The EC button turns the AC off. EC for economy. The idea being you’d use the AC most of the time. The bonnet pull you’ll be pleased to know moves to the drivers side on RHD vehicles
@@dizzy2020 it's not a bad idea, AC is a tremendous way of keeping the misted windows at bay inside the car without having to have the temperature turned up to "minicab driver preference" level. I drive a car model which is known for being horrendously difficult to demist (and it is without AC) but as soon as you turn the AC on the lowest fan setting it just disappears.
@@SPTSuperSprinter156 The reason why your windshield fogs is gasses from interior plastics. Once you clean the windscreen, all is good until it gets cold and damp.
I had one in 2001, and it did have a better quality interior . I quite liked it, it never felt boring or cheap to me. Was reasonable high quality as far as mine was concerned .
@Jack Beanstalk I'm only close to Texas (in New Mexico) and I drive a HubNut-worthy 2001 Honda Insight. But, true enough, the Big 3 pickup trucks (and a crew-cab version these days) still remain the top-selling vehicles across the U.S. not just Texas. Standard engine sizes are way down from 7 liters, however.
Oh forgot to mention love the passion you have for your cars and love watching your reviews and spannering. Been working on old cars myself for the last 50 years as my passion.
I have a 2003 SLK320. It seems a completely different car. 3.2 litre engine, real leather seats, wood graind interior, 6 speed transmission. My previous car was a 1989 MX5. It was lots of fun but not very fast. The SLK is well suited for a senior citizen. A few years ago I took a road trip across Canada, 15,000 kilometers and had a great time.
Very good road test, entertaining! And imagine my surprise this morning as I was watching 'The Motorbike Show' with Henry Cole, who should show up on screen - on real telly - our very own Ian Hubnut in the one and only TWC! The wife didn't understand my excitement! Well done Ian!
I've driven the thing. It is 'decent'. Pretty comfy, quick enough for the flat dutch roads. Doesn't get your heartbeat up at all, but overall a fine driving experience. It's the Volvo 440 of sports cars.
We’ve had one of these (R170 SLK230K) for 2 years with no complaints. Pleasant on short and long runs. Parts are plentiful and inexpensive. Would love the SLK32 AMG with 360+ bhp.
We call those cars a ladies' hairdressers car in the Netherlands. Wow, at first sight I thought that the owner did painted the interior himself. Bad quality by Mercedes.
I don't really see the point of having this type of car, but I feel obliged to say I really like its looks. Unlike many cars presented by HubNut, this one I saw before :). However, I never noticed how pretty and proportionate it looked. I like everything about its exterior design, including the front -- it's very elegant and cute at the same time. The interior is pretty nice as well -- a real shame that the materials its made of are so shabby.
I wish you had this channel when my wife had a Cypriot spec 1.4 micra CC that was bound for a life as a hire car before motor point rescued it! Very hubnut
That slang causes quite a bit of confusion on this side of the pond. In the US, "Merc" is short for Mercury and Capri's were badged as Mercury rather than Ford.
I've never owned or driven an R170 but have owned several SLk's all without forced induction . R171 280, 3L 6Cylinder , 240BHP version , R172 300, 3L 6 Cylinder , 240BHP and a R172 350, 6 Cylinder , 302 BHP. All these cars have had no major faults, no squeaks or rattles and no rust issues. The build quality on the R171 was good but the R172 is definitely a step up. I chose these cars over the S2000, BMW Z4 , Mazda MX5 etc because even with the roof down I can get two medium sized suitcases in the boot. So Holidays and weekend trips away from home are not a problem. Handling on the AMG suspension set up is definitely a plus and I have never felt a lack of power. What don't I like? Three things spring to mind. First is that you can never really turn the stability control (ESP) off! It turns itself back on as you approach the limit. Second is the R172 350 only comes with an auto box and shift paddles, no manual option. Thirdly there is no N/A option in the latest models. The latest SLK's/SLC's are 4 or 6 Cylinder Turbo motors. That's just my experience of these cars and I realize the cars I have owned are no t really 'Hubnut'
I don't know if it's just the parts featured in Ian's videos, but for some reason the Netherlands all seems to resemble an out-of-town office park: straight roads, mini-roundabouts, neatly trimmed grass and lollipop trees. All very clean and orderly in a way of which the UK can only dream, but not very interesting.
I had an E class 240 year 2000 and it had the same climate controls. Air conditioning was constant until you pressed the EC button also if you pressed the rest button under that it would keep the car warm for 30 minutes after switching off the engine in the winter and that was a nice touch.
I bought a 1997 SLK 230 with 70,000m for £1500 in 2015 red in colour drove it to spain great car, thought it had some decent acceleration but it did have the supercharger.
I've got an R171 350 which I've got no intention of selling for a variety of reasons. I used to have a number of Capris years ago including a B Reg 2.8i Special. My SLK drives very much like the 2.8i. Low, long bonnet, harsh suspension, less than brick wall brakes, scratchy interior quality, effortless acceleration although no rocket ship, V6 noises, hard seats, light steering, light arse end (the car, not me) in the wet.
One of those cars you always fancied,,,but relieved you couldn't afford,,,love all the tree planting in the Netherlands,well done! Tangenting as wot I do,,,😂😂😂
and to think, Chrysler took the same platform and came up with an even shittier car in the Crossfire - cheaper plastics, worse handling, more sluggish engine, and even poorer build quality.
@@rimmersbryggeri Chrysler has been an impressively bad company for decades. It's amazing they are still in business. The 300C (the current version, at least - the early versions were awful, yes) is a surprisingly pleasant vehicle to be in. Design and build quality are still terrible, but the finish choices and comfort are quite good.
