Test drive Mercedes Benz SLK R170 1996 - 2000 convertible
Silver Ghost
He took possession of the minds of journalists while still a concept. He was called revolutionary, avant -garde and stunning. So what is he really, this SLK? When in 1994 the bedspread was first dropped from the SLK concept, many journalists in order to get closer to the prototype of a new car had to be used to use well-known trolley-autobus audits. The elbow-convertible torso-knit-back and still turn. And you are at the goal.
Concepts often remain concepts. But the serial SLK appeared at the Turin Motorshow in 1996, just two years later. And the crowd of thirsts (now buy this for yourself) was even more. Despite the fact that SLK from birth plunged into the competition among - well, who would have thought - relatives. BMW Z3, \u200b\u200bAlfa Spider, Fiat Barchetta, Lotus Elan, MGF - and this is not the entire list of models that replenish the class, whose representatives are sold not at all like hot pies on Sundays on Sundays.
Comparing photos of the concept and serial car, one cannot but notice that the latter has become less aggressive and more like Mercedes. Changes in the individual elements of the body from the point of view of their influence on the appearance of the car can be divided into three groups: well -influenced, which did not affect and affected negatively. The first group includes the recess and color of the perforated radiator grille in black, and not in the color of the body. An increase in the size of the front block-far with a call, they delivered SLK to the wings of the blindness of the old Senbernar, however, added frivolous luopoles at some angles.
The smoothed lid of the trunk and huge rear lights coming from the bumper to the very cover, in my opinion, a controversial solution, but can remain in the second group. But the side mirrors of the rear view, planted on a thicker leg, were very lost in style. And, apparently, due to problems with the folding of the roof, magnificent fairings in the style of sports cars of the 20s, located behind the headrests and arcs of safety, disappeared. They really feel sorry for them.
It’s good at least stamping on a hood in the style of 300 SL did not touch. But you need to forget about the concept to evaluate the advantages of SLK. This is a really beautiful car that does not remind of a children's sandbox, which is characteristic of many relatives. True, we still have to return to the concept.
A la racing-Car or unprotected retro
It is a pity that many elements of the interior design that pleased the aesthetes during the concept of a concept did not come true in a serial car. What was the front console, what are the design of the devices! Where did all this go?! OK then. Something remains from the devices, but everything else? Probably, the designers of Mercedes in the end themselves were afraid of what they came up with, began to smooth out corners, remove extravagant forms, paint over too contrasting combinations and, as a result, rolled up to the banal modern SL salon.
And the overture from the opera retro, so well sounded at the birth of the concept, turned into a funeral march. It is clear - unification, standardization, cost reduction, a single style, but for the relatives it was quite possible to make an exception. Okay, enough aesthetic nit -picking. The design of a car that fell into our hands can be attributed to the most advanced: a red-black salon with a silver body. SLK's unconventionality is emphasized by the dashboard that we have already mentioned and perforated pedals from a light alloy - a kind of tribute to sports. The devices are made very pretty - slightly yellowish dials edged by chromium, with inscriptions as if by hand. In the center is a speedometer with an unchanged exclamation mark in a yellow triangle, lighting with a bright light, including when slipping of the wheels. This Achtung when working on winding tracks, it should be noted that it begins to annoy very quickly. The remaining signal lights, thank God, are spaced away from the devices and are almost not noticeable in a calm state.
The console on the right also cannot be called overloaded, and if not for the tape recorder, it would have looked completely ascetic. Otherwise, the Mercedes quality, straightforwardness and conservatism, no matter what they say there. SLK gearbox is mechanical, although there is an adaptive machine as an option. The very short lever of the box was somewhat surprised. At first it seemed that it would be difficult to achieve a clear switch with him. But fears were not confirmed. The pedals did not fail. Their course turned out to be large enough, which made it possible to dose efforts very accurately.
With a landing was not lucky - the growth is tall. In most cases, my relations do not develop with relatives: of the latter only in Alfa Spider, the upper edge of the windshield frame was not exactly before my eyes. In the rest, either had to drag his head into the shoulders, or substitute it with the oncoming wind. Both provisions are in no way designed for a long ride, especially since the last option is possible only with a cleaned roof. It was especially difficult to get in the BMW Z3. SLK also has this drawback, although it is not so clear. If you abstract from a frame pressing on the eyes, you can sit in SLK quite conveniently. Although, at first glance, in such a small salon, only a subtile teenager can sit comfortably. Having moved, pointing the driver's seat, in the end you get the necessary result. But the feeling of clamping still does not leave. But what do you actually want from the Rodster?
Kinematic sculpture
The SLK roof can be considered as a separate finished work of art. Self -fencing pants from the famous work of the Strugatsky brothers in complexity of the design would surely give in to this device. The process of disclosure is fascinating. In 25 seconds, the car from the relatives turns into a compartment and vice versa. Moreover, the latter does not receive a rag ersatz, but a normal hard roof with normal rear window, and even with heated. The roof fit tightly to the body - without any gaps. So SLK does not whistle in the version of the compartment, does not creak and does not suit drafts.
