FJ Drives: The Mercedes SLK32 AMG

Few cars do as much for as little as the first-generation Mercedes SLK. Launched in 1996, it was a landmark car for the company - a modernised, compact version of the longstanding SL roadster that was cheaper to buy, yet every bit as desirable. Mercedes would go on to sell over 300,000 examples of the R170 SLK over the next eight years, but that enormous success hasn’t excused it from occasional criticism. 

Period road tests compared Bruno Sacco’s design concept unfavourably alongside BMW’s Z3, while the SLK’s C-Class-derived chassis was said to be outclassed by the Porsche 986 Boxster. The model’s party piece - that ingenious, Vario folding metal roof which promised the perfect compromise of coupe and convertible - was also criticised as a source of unwelcome weight at the rear. 

Today the baby SL has never been more affordable, which is why we think it’s worth revisiting with a fresh pair of eyes. To give it a fighting chance of true modern classic status, we’re getting behind the wheel of the cream of the crop: the range-topping, supercharged SLK32 AMG. Just £8,000 is enough to put a tidy example on your driveway – peanuts, when you consider the proposition. 

Approach an SLK32 AMG from across a car park and you may begin to wonder whether it’s the real deal. AMG’s styling upgrades were limited to a subtle body kit, bespoke rear spoiler and a staggered set of 17’’ alloys. So far, at least, the most exclusive R170 could be easily mistaken for a lesser model. 

Turn the key, though, and the SLK32 immediately demands your attention. A deep, resonant growl from that hand-built, supercharged 3.2-litre V6 engine is the first real clue of its potency. You begin to suspect the most dramatic of AMG’s enhancements took place under the bonnet – it’s enough to pique the interest of even the most die-hard flat six enthusiast. 

The example we’re driving today has covered just 66k miles and is one of less than 200 examples in the UK. Packing a 354bhp punch, the SLK32 can see off 0-60mph in less than five seconds. Forget the Boxster… That’s enough to match a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S of the same era. 

On a damp December morning in North Nottinghamshire, we head out onto our first section of B-road to see how the SLK copes away from its comfort zone. It’s fair to say the shortened W202 C-Class underpinnings and recirculating ball steering rack don’t offer the same driving experience as a Boxster - but adjust your approach and it begins to make sense. Those 245-wide rear tyres inspire confidence on the exit of each corner, the five-speed gearbox kicking down perfectly before delivering another dose of the supercharged V6. 

Twenty years later, the SLK32 AMG still offers genuinely impressive performance. Leaving junctions requires care, it’s incredibly easy to activate the traction control system on a damp day like this one. Accelerate hard from a rolling start and you’ll begin to wonder how much faster its possible to go for a measly eight grand outlay. 

We pull into a lay-by, keen to test the SLK’s party piece – that ‘Vario’ folding metal hardtop. Though imitated many times since, Mercedes’ ‘Vario’ concept caused quite a stir when it debuted at the Paris Motor Show in October 1994, remaining a key feature on every SLK that followed. Around 25 seconds is enough to drop the roof using a toggle on the centre console, allowing an even more immersive experience with that hand-built AMG V6. 

Perhaps the key to enjoying an SLK is to not think of it as a sports car – instead, a compact GT. Over 25 years after launch, prospective buyers are still spoiled for choice on the used market, with a wide selection of four-cylinder SLK200/230 Kompressor models and the six-cylinder SLK320. 

All are robust, the main worry surrounding the typical rust issues associated with any Mercedes of this era. In fact, any specification of first-generation SLK will be a car you could comfortably drive into Europe in comfort and style, without worrying about whether it would be able to get you home. 

As little as £2,000 is enough to put a tidy, SLK230 Kompressor on your driveway – that’s not a lot of money for an attractive, two-seater roadster with a three-pointed star on its nose. At Footman James, we reckon the R170 SLK is a model that won’t remain under the radar for much longer – and definitely one worthy of modern classic status. 

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!