USED Mercedes-Benz SLK Open (96 - 04)

My car

Although I've just bought this 2002 model SLK today for my wife, I'm a motor trader so I've driven a lot of cars to compare it against.

My first impressions are very good - the build quality seems much improved from the poor reputation that Mercedes were carving out for themselves by producing cars with blistering paintwork between 1997 and 2001. Everything else is typically what you'd expect a Mercedes to be - the car oozes quality.

This car is absolutely spot-on cosmetically, mechanically and electrically, and I know for certain that I'll be having fun with the tiptronic transmission. Probably the best part from my point of view was the price of £9,850, purely because I've picked the car up as a non-damaged stolen-recovered vehicle.

It was registered as being stolen when it was only eight months old and it's only covered 8,715 miles from new, which makes it worth around £18,000 retail - a bargain.

My car

Bought the car from a Mercedes Benz main dealer.

Was looking at the new shape SLK 350 and Porsche Boxster S. After weighing up the pros and cons of both including the additional £22k the above were over the SLK 320.Opted for a SLK 320 silver with black leather.

The selling point for me was the roof and found the drive more comfortable in town. I managed to pick up a 14 mth old car 5500 miles on the clock for £23,500. Great driving along country roads using the tiptronic gear box. Steady cruising at 90 mph on a motorway. With 0-60mph in about 7 seconds its quick enough for public roads.

The second hand market seems to be holding so hoping I do not throw away £12,000 like the first owner in 14 months….!

After being taken out in a friends Ferrari Testorosa at the weekend give me an SLK 320 and the cash in the bank anyday.

My car

I have owned my car for nearly two years now, and the only problem I have had is that the battery needed to be replaced, which was done without any fuss under warranty. However, I have been trying to have a test drive in the new SLK, and have had no luck in doing so from two local dealerships, who both let me down. This service from Mercedes has just not been good enough. I was kept waiting for an hour in the showroom, so eventually I walked out disgusted.

My car

Quite quick, smooth ride, eager acceleration. Sadly build quality is far below what I expected from a Mercedes.

Repairs to date include new gearbox (manual) after 6000 miles, broken exhaust bracket, new catalyst after old one broke up (1 week after warranty expired).

Roof seal to widscreen needed adjusting due to leak. Roof seal has since failed again! Rusting on windscreen pillars and on rear wing. Bonnet catch siezed due to not being oiled during servicing.

Cost of dealer service high and standard mediocre.