You're joking, right? Z3 all the way. Manual for starters, and even if the SLK were the three pedal variety based on everything I've read the Bimmer is tons more fun. Also, while Mercedes used to make Toyota look like Fiat in terms of reliability they've gone to hell in a handbasket in the last several years; I wouldn't trust a 2002.
But hey, tell your parents to test drive both and see what they think...
--T.J.
