The third generation Mercedes-Benz SLK has followed the style script by borrowing broadly from the Mercedes-Benz supercar of its time. The previous SLK had the beak of an F1 Toucan thanks to the McLaren SLR, and following suit, this new SLK borrows the more robust countenance of the current SLS supercar (and the aeronautics inspired air vents). I always thought the F1-nose controversy to be something of a storm in a tea cup. I found it neither here nor there if I’m honest. But this new one is a little different because I’m finding myself taking a side. I like it, more than like it, I actually find myself ‘wanting’ it. Not surprising considering the SLK has been the folding, hard-top segment leader and segment inventor in fact, according to Mercedes-Benz, for the last 15 years. They, like BMW with sports saloons, seem to get them more right than wrong.

It’s purposeful yet elegant, confident yet dainty and that rings true for the whole car’s execution in fact, inside and out, SLS front and SL inspired back. This new SLK seems to me to have the sort of all encompassing appeal that can put it right at home at a sidewalk café doing no km/h, or thundering up the side of a mountain road with you trying to duff the wing mirrors on the insides of the corners – even more so when you see the SLK55 AMG that’ll be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. You know what it has? One marketing person got it spot on in his description: charisma. Bolt on the optional AMG Sports Package (R32 000) and that charisma is turned up a notch, with red seat belts, 18-inch wheels, unique AMG body kit and a 10 mm lower ride height. You might expect that the new botoxed cheeks actually reduce the SLK’s aerodynamic properties in the pursuit of good looks, but Mercedes-Benz engineers have actually managed to improve the drag coefficient from 0.32 to 0.30 Cd over the previous model.

At this point I should probably admit that the day reserved for SACarFan to sample the new SLK was one of the worst days to drive a two seater sportscar ever. Windy, rainy and foggy, in Stellenbosch, in August… how ever could this be? But no matter, because it may have been a great blessing for the SLK. Because, you see, cabriolets will always be amazing in great weather.

Now, if a cabriolet can hold your attention on a bad day, a rainy day, a day when the roof must remain stoically up, as it will spend the vast majority of its life it must be admitted, then the cold fronts of the Western Cape, as they were yesterday, are the sternest proving ground of all. With the roof up and the weather bad, you stop masticating over the cars drop top looks, or how fantastic the wind and sun is on your skin. You can get down to the brass tax of car testing.

Here I can report that the new SLK comes good. The SLK200 with a 1.8-litre turbo motor making 135 kW and 270 Nm does exactly as it says on the can. It’s the baby, the cruiser, the one you’d buy more for its aesthetics than the driving clout of a more-cylindered model. It, to me, is enough Mercedes for anyone who’s always aspired to own a luxurious, German, sports car and was concerned about affordability and driving it regularly. However, whoever places the order will be in for a fantastic surprise. The ride quality on the SLK200 is stunning, the ergonomics are comfortable and the surging four cylinder engine does not mess around. It comes with a six speed manual gearbox as standard, quite a rarity for Mercedes Benz these days, and the 7G-tronic Plus automatic is a R14 600 option. Mercedes-Benz says it’s 20% more efficient and greener than the old SLK200, so you’ll average 6.5 L/100km. The raspy exhaust note is involving as well; the handling is top notch, with ample power from low down. The SLK200 retails for R555 700.

The R734 100 SLK350 however, nudges the volume up a whole lot more. 225 kW and 370 Nm from a 3.5-litre V6 gets you to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. The power delivery is savage from a standstill or through the middle of the revs and the exhaust note bellows and shouts all the way to the 7 000 r/min red line. The engine sounds gruff and coarse, which just ads to the SLK amusement factor. Comparisons to the BMW Z4 are inevitable and we’ll return to the matter later, but the shouting engine couldn’t be more removed from the clinical, straight six howl of a BMW and, on the day, fro some reason I found that to be a good thing.

Mercedes-Benz also say the SLK350 is 23% more efficient than the old model so you’ll return 7.1 L/100km and emit just 164g/km of CO2, a fine effort considering its ballistic performance. The handling and dynamism is limpet mine solid too. In seriously un-sports car friendly conditions, the SLK350 was planted, un-phased and took wet roads, slick roads and standing puddles of water like it was twiddling its thumbs. I’ve criticised some other sporty Mercedes-Benz efforts recently for not feeling special enough. The SLK350 is the riposte to those sentiments. It does feel special and connected to the road and the steering is on permanent feed back to the driver. I will say that around some tighter sections of twisty road, in the wet don’t forget, it did perhaps feel more on the weighty side when forced to change direction quickly. The seven speed automatic gearbox should also respond faster for really sporty driving. But I’ll reserve final judgment till we get the SLK350 on a clear, dry piece of road with the roof down. Although, on days when the sun is high in the sky, Mercedes have a feature called ‘Magic Sky Control’, which, for R16 000, will dim the amount of sunlight let into the interior at the touch of a button.

It’s difficult not to compare it to the BMW Z4, because the Z4 has been its arch enemy for so long now and the Z4 is such a breathtaking car to drive, but I would say that the comparable BMW is more delicate, more feelsome as a driving tool, but also more of a handful and more twitchy because of that. I respect the styling bravery of the Z4 but I don’t know if I could live with those looks everyday, the SLK is more accessible in that way. The new SLK350 makes a louder, better noise, roll’s and pitches less over its suspension, feels more stable and has that brutal normally aspirated V6 to keep you pinned in your seat. Imagine if I could get to have a go now with the roof down.

Prices include a 2-year/ unlimited km warranty and 60 000km maintenance plan.

Ray Leathern has been test driving and critiquing cars for four years now. You’ll find his work at autocirca.com, the Mail & Guardian and of course, right here on SACarFan.