Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class 2007 Review

But for many of those whose scones are swivelling in its direction, the only sight that'll really register is the tristar emblem embedded within the nose. Indeed, for people of certain means and disposition there's something automatic about the decision to buy a Benz.

Or rather, the 'non-decision.' Carsguide's lost count of the times we've heard something like; “Brand X was very good, but we just had to have a Mercedes.”

Whether C-Class or E-Class, SUV or AMG, it's the same story. As someone once said; “A BMW is for the man making his money, a Mercedes is for the man who's made it.”

Indeed, the average age of the tristar brand's buyer is post-midlife. In the past decade the company has sought to lure a less-mature punter with soccer-mum mobiles such as the B-Class, the new and groovier looking C-Class Avantgarde and, of course, the SLK roadster.

As to the rival cars we've selected at page right, well, the Boxster's the critic's choice, the BMW's the collector's and the Nissan is stunning bang for the buck. But a Mercedes is, after all, a Mercedes.

Apart from the folding metal roof (rivals make do with ragtops) that fold up or down in 22 seconds, the version in which we spent the week had its value equation enhanced enormously by it being a Designo edition.

For a premium of $8000 over the standard 350, the Designo adds what would otherwise be about $22,000 in additional kit. There's a choice of metallic paint and two-tone leather upholstery combinations. Ours was 'platinum black' with red/black Designo two-tone leather.

There's also Alcantara roof lining, wood/leather shift lever, individual wood trim and leather-covered roll-over bars. You won't find another roadster with such cockpit ambience.

It also cops 17-inch, five-spoke alloys, lowered sports suspension,

Bi-Xenon lamps, Harman/Kardon surround-sound system, and climate-control airconditioning including a neck-level heating system.

Merc's seamless 7-speed automatic is the standard transmission, its facility enhanced by steering-wheel gearshift paddles and response by push button settings; comfort, manual or sport. There's a parking assistance system, electric seats with memory settings, sat-nav and UHI mobile phone pre-installation system.

Apart from the roadster, Designo appointments are available on the Mercedes Benz CL-Class, CLK, CLS, E, M, S and SL.

In most respects, the SLK's performance just about matches its sinuous shape. The 200kW/350Nm V6 punches it from standing to 100km/h in a claimed 5.5 seconds, so it hardly lacks for straight ahead go.

Where Merc besotted buyers might get a rude shock is by a ride that, while reasonably cosseting by class standards, is a good way from soft.

A broken surface is not its friend when pushing on and mid-corner bumps are fully felt through the steering wheel. It's impossible, however, not to be impressed by the strength and rigidity of the body.

That rack and pinion steering isn't quite so direct as its rivals, slightly lacking precision around the centre, though it's loaded up meatily by the point when the hands have moved 12-to-6. If it's not so razor-sharp a tool as its ostensible competitors, that's not really the Merc's remit. While the SLK will satisfy most buyers in the dynamics department most of the time, rapid open top cruising is what it's all about.

And in this the SLK excels.

You may not really need seven forward gears but the Merc's auto is way more sophisticated than anything else on offer in the segment, providing a welcome manual override of drive via the shift paddles. The transmission is a good metaphor for the whole car: a smooth unit that's accessible and a pleasure to live with.

It's a bit of a flop aurally, though. While the 3.5 V6 has all the potency you could wish for with a wide easily tapped torque band, it sounds ... well, kind of dull (to be fair, I should add that no one seems to agree with me on this point).

Like the 3.0-litre V6 of the C280 we drove recently, it has to be held manually at high revs (at redline it upchanges automatically) to make much noise. It's no good ripping through tunnels with the roof down, the engine note is muted when you'd like something crisp and declamatory.

Pity, because the SLK is an open roadster that satisfies other senses.

The bottom line

An automatic choice in more ways than one.

Snapshot

Mercedes Benz SLK 350 Designo

Price: $123,500

Engine: 3.5L/V6; 200kW/350Nm

Economy: 10.3L/100km (tested)

0-100KM/H: 5.5 seconds

The rivals

BMW Z4 M Roadster

Price: $130,800

Engine: 3.2L/6-cylinder; 252kW/365Nm

Economy: 12.8L/100km

0-100KM/H: 5.5 seconds

Porsche Boxster S

Price: $135,100

Engine: 3.4L/6-cylinder; 217kW/340Nm

Economy: 14.6L/100km

0-100KM/H: 6.3 seconds

Nissan 350Z Roadster Touring

Price: $73,990

Engine: 3.5L/V6; 230kW/358Nm

Economy: 12L/100km

0-100KM/H: 6.0 seconds (estimate)