Some cars never lose their curb appeal even as they are aging. Already 13 years old, the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 is still as fine a car as it was just off the assembly line. This sporty convertible has all the fun you can want in a convertible, yet all the class of a Mercedes-Benz car. Let’s review some of the features that made the SLK350 a desirable car in 2005 – and still desirable in 2018.
source: Wikimedia
Standout Features
One of the really practical features that Mercedes-Benz put on the SLK350 was a heated headrest. The European name for this feature was “air scarf,” but the manufacturer felt that was too girly for the American male market. So, it gave it the more descriptive name, Active Heated Headrest, or AHH for short. Basically, just a heater built into the headrest, the AHH was designed to keep the driver and front passenger warm with the top down when outdoor temps were a bit chilly. Why own a convertible if you can’t have the top down when it’s cool outside?
Updated Powertrain
The SLK350 sported a new engine over the previous year, upgrading from a four-banger to a 3.5-liter V6 that delivered 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It had a two-stage intake manifold that upped the maximum torque from 2,400 rpm to 5,000 rpm. The engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. The superbly balanced suspension gave the SLK350 great stability, making it an excellent car to take on mountain roads. The steering was changed in 2005 as well, from a recirculating-ball set-up to rack-and-pinion. The electronic stability control also helped to prevent oversteer on sharp curves. Wheels were staggered-width alloys that held 225/45ZR17 tires on the front and 245/40ZR17 on the rear.
source: Wikimedia
Enhanced Interior
The 2005 SLK350 boasted a redone interior that was roomier than previous models and featured brushed chrome controls on the matte black dashboard. The retractable steel top was convenient to lower and raise and went up or down in just 22 seconds. Elegant leather upholstery topped lightweight magnesium seat frames; the exposed portions of the framework were painted silver with aluminized accents.
Other Features: The Good and the Bad
A full array of Mercedes-Benz techno-gadgets and safety features included the TeleAid Stolen Vehicle Recovery system, which was a great anti-theft device. Other features were the programmable SmartKey and an audio system that was upgradeable to a surround-sound system. Eight-way adjustable seats and a tilt-telescope steering wheel made driving a pleasure. Airbags, seat belt tensioners, roll bars, and braking assistance made the SLK350 a safe car to drive as well as being fun.
There were a few not-so-great features that year, like a non-locking glove compartment. There also was a small console compartment and pop-out cup holders mounted in the dash. The trunk was a reasonable size when the top was up – 9.8 cubic feet of space. However, this diminished when the top was down to just 6.5 cubic feet. As a result, if you planned a road trip with the top down, you needed to pack light or stow some of the luggage in the backseat.