@@iatsd The Crossfire did have more powerful engines than this 2.0, so it wasn't more sluggish, but indeed not as fast as it should have been. Chrysler is not a bad company. It has made good cars. Some models did have poor reliability and bad interior plastics for a while, but where Chrysler excelled is making exciting cars. I think most of their designs were top notch, much more exciting and better looking than any comparable European designs and they also had special versions of cars (SRT) with top notch drivetrains. What Chrysler has managed to do with the old 1990s Mercedes E-Class chassis in the current Dodge Hellcat is nothing short of amazing. With Chrysler it's often hit or miss.
@@rimmersbryggeri When they were bought by Fiat one of the very first things Fiat did was force Chrysler to re-design and spend more on on the interiors of all models they were keeping. There's quite a marked difference in the quality and styling of the interiors from the "before" to the "after" periods.
I've driven the UK version of the SLK200 on numerous occasions (also in black - were any of them not black?) and although I passed my driving test in a VW1302S and earnt my lorry-driving stripes in TK's and D-series (I'm nearly 60) and knew to adjust my expectations, I found it... underwhelming. There was too much weight in the car in the first place; there was too much weight in the steering and sod-all compensation in feel; the throttle pedal took far too much of a shove and even at maximum extent the 4-pot motor didn't do much (nor did it sound any better than the N/A example featured); I could not for the life of me get a seating position that worked for me (I might be odd, but I'm not 2SD odd); and (given its pedestrian performance) it drank like a sailor on shore leave. I'm not by any means a member of the MX-5 cult, but for the money you'd have paid for a new SLK in the late 90s you'd have been far better off buying one and splashing out on a decent holiday. BTW Why M-B persisted with that single multi-multi-function stalk baffles me - it's an ergonomic nonsense and if you think it's a headache in a car, try driving a lorry (truck) with it. It's rubbish.
IIRC, most of them seemed to be silver, as it was the era of the fashion for silver cars (the 'any colour as long as it's white' of the late 90s). You did see the odd one in bright red or yellow.
Your whole vibe was very different in this video. This must be the first video of yours that I've seen you review a car that you haven't been enthusiastic about. I do appreciate your honesty. Boring car for you makes for a less entertaining video. Still learnt stuff about the car though.
That's a Mercedes for you, safe n comfy. A long distance runner. My '96 W210 diesel 3.0L has 310,000miles n hits 160km without any problems so far. Except for brakes n fluids changes , there's nothing to do on it. Its smooth, safe n comfy, which makes it boring but i enjoy myself being comfy at all speeds on long distance trips. Am hoping to get to my first Million Miles in this one n i won't be surprised if i do 😊
With more modern German cars it's not the plastic in the interior that you need to worry about it's the plastic parts in and on the engine! Plastic intake manifolds, plastic vanes on the water pump, etc., etc., First owner who changes his car every three years won't have any trouble! Third and fourth owners ten years down the line who can finally have the kudos of driving a Merk will suffer! I think modern manufacturer's have learnt this lesson well. But it does chip away at their engineering reputation for a short term profit motive. And of course Mercedes are now putting GPS trackers in their cars to aid the repossession people should the owner fail to keep up the payments! Naughty that one I think. Privacy and all that. Gangsters who drive Mercedes definitely won't like it! I was actually impressed that the electrics for the roof still seemed to work OK. But one of the motors seemed to run on after everything had settled in place. Normal? It had no character, no soul. TWC ("Taken without consent"!) has sheds load of both.
I think the run-on is the tonneau cover 'compressing' in to the body. As I mentioned about it is related (somehow) to the Saab 9-3 roof hydraulics and mine run on for a second or two to tighten down the tonneau as well as deal with the 'flaps' and no doubt a few other bits it adjusts to tension. The motor sounds 100% identical to the Saab system and is fully hydraulic.
Maybe longer motor noise was activating a locking mech that holds everything in place when folded ? It does look like it'd withstand being operated at 80 mph 1
And that's what a Merc is all about: easy driving and comfort. I have owned and driven a W124 and W201. Great cars, especially the W201 (190), certainly if you compare them with other cars of their era.
In my opinion the first gen SLK was a rather good looking car. Not overly exciting, but not pig-ugly, as the latest one (the horror!). I especially like the refined, toned down lines that Mercedes Benz had back then - now every single one of them seems to be over-designed and then some, and even more so in the front - ewww. (Just like BMWs and Audis)
I always liked this first generation SLK's before they completely went off the deep end with styling in the current years. All of the units that were sold in the United States were Kompressor versions with the supercharger so to find a base model is quite rare. These generations also suffered from the horrible plastic deteriations as you can clearly see has happened in this example. Mercedes Benz seems to moving lower and lower in their quality of parts and manufacture in my opinion. What i never understood was the use of these aftermarket "Immobilizers" that seem to be in so many British cars? Are there more car thefts in the UK that warrant their installations?
This was on his Croatia 🇭🇷 trip, while staying in the Netherlands 🇳🇱. Remember the Crossfire? Based on this version, while M-B was on the second iteration of the SLK. I believe all the attention went to Chrysler when Daimler owned them, so quality suffered dramatically, and hasn't recovered either. Started using very complex computer systems, so when they deteriorate, replacement costs skyrocket. I also think this is the start of bland exterior styling, especially now; no difference between a CLA and a S-Class other than the size and wheelbase, they all look the same.
@@frothe42 Yes you are correct but I've seen Ian do a lot of test car reviews in the UK aswell with these immobilizer installed in the vehicles. I will say that if you find a manual version of this car, they are much more enjoyable to drive versus the automatics. Because most Americans are lazy, 95% of these were ordered from the dealer as automatics. Not sure how their long term durability fairs as in respect to engine and transmission failure issues but I would buy one and use it as a weekend toy.
@@klwthe3rd Like any vehicle, if well-maintained, it will last virtually forever. A Mercedes-Benz specialist from the Northwest has a UA-cam channel for those who DIY, some maintenance and repairs you can do yourself. Once you get to about MY 2000 do they become so complex, with fibre optics and computers. You can still do preventive maintenance, that's they key. And a lady up the road from me does drive around town in this vintage SLK, so obviously it is well looked after.
