Why didn’t we like the Mercedes SLK55 AMG?

Wow – 92% vote SF90. What a pity– the Testarossa is such a hallowed name that feels wasted. And since we’re on that topic, the late 2000s seems to be a time period with a lot of wasted opportunities. After all, it was the last decade where we could buy things like big V-8s in small cars.

Cars like…the Mercedes SLK55 AMG.

The 2006 Mercedes SLK55 AMG vs the 2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 Roadster

See the SLK here

See the SRT here

I’ve been on this kick recently. I’m out and about, driving the family around town, and what’s this – a car I haven’t thought of in years?

This latest epiphany comes in the form of a small convertible from Germany. If you squint it sort of looks like a mini SLR, what with that nose and all. And under the hood lives a pretty gigantic 5.4-liter V-8 from AMG. Let’s pause and think about this for a minute – what if Mercedes came out with something like this today? Sure, the AMG V-8s are returning and nature is healing, but the smallest car they go in is the SL 63 convertible.

We’d go bananas over it. Then we wouldn’t buy it, but I digress.

The reality is somewhat different – this car was a maintenance nightmare, with a hardtop that often leaked, rust forming like a bad case of Chicken Pox, and interior trim that was so desperate to free itself that you might need a roll of tape and some glue on standby. But come on – V-8.

What to pit against it? A Z4? That had no V-8 or hardtop. Something like a Honda S2000 just isn’t the same vibe. Oh wait – Mercedes did make another option themselves: the hand-me-down Chrysler Crossfire!

When Merc and Chrysler announced that partnership, you could almost hear the yuck from Mercedes as they signed the papers. But from Chrysler’s standpoint, they just got a big brother who happens to be a star wide receiver in the NFL – those are some hand-me-downs for junior.

But yea, not a Mercedes, so it gets a supercharged V-6 instead of an 8. That styling, weird. But the chassis though…all SLK. Of course it was the R170 generation, so the previous one from our 2006 example. Can’t have the two be equal, can we?

Wait, what? The Crossfire is worth more?!

2006 Mercedes SLK55 AMG

This car cost $68,665 when new, which back then was pretty significant – $10,000 more than an E90 M3! Was it special?

• 42,500 miles
• Black over Black. Plain and simple
• Seven speed automatic, no manual offered
• Clean CarFax
• 5.4-liter V8, rated at 355 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque
• Minor wear and tear, such as rock chips
• Everything works and fits. For now.
• Honestly listen to that V-8 sound clip. Beefy.
• Sold for $19,000 on 7/11/25

There are plenty of examples available, and if you pick up a regular ho-hum version, it’s less than $10k. But why would you want to skip the 8?

What’s available new like this? Hold on, let me show you the list.

………

Exactly. I see some examples kissing $18k, but they don’t sell. Wonder what the owners are holding out hope for?

2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 Roadster

Well, well well. How the turns have tabled.

• 13,400 miles
• Sapphire Silver Blue Metallic over black leather and Alcantara
• Clean CarFax, though there is a gap in the report
• The juice here is from a 3.2-liter supercharged V6, rated at 330 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque
• Rock chips, curb rash – no big deal
• The spoiler pops up at speed – hilarious
• Automatic was the only option, and it was only a five-speed. Shame on you, Mercedes
• It even comes with a luggage tote so you can show off your car on vacation
• Sold for…$22,000!

Yes, it’s got fewer miles on it, but it’s older, slower, and not really coveted. Yet here we are.

Like the Merc, skip the performance (SRT) badge and you can get them all day for $3,500. Want an SRT coupe with a hardtop? $8,000. I wouldn’t call these cheap speed. Just cheap. Maybe a little speedy. You might get a few eyeballs at Cars and Coffee, depending on the crowd. Hey, I’m trying here.

So it’s two Mercedes, one with fresher duds (and bigger suds) than the other. Which “classic” are you going for?