When you jam on the brakes, a computer takes over and applies full stopping power almost immediately. It can detect an emergency stop by the speed at which the brakes are applied. The SLK’s braking system is one of the most advanced on the road. Mercedes equips the SLK with power-assisted steering and power-assisted, four-wheel, anti-lock disc brakes. You are low to the ground and the car sticks to the pavement as if it were on rails. When cornering quickly, the sensation is very much like that of an amusement park ride. The ride is firm, but the car doesn’t beat you up when you drive over bumps. The four-wheel, independent suspension system - double wishbones up front and a multilink setup in the rear - keeps the power well under control. The gears are nicely spaced to take advantage of the engine’s power. ![]() The clutch pedal is light and smooth, so you never get tired of shifting, even during rush hour. The stubby little shifter notches easily into each gear. With one hand on the shifter and one on the wheel, you’ll be driving the SLK like you were on a race track. The supercharger - an engine-driven pump that stuffs more fuel and air into the engine - makes a lovely hum as it winds up.Īnd you will rev this engine often. Though not a road missile, the SLK moves away from a stop light smartly when you step on the gas. Mercedes engineers tuned the engine to deliver strong performance at low speeds. This little dynamo propels the 3,000 pound car to 60 mph in just 7.2 seconds. It’s an overhead cam motor with 16 valves. The SLK comes with a 185-horsepower, supercharged, four-cylinder engine. I’m glad Mercedes listened to its customers because the stick shift makes the SLK even more fun to drive. I just spent a week sporting around Orlando and its environs in an SLK with a five-speed manual gearbox. But, they said, they would listen to their customers and if enough people wanted the SLK with a manual gearbox, they’d make one. ![]() Mercedes brass said they had no plans to offer a stick shift in the SLK because so few drivers want to shift gears themselves these days. When Mercedes-Benz introduced the SLK a few years ago, many people were wondering when this neat little roadster would get a manual transmission.Īfter all, sporty cars are about the only vehicles left that are still offered with a stick shift.
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