New Merc SLK takes on Porsche Boxster

Why the comparison?

They're neighbours, Porsche and Mercedes sharing Stuttgart as their hometown. That, and the SLK and Boxster are both rear-wheel drive premium drop-tops that slot into the same sort of price brackets. The pair we're looking at here are the Boxster S and the SLK 350, both (if you ignore Mercedes's madcap SLK 55 AMG) being at the top of their respective ranges.

How are they similar?

Aside from sharing a hometown the Mercedes SLK and Porsche Boxster share a marketplace. It's a relatively small segment too, with BMW and Audi also hoping for a share of the customers with their Z4 and TT roadsters. All are in the premium category, buyers wanting the prestige their badges bring, though they pay for it. The SLK 350 as standard is £36,755, but start adding options like the auto (as 93% of SLK customers do) and it's right up alongside the near £40,000 Boxster. Both are powered by six-cylinder engines driving their rear wheels, and both are roadsters, allowing their owners to enjoy the performance - both physical and vocal - with the wind in their hair. In a sprint to 62mph they'll be inseparable, as they both have a quoted time of 5.4 seconds.

How do they differ?

They might both be premium German roadsters but they differ a great deal. Six-cylinder units power each, but in the Mercedes it's a V6, where as the Boxster's is a flat six. Where they're positioned is even different, the SLK having its V6 under the bonnet, Porsche preferring to place its flat-six behind the driver and passenger in a mid-engined position. Mercedes admits that the SLK's customer base is predominantly female, the Boxster having a more male orientated owner demographic. The majority of SLKs will be ordered with automatic transmissions too, and while there's one available on the Boxster, manuals are more popular. In its own way that underlines the different appeal of the two cars; the Boxster is seen as, and is, the more focussed drivers' car, while the Mercedes is better suited to fast-paced cruising. The SLK is more comfortable as a result, and with its folding hardtop it's far quieter roof-up than the canvas lidded Boxster. Being mid-engined the Boxster has two luggage compartments, one to the front and to the rear, but the SLK's boot space is more useful, especially with the roof up.

So which one would we have?

The decision would be based entirely on what sort of driving we were planning to do. The Boxster is a thrilling, enjoyable and interactive car to drive that demands skill to be exploited to its best. The Mercedes is an easier, more refined car to drive, even if the 350 engine and exhaust note is gloriously fruity. With the automatic it's a far more enjoyable steer around town, and the suspension is less focussed than the Boxster S's. That folding hardtop is a real draw with the SLK too, though the Boxster would get our vote for its sharp driving dynamics. However we wouldn't be disappointed with the SLK, either.

Kyle Fortune