... You've kind of hit on something. Saying that the SLK is more of a touring than a sports car gives me something to grasp. So, you would think the SLK just feels a bit heavier and more built for cruising mild twisty roads where something like a Miata would be beter for very tight twisty roads and is much lighter and sporty feeling?
When I am ready to make the purchase I will indeed drive and compare vehicles to make sure it's what I would want.
I have not driven the current generation of either car, I have driven a first year Miata and an SLK 230 (the supercharged one). I do believe the later Miata got softer and the later SLK got sportier, but yes I believe the MB will FEEL a bit heavier/slower and you just overall won't feel quite as "involved". There was a great deal of talk when the Miata came out about how they had engineered it to "sound right" and the "experience" things like that. The Mercedes will just do it without a whole lot of fuss. Short of a racetrack, drag strip or autocross course it will probably be just as fast, but you might not realize it. When you get finished you can put the top up and do a 800 mile trip at 85mph (obey your local laws
) and it will be just like you did it in a coupe.
You might consider driving a Z4 if you find the MB a bit too "staid" for your taste, I would expect it to fall a bit further over on the "sporty" side. (in fact it used to have an option package that deleted all of the extras in the vein of a Camaro 1LE, not sure if it is still available that way)
I do have to agree that regular maintenance parts for a MB are not appreciably more costly than any other car. Every experience I've ever had at an MB dealer was outstanding.
The couple of times I took the 190 in for service, they treated me just as well as the guy with the new $100,000.00 car and although an oil change was pretty expensive they fixed a number of little things N/C. (unlike when I take my company truck into a dealer and they want extra to change bulbs and fix trim and so forth)
My dad has a C230Sport and has had similar experience.
Thanks...an informative post. I've thought and slightly considered the BMW Z4. Two things kind of caused me to pause. One is the price. It's a few grand more than the MB....and I'm not sure why or that it would be worth paying more. Secondly, I'm not quite attracted to the lines of the car. I've tried, trust me. The styling just doesn't do it for me. In black it seems to look a bit better....but there is just something about it that does not appeal to me.
I hear you about the SLK and putting the hardtop up. It could do just fine on a long trip that way and be just like a regular coup in noise/comfort. I will say however that it's lines aren't really as nice with the top up.
That's fantastic hearing about the service MB provides. I'm REAL big on being treated RIGHT. Nothing makes me more upset than poor service or a Walmart type employee. But on the flip side I certainly would not want to deal with a snob either....but from what you say they sound great.