Not surprised you thought it was boring, you chose an SLK R170 in Ford Popular spec. I have one of the 200 odd imported SLK32 AMG R170's, 354 bhp standard. On mine I upgraded the SC to increase boost and the air intake with SL55 AMG air boxes and piping, it was then remapped for the SC and air intake upgrades. I also upgraded the TCU on the box with software to get it to shift faster. The car in now over 410 bhp, 0-60 is in the 4 second range and a top speed that requires Y rated tyres. So the SLK 200 R170 in non SC form is a slug.
Thankfully very few made it to the UK. A decent SLK200 Kompressor with a pully upgrade and a sports exhaust will give you all the fun your heart desires. Then again a tuned 230 might just be too much for you.
You could get them in fun colors, that's the most exciting part of the first SLK. But as per all reviews, the Kompressor hardly ups the excitement by any degree. The V6 was the one to get for power, but even then all it did was expose it's soulless, dynamic shortcomings.
In defense of the car, the roof mechanic came without any teething problems, despite being brand new technology back then. I agree with your sentiment about the quality and general sportyness issues, though.
Quite a good looking car. Same 2.0 engine and exact same horsepower as my astra 2.0 sri 1999. Not as fast as mine though mine is 1 second faster to 60. You would want the kompressor version though if you were to buy one. I would still rather have mine though.
A special rubberized paint is available in the correct colour for restoring the interior, its quite cheap and easy to apply. The V6 Slk is a lovely drive..
Nice car and abit of fetteling would make it even better. The creaking plastic would be torture for my OCD but maybe a little silicone spray would help quieter things down
You got the basic version... no heated seats, no charger, no cruise control, no Automatic gearbox. EC button is the AC basically. You should try 230 Kompressor version, it's a different car, or even SLK 32 V6 AMG
Enjoyed this one ian 👍 i have to say i have driven the compressor version and they are still quite unexciting and the noise is still uninspiring, however i have also driven the generation that followed which where much more dynamic and exciting, altho still suffer from droning engines and sluggish gearbox. Still this generation your driving here still likeable and interesting somehow 🤔
That plastic interior reminds me of the Chrysler Crossfire I once owned, the dashboard always creaked, and some of the switch gear looked the same. It would be good if you could find a crossfire to review.
No car maker can ever make a car for everyone, but this was something Mercedes had to do to survive. It opened a whole new opportunity for them. I prefer the next generation, but roots of that concept start here. I like these reviews as we get to see what various car from over the years were like, how they have aged and if we would like to try one...
For people who don't want to drive an MX-5 because it's somehow below them. Or for your girlfriend because you have enough money but dammit if she has to drive around in anything less than a Mercedes because it's what you drive. Of COURSE they sold a K-less version in the Netherlands. We're a bunch of cheapskates who are just the kind of market for that sorta thing. It's fine, I'm not bitter!
My dad (who owns this car) wanted a rwd hard top convertible with a timing chain within a certain price range. There's not that much choice. Also he's always had loads of Mercs and Citroëns. I tried to get him to buy an MX but he just doesn't care for its looks I'm afraid.
@@rollingtroll Which is a tad strange indeed, because I feel they both sport sort of the same kind of feminine looks, I think. Would prefer a classic Citroën over an SLK too I suppose. In the end of course there is no arguing taste, but it's fun. :P
The side windows are supposed to always go back up by themselves whenever you operate the roof, whether you put it down or up. We never received this anemic version in Canada, but we got the 230K and the 320. As it happens, this summer we sold my wife's 2001 SLK 320 after 13 years of largely trouble-free ownership. For the first 7 of those years it was her only transportation, summer or winter (and I mean real winter, not what Brits think of as winter, no offense). Ok, so RWD, a short wheelbase, and low ground clearance is not the preferred configuration in a blizzard, but with quality snow tires it managed unexpectedly well. With the solid top up, the heated seats on, and the usual efficient Mercedes heating, it was snug and comfortable even when the thermometer was down on the scary side of -30c. Despite these not being good years for Mercedes, my wife's SLK was reliable and well-made and had no notable reliability or quality issues. It was certainly too heavy for a "sports" car and the 3.2L V6 had a very healthy appetite for premium unleaded, in the 10-12L/100km range which is the same as her 3.2L Volvo XC70. What it was really good at however, and you got a glimpse of it on your short motorway stint, was as a grand tourer. Top down, wind deflector in place, this was a great car for covering long distances at technically illegal speeds, including in our case a memorable trip south of the border to Massachusett's Cape Cod peninsula. Mind you, you did have to learn to pack light.
The best, or nothing but late 90s Mercs. Dissing apart, I've always quite liked these, even if the quality is a bit meh. They still look svelt and stylish, the looks having stood the test of time a lot better than the build quality has. You can still get a good one for circa £3000, and at that, they are a bargain. Though to be honest, Ithink I'd still prefer an MX5.
Yes, people were obsessed with carbon fibre in the late 90s. A C180 Esprit I knew had carbon dash, door trims and accent panels. For those unable to afford a Merc, there were stick-on Fablon rolls of the stuff so you could make your 1.3 Escort look like a touring car 🏁
we had a few Mercs in the passed your totally correct about Merc rust issues but drove a E320 estate to Donetsk Ukraine with near 300k on the clock loaded up with no issues at all and sold it there after a Black Sea holiday with the wifes family and flew home and i think shes still in use there over 5 years on we had the 320 SLK that was a good car for the wife but again let down by the body work ...well done ian good review
Painted plastic trim was very nasty to the touch, scratchy and unpleasant. The C-Class have a sort of rubberized texture to it why didn't they use it for this is beyond me.
I have the supercharged version. My interior is really good, mostly repainted. All it needs is a louder pipe and some firmer dampers and you've got a nice comfortable tourer with the top down. I've also painted the grill chrome. I'm still enjoying your video though.
