Feature

Used sports cars tested: Porsche Boxster vs Mercedes SLK

The Porsche Boxster S is one of the most exciting sports cars around – but does the powerful Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG make a more tempting used buy?

What are they like inside?

Folding the Boxster’s fabric hood takes just 9.0sec and can be done while you're driving at up to 30mph, whereas the SLK’s complicated metal roof takes 20sec and has to be operated at a standstill.

scroll for more

Top down, the Boxster does the better job of protecting you and your passenger from wind buffeting (assuming you stump up the extra Porsche charges for a wind deflector, or find a car with one already fitted). The SLK gets a basic deflector as standard, although our test car was fitted with the optional - but largely ineffective - Airguard.

As you might expect, the SLK’s hard-top does a better job of shutting out unwanted noise. Road noise is the main problem in the Boxster, although the engine is boomier at cruising speeds too.

Used sports cars tested: Porsche Boxster vs Mercedes SLK

In other respects, though, inside the Porsche is the nicer place to be. It has the better driving position, with more adjustment on the seat and steering wheel. The interior is also fitted out with higher-quality materials, with soft-touch plastics and solid-feeling buttons and switches throughout.

The SLK’s interior also features a leather-wrapped dashboard and beautiful round heater vents, but unfortunately it feels disappointingly cheap by comparison, with flimsier switchgear and a few brittle plastics.

scroll for more

Next >

Used sports cars tested: Porsche Boxster vs Mercedes SLK