Also added are beefier 17-inch treads: 225/45ZR-17 front tires and 245/40ZR-17 rear tires. The new Sport Package includes additional beef around the car's lower extremities, providing a muscular and more aerodynamic appearance. The '99 SLK-Class also receives a facelift, or rather, some AMG-certified steroids. The SLK-Class races to 60 mph in just over seven seconds this year, but some think the exhaust note doesn't sound baaaad enough on start from a standstill, so Mercedes is working on putting a bit more roar into it. Overall, the SLK-Class is a hoot to drive and its 200 pound-feet of torque, available across an incredibly wide rpm range, make it a choice vehicle for carving through traffic or up a spiraling mountain road. The steering is precise, the engine is eager and willing, and the suspension is wonderfully damped. Mercedes got the recipe right the first time with excellent steering, a powerful engine and a smooth suspension. While Mercedes-Benz product planners still expect automatics to account for a full 80 percent of North American SLK-Class sales, at least one-in-five buyers still appreciate the old-fashioned approach to driving enthusiasm. Of course, an automatic transmission is still available, but it's now listed as a $900 option (an option which also costs the car 61 pounds of added curb weight). Raising and lowering consists of pressing one button on the center console.įor 1999, the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is equipped with a manual transmission as standard equipment. Unlike its competitors from BMW, Porsche and Mazda, however, the little Mercedes has a retractable steel roof that, when up, makes the car seem as tight as an E-Class sedan. The SLK-Class is a roadster, which means that it has two seats and a top that folds down. The SLK-Class has a decidedly playful countenance that will undoubtedly charm some buyers out of the BMW showrooms that those looking for a fun, sporty car have been frequenting for so long. Nevertheless, Mercedes-Benz was still not the marque that young professionals looking for a good time were likely to think of first.Īll of that changed with the introduction of the SLK-Class last year. The result of that decision brought us the fabulous C- and E-Class cars, which made the company and its offerings seem less stuffy. A few years ago, the gang at the three-pointed star decided that it was time to ditch their dowdy image and begin attracting younger buyers. When Mercedes-Benz sets its sights on something, it is usually not denied.

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