So, Mercedes has been on a model offensive and plenty of changes have taken place over the last few years. One of these changes includes changing the SLK and renaming it as the SLC. The SLC goes up against the likes of the Audi TT Roadster. There's no doubting that this is a good looking machine, it looks amazing, but the price tag is high - which is what will keep it rare and special on our roads.
Four engines and 16 trims have been made available to the Irish market. The most powerful option is the AMG SLC 43. This 6-cylinder machine offers 367 bhp, a top speed of 250km/h and 0-100km/h in just 4.7 seconds. Back in the real world, the rest of the engine line-up operates off 4-cylinders. The smallest engine is in the SLC 180. This 1.6 litre petrol engine will give you 156 bhp. The SLC 200 gives 184 bhp and will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds (if you have the 9 -speed automatic gearbox). For a bit more power, you can opt for the SLC 250D, which gives 204 bhp and 0-100km/h in 6.6 seconds.
The SLC offers direct steering and handles the road in a very nice fashion. Like any good roadster, this car hugs the road and you real feel close to the gravel. It corners sharply and the 9-speed auto gear box is very sweet. It's perfectly comfortable cruising, but at city speeds the car can be a bit jittery.
In general, this is a surprisingly refined car. What we mean by that is that this has a retractable roof, and when it's up, things are kept quiet. Generally, you would expect more noise intrusion, although the roof is made from metal. This quietness though shows that the thought process going into this vehicle was very exact.
The interior is very attractive. While the plastics don't scream luxury, they are of very good quality. The steering wheel has a nice feel to it, and the instrument binnacle is as classy as you can get in a Mercedes. Once again, the infotainment system could be easier to use.
This vehicle has not been tested for the Euro NCAP, however, it contains many safety features as standard, and then there are the optional extras. As standard you will find; Headlamp assist (this automatically switches the dipped beam on and off depending on the situation), Electronic stability control, acceleration skid control and much more.
No roadsters are what you'd call practical. To put it simply, don't by one of these if it's an MPV that you actually need. The boot offers 335 litres at its maximum. There are no rear seats either, so eh...
Arrange a