2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

Benny 's Dad on February 19, 2021

Bought this little Gem off of a friend of mine, It has 100,000 miles on it but you wouldn't know it! Drives and handles like a dream, has plenty of power the supercharger works well very impressive!!!!! Never had a Mercedes before but would not hesitate to buy another one. this little roadster is just too much fun!!! 🙂

Old hoon. on December 25, 2019

Bought this used about 8 years ago and apart from minor faults seem to improve with age.I also have a V8 Jaguar but drive the Mercedes most of the time just for the fun. I live in a sunny climate and hardly ever have to close the roof. hard to believe this car is now 17 years old.

KarpeDiem on June 22, 2019

After driving some serious junk, I finally had it and bought my 2003 SLK230 Kompressor with 75,000 miles. Solid German engineering. Performance and handling are perfect. Understated in all the right ways: purrs quietly but packs the power of a supercharger. Even the sound the doors make when they close screams attention to detail. Pretty sure if someone totaled it I would buy another one just like it. Cons: seats should never have left the factory without adjustable lumbar support (very disappointing). Leaking self-dimming mirrors should have been recalled. Few spots of rust on the roof that I didn't notice until after I bought the car, so make sure you look carefully.

Spboy on March 24, 2019

A pure joy driving experience, with beautiful lines. Hand built motor. Great handling. 0-60 in under 5 seconds. Fit and finish is very good. Older body style remains a classic.

Pearl on November 2, 2018

No better value for your money on the MB SLK Kompressor! Even with a lot of mileage, if you maintain the maintenance aspect of the vehicle you will not be disappointed in it's performance. I've loved this car from the moment I drove it. Parting will be sweet sorrow.

Frankl on May 13, 2018

I wanted a motorcycle but wife nixed that due to prior accident. Driving this car is closest thing to being on a motorcycle. It handles unbelievably The superchargerhas more power than it needs.

bobinyelm on April 4, 2017

I bought my '03 SLK in 2011 with 38,000 miles in near showroom condition, having obviously well cared for by its first owner. Compared to previous "big" SLs I owned, the SLK offers superior handling that reflects "soul," as if the car is exactly enjoying the drive, compared to earlier Series 1 and 2 SLs that were competent, and comfortable, but somewhat boring (though I loved the styling and the quality). The 4cyl engine is a tad rough and growls a bit compared to the available V6 3.2 liter (which I have in another Mercedes I own), but it does a good job, though the supercharger needed a new coupling to quiet a bit of noise it was making. A slightly more sporting exhaust would be welcome, and would camouflage the roughness IMO. The transmission shifts well, though until warm, it tends to shift at a slightly higher rpm that necessary. The 2 tone interior is very attractive, and the retractable hard top does it job of making the car superbly "all-weather" compared to cloth tops especially well. I routinely get 27mpg around town and 32mpg on the highway driving conservatively. Reliability has been flawless, though I don't put a lot of miles on it, reserving it for sunny day drives.

SLK fan on July 12, 2010

Bought an SLK 4 months ago, and it's been a so much fun to drive. It's our weekender car, and we have the top down 80% of the time. Handling is superb, and acceleration is great on the SLK320. I can't imagine what the SLK32 is like!

Mercedes for Life on January 31, 2008

A lot of fun and great in the sun. Very safe, as I've been hit by an SUV; a lot of damage to the car and not a scratch on me. Mercedes Benz builds incredibly safe cars, even the small ones like the SLKs

AMG=OMG!!! on November 4, 2007

SLK 32 is faster than the SLK 55 but not as feature-filled. Retractable hard-top is priceless. Fast when the transmission software work, needs reflashing almost annually however. No major mechanical problems after 4 years which weren't covered by warranty. Expensive tires which last about 1 year with aggressive driving. AMG parts are even more expensive than already expensive standard MB parts. Despite all that, you can't help but smile profusely while driving this precision machine. I don't think the handling is great enough to keep up with other "sports" cars, i.e. Z4 or Boxster on the track but, the engine pull/torque is fierce for such a small car and you can activate the save-your-bacon ESP with very little effort. I find the seats very comfortable but you'll have to try for yourself. Hands-Free phone is a must as you need both hands to drive this beastie safely. Rear-wheel drive is a must in a sports care and some throttle-steering is possible with this car but again it's not really made for the track. Not too bad in the snow with snow tires, and keep to level ground with reasonable snow accumulation. Traction control helps immensely. Do not underestimate this machine as a "chick-car" as many do with the older SLK's. In anyone's hands (male or female) this car goes very fast in a straight line and is a lot of fun to drive. I reccommend it highly for people that like to drive. So turn off the radio, drop the top, apply shades and try not to smile TOO much!