I lived in Holland once. Not even a good place to park cars, let alone drive them. Wonderful place, high times. Truth be told you didn't need a car as the Transport system was so good :- clean, modern, efficient, dependable, safe. Good thing too. Me driving was not a good idea back then.
I've owned all the small two seater convertibles and the SLK is by far the best built . My MX-5 was most underwhelming and you could almost hear it rusting. The MG-F was by far a better car to own than the MX (IMHO) I'll also say at this point that despite the witch hunt imposed on the K series engine, mine did 160,000 without fault. The MX was just over rated, had terrible gearing (4000rpm @70mph!) and drank fuel. Each to their own but I'm very happy with my R170 230k, it compliments my stable perfectly, wafts about and still has the best roof action ever made. The interior is far better than the dull as dishwater mx5 and far roomier with more storage.
I’ve had the 230 kompressor version for the last 10+ years and mine has the crappy plastic latex paint finish too, and the roof won’t go back up if the temperature is above 26. The EC switch turns on the aircon when it’s not lit. In 10+ years all I’ve had to have is a new alternator and MAF, so a fairly reliable car but as you say a bit bland. Won’t sell it as it worth nothing!
I owned a C180 and E200 both 90’s cars. They were both nice cars but I was amazed how quickly they rusted particularly around the wheel arches and they weren’t that old and had done fairly low mileage. I gave up on Mercs after that.
That is good obviously a different experience to mine. I’m not familiar with the climate in Ohio but here in Scotland with the snow and salt covered roads in Winter it seems to have had an effect on my Mercs.
I have had a hankering for one for a while except when I see one with grey old man like me in it! Then it is a rather sad look of desperation I fear. Also as I feared, only room for a set of golf bats in the back!
The EC button turns the AC off. EC for economy. The idea being you’d use the AC most of the time. The bonnet pull you’ll be pleased to know moves to the drivers side on RHD vehicles
@@dizzy2020 it's not a bad idea, AC is a tremendous way of keeping the misted windows at bay inside the car without having to have the temperature turned up to "minicab driver preference" level. I drive a car model which is known for being horrendously difficult to demist (and it is without AC) but as soon as you turn the AC on the lowest fan setting it just disappears.
@@SPTSuperSprinter156 The reason why your windshield fogs is gasses from interior plastics. Once you clean the windscreen, all is good until it gets cold and damp.
What about sun visor mirror ? Are they on both visors ?
It really needs that AC as well. It doesn't work, and defogging of the interior is an issue.
@@dizzy2020 The W211 E-Class has a slightly confusing AC off button that lights up when it's turned off heh
Better than a confusing EC button though
Standard issue for every "bosses wife" in the 90's.
"Notice it's been de-badged, so no one knows the extent of your poverty" - that made me laugh so much! :)
Funny indeed 👍🏻
That totally cracked me up!
Thats a Jeremy Clarkson type of comment 😂😂😂
@Skodaman2 That was very humble of you :) That's the thing about the Fabia, it is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
@Skodaman2 ummm, no
I have the same SLK R170, but my car is in mint condition. Bought it 5 years ago. Still just love it ❤️
You still got her ? Had mine 19 years !
I had one in 2001, and it did have a better quality interior . I quite liked it, it never felt boring or cheap to me. Was reasonable high quality as far as mine was concerned .
I think HubNut is the only person in the world who is not a taxi driver who feels beaded seatcovers are a luxury.
Still not installed though!
"It's so very much all bonnet and not very much of anything else." In Texas, the expression is that someone is "all hat and no cattle."
@Jack Beanstalk I'm only close to Texas (in New Mexico) and I drive a HubNut-worthy 2001 Honda Insight. But, true enough, the Big 3 pickup trucks (and a crew-cab version these days) still remain the top-selling vehicles across the U.S. not just Texas. Standard engine sizes are way down from 7 liters, however.
Oh forgot to mention love the passion you have for your cars and love watching your reviews and spannering. Been working on old cars myself for the last 50 years as my passion.
I have a 2003 SLK320. It seems a completely different car. 3.2 litre engine, real leather seats, wood graind interior, 6 speed transmission. My previous car was a 1989 MX5. It was lots of fun but not very fast. The SLK is well suited for a senior citizen. A few years ago I took a road trip across Canada, 15,000 kilometers and had a great time.
Very good road test, entertaining! And imagine my surprise this morning as I was watching 'The Motorbike Show' with Henry Cole, who should show up on screen - on real telly - our very own Ian Hubnut in the one and only TWC! The wife didn't understand my excitement! Well done Ian!
I've driven the thing. It is 'decent'. Pretty comfy, quick enough for the flat dutch roads. Doesn't get your heartbeat up at all, but overall a fine driving experience.
It's the Volvo 440 of sports cars.
We’ve had one of these (R170 SLK230K) for 2 years with no complaints. Pleasant on short and long runs.
Parts are plentiful and inexpensive. Would love the SLK32 AMG with 360+ bhp.
EC means economy. When illuminated the a/c compressor is disengaged.
Same as my Golf, AC is on by default and you have to switch it off manually. Not sure why this was a good idea.
@@hglf9764 having AC on with even the slightest fan setting is really good at keeping the windows demisted.
Yeah, not exactly user friendly that was it? :-/
We call those cars a ladies' hairdressers car in the Netherlands. Wow, at first sight I thought that the owner did painted the interior himself. Bad quality by Mercedes.
I think that interior has been painted after the fact with tippex.
Same name for them in the UK.
@@ruk2023-- was gonna say the same thing
@@shaunsautorepairs5410 Great Shaun's think alike lol 😂
@@ruk2023-- Same name in Portugal!
I don't really see the point of having this type of car, but I feel obliged to say I really like its looks. Unlike many cars presented by HubNut, this one I saw before :). However, I never noticed how pretty and proportionate it looked. I like everything about its exterior design, including the front -- it's very elegant and cute at the same time. The interior is pretty nice as well -- a real shame that the materials its made of are so shabby.
