2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350

The base SLK comes standard with the six-speed manual, the aforementioned powerful four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Brake Assist, electronic traction control with ESP, 17-inch, alloy wheels and 225/45 (front) and 245/40 R17 (rear) V-rated tires. Available options include a seven-speed, sport electronic automatic with driver-adaptive shift logic, Bose Audio Package, and Luxury Package (6-way, power, leather-trimmed and heated front seats, heated mirrors and electro-luminescent gauges).

The shifter's neat, short-throw action works well with the responsive 268-hp V-6.

For even more serious drivers, the optional Sport Package includes aggressive front and rear fascias, integrated fog lights, side sill extensions, rear wing, oval-tipped exhaust outlets, titanium-look power window switch panels, sport grille, rear window wiper/washer, metallic paint, and more. The seven-speed automatic is very smooth, but it takes some practice, if you like shifting manually, to learn to optimize the transmission's additional setting. There's an AMG version, too, with a 5.4-liter 355-bhp V-8, but for U.S. roads and limits, the standard model is more than sufficient.


We drove the new SLK350 at the Paul Ricard circuit in France, where the F1 teams practice, and were delighted with its crisp track manners, impressive stopping power, the well-placed gears in the six-speed, and the car's distinctively sporty (but not too rough-riding) road feel. Under $50K, and very well equipped, it's a veritable bargain Benz. (www.mbusa.com)