2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

Convertible

3.2L 3199CC V6 GAS SOHC Naturally Aspirated

Automatic

WDBKK65F81F191506

Clear

GAS

Okay, I’ll be honest: Driving a brilliant yellow convertible isn’t for everyone. You have to be okay with people noticing you. That said, if you like a little attention and you like to drive with music blasting and the top down and kick-start summer in a crazy low-mileage, beautiful condition HARD TOP roadster, this might be what you’re looking for. I’m the second owner of this 2001 Mercedes SLK-320. When I bought it in Los Angeles in 2008 it was a garage-kept playtoy that had 9,900 miles on it. I moved to New York in 2010 (top down driving cross country of course) and since then it’s been mostly a weekend car… so it still has a little less than 47,000 miles on it. Everything about this car has been babied. Without a doubt this is the best car I’ve ever owned and certainly the most fun. Problem is: I’m moving from Brooklyn back to Manhattan and we have two cars. And no family needs two cars in Manhattan. So it’s time to pass it on to another good home…Everything you're looking for in luxury (at a used car price)Okay let’s get to the details:PERFECT working order. Powerful V6 engine has low mileage and purrs like a kitten.The five-speed automatic 5-speed automatic sports a lockup torque converter and doesn’t have a single problem. Shifts effortlessly and smoothly.Convertible hard-top is in pristine condition mechanically and visually (and its fun to put up and down). Best of all, no soft-top convertible issues. When the top is up it’s as quiet as a church and dry as a bone.Interior is 98.7% perfect. (It is a used car, after all). Rugs and mats in great shape, leather seats are beautiful, save the odd scuff and dash has not a single crack or chip or scratch whatsoever. The between-seats console is flaking a bit so that could probably be swapped out if you want a “brand-new” interior. If you’re handy you could do that yourself. I’ve seen them listed on eBay.Beautifully kept exterior paint (the pics show close up). No dents, no dings. Not even one. The bumpers have a couple pin-dot marks but hey, the only thing better would be a new car.Michelin high performance tires have 80%-85% tread on them. Just replaced less than 10,000 miles ago. Gorgeous. I show tread in pictures, so you can see. You won’t need to worry about tires for a very long time.Four-wheel disc brakes were re-done 18 months ago and stop on a dime if need be. Solid and responsive.Xenon high-intensity headlights are PERFECT with ZERO fogging in the cover. They look like new lights.A/C has new Freon and blows like the artic if need be. Driver AND passenger climate control.The double wishbone front suspension is solid and firm and has incredible road feel.Premium Wood-Grain interior package in like-new conditionKeyless entry with TWO remote control keysThe BonusesHere are some other details you might want to know about:Heated seats for the months where you can’t drive top-downPower side view mirrors with turn signal lightsLux leather and wood steering wellBOSE power sound system that you can jack up as loud as you want. Just so you know it has a tape deck… but let’s be honest, you’ll actually PREFER the tape deck over a CD player. Why, might you ask? Because then you can have the iPhone adapter connected to it rather than having to lug around CDs. Who uses CDs anymore??Alarm system is built in for an extra bit of safetyAirbags all over the cabin.The rear-view and side view mirror are electrochromatic auto-dimming mirrors. So cool. When its bright out, they dim so you can see better.The DisclosuresI’m hard-pressed to find anything negative about the car. But in the spirit of full disclosure here are two items:As I mentioned above, the console between the two seats should probably be swapped out because the finish on it has started to flake. I’ve seen the console on eBay now and again for cheap.Another thing that could probably be replaced is the windshield washer sensor. That’d run you about $150 to replace, I just ran out of time. The windshield washer itself works fine, its just the “low fluid” sensor that needs to be replaced at some point. No biggie.I’m mentioning these two piddly things because they’re the only things I can think of. This car is in seriously phenomenal shape. Mostly because it’s my baby but also because it doesn’t have 90,000 miles of wear on it.A Fun-Loving Eye-catching RoadsterLike I mentioned in the beginning though, this car definitely gets you noticed so if you are shy person or don’t like attention this is probably not the car for you. I remember the first day I got it, I was driving home and a kid who looked about six years old looked at my car at a red light and said “Your car is TIGHT!” and I just about died laughing.In a world of constant cars colored gray, silver, black and white (boring) this car makes you feel like a rebel. Best of all, in a parking lot its easy to find. Funny but true.I should also mention that this is a roadster! If you need the space of an SUV this is also not for you. It’s really the ultimate automotive self-indulgence. By definition, it only holds two people and is designed for FUN. It’s the kind of car you throw a bag into on a Friday night, drop the drop, turn up the music and drive to the beach in.I should also mention that the car is ingeniously constricted to keep the wind in the cockpit from being annoying. When you’re driving at top-speed with the top-down you don’t get blasted with wind. It’s aerodynamically made so you sense the wind around you without being blown out of the car. Put the side windows up and it’s even quieter. You can actually have a quiet conversation in this car with the top down!Price-wise, I’ll make this very simple. Rather than setting the price myself, I simply went to Kelly Blue Book and took them on their advise for a private sale. If you want, go to Kelly Blue Book and run it yourself at 47,000 miles and you'll see the same result.The Bottom Line: It's Time to Drive ItMore than anything I’d love this car to go to someone who will treat it well. As you can see from the pics, I’ve babied the car and I really hate to sell it but we’re a two car family in Manhattan and no family needs two cars in Manhattan. Let me know if you’d like to take it for a test drive. Happy to let you take it for a spin. Make sure to come on a sunny day and bring your sunscreen. Oh, and a cell phone loaded with your favorite music so you can jam all the way home. J