I cannot disagree with any of the comments made by my colleagues about the SLK: it's a meatier, faster, better-looking, more satisfying car than it used to be. It's also pretty darn expensive, with our fully loaded test car checking in at $60,225, a price point where more substantial automotive thrills can be found. I couldn't help but think of Automobile Magazine's Four Seasons 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK320, which stickered for about $42,000. Then again, it was a stubby little thing, saddled with a 185-hp, 2.3-liter supercharged four-cylinder engine mated to a horribly calibrated, five-speed automatic transmission. So, let me see: add ten years of inflation, much better driving dynamics, much better body styling, and a 300-hp V-6, and our 2009 SLK350 test car doesn't seem so overpriced, after all.
Joe DeMatio, Executive Editor ...next page >>