Few may have noticed it, but for 2016, the manual transmission is no more for Mercedes-Benz customers in the US. The last car to come so equipped is the one we see here, the SLK250. While I’ve never driven an R172 SLK, they have always intrigued me. For a current Mercedes model, the styling is rather tidy and conservative. I don’t see too many of these on the street, either, which makes them attractive for someone like me who doesn’t want to be seen in what everyone else is driving. I’ve experienced the same 1.8 liter turbocharged four-cylinder in the last generation C250 sedan and came away rather impressed, even if there was a bit more turbo lag noticeable than we are used to with modern engines these days. This SLK250 is one of those equipped with a 6-speed manual, finding its way somehow to a Nissan dealer’s used inventory in North Carolina.