I wish you had this channel when my wife had a Cypriot spec 1.4 micra CC that was bound for a life as a hire car before motor point rescued it! Very hubnut
Merc’s Capri 1.3L !
That slang causes quite a bit of confusion on this side of the pond. In the US, "Merc" is short for Mercury and Capri's were badged as Mercury rather than Ford.
Yes I see what you mean... oops !
But you saw what I meant...
and of course Mercury made a Montego as well as the Capri !
The Mercedes you always promised yourself.
I've never owned or driven an R170 but have owned several SLk's all without forced induction . R171 280, 3L 6Cylinder , 240BHP version , R172 300, 3L 6 Cylinder , 240BHP and a R172 350, 6 Cylinder , 302 BHP. All these cars have had no major faults, no squeaks or rattles and no rust issues. The build quality on the R171 was good but the R172 is definitely a step up. I chose these cars over the S2000, BMW Z4 , Mazda MX5 etc because even with the roof down I can get two medium sized suitcases in the boot. So Holidays and weekend trips away from home are not a problem. Handling on the AMG suspension set up is definitely a plus and I have never felt a lack of power. What don't I like? Three things spring to mind. First is that you can never really turn the stability control (ESP) off! It turns itself back on as you approach the limit. Second is the R172 350 only comes with an auto box and shift paddles, no manual option. Thirdly there is no N/A option in the latest models. The latest SLK's/SLC's are 4 or 6 Cylinder Turbo motors. That's just my experience of these cars and I realize the cars I have owned are no t really 'Hubnut'
I don't know if it's just the parts featured in Ian's videos, but for some reason the Netherlands all seems to resemble an out-of-town office park: straight roads, mini-roundabouts, neatly trimmed grass and lollipop trees. All very clean and orderly in a way of which the UK can only dream, but not very interesting.
I had an E class 240 year 2000 and it had the same climate controls. Air conditioning was constant until you pressed the EC button also if you pressed the rest button under that it would keep the car warm for 30 minutes after switching off the engine in the winter and that was a nice touch.
I bought a 1997 SLK 230 with 70,000m for £1500 in 2015 red in colour drove it to spain great car, thought it had some decent acceleration but it did have the supercharger.
"This is a dead end" is becoming a Hub Nut catchphrase having done it twice in recent vids - this one and the mkIII ? Escort !
I've got an R171 350 which I've got no intention of selling for a variety of reasons.
I used to have a number of Capris years ago including a B Reg 2.8i Special.
My SLK drives very much like the 2.8i. Low, long bonnet, harsh suspension, less than brick wall brakes, scratchy interior quality, effortless acceleration although no rocket ship, V6 noises, hard seats, light steering, light arse end (the car, not me) in the wet.
Apart from the terrible interior, that is a very refined cruising car. You were also sympathetic to what mattered, so a great Hubnut review Sir 👍 Tam.
Don't see an issue with the trim ,have you been in an up to date Toyota ,this is like a Jag compared to that
One of those cars you always fancied,,,but relieved you couldn't afford,,,love all the tree planting in the Netherlands,well done! Tangenting as wot I do,,,😂😂😂
I hope the owner of this beauty doesn't watch this.
You are crushing the apple of his eye.
Good content though, thanks 👍
He forced me to drive it. 😉
Agree, not our cup of tea for hub nut followers, but still watched and enjoyed
You could have picked a car that was not abused. Mine still looks great inside after 20 years of fun in the sun. Runs perfectly as well.
and to think, Chrysler took the same platform and came up with an even shittier car in the Crossfire - cheaper plastics, worse handling, more sluggish engine, and even poorer build quality.
It's a chrysler. the 300c is also shockingly bad.
@@rimmersbryggeri Chrysler has been an impressively bad company for decades. It's amazing they are still in business. The 300C (the current version, at least - the early versions were awful, yes) is a surprisingly pleasant vehicle to be in. Design and build quality are still terrible, but the finish choices and comfort are quite good.
@@iatsd The Crossfire did have more powerful engines than this 2.0, so it wasn't more sluggish, but indeed not as fast as it should have been. Chrysler is not a bad company. It has made good cars. Some models did have poor reliability and bad interior plastics for a while, but where Chrysler excelled is making exciting cars. I think most of their designs were top notch, much more exciting and better looking than any comparable European designs and they also had special versions of cars (SRT) with top notch drivetrains. What Chrysler has managed to do with the old 1990s Mercedes E-Class chassis in the current Dodge Hellcat is nothing short of amazing. With Chrysler it's often hit or miss.
@@iatsd I was talking about the build quality and the early ones. I really didnt know they still made it.
@@rimmersbryggeri When they were bought by Fiat one of the very first things Fiat did was force Chrysler to re-design and spend more on on the interiors of all models they were keeping. There's quite a marked difference in the quality and styling of the interiors from the "before" to the "after" periods.
Always thought these looked sooo boring but great review nonetheless hubnut, always answering the questions that nobody asked! 👍
Still a nice chunky Merc always have a certain chic.....cheers Hubnut keep em coming.....love em....
Hi Ian,nice review on this Mercedes Benz SLK,I do like these cars,some of the cars were automatic,this one went well for power.
I've driven the UK version of the SLK200 on numerous occasions (also in black - were any of them not black?) and although I passed my driving test in a VW1302S and earnt my lorry-driving stripes in TK's and D-series (I'm nearly 60) and knew to adjust my expectations, I found it... underwhelming. There was too much weight in the car in the first place; there was too much weight in the steering and sod-all compensation in feel; the throttle pedal took far too much of a shove and even at maximum extent the 4-pot motor didn't do much (nor did it sound any better than the N/A example featured); I could not for the life of me get a seating position that worked for me (I might be odd, but I'm not 2SD odd); and (given its pedestrian performance) it drank like a sailor on shore leave.
