Nice ride.

I think the R171 SLKs are probably the best looking roadsters ever made. Roadsters should look sexy, not masculine. Get a truck for that.

 

And you'd still have a Frankenstein riding an old chassis with recirculating ball steering. Would it be fast in a straight line? Maybe. Reliable? Doubtful. Well balanced? Again, doubtful. Would the resale value plummet? Certainly.

You should watch the Top Gear segment where the hosts were given a pretty hefty sum to transform a Renault Megane for track duty with aftermarket parts. The result? Almost no gains from aftermarket tires, wheels, shocks, springs, aero bits, etc. The biggest bang for the buck was tuning the engine to factory specs and performing all the required maintenance. Backyard mechanics are very seldom backyard engineers. A lot of aftermarket stuff is just a waste of money that ends up destroying the balance that was designed into the car at the factory.

 

LMAO I would LOVE to park next to you at a car show

I have never had a negative reaction to my car, at least to my face, but it is far from OEM. I have, however, won a few shows with it, and while the SLK55 would trash me in a race, I never see one winning a car show judged by car people.

The SLK is a nice, fast car, just nothing very special about it for me. I am saving my pennies for a C63 though...

 

Exactly why I just laugh when I see "for sale" signs at car shows in those 55-57 Chevy's.. who would want one of those...

 

With the base MSRP at 63K, that's 6,300,000 pennies.
( about 37,800 pounds of pennies )
How old did you say you were ?

 

Freakin nice car Saw them at the auto show, and ya..can't afford one



2004 SSB spd Coupe, Annnd!......Loving it! its finally outta the garage, whoohoo!

 

This is exactly what makes me wonder. Several people comment about how the Xfire was based on an old design, but when it came out the design wasn't THAT old, was it? You don't see anyone looking at a classic American muscle car (which I know the Xfire is not in that class, but still) and say "yeah, it's not a bad car, but that '67 technology in that GTO (or, insert your favorite import here) is worthless, so that car must suck". Why can't the Xfire be given a pass on that kind of judgment?

Doesn't make sense to me.

But, on the other hand, I can find room in the garage for both the Cross and the 55 ... I see the attraction of both ... just don't have the $$.

RL

 

The R170 platform dates to 1996 for production. Figure design started a couple of years before that so 1994-ish. Pretty dated from the standpoint of computers and telematics. Not so dated when it comes to chassis, engines, and transmissions. But still, now 15 years behind the times with an odd little 3 valve SOHC twin spark plug engine and a 5 speed transmission.

A 55 Chevy gets a break because no one expects it to be competitive with anything. People buy those as a piece of art or for nostalgia. They couldn't beat a base Ford Focus around a track. The Crossfire is not even close to occupying the sort of historical niche that a 55 Chevy or a 66 Mustang or a GTO occupies. Right now, the Crossfire is just a minor oddity in automotive history. The jury is still out on the Crossfire becoming a desirable collector's car at some time in the future. Personally, I think Eric Stoddard's design does deserve a place in some major collections somewhere. I still love the looks. But who knows.

 

Spudracer, was your first post on a MB forum - 'New guy, knock me off the SLK55 fence'.

Here is your first post on this forum. (Click)

Be careful what you say here on this thread or some people will hope it's your last.

 

Normally I would congratulate someone that bought a new car and wish them good luck, in your case I hope you have nothing but problems with your car.. Have fun, you will not be missed.

 

If you're into SLK's - keep your eyes and keyboards tuned to find one of these....now that's an SLK....!
The SLK55 Kleemann (despite the AMG logo) S4 or S8 depending on who you talk to.
They have been reportedly tuned to 627bhp....
But rare as hen's teeth - I suspect most of them are sitting in Jay Leno's basement just gathering $$$...

PS - note the missing LH tower cap....

 

Damn, this thread really took a turn for the worse.

 

Actually, it was on S2Ki, then MB World, then here. Why, is there some specified order I need to follow in posting to the forums I belong to?

My involvement in the MB forums to date has been due to my R500. So not the first place I went. Don't know anyone in the AMG forums yet (24 hours). Thought you guys might be interested in a R170 / R171 discussion since you all own an R170.

Objectivity is a foreign concept here, eh? Once again, I seem to have disturbed the rest home residents. I beg your pardon. The aging Crossfire is the coolest looking and fastest car ever made much like its adherents. No other car can beat it in a straight line for 440 yards. All automotive engineers should just stop development work on any project they have underway. The pinnacle of automotive evolution was reached in 2005. There is no point in further effort. There is no way to climb up from the summit of Mount Everest.

Likewise, Jesus wept when he first saw a Crossfire roll off the production line. Angels sang ballads praising the beauty of the hump butt. Hairdressers rejoiced and gay men everywhere were excited as never before at finding a car they could claim as their own. Especially when they saw the Aero Blue cars.

There, feel better now?

 

Yup Kleeman seems to be the shop for SLK tuning. Expensive though. Stainless headers $2,500 parts cost. Tune $800. And that only nets you about 40 hp and 40 lb/ft. The price goes up steeply from there.

 

Nah, no worries. I got rid of the Crossfire. I bought a real AMG product. But you feel free to keep gluing AMG badges to the hump butt of your Chrysler. And put some of those AMG stickers on the wheels and Chrysler badges to hide your shame. Pretending can be fun. Nursing homes encourage residents to use their imaginations. Even if they are severely limited.

 

Feel better.. yep.. from knowing your former car now has a chance at an owner that gladly accepts it for the car it is and will prize the ownership. It is what it is.. I'm not expecting to find gold nuggets in my pan at next oil change..
But I'll still be changing the oil and wiping down things while I'm there with a smile.

 

I am under 30 and the first 3 cars are paid for, working on the house, and in the next few years, a C63

That is just so I can get rid of this pile of **** crossfire, that I thought was awesome when I bought it, but as soon as I can afford something better, its dogshit

 

I see your point! Be sure and post up pictures of your new ride in a nice stance like this..

 

I thought you seemed a little defensive. Now you've removed all doubt. You're a pompous loser. Just go away.

 

To answer the questions correctly that you gave yourself:

EDIT: I was thinking of the SL weighing in at 41-4200 lbs... But still:

Would it be fast in a straight line? ----- Supercharge your new motor and shave a couple hundred pounds...

Reliable?---- Well yeah, it's still Mercedes...

Well balanced?----- Probably a lot better than it was considering the cars were prone to understeer... In this case it would be a better starting ground for suspension upgrades...

Would the resale value plummet?------ Maybe, it would be worth what someone is willing to pay... I guarentee you though that just about anyone who knew anything about cars would take a 55 kompressor r170 weighing in at 3200 lbs, over an N/A that weighs 200 lbs more for at least the same price. Probably more because it is a much better starting point.

Just my .02