300.
Cup holders that actually hold cups.
Slightly better handling at full tilt on curvy bumpy roads.

Crossfire:
Dirt cheap.
More bottom end torque than 300.
Killer styling.
Better brakes than 300.
Easier to operate stereo.

Well, I can't make it any more simple than this:

If I was forced into paying full MSRP for either of these cars, I would get the SLK300 instead. Since you can get the Crossfire for next to nothing nowadays, there's no reason not to get it instead.

BC.

 

I like the SLK55............but its performance is still lesser than the SRT-6. Now if M-B ever decides to make a SLK63 AMG I would definately sign up for the keys to that bad azz go kart.