Just in time for warm weather to grace our Michigan office, a 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 rolled into our test fleet for a fourteen-day stay. For 2009, Benz has removed the manual transmission from the 350, which was one of the best parts of the SLK we tested last year, but we weren’t completely turned off by the 7G-Tronic manu-matic setup which has been added in its place. The new SLK boasts more power and a revised appearance, and it quickly became a dear friend to all of us on staff. Click through the jump to read our full impressions and click the images below to launch a gallery of our SLK350 test car. Steven J. Ewing Production Assistant

I feel like the 7G-Tronic transmission is poorly suited to the new SLK. Sure, the paddles are fun to play with, especially in manual mode, but I would give anything to have a third pedal and a proper stick-shift in this car. The last time we had an SLK350 in the fleet, one of the best parts about it was the six-speed manual, and I’m sad to realize that for 2009, only the base SLK300 benefits from a proper manual gearbox. Transmission aside, I really like this car. The steering is very responsive, though I would like to have a smaller-diameter wheel to wrap my hands around. The revised V-6 has a lot of power, but it all comes on in a smooth, silky fashion, which is really appreciated. It’s good to see that Mercedes-Benz didn’t overboost the power in this V-6, especially since it leaves room for the SLK55 AMG. The interior of this car is not only comfortable but visually appealing, too. Our test car’s red leather seats look great, though I would like some more bolstering around my upper thighs. The seat backs themselves could use a bit more support, too. Oh, and did I mention the styling? Talk about gorgeous. I might go so far as to say that I would drive this over a BMW Z4, but if I were in the market, I would go for a Porsche Boxster hands down.

Laura K. Cowan Chief Copy Editor

I absolutely adore the looks of this car, especially that steeply raked front end. The interior is also very well executed, though I wish more of the controls were lit so I could find my way around the center console at night. The red leather is gorgeous, the shimmery side sills and thick, carpeted floor mats impeccable, and quality throughout feels really solid. I also would have preferred a little more side bolstering on the driver’s seat, as I found myself bracing my legs into turns. Rearward visibility isn’t great, due to the windscreen and thick headrests, but just put the top down to fix this. If you buy this car, you’ll be driving with the top down all the time anyway. I was surprised that the SLK didn’t feel a little more powerful or have a better-sounding engine than it does, but there are other options in the Mercedes lineup if you’re looking for more muscle. Part of the blame here goes to the automatic transmission, which really limits performance. The shifter feels magnificently smooth in your hand, and shifting manually with it is pretty fun, but nothing compared to a traditional manual. Handling is great, the brakes are just right, but what I like best about this car is what a great package it is all around. It doesn’t try to be everything to everybody, and what it does do it does beautifully.

Seyth Miersma News Writer

The SLK350 continues the tradition of elegant Mercedes-Benz convertibles. The car looks not only beautiful but well made, both inside and out. The red leather covering a portion of the seats and interior is a little over the top, but the rest of the cabin is both comfortable and good to use, and the whole SLK package was (no surprise) a huge hit with my girlfriend. The 350 doesn’t come with the option of a manual transmission, but paddle-shifting my way through the seven-speed auto was no chore as the unit was quite responsive. And though the option of keeping my hands on the well-weighted steering wheel through the bends was nice, simply selecting “drive