Buying a used Mercedes SLK - 200 or 230?

I am thinking of buying a Mercedes SLK200 or 230 as a birthday present to myself. There seem to loads around in the sub-£3000 price bracket. Which is best - the 200 or 230?

Asked on 5 June 2016 by Captain Slog

Answered by Honest John
The whole car is prone to rot, especially in the seams, because from 2007-2003 Mercedes downgraded its bodywork pre-paint protection. Obviously the 230 is more powerful, but the 200 was also available as a manual and the manual is better to drive.
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