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Step up to the 320 and you'll get 17-inch, five-spoke wheels, a unique air dam, metal plate doorsills, power seats, a telescoping steering column and wood interior accents. An optional Sport package for the SLK230 doesn't cure the lame exhaust blat, but it does include an AMG-inspired body kit and meaty 17-inch treads mounted to AMG Monoblock wheels. SLK 230s count leather seating, aluminum accents and 16-inch alloy wheels among its standard features. The 0-60 mph sprinting ability of either model is respectable, with the 230 running that dash in around 7.5 seconds and the 320 beating that time by around a second.
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#2001 MERCEDES KOMPRESSOR 230 RIMS MANUAL#
A six-speed manual is standard on both models, with a five-speed TouchShift automanual optional. The standard four-cylinder engine (SLK230) now makes 192 horsepower, but for those who prefer the smooth torquey feel of a V6, the SLK 320 offers a 3.2-liter, 215 horsepower six-cylinder. Combined with the SLK's precise steering, rev-happy powerplant, and wonderfully damped suspension, the car was entertaining, though not particularly exhilarating. In 1999, Mercedes equipped the car with a five-speed manual transmission as standard equipment, making the automatic optional. The original SLK was available only with an automatic transmission and a supercharged, 185-horsepower, 2.3-liter I4 that had an anemic exhaust note. In less than 30 seconds, you can convert the SLK from a closed coupe to a cool convertible without leaving the driver's seat.
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Although the standard SLK enters 2002 relatively unchanged from last year, an all-new AMG model serves up serious doses of fun for those who crave more than just a little wind in their hair.The SLK's big selling point is its exclusive retractable steel roof that, when raised, makes the car seem as airtight as a Benz sedan. With no less than five contenders vying for attention, the compact luxury roadster segment continues to flourish.
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