We have an Audi TT as well, and I must say Audi customer service and garages in general are much better than Mercedes dealerships. Merc seem reluctant to help in many instances where as we find Audi will break sweat to help you and what they say will be done is done. I am disappointed in the Mercedes experience, mainly down to our local Merc garages who are all owned by Reg Vardy so maybe that is why we would not buy another Merc. SLK is a lovely car however I feel that BMW and Audi are more interested in looking after you in the event of a problem. Merc are delighted to help if you hand them an open cheque book. Battles over warranties were not expected !

The dealerships are a bit of a culture shock, their tendency to turn a visit into an event is pleasant if you have plenty of time, but can be very annoying when you want to get in and out in 5 minutes.
More practical than I expected, with the roof up there is a lot of space in the boot for a car of this class, and with the roof down, there's still a reasonable amount of space, it's just difficult to get to.
I bought the auto because second hand manuals are like hens teeth, the auto is growing on me, but I would still prefer the manual. The gear select on the 5 speed auto is woeful and has not been used after the initial play period.

I previously owned a SLK 230, which was a very good car. However, I recently swapped it for a 320, and I'm converted. The 320 engine is much smoother, with more torque, which makes overtaking easier. However, the best thing about it is how it sounds. The 230 engine, though a good performer, sounds like a dishwasher, while the V6 emits pure music.

Nobody would pretend the SLK's an out and out sports car like the Boxster. But most people, including myself, don't want to drive fast all the time, and want a car that also cossets its driver after a hard day at the office.

The steel roof gives it a significant advantage over most of its rivals, and for everyday use the SLK is an excellent choice.

One word of warning, though - if you're considering buying a new one there's a new range out next year, which may damage resale prices of the current model.