The Mercedes SLC is essentially a re-badged updated SLK model. It was launched in 2016 and it finished production in 2020. The car it was based on, the R172 SLK Class. That car came out in 2011 which was ten years ago. The car then ran a lengthy production run from 2011 to 2020 which is nine years. The bigger SL model ran a whole decade in the same generation.
The SLC had a huge decline in sales towards the end of its life. People much rather preferred the C-Class or E-Class convertible. The SLC should have been selling well since it was in a competitive market with the Audi TT, BMW Z4, and the Porsche Boxster. The small sportscar market is raging right now, yet Mercedes never took advantage of it like they should have done.
The 2011 SLK was a smart car that was fitting for its time. It was the more elegant sportscar however, it still was pretty quick with the SLK55 AMG model pushing out 415hp. In 2016, this car was re-badged the “SLC” to fit in Mercedes’ new name structure. The bumpers, interior, and engines were updated and the car was set to carry on production.
The SLC never did as well as the SLK. The V8 from the AMG model was dropped for a Biturbo V6. The car felt old even when it was new and the rivals for this car had all caught up and were a lot better. The SLC then essentially was a flop but what if you want to buy one? What if you want one of these cars? Let’s take a closer look at the SLC and see what it offers.
It’s A Small Grand Tourer
The SLC is essentially a mini GT car. Like any Mercedes, it features a lot of luxury. Inside, there is lots of leather and surprisingly a decent amount of room. The folding hardtop is the party-piece for this car and the original SLK from the 1990s was the first car ever to feature this. The beauty of the Mercedes folding metal roof is that when it is up, the car feels like a coupe. This is great news for motorway drives or so, as the car feels more stable and you get a lot less road noise. A convertible with a soft-top usually experiences more noise and less stability than a convertible with a Targa-top or a metal top.
The SLC has a very comfortable ride, even on the AMG 43 model. The gearbox is smooth and the car feels quite rigid on the road. It looks elegant and it doesn’t feel too sporty. It’s a nice car to drive and the engine is powerful enough to give you that extra boost when you need it. It’s an easy car to drive but the hood is a bit long which makes blind-spots a tad difficult.
The trunk of the car is small, and it gets even smaller when the roof goes down. You can’t really expect much practicality from a sporty car, but that roof seriously eats a lot of luggage space. One other issue is that when you want to store things with the roof down, you have to put a cover on whatever your storing. The cover is like a lid that goes over whatever you are storing in the trunk. Now, this is great thinking in that your items won’t get squashed by the roof. However, one issue which stems from this is that the trunk size decreases first of all, and secondly, it becomes increasingly harder to actually try to get your belongings out of the trunk, when the trunk is down. If you have a suitcase or bags in the back when the trunk is down, then you will have to put the roof up in order to access them.
Is the trunk though big enough for a set of golf clubs? The answer is yes, but only with the roof up. That’s a pity, but the Porsche Boxster, Jaguar F-Type or Audi TT roadster can’t hold a set of clubs at all.
SLC Quality and Prices
The SLC new started at just under $50,000 which is similar to a 2.0 Porsche Boxster. However, on the used market you can get a newish car with a decent spec and not too high mileage for around $5000 to $10,000 less. There are also probably many dealers doing deals on excess SLC stock so look out for those too.
The SLC has an old interior. It has a lot of buttons and no touchscreen. It is organized and easy to use, but it feels old despite it having Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The sat-nav is also pretty awful too especially if you have the standard Becker system rather than the Garmin one. The screen doesn’t have the best graphics at all and it is just too small. The interior of the SLC is subpar compared to the Audi TT, current BMW Z4, Jaguar F-Type, and Porsche Boxster.
The visibility upfront and to the side is great. However, the rear visibility isn’t too good thanks to the rear windscreen, which has been made smaller to accommodate the folding roof. The interior too has a few cheap-feeling parts such as the climate control dials and the wind deflector.
The AMG 43 model starts at just over $64,000 which is a lot more than a standard 718 Boxster S. It does have more power though and two extra cylinders. the SLC 43 pushes out 385hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, and it achieves a 0-60 of 4.7 seconds with a 155 mph top speed. A Boxster S does a slightly faster top speed. Jaguar’s F-Type sounds better and has similar performance figures. The Audi TT RS roadster is much faster with over 400hp and a 0-60 below 4 seconds. On the used market, you could probably pick up a good SLC43 for say $50,000 to $55,000.
The standard SLC300 is enough for most people. It has 241hp and 273 lb-ft of torque from a 2liter turbo inline-4 unit. It cracks a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds and flat out does 155 mph. It is slower than a standard Porsche Boxster and the P300 Jaguar F-Type. It is, however, so much more relaxing and it’s more of a GT than a sports car. It is the perfect roadster for someone who cares more about comfort rather than speed. It certainly is the most stylish and prestigious car amongst its rivals.
Would We Buy One?
The SLC is a great car and despite its age, it still puts up a good fight. If you want something that offers a sporty driving experience, look elsewhere. However, if you prioritize comfort in a roadster rather than speed, then this may be the car for you. There are two main engine choices to suit your needs.
The 300 model is perfect for most people. It’s economical, it has enough power and it is smooth. The 43 AMG model sounds nice and all but it just lacks that sportiness its rivals have. It’s not as nimble as a Porsche Boxster or as fast as an Audi TT RS. The 43 is smooth but ultimately if you are looking at an SLC43 you may as well get a C43 convertible, which offers the same power with a nicer interior, a bigger trunk, and two extra seats.
Our pick is surprisingly the 300. It’s all the car you need and all the car you want. We doubt many speed freaks will buy this car. It’s more of a car for a person who wants to pose a little and be a bit stylish. Is it a woman’s car? Depends on the spec, but the interior is spacious enough for even the largest of men.
The SLC may get branded as a “hairdresser’s” car but I feel it is just too posh for that. It carries more class over its rivals and that attracts a certain customer base and these people know who they are.
It’s an underrated car and if you are looking for a convertible, you should check this car out.
Featured image credits via: motor1.com