My New Baby

2003 Mercedes Benz SLK 230

I don't know what I did but somehow I ended up with a new car this weekend. Well, not brand spanking new but new to me ;-)

Standard Features
6-Speaker Bose Sound System and Dual Subwoofers
6-Way Adjustable Seats
AM/FM/Weatherband Cassette Radio with 6-disc CD changer
Auto Dim Rearview & Driver Exterior Mirrors- Dual Beverage Holder & Coin Holder-
Cargo Net- Dual Heated Outside Mirrors- Dual Zone Climate Control with Dust/Pollen Filter
Integrated 3-Button Garage Door Opener
Vanity Mirror
Leather Upholstery
Machined Aluminum Interior Trim
One-Touch Retractable Hard Top
Wind Deflector- Power Windows with Express Down
Tinted Glass- Programmable Remote Locking System- Integrated Fog Lamps
2.3L DOHC Supercharged/Intercooled 16V-I4- Sequential Multipoint Fuel Injection
Front Suspension: Independent Double Wishbone- Horsepower: 192 @ 5500 RPM
Torque: 200 Lb-Ft @ 250 rpm
6-speed automatic transmission with manumatic control
Power 4-Wheel anti-lock disk brakes with brake assist
Rear Suspension: Independent 5 Arm Multi-Link
Tires: Front: 205/55 VR16 Rear: 225/50 VR16- Wheels: 7-Spoke Aluminum Alloy
24 Hour Roadside Assistance- TeleAid Emergency Comm- 4 year/50,000 Mile Maintenance Commitment- 4 year/50,000 Mile Warranty
Anti-Theft Alarm System with Engine Immobilizer
Night Security- Dual Front Airbags- Side Airbags Mounted in Doors- Dual Integrated Roll Bars-Electronic Stability Program
Heated Side Mirrors & Windshield Washing System- Seat Belts with Emergency Tension Retractors (ETR)- Steel Reinforced Cabin with Front and Rear Crumple- Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with Occupant


Two years ago, I decided that it's time to get one of these cars. I bought one as a birthday present for myself. It was a 1999 model, white and pretty much had the same features as above except it had low-profile tires. Something went wrong with the dome light and it wouldn't shut off automatically when the doors are closed. So I had my brother take it in. There was something wrong with the electrical system and it would cost $1.7K to fix. This is after doing its routine maintenance, including the brake rotors and drums, for over $2.5K last month. And then he said there's a newer one available and would I be interested in trading in the white car and getting this new (black) one. Of course, I said yes! They paid $17.5K for my car and I still owed $12K for the new one. My brother said he'll give me the $2K as my birthday present; so now I only owe ten grand. Yipee!!! Car insurance only went up $33 every six months for the newer one. So it made sense to me.

I had to wait for today to claim ownership as the dealer had to make sure the car is in almost mint condition. And it is. The dealer made sure that I understand that its warranty is extended to 100K miles bumper-to-bumper and also includes all scheduled maintenance. All I have to do is to call for the appointment. They'll even call me to remind me! They were really nice, courteous and answered all my questions. They made sure that I signed up for MB owners program and gave me coupons for up to 25% off on accesories. They were not just selling cars but also an experience. The other nice thing was their car loaner program. When my brother took my car to the dealer for the needed repair and I ended up buying a car (which they couldn't deliver the same day), the dealer loaned him another MB C230 coupe. They will loan a car if they think the service will last for more than 1 hour! No wonder brand loyalty is high for MB owners.

I read somewhere that at least once in a lifetime, one must own a convertible and drive with the top down and feel the wind. Well, this is my second one. The car drives as expected. I drove it up to 100mph to see what it would do. The ride is softer and quieter (because of bigger tires), the radio's volume goes up when it senses that the top is down and you're driving and goes down when at a stop. The speed sensitive steering took me about 5 minutes to get used to; the brakes feel great and I took turns without (almost) slowing down. The best thing is that I can park this car in the smallest parking slots without any problems! I LOVE THIS CAR!!!

Now, let me look for a job so I can afford to pay for this...HAHAHA!!!