Top Gear: Mercedes SLK55 vs Porsche Boxter

Here we have another great review by Jeremy from Top Gear. This review is a bit different then what you have seen so far. The way he tests the cars and decides on the better car is just bizarre, but if it works, then it is OK here.
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elsupelsup - 9/13/2006 9:05:27 PM
+1 Boost
Jeremy is crazy, but funny. I like the Porsche better, the SLK looks kinda small.


Sauceboy01Sauceboy01 - 9/13/2006 9:07:43 PM
+1 Boost
i'll take a couple of SLK 55's please. Thanks.


S4cabriofoxS4cabriofox - 9/13/2006 9:08:12 PM
+1 Boost
Ohmygod it's Boxster, not Boxter!!!

I'm so tired of people spelling it that way!!!


S4cabriofoxS4cabriofox - 9/13/2006 9:22:37 PM
+1 Boost
Jeremy is absolutely insane. "I soiled myself!"

I hate the way the SLK55 looks, but the engine just sounds awesome.

They should make those tests into Porsche and Mercedes ads. They'd definitely get some attention!


BMW530iBMW530i - 9/13/2006 9:41:44 PM
+1 Boost
SLK for me.


Matthew1Matthew1 - 9/14/2006 12:46:11 AM
+2 Boost
You hate the SLK 55's looks???

On the road, it is wide, squat and aggressive, with the same road presence as a scaled-down SLR.

Any car with those attributes is fine by me.


TummyTummy - 9/14/2006 2:59:03 AM
+1 Boost
This aired about a year ago. A little late?


Agent63Agent63 - 9/14/2006 5:58:13 AM
+1 Boost
Ricemaster: Maybe you're a pretender. What are you talking about Porsche are the only company who knows how to make a proper sportscar. The advanced technology they have in their engines are astonishing. M6, SLR (Which came 1 second slower than the Carrera GT I believe). If 1 second is going to make the difference between a proper sports car and one that is not then you have problems. The SLR was at the top of Top Gear's list.

The grunt from an SLK will out growl a 350z or an RX8 anyday. It does not sound like a truck. What were you smoking while test driving them? lol.

As much as I am supporting Merc, I love Porsches so I'm not biased. So by the looks of your name you drive an Import Ricemaker? Honda Civic w/ mods? INTEG w/ mods? TL?(Which I like very much). Eitherway it does not matter. You haven't seen the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing have you? Now that played an important role in supercar history.


BMW530iBMW530i - 9/14/2006 7:32:37 AM
+1 Boost
Save your breath, Agent63. Ricemaster here is a troll, loud and clear.

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SLK55 engine is crude like a domestic V8, it shakes the car even at idle. Throttle response is slower than a corolla.
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Here, he is subtly advertising the "most perfect car on the planet", the Corolla. Wow, after reading that, I think I am going to take a Corolla over an SLK...


Tranny is crude and slow too to respond, a jerk follows every downshift and upshift, camries from the 80s don't feel this crude. The 7spd tranny is also used in the CLS whcih responds even worse than in SLK55. Lexus is the benchmark in tranny/engine refinement.
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Bullshit. Pure bullshit. I've driven the SLK55. It's a monster. The tranny is fine. It responds fast and is smooth. The engine is refined as well. No coarse like you claim. Oh, and nice try again at trying to "promote Lexus while bashing Mercedes", dipshit.


Steering is numb and not fast enough.
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Wrong again. The steering is pretty direct for a Mercedes', a US-spec Mercedes' at that too. Slow to respond? BS. Numb? More BS from Ricemaster.



Ride is floaty when roads are smooth and too harsh on road imperfections. Grip in corner however is awesome.
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The ride isn't floaty at all. The suspension is hard, yet the car is still quite comfortable for a sports car. Your post also doesn't make sense. If the ride is floaty, then we must assume that suspension is soft: and that means grip in corners won't be "awesome" because the driver feedback is lacking, especially with your BS claim of "crappy steering".


Body structure feels more like a 35K than 70K car.
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Hear hear, the expert is speaking....



SLK55 is not on the same level as Nissan 350Z or RX8 in sportyness. It's just not hyper, sharp or refine enough. It is however sportier than BMW M3 due to better roll control and aggressive engine note.
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LOL, you truly are an idiot and a troll. The SLK55 rapes the 350Z and RX-8 in performance. I'd wager however that the 350Z might be the overall more sportier ride. The SLK55 AMG doesn't compete with the M3 either.


Conclusion: In Germany, only Porsche knows how to build proper sportscars. Mercedes and BMW only build pretenders.
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What a dumbass. BMW and Mercedes build sports cars, but they've got a completely different philosophy than Porsche.

So Ricemaster, thank you for showing us what a complete fucking moron you are. Goodnight.


RupertRupert - 9/14/2006 11:18:50 AM
+1 Boost
logical, it's called entertainment?
top gear isn't a car review show, you must understand that. it is an entertainment show, with cars and celebrities and fun.
they already took both to the track, i forget who won.
jeremy hates the boxster (cockster in his words) and owns an slk55. he agrees the slk isn't a sports car like the boxster, the slk is a fast muscle car that can take a few corners.


BMW530iBMW530i - 9/14/2006 11:32:21 AM
+1 Boost
Ricemaster,

The AMG V8 in the SLK is hand-built by a single technician like all AMG powerplants. I'd say that's a pretty tough job that ensures QUALITY.

Last time I checked, your "smooth" Nissan 350Z engines came off a production line heavily dependant on robotics...


BMW530iBMW530i - 9/14/2006 6:30:05 PM
+1 Boost
Amazing that you took the time to write such BS. I'm done with you, pal.


S4cabriofoxS4cabriofox - 9/14/2006 10:49:05 PM
+1 Boost
Matthew-

Looks are subjective, and I happen to dislike the SLK. Is that alright with you?

I think the nose is especially ugly. They didn't need to do that to make it look sporty- it should look more like a cheap SL.

Overall, I think the normal SLKs (SLK230 and 350) look just as feminine as the last-generations. They may not drive that way, but they haven't made much improvement with the design. Especially when you look at the quantum leap the SL500 made...


RupertRupert - 9/15/2006 9:40:49 AM
+1 Boost
gert, the boxster isn't very much more than the audi tt.
the slk is over priced.
thr 350z beat the pants off the last gen audi tt.
the new tt has made me want one instead of an slk or boxster or z4.
and enough with the money! if you had money to spend on a car, you'd want to keep within budget, right?
you wouuldn't buy an slk because it was more expensive!


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