The Pretty little Old School Hooligan

When it comes to the Sport D Cabrio Category even the newly minted BMW Z4 saw a decline of 9% in 2020 with only the evergreen Porsche Boxster seeing a double digit increase (25%) forming the one bright spot. The Mercedes SLC we feature here sold only 5,200 units (a 34% decline) in the same year with its usual competitors of Audi TT, Jaguar F Type and Nissan 370Z faring even worse. Blame the global obsession with all things “tough” looking, a less car friendly new generation, the move to heavier electric cars and the world’s fastest growing market, China, having virtually no interest in the genre. Several manufacturers have even announced the non-continuity of many of their traditional small sports car models such as the Audi TT, Abarth/Fiat 124 and no replacement for Merc’s SLC. Yes, it’s all rather dismal reading but what it means is that we should appreciate and celebrate the last few remaining small roadsters.

OK; and so on to our feature car, the pretty little SLC we have here. Ultra quick recap of model history: The first generation was launched with much fanfare in 1996 as the SLK (Sport/Light/Compact in German), in order to nod to it’s historical grandaddys, it had an identical wheel base to the 190SL and 300SL of the 1950’s at 94 inches. On the other hand, the excitement of a small light roadster from the storied German Marque, one if it’s hit features was reintroducing the popularity of a folding metal roof, massively over engineered, of course, by Mercedes Benz. It’s run through three generations, with a beak nosed second gen and the third generation in 2011 which changed the moniker to SLC with a facelift in 2016.

The SLK/SLC has always straddled the fine line of sports car / tourer compared to it’s natural rivals, the Porsches Boxster, BMW’s Z3/4 and Audi’s TT. However, Mercedes allowed it’s performance wing AMG to cast their flared nostril demon magic on its little roadster since generation 1 of the little sports car.  The first Gen had a SLK 32 AMG with a 3.2L supercharged V6 and the Second gen with a hilariously over endowed 5.4L V8 in the SLK55 with 355 bhp (there was a mad Black Edition with 395 bhp too). The 3rd generation also had and SLK55 but introduced a new power train when the SLC facelift occurred.  And that’s what we have here: the latest and final AMG SLC which introduced a new range of medium-hot “43” engines to the Mercedes’ AMG range.

Like all AMG’s, the engine is of course the star, with a rorty 3.0L two turbo V6 ending up in a throaty double exhaust. It’s two cylinders and a few bhp down from the pre facelift engine but the lighter weight of the engine means it’s only 0.1 seconds slower and has better weight distribution to make it what’s acknowledged as the best handling SLK/C of all.

To zoom out of the engine bay to the body, the SLC is still a beautiful little sports car. In the eyes of this beer holder, the facelifted SLC harks back to the timeless lines and simplicity of the original SLC best, whereas the second generation and early third generation became a bit too fussy in the nose area. Whilst it’s a short car at 13.5 ft, it’s surprisingly wide at around 5.9 ft, giving it a squat and square stance.

The SLC facelift simplified a fussy front and rear bumper as well as smoother front and rear lamp designs, adding to a more timeless elegance as suits it. The AMG version here is sometimes difficult to identify from the smaller engined versions but a unique single bar AMG grill double bubble bonnet, discreet rear lip spoiler and badging on the front wings help identify it.

The rest of the drive train is engineered by AMG to help the mechanicals to transform it to a different type beast as well. There’s a 9 speed tiptronic box tuned to 5 different modes from relaxing eco and comfort to Sport and Full bore Sport + which releases all kinds of wonderful growls pops and bangs from the rear end. AMG adds stiffer engine and sub frame mountings, steering knuckles, wishbone guides and forged track rods along with more negative camber for sportier handling. 

The interior is compact but spacious for two. The material quality is a huge step up from the rather fragile original first gen car, but compared to today’s fantastically high tech Mercs, the rest of the interior is decidedly old school and shows it’s age. However, compared to the touch screen fest of toady’s cars, there’s some appeal in the old school buttons and dials in it’s simplicity and tactile nature. There’s still the basic tech of Bluetooth phone and music connectivity so you won’t feel too left out. Less enamoring are some surprisingly un-ergonomic touches. My biggest grip is the hard to find sports mode button which is an innocuous button hidden on the dash. A sporting little beast like this needs an easy to find big button that’s readily at hand to turn up the hilarity when the right road opens itself up to you.

The roof mechanism is simplicity itself with a neat button operation to quickly fold the hard top up or down. Even with the roof down, you conveniently have enough room for two soft bags for a weekend for two.      

What’s it like to drive? The SLC 43 is a different flavour completely from the class leader which is the Boxster/Cayman. The ride is stiff and a bit too aggressive even in comfort, but show it a nice smooth road and the little beast emerges. Sport and Sport Plus modes reveals a bonafide micro muscle car with 362 bhp propelling you to a pretty respectable 4.6 sec to 100 kmph. Grip and torque are available in treacly gobfuls and you’ll need a pretty fast race track to unstick it. However, it’s quite possible, as you can turn off traction control and let the LSD handle the 398lbft or torque through some fat rear tyres to give you some tail out delights. That torque is part of the hilarity as the 9 speed box easily helps find the right gear for massive in gear acceleration when needed. It’s definitely not in the league of a super sharp Boxster helm with much more inert steering feel through the slightly too thick steering wheel and very stiff suspension. However, it provides delightful old school, rear wheel drive hooligan appeal through that characterful engine that loves to rev… and that’s something you won’t expect in something as pretty as this little thing.

To live with, it’s surprisingly easy and appealing. Roof up, there’s 10 cui feet of boot space which is very useful for groceries or luggage a weekend away for two. Engage eco or comfort mode and the whole drive train is very smooth and quiet, very effectively disguising the crouching beast underneath that hood, except when you start up from cold though, when the exhaust flaps are momentarily released, making sure no one mistakes this for a garden variety cruiser.

Coming back to our initial lament of the slow death of the sports car, this pretty little roadster is one to hold on to and appreciated. It’s one of one bonafide AMG SLCs in the country and with the final version announced a few years ago there’s no successor due from Mercedes.

The impending rule of Electric cars will ensure that performance such as that of this car is easily matched by even normal EV sedans. I’m fine with the move to EVs as our planet needs them but a significant chunk of the traditional petrol head’s soul will be lost. Worse though is the seemingly insatiable world appetite for chunky crossovers that have pushed out the appeal for traditional sports cars. Still, we’re glad to have some little treasures in Sri Lanka like this characterful little AMG to satisfy the thirst of enthusiasts for just a few years more.