Heritage of the RUTS brothers For SLK, three engines are provided - atmospheric two -liter and two compressor (2 and 2.3 l). The two -liter compressor engine is installed only on cars intended for Italy, Greece and Portugal.
The advantages of the boost are known - improvement of the filling of cylinders and increasing power and torque at the same working volume of the engine. More often for this, a turbocharger is used, driven by exhaust gases. Mercedes is one of the few manufacturers that uses a mechanical compressor (this is also the same since the famous sports SSKs of the late 20s).
Advantages of the mechanical compressor: an instant reaction to pressing the gas pedal (completely absent to the so -called turboyama) and a more even characteristic of the Lock, especially at low speeds. Another plus is a cleaner exhaust (there is no turbine in the exhaust path, and the catalytic neutralizer reaches the operating temperature faster). But in production, a mechanical compressor is more complicated and more expensive.
SLK 230 uses the EATON M62 compressor, created on the basis of the design of the RUTS brothers, however, some changes that have undergone since 1860. The rotors have a special coating that allowed to reduce the gaps between them to 0.2 mm, which increased performance by 30%, especially at low speeds. The rotors managed to make hollow, this won about a kilogram of weight and reduced the compressor inertia. The drive is carried out by a belt from the crankshaft of the engine through a magnetic coupling, which connects the compressor only when it is needed. There is an interim boost cooler - intercooler.
2.3 l of the engine itself - 16 valve four from the Mercedes E -class with small modifications. Power - 193 l. p., Torque - 280 Nm (2500-4800 vol./min.). With such a motor, the dynamic characteristics of SLK230 (speed 231 km/h | and 7.6 seconds to hundreds) are not surprising. And the average fuel consumption is less than 9 l/100 km.
Booking engines usually require gasoline with a high octane number. SLK is no exception. It is recommended to fill the 98th into it, but you can do the 95th. SLK in action
You can start on SLK in two ways. You can simply drown the pedal to the floor and wait until the ASR electronic system independently deal with an excess of torque.
By the way, there are questions with the decoding of the abbreviation ASR. In the description of SLK, it is proposed to read it as an acceleration Skid Control (control of lateral gliding during acceleration). Does not work. The same abbreviation, however, was found in the description of Mercedes 4Matic (motor 5 (13) and deciphered as the Automatic Slip Regulation (automatic control of slipping). Most likely, during the translation from German to English. In fact, ASR is doing this. and another. Sliding slipping wheels and reducing the torque of the engine, the system prevents the slip at start and maintains the course stability of the car with sharp accelerations. For SLK with a compressor, it is included in the standard equipment, and for a machine with an atmospheric engine, it is offered in a simplified version as an option. Another launch method is to turn off the ASR and enjoy the control in full. Everyone chooses what he likes more, based on experience and temperament.
The steering mechanism in a slightly modified form migrated to SLK with Mercedes C-class. However, he had to move and slightly change the geometry. Due to a narrower rut and a smaller wheelbase, a gear ratio was also changed. The steering on SLK is quite light in the entire speed range, although some would surely exchange this ease for greater information.
When the case reaches the sliding in corners, the insufficient rotation of SLK manifests itself, but very weakly. By the way, the rear wheels SLK230 are wider than the front ones, which adds stability to the car. The behavior of the car is predictable, and to cope with it is not difficult. The magnificent adhesion of the rear wheels with the road and the excellent operation of the suspension can allow the back of the car to get ahead of the front only with a clear overdose of the torque. The rear five -link SLK suspension is traditional for Mercedes cars. Like the front, it has a fairly long (195 mm in front and 205 mm behind), but in comparison, for example, with a C-class it is made more rigid. As a result, the car perceives transverse accelerations better and is not tag in turning, and its handling slightly depends on the load.
On uneven coating in SLK, you can feel not quite comfortable, but rather this happens due to low-profile rubber than due to the design of the suspension.
The brakes are the same as on e-class. Naturally, ABS is included in standard equipment. But thanks to the coupling properties of tires and the information content of the brake pedal, the case rarely reaches its trigger. Tires
It is good for motorists in Europe: statistics claim that a puncture there happens on average after 150 thousand km, about once every 10 years. Probably, you can believe it, since even the designers of Mercedes - for the first time in their practice - considered it possible to abandon the traditional fifth wheel in SLK. About 20 kg of weight won and released a significant amount in the trunk. In return, the car was equipped with an electric compressor and, at the choice of a client, a small reserve or a sealant cylinder.
A small reserve with a diameter of 510 mm weighs only 12.5 kg, if it is pumped up, the diameter increases to the standard. Alternative - Tirefit sealant. Pour it into the damaged tire, pump it with a compressor, and go - at a speed of up to 80 km/h, as on a small spare. The sealant is produced by Dunlop, but, judging by the existing description, it is unlikely to differ from numerous drug sealing, which have experienced a surge in popularity in the Russian market a couple of years ago.
Well, in the legendary relatives of the 20s, 30s and 50s, a worthy follower appeared. Mercedes once again confirmed its ability to make wonderful cars in this class. Now it’s hard to say whether SLK will be in sixty years of the main lot of any auction of old cars. One thing is clear - if this happens, it will cost many times more expensive. Savva Simonov
Source: Motor magazine [No. 7/1997]
