2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 Roadster 

What constitutes a rare car?  How about an uncommon car?  Normal production of non specialty cars, those intended as commuter cars can range from one hundred thousand in the U.S., to hundreds of thousands depending on the make or model.  Only 10,410 Mercedes-Benz SLK's were sold in the U.S. market in 2006.  Divided evenly across the country, that means each state would have only about 200 cars.  Rare?  Maybe not.  Uncommon?  Definitely.  Special? 

For sure. For consignment, a 2006 Mercedes Benz SLK with a title verified 43,392 actual miles and owned by our consignor since 2011.  It has been garage kept with temperature control and a cover and mainly used for day trips and car shows.  It doesn't take much time with this car to realize it's been pampered and well preserved.  

Exterior
Firemist Red Metallic is Mercedes' name for crimson, and in this case it suits this car particularly well.  The second generation SLK had a redesign that resulted in a more aerodynamic nose and included a raised detail in the hood that terminated with the large Mercedes star, a feature inspired by Formula 1 cars.  The sharp angle of the nose continues to the steeply raked windshield that meets a gently rounded roof and full glass rear window.  In pure roadster form, the nose is long, the tail is short, and the power is sent to the rear wheels.  Only the emblems and the chrome exhaust tips veer from the monochromatic coverage on the car and the 5-spoke 17-inch silver AMG wheels add even more luster.  Fitted mud guards are black and discreet and have probably prevented hundreds of potential rock chips on the rocker panels and rear fenders.  Other than some nasty chin scrapes, the paint is nearly flawless.  

Interior
Beige and black leather door panels are sporty in comparison to Mercedes luxury sedans.  The wood trimmed door handle has electric controls that contour with the rounded connection point, clever!   And the door actuator is housed in an elliptical surround that creates visual interest.  Inside, the beige leather sport seats are high backed and supportive and there, on the side, we find the Mercedes-Benz trademark seat adjustments, shaped like a seat.  This generation of SLK introduced the Airscarf system wherein warm air is extruded from vents at neck level.  Faux wood mixes with black on the steering wheel and sporty round gauges feed the driver information.  The center stack has a screen and more buttons than a Lufthansa aircraft but helps select features that include navigation and the Harman Kardon AM/FM radio with XM satellite.  Wood trim bisects the black dash and lower, beige half.  The shifter and wood trimmed parking brake occupy the center console along with a storage bin.  A plexiglass windscreen is situated between the seats.  Low pile black carpet lines the floor and the trunk which when not housing the roof, has substantial storage capacity for a small car.  

Drivetrain
A 2.9 liter V6 is under the long hood and is rated at 228 horsepower.  It's fuel injected and has a 7-speed automatic transmission.  3.27 gears reside in the back and power disc brakes are front and back.  The engine bay is clean and tidy and dressed up with plastic covers. 

Undercarriage
Generally clean and dry underneath with only minor occurrences of surface rust.  The dual exhaust flows through a concave tunnel where it meets an X-pipe before running tandem to the back where original mufflers end with chrome tips out the back.  Since the exhaust runs through the middle, panels cover the bottom sides, undoubtedly helping with aerodynamics.  Independent suspension is found at both ends with 3-link in front and 5-link in the back.  

Drive-Ability
The car doesn't feel as small as it is when you're sitting inside it.  It has wonderful ergonomics, comfortable seats, and good visibility.  She starts right up with a twist of the key and the hardtop folds itself and stows away with the push of a button.  Convenient and a great party trick.  Moving on to the test loop, the car has power on demand and is quite quick, a function of 228 horsepower and feeling faster due to our proximity to the ground and low center of gravity.  Great handling and equally good braking.  A+ for functionality as everything works. 

This hardtop roadster is a handsome little car that looks great with top or or top down.  "SLK" was derived from sportlich, (sporty), leicht, (lightweight), and kurz, (short), and it's all those things and more.  An uncommon car in a wonderful color, top down capability, and a strong engine.  That's a recipe for fun. 

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.

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