I'm not by any means a member of the MX-5 cult, but for the money you'd have paid for a new SLK in the late 90s you'd have been far better off buying one and splashing out on a decent holiday.
BTW Why M-B persisted with that single multi-multi-function stalk baffles me - it's an ergonomic nonsense and if you think it's a headache in a car, try driving a lorry (truck) with it. It's rubbish.
IIRC, most of them seemed to be silver, as it was the era of the fashion for silver cars (the 'any colour as long as it's white' of the late 90s). You did see the odd one in bright red or yellow.
Your whole vibe was very different in this video. This must be the first video of yours that I've seen you review a car that you haven't been enthusiastic about. I do appreciate your honesty. Boring car for you makes for a less entertaining video. Still learnt stuff about the car though.
Try the Ford Escort Mk6 Cabriolet. I didn't like that either...
I thought a friends wife’s BMW Z3 1.8 was the worst asthmatic sports car??
You wouldn't mind but the BMW was an ugly car at least these looked the part ,before they started rusting that is
Mitsubishi FTO, I can confirm is more depressing with its fibonacci timed gear changes..
@@_psv__ There is quite a lot in the world of japanese cars that's depressing ,especially the modern stuff
Ford Street Ka 1.6...
Z3s are far from ugly. Pretty for sure. This is jusr a box on wheels
A rarity! A Hubnut car I would never want to own ;-)
Ben Day me too. a horrid car but nice to see what we are not missing 😂
It's super robust.
Funny how you should say that, just thinking the opposite.
That's a Mercedes for you, safe n comfy. A long distance runner.
My '96 W210 diesel 3.0L has 310,000miles n hits 160km without any problems so far. Except for brakes n fluids changes , there's nothing to do on it. Its smooth, safe n comfy, which makes it boring but i enjoy myself being comfy at all speeds on long distance trips. Am hoping to get to my first Million Miles in this one n i won't be surprised if i do 😊
With more modern German cars it's not the plastic in the interior that you need to worry about it's the plastic parts in and on the engine! Plastic intake manifolds, plastic vanes on the water pump, etc., etc., First owner who changes his car every three years won't have any trouble! Third and fourth owners ten years down the line who can finally have the kudos of driving a Merk will suffer! I think modern manufacturer's have learnt this lesson well. But it does chip away at their engineering reputation for a short term profit motive. And of course Mercedes are now putting GPS trackers in their cars to aid the repossession people should the owner fail to keep up the payments! Naughty that one I think. Privacy and all that. Gangsters who drive Mercedes definitely won't like it!
I was actually impressed that the electrics for the roof still seemed to work OK. But one of the motors seemed to run on after everything had settled in place. Normal?
It had no character, no soul. TWC ("Taken without consent"!) has sheds load of both.
I think the run-on is the tonneau cover 'compressing' in to the body. As I mentioned about it is related (somehow) to the Saab 9-3 roof hydraulics and mine run on for a second or two to tighten down the tonneau as well as deal with the 'flaps' and no doubt a few other bits it adjusts to tension.
The motor sounds 100% identical to the Saab system and is fully hydraulic.
Maybe longer motor noise was activating a locking mech that holds everything in place when folded ?
It does look like it'd withstand being operated at 80 mph 1
Yes. Plastic cogs in the drivetrain and like you say, manifolds. All to save weight and production costs. No thank you sir!
And that's what a Merc is all about: easy driving and comfort. I have owned and driven a W124 and W201. Great cars, especially the W201 (190), certainly if you compare them with other cars of their era.
Agree, I daily driven w201(190E) for 4 years. Last month I just bought an R170 for having fun on holiday. Totally in love with both of them.
I kinda like that roundy plain front end
please one day do a 1980s Chrysler Lebaron the ultimate squishy, plasticky cabrio.
In my opinion the first gen SLK was a rather good looking car. Not overly exciting, but not pig-ugly, as the latest one (the horror!). I especially like the refined, toned down lines that Mercedes Benz had back then - now every single one of them seems to be over-designed and then some, and even more so in the front - ewww. (Just like BMWs and Audis)
Great review Ian, do film with your phone a lot of the time? I love the informal style of your vlogs
I always liked this first generation SLK's before they completely went off the deep end with styling in the current years. All of the units that were sold in the United States were Kompressor versions with the supercharger so to find a base model is quite rare. These generations also suffered from the horrible plastic deteriations as you can clearly see has happened in this example. Mercedes Benz seems to moving lower and lower in their quality of parts and manufacture in my opinion. What i never understood was the use of these aftermarket "Immobilizers" that seem to be in so many British cars? Are there more car thefts in the UK that warrant their installations?
This was on his Croatia 🇭🇷 trip, while staying in the Netherlands 🇳🇱.
Remember the Crossfire? Based on this version, while M-B was on the second iteration of the SLK.
I believe all the attention went to Chrysler when Daimler owned them, so quality suffered dramatically, and hasn't recovered either. Started using very complex computer systems, so when they deteriorate, replacement costs skyrocket.
I also think this is the start of bland exterior styling, especially now; no difference between a CLA and a S-Class other than the size and wheelbase, they all look the same.
@@frothe42 Yes you are correct but I've seen Ian do a lot of test car reviews in the UK aswell with these immobilizer installed in the vehicles. I will say that if you find a manual version of this car, they are much more enjoyable to drive versus the automatics. Because most Americans are lazy, 95% of these were ordered from the dealer as automatics. Not sure how their long term durability fairs as in respect to engine and transmission failure issues but I would buy one and use it as a weekend toy.
@@klwthe3rd Like any vehicle, if well-maintained, it will last virtually forever. A Mercedes-Benz specialist from the Northwest has a UA-cam channel for those who DIY, some maintenance and repairs you can do yourself. Once you get to about MY 2000 do they become so complex, with fibre optics and computers. You can still do preventive maintenance, that's they key.
