Thought I'd post my thoughts after a few months of SLK350 ownership.

The SLK is a very different car to the Crossy, at speed it feels more controlled although this does mean it doesn't feel as fast as it is. Build quality is better than the Xfire, the interior is a much nicer place to be, all the surfaces you touch feel like the extra list price is worth it.

The new 350 engine is magic and there is no real point buying an SLK with the smaller units. The 7 speed gearbox is fantastic in auto but in manual there are just too many gears and the paddle arrangement is difficult to use mid bend as the buttons rotate with the wheel.

MPG, on long motorway runs i'm getting 30 mpg, about 1 - 2 mpg better than the Xfire and the large tank on the SLK means only 1 fill up per week.

The folding roof is a major selling point and anyone who's owned a convertible will know why, but the SLK has the best of both worlds, roof up its as quiet as the Xfire coupe in terms of wind noise.

What do I miss about the Xfire, well no one asks if my Merc is an aston martin and it doesn't get the looks that the Xfire got. When i picked up the Xfire some 2 years ago people stopped and stared as you went past especially if the spoiler deployed.

So i guess its the unique Crossfire V's the more modern more powerful SLK350

Still a tough choice but the sensible part of me says SLK350, more for your money and it holds over 50% of its value over 3 years, My Xfire lost this much in 2!

Take care, I'll keep popping back to check on all of you i was lucky enough to chat with when I was an Xfire owner.

LP

 

Glad you like the new car...I do not own a new SLK but did some extensive test driving back when they first came out (and dealers were asking over sticker for them). The new SLK feels like night and day compared to that of the old platform.

Some of the first owners did state they had some problems with some engine and tranny bugs but from my reading, this seemed to now be resolved...

I will def. be looking at the new SLK in AMG form if they decide to drop the new 6.3 liter in there.

 

I haven't paid a lot of attention to the SLK 350s, but to me, the SLK 320 looks like it is smaller than the Crossfire. Both cars have to be approximately the same size, but the XFire does look like a larger car. I guess the design causes an optical illusion.

There aren't many cars that get the looks that a XFire will. They are a magnet.

 

Some prince from Saudi Arabia was able to stuff an SLR, yes, an SLR engine into the new SLK chassis. Simply ridiculous, and certainly fast!

 

I don't think I buy a slk for 2xs what a Xfire sells for here! I'd buy the SRT6 for 32k new now. Blows away a new SLK and the AMG SLK is $60k+.

 

I did look at the SRT6 but it is losing money faster than any other car in that segment. Sit tight and I think UK buyers could picky up and SRT6 for 50% off list in 18 months.