You Can Buy A V8-Powered Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG For The Price Of A Honda Civic

Spring is in the air, and if you’re tempted by a fling with a roadster, you aren’t the only one. There’s something magic about having nothing between you and the elements, breathing with the wind through switchbacks and overpasses. A roadster is a lovely thing to have on sunny or overcast days, but what about rainy days, snowy days, or days when you’re head’s pounding and you don’t want to put up with a ton of road noise? A power retractable hardtop might be the answer, and the Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG pairs a folding metal roof with a chest-thumping naturally-aspirated V8 for good times no matter the weather. Best of all, it’s surprisingly cheap second-hand.

Sure, it might not be an SL grand tourer, it might not be supercharged, and it might not even have a manual transmission, but there’s something magical about 5.4 liters of displacement in a car 16.1 inches shorter than a Nissan Versa. What’s German for ‘yeehaw’?

What Are We Looking At?

The original Mercedes-Benz SLK was accused of many things, but the most valid complaint was softness. Instead of a sporting roadster like the BMW Z3 and Porsche Boxster, it felt like a scaled-down SL, an attempt at making a GT car out of entry-level components. Even the surprisingly quick supercharged SLK 32 AMG wasn’t as sharp as its rivals, and AMG knew it had to do something.

Do something, it did. When it came time to make a fast version of the second-generation SLK, AMG selected a 5.4-liter naturally-aspirated V8 and a seven-speed automatic transmission to shoehorn 355 horsepower and 376 lb.-ft. of torque into a car the size of a shoe. In Car And Driver instrumented testing, this thing blitzed the zero-to-60 mph dash in 4.3 seconds and blazed through the quarter mile in 12.7 seconds at 111 mph. Yep, that’s quick.

More importantly, substantial chassis hardware revisions helped the SLK 55 AMG feel like a wholehearted contender. Thanks to substantially newer underpinnings, the SLK 55 gained rack-and-pinion steering, better damping, stiffer spring rates, and different anti-roll bars that all added up to less roll in corners, more grip, and bigger smiles.

Oh, and let’s not forget about the mini-me SLR McLaren looks of the R171 SLK, lines it wore far better than the halo car it aped. From the distinctive F1 nosecone-shaped hood bulge to the flared skirt package, the SLK 55 AMG oozes menace in all the right ways. Mean on the outside, cosseting on the inside with available features like fans to waft warm air at the back of your neck and a 380-watt 7.1-channel surround sound system. Exactly how a jack-of-all-trades V8 roadster should be.

How Cheap Are We Talking?

A brand new base-model Honda Civic LX stickers for $25,045 including freight, but an R171 SLK 55 AMG won’t cost you nearly that much. In fact, this 2005 model with just 47,000 miles on the clock recently sold on Cars & Bids for $16,255. It has the coveted AirScarf neck warmers, the Harman/Kardon sound system, and it’s a California car since new, so it’s squeaky clean underneath.

Alright, so maybe you aren’t one for black interiors. No worries. Last month, this 2005 model with 37,000 miles on the clock sold on Bring A Trailer for $21,250, and it wants to know what brown can do for you. It was ordered through Mercedes-Benz’s Designo semi-secret color and trim program, and it sports special order Mocha Black paint and Sand leather.

Those examples are great, but what if you want something a bit newer? Well, this 2009 SLK 55 AMG with 86,100 miles on the clock sold on Cars & Bids back in November for $18,750. Not only is this a facelifted model, but it features the P30 performance package which includes a unique suspension calibration, upgraded brakes, multi-piece wheels, Alcantara on the steering wheel, a smattering of carbon fiber, and a higher top speed limiter of 174 mph. Yep, that ought to knock your socks off.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Aside from the usual old car problems like aged suspension components, interior wear-and-tear, and the odd minor electrical gremlin, not much. The 5.4-liter V8 is a solid unit, and the R171 SLK 55 AMG is fairly simple as far as fast, modern Mercedes-Benz roadsters go. As with other Mercedes-Benz vehicles with the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission, keep an eye out for conductor plate failure, an issue with the transmission electronics that costs a bundle to fix due to the part being coded to each unique car.

Watch for any signs of moisture in the cabin. The retractable hardtop features an array of seals, and given that these cars are getting on there for age, seals can go bad. Speaking of the top, such a complex mechanism features an array of microswitches and hydraulic components that can go bad over time. The switches themselves aren’t expensive, but troubleshooting top issues can prove a time-consuming venture.

One expense you might not expect from an SLK 55 AMG is the sheer expense of brakes. New front brake discs from OEM supplier Brembo cost $602.99 each from FCP Euro, meaning you’re looking at well over a grand in parts for discs and pads on just the front axle. Worn brakes could be a bargaining chip or reason to stay away, depending on if the seller wants to play ball on negotiation.

Should You Buy A Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG?

If you’re okay with spending a couple grand on upkeep every year, a Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG is an absolute riot. By aging performance car standards, these are great cars that avoid most modern AMG pitfalls, so a decent example should provide a pleasurable ownership experience. Sure, it’s not as surgical as a 987 Porsche Boxster S, nor as easy to upgrade as a Corvette, but for a fun, sporting luxury roadster, you could do a whole lot worse than an SLK 55 AMG.

Think of the Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG a bit like a modern AC Cobra 289. It’s a dashing compact roadster with one heck of a motor up front, guaranteed to widen your grin every time you dip your big toe into the throttle. It’s a pocket-sized drop-top muscle car you can take to both the gym and the opera, and if that isn’t the breadth of capability, I don’t know what is.

(Photo credits: Cars & Bids, Bring A Trailer)

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