And a lady up the road from me does drive around town in this vintage SLK, so obviously it is well looked after.
Very nice car tho I think Ian
Not surprised you thought it was boring, you chose an SLK R170 in Ford Popular spec. I have one of the 200 odd imported SLK32 AMG R170's, 354 bhp standard. On mine I upgraded the SC to increase boost and the air intake with SL55 AMG air boxes and piping, it was then remapped for the SC and air intake upgrades. I also upgraded the TCU on the box with software to get it to shift faster. The car in now over 410 bhp, 0-60 is in the 4 second range and a top speed that requires Y rated tyres. So the SLK 200 R170 in non SC form is a slug.
Jeepers. That'd be far too much power for the likes of me.
Mercedes 190 review please!
I’ve heard many words used to describe cars. But this may be the first time I’ve ever heard “scabby”. But, for this car it seems quite appropriate.
Glad this likely to be one of not many, A vehicle is an experience, not an ashore arrival, HubNut.Cheers
The Kompreasor versions sound like a vacuum cleaner, but I still wanted one when they first came out
freepieanchipsgarage Yes but the 2.3L Kompressor doesn’t have a particularly sporty engine note, sounds like a Hoover.
Hmmmm cost cutting + complex mechanics = the potential for horrendous repair bills late on.......(??)
I think mechanically they are okay, reliability wise. Probably better than any modern Mercedes. But the interior quality is just not great.
These engines are strong, and they are reliable even with poor maintenance, the rot and clogged drainage holes kill these off
Thankfully very few made it to the UK. A decent SLK200 Kompressor with a pully upgrade and a sports exhaust will give you all the fun your heart desires. Then again a tuned 230 might just be too much for you.
It was for the rich businessman’s wife to go to the hairdressers hahahahaha
You could get them in fun colors, that's the most exciting part of the first SLK. But as per all reviews, the Kompressor hardly ups the excitement by any degree. The V6 was the one to get for power, but even then all it did was expose it's soulless, dynamic shortcomings.
Fun colours? They are nearly all black, silver or white like every other car.
I'd have to strip and respray that interior, it would do my head in! Currently doing just that on a 2004 Volvo s80
1500 euros to have it done. 100 to do it yourself. Parts are already done. The door covers and glove box also looked tatty when we bought it.
I had a 230 Kompressor in Australia in about 2003 and that was way better quality interior. And sounded good too!
In defense of the car, the roof mechanic came without any teething problems, despite being brand new technology back then. I agree with your sentiment about the quality and general sportyness issues, though.
My wife and I live in the USA, we own a 2006 slk280, love it!
Dear hubnut, you're welcome to "test"my 2007 Alfa GT 2.JTS. She has a few minor parking dents, new shocks at the rear, new tyres and a fresh MOT.
Quite a good looking car.
Same 2.0 engine and exact same horsepower as my astra 2.0 sri 1999.
Not as fast as mine though mine is 1 second faster to 60.
You would want the kompressor version though if you were to buy one.
I would still rather have mine though.
A special rubberized paint is available in the correct colour for restoring the interior, its quite cheap and easy to apply. The V6 Slk is a lovely drive..
Nice car and abit of fetteling would make it even better. The creaking plastic would be torture for my OCD but maybe a little silicone spray would help quieter things down
You got the basic version... no heated seats, no charger, no cruise control, no Automatic gearbox. EC button is the AC basically. You should try 230 Kompressor version, it's a different car, or even SLK 32 V6 AMG
Enjoyed this one ian 👍 i have to say i have driven the compressor version and they are still quite unexciting and the noise is still uninspiring, however i have also driven the generation that followed which where much more dynamic and exciting, altho still suffer from droning engines and sluggish gearbox. Still this generation your driving here still likeable and interesting somehow 🤔
That plastic interior reminds me of the Chrysler Crossfire I once owned, the dashboard always creaked, and some of the switch gear looked the same. It would be good if you could find a crossfire to review.
A friend of mine had a V6 SLK. That sounded very nice! He's got a V8 Audi S5 now, that sounds even nicer!
No car maker can ever make a car for everyone, but this was something Mercedes had to do to survive. It opened a whole new opportunity for them. I prefer the next generation, but roots of that concept start here. I like these reviews as we get to see what various car from over the years were like, how they have aged and if we would like to try one...
Used to have one of these - a 53 plate SLK200 KOMPRESSOR in black like this one. Beautiful.
The AMG SLK 32 had a 3.2 V6 with 349bhp, quite a lot at the time!
For people who don't want to drive an MX-5 because it's somehow below them. Or for your girlfriend because you have enough money but dammit if she has to drive around in anything less than a Mercedes because it's what you drive. Of COURSE they sold a K-less version in the Netherlands. We're a bunch of cheapskates who are just the kind of market for that sorta thing.
It's fine, I'm not bitter!
Of course an MX-5 is below them, otherwise their arses would be dragging on the road‼️😩😩😩
My dad (who owns this car) wanted a rwd hard top convertible with a timing chain within a certain price range. There's not that much choice. Also he's always had loads of Mercs and Citroëns. I tried to get him to buy an MX but he just doesn't care for its looks I'm afraid.
@@rollingtroll Which is a tad strange indeed, because I feel they both sport sort of the same kind of feminine looks, I think.
Would prefer a classic Citroën over an SLK too I suppose. In the end of course there is no arguing taste, but it's fun. :P
Are you saying than it's a female vehicle? I don't think so, could works for both genders
Yes, it's Stijn to blame that you had to drive with "that". Stijn is also a good boy.
So, a vaguely positive 'meh' then.
The side windows are supposed to always go back up by themselves whenever you operate the roof, whether you put it down or up.
