Monday, May 23, 2016

Old and New: Mercedes Benz SLK230K R170 & SLK200 R172



We have here two Mercedes Benz SLK roadsters for your viewing pleasure folks. The older one is a Mercedes Benz SLK230 Kompressor with a full AMG Line bodykit and wheels. The almost new SLK200 AMG Line shows off the marked differences a few decades have done in terms of car design. But honestly, both are actually as desirable as one another.


According to the owner of the R170, Adlis K, who  had driven both back to back.The newer R172 steers sharper and somehow rides a good or better as the older one but has way better body control. The throttle response and power delivery is better in the new car also. This is obvious as there have been almost fifteen years of development between the two cars.

The SLK230K made 193hp and 280Nm. 0-100kmh was reported to be 6.9 seconds. The SLK200 make 184hp and 250Nm torque. 0-100kmh in 7.1 secs. However, in real life it is actually harder to extract the performance from the R170 compared to the newer car according to Adlis K. I suppose if you look at the torque delivery in the older car, the 280Nm comes in at 2,500rpm and lasts till 4,800rpm. The newer car gets its torque down from 1,800rpm to around 4,500rpm. Add the newer, more responsive and more gears inside the newer 7-GTronic gearbox compared to the old 5-GTronic in the R170, and you know that it isn't just the figures that come into play but how early they do so. The new car is obviously faster.


It just goes to show that how things have progressed over the years. Even for a company like Mercedes Benz. I personally wouldn't mind either car as they are both unique in their own way. I also know that even with all the sharpness the R172 has, there are other even more razor blade level of sports coupes out there like the ones built by Porsche and BMW. Honestly, even the old R170 would be good because of the challenge it would give me. Not by being the sharpest tool in the shed, but because it needs some mastery to get right. 


But the photos are nice eh? All the writing was just filler. The pics are the stars here actually. And the cars. Bloody marvellous to have two from different generations coming together.



The R172's cabin has a lot of difference compared to the R170's interior.


With thanks to Adlis K and Norman S 
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