A quick check rearward cleared the way to do some quick lane maneuvering. After reversing 20 feet or so, we shifted back into D5, which is overdrive and the default transmission mode for those who fail to tap the shifter to the left of D5 into D4. I wanted to go someplace, like, right now. Also, when approaching a stop in D5, the transmission kicks down into 1st gear before the car has come to a complete stop. This causes the SLK to lurch a bit during those last few feet, because suddenly the engine is helping the four-wheel discs to slow the car.
Smooth stops are nearly impossible.
To solve these problems, drive the SLK in D4 unless you're eating up Interstate. More on the transmission, and then I'll get to the good stuff. The SLK is equipped with an adaptive slushbox that supposedly learns driving characteristics and adapts to provide optimum performance. Second, it doesn't seem that such a transmission can take into account that I don't want 1st and 2nd gear held longer all the time, because I don't want to go blasting away from every stoplight. We didn't live with the SLK long enough to truly test the adaptability of the transmission to different driving conditions and drivers, but we did feel that the transmission often seemed to shift when we were least expecting it.