We never received this anemic version in Canada, but we got the 230K and the 320. As it happens, this summer we sold my wife's 2001 SLK 320 after 13 years of largely trouble-free ownership. For the first 7 of those years it was her only transportation, summer or winter (and I mean real winter, not what Brits think of as winter, no offense). Ok, so RWD, a short wheelbase, and low ground clearance is not the preferred configuration in a blizzard, but with quality snow tires it managed unexpectedly well. With the solid top up, the heated seats on, and the usual efficient Mercedes heating, it was snug and comfortable even when the thermometer was down on the scary side of -30c. Despite these not being good years for Mercedes, my wife's SLK was reliable and well-made and had no notable reliability or quality issues. It was certainly too heavy for a "sports" car and the 3.2L V6 had a very healthy appetite for premium unleaded, in the 10-12L/100km range which is the same as her 3.2L Volvo XC70. What it was really good at however, and you got a glimpse of it on your short motorway stint, was as a grand tourer. Top down, wind deflector in place, this was a great car for covering long distances at technically illegal speeds, including in our case a memorable trip south of the border to Massachusett's Cape Cod peninsula. Mind you, you did have to learn to pack light.
The best, or nothing but late 90s Mercs. Dissing apart, I've always quite liked these, even if the quality is a bit meh. They still look svelt and stylish, the looks having stood the test of time a lot better than the build quality has. You can still get a good one for circa £3000, and at that, they are a bargain. Though to be honest, Ithink I'd still prefer an MX5.
Oh, and Carbonfibre-tastic trim was standard until the phase 2 cars, which got slightly less tacky turned aluminium instead.
Yes, people were obsessed with carbon fibre in the late 90s. A C180 Esprit I knew had carbon dash, door trims and accent panels. For those unable to afford a Merc, there were stick-on Fablon rolls of the stuff so you could make your 1.3 Escort look like a touring car 🏁
When you close the roof, just hold the button and both side windows will close at the same time.
Roof works, I'm amazed!!!
we had a few Mercs in the passed your totally correct about Merc rust issues but drove a E320 estate to Donetsk Ukraine with near 300k on the clock loaded up with no issues at all and sold it there after a Black Sea holiday with the wifes family and flew home and i think shes still in use there over 5 years on we had the 320 SLK that was a good car for the wife but again let down by the body work ...well done ian good review
The downside of a folding metal roof is that there isn't room for much of a picnic in the boot.
Painted plastic trim was very nasty to the touch, scratchy and unpleasant. The C-Class have a sort of rubberized texture to it why didn't they use it for this is beyond me.
My friends has the rubberised glove box and other parts on his and its all worn off
EC means "Economical" as in "AC - Off" (Ventilation/Heater only)
I have the supercharged version. My interior is really good, mostly repainted. All it needs is a louder pipe and some firmer dampers and you've got a nice comfortable tourer with the top down. I've also painted the grill chrome. I'm still enjoying your video though.
10:36 Another delightfully HubNut vehicle coming the other way...
No triangle of doom? Well there you go, it can't be all bad! 😁 She definitely had pose-ability, so long as you don't start the engine!
Maybe it'd deliver more grunt as a diesel variant ;)
In Portugal we had an 200 Kompressor version (2,0 litre) for tax reasons. 192 HP though.
same as mine ! pretty fast ! !!
I have the slk200 NA and with a tune up and the intake mod the car can keep up with modern traffic just fine.
What about the tight hand triangle of the screen not touched by the wipers!
I lived in Holland once. Not even a good place to park cars, let alone drive them. Wonderful place, high times. Truth be told you didn't need a car as the Transport system was so good :- clean, modern, efficient, dependable, safe. Good thing too.
Me driving was not a good idea back then.
Love these cars would have one in an heartbeat
Well that was a bit blahhh wasn't it?
Really looking forward to the Renault 21 test drive. Probably the most comfortable car we ever owned.
If you can't feel the quality inside the r170, definitely you would not feel anything for the next generation (R171)
I've just got a 200 compressor and it's fairly quick tbh, def faster than a 1.8 mx5
Not the most interesting car but still a very entertaining video thank you 😀
Come on Hubnut, admit it. You enjoyed it. As did i !
It looks a pretty poor example, it would be interesting to know if this has led a hard life or if the interior trim wear is common on all cars
I've owned all the small two seater convertibles and the SLK is by far the best built . My MX-5 was most underwhelming and you could almost hear it rusting. The MG-F was by far a better car to own than the MX (IMHO) I'll also say at this point that despite the witch hunt imposed on the K series engine, mine did 160,000 without fault. The MX was just over rated, had terrible gearing (4000rpm @70mph!) and drank fuel. Each to their own but I'm very happy with my R170 230k, it compliments my stable perfectly, wafts about and still has the best roof action ever made. The interior is far better than the dull as dishwater mx5 and far roomier with more storage.
Front right tyre on front to back, left one good??
Whatever you think of Mercs, the ergonomics are always excellent.
Philip Lindley yeah I noticed too. It's been out on the wrong way round
I’ve had the 230 kompressor version for the last 10+ years and mine has the crappy plastic latex paint finish too, and the roof won’t go back up if the temperature is above 26. The EC switch turns on the aircon when it’s not lit. In 10+ years all I’ve had to have is a new alternator and MAF, so a fairly reliable car but as you say a bit bland. Won’t sell it as it worth nothing!
I'd have it off you if I could. You've got the car i was obsessed with as a teenager lol
Watched one minute; Hè doesn’t know anything about this car by heart 🥴
I owned a C180 and E200 both 90’s cars. They were both nice cars but I was amazed how quickly they rusted particularly around the wheel arches and they weren’t that old and had done fairly low mileage. I gave up on Mercs after that.
That is good obviously a different experience to mine. I’m not familiar with the climate in Ohio but here in Scotland with the snow and salt covered roads in Winter it seems to have had an effect on my Mercs.
I have had a hankering for one for a while except when I see one with grey old man like me in it! Then it is a rather sad look of desperation I fear.
Also as I feared, only room for a set of golf bats in the back!