chef chris

I have an opportunity to pick one of these up fairly reasonably. Books at $34K, I can have it at $28K. Only 30K miles on a 2000. The wifey likes the looks of it, has a ton of options & interior looks hot.

BUT, I've never driven one before(will tomorrow). Anybody have any experience with these vehicles? It's an auto.

Any input would be appreciated.

NJ_CLS_driver

Love the CLK. I have a lease on one. The Older Models are great. the new ones are just okay to much like the C Class inside

chef chris

How's the power...get up & go, etc?

danny25

awesome car, but I wouldn't be happy with the 3.2L

phil2

my father has a clk320 cabrio and the power is just EH strong top end but weak low end due to the gearing i think and the build quality is questionable.....rattles alot over bumps and it only got 28000 miles.

He had a clk 430 hardtop prior to this and it was much more fun to drive although it had a auto trans.

if it was my call id go with a 430 for a little more money

SpeedyV6

The CLK is a nice car. It's not as fast as a CL-S but more luxurious, better looking, and more exclusive. Even though it should be fairly reliable I'd be a little worried if it broke down & wasn't under warranty. From what I hear Benz parts are pretty expensive and I imagine their dealers are too.

You may want to check out used Seville STS's or Eldorado Touring Coupe's. They're not as exclusive as a Benz but they're every bit as luxurious & the performance is pretty close to that of a CL-S auto. You can even get a 2003 STS that's still under factory warranty for $27K. You can get a 2000 or 2001 model for about $17. That leaves a pretty large cushion for any repair costs. The downside is that they do depreciate quickly though.

95gt

Not a fan of the 320. For some reason it really has that base model look when you see it next to the 430. I would only get the 430.

DISRUPTV

make sure u get an extended warranty


0-60: 6.8-7.4 sec

nikon01

I say go with the 430...the 320 doesn't look as good without the body package and the AMG wheels. Plus, its only 221hp 3.2 liter V-6 versus the 275hp 4.3 liter V-8, which is a great engine, my dad has it in his S430, and it's pretty quick, so it must be 10 times more fun in a 2 door

brian6speed

iTrader: (5)

Dont expect a quick car with the 320. My dad has an e430, and it feels slow as hell after driving my six speed. It hesitates off the line, and seems like it takes a second to engage. Definately not a fast car. Its for people who want luxury, quality, and prestige. Not for someone who wants a fast car imo. Oh and the steering and handling and all felt numbed down too me. Not my kinda car.

dbox

go for it bro.

rickm

We just traded in my wife's 2000 Clk 320 Cabrio on a new '04. It was pretty much trouble free in 73K miles. It had a nice balance of sport, luxury and safety and fun in a pretty nice looking package (+ she looked HOT driving it). It wasn't really fast but it had enough get up and go for her. Dealer maintenance was pretty high, but they always made sure the car was 100% perfect so I always felt good about her going somewhere and not breaking down. They always seemed to find something that wasn't quite right, most of the times though , it was covered under warranty. One time she got a flat tire, Mercedes roadside assistance was there in 10 minutes!!! Definitely a womans car though.

chef chris

Interesting...

goldmember

Merc 6 cylinders tend to be pretty EH for people like us, unless you're talking about the C32

Safe cars though, peace of mind is unbeatable.

BoostedM3

Go for the 430, you wont be happy with the 320 performance.

lou_RENAMED

I have an 02' clk 430 and love it Its horrible in the snow but nothing some Michelin Pilot A/S wont fix. I just put on a Kleeman suspension and it rides better than an E46 M3...handles equally in the turns but so much nicer driving over the bumps

I will have to agree that coming outta of the acura 3.2 type S engine the only one that will please you is the 430. I know its not what you want to here but it has the total package especially with the AMG body kit and the staggered wheels...I park my car next to a 03' MB SL500 and they have equal sexyness in my eyes.

get it with the warranty tho no matter which model and be ready for headaches cause you wont be able to park it anywhere so they wont mess with it

chef chris

Thanks Lou...I'll keep it in mind.

Don't see many 430's around here tho...it's rare I even found the 320...

zeroday

uh i like your car ALOT dude but... 03' sl500? my buddy has one. heh. no way man...that's a 100k dollar car...

proaudio22

SL




SL > CLK

lou_RENAMED

this car is also $100K + and I think they both look equally as good.

It weird but I was the same way till I got the 430 and then you look at other Benzes like the same shit. Its like everybody with their CL-S and TL-S...they dont envy the RL even though it cost more than $10K more. The SL500 is not faster than my car has less passenger room and luggage room. The suspension is not better than mine and neither is the radio...they both have the exact same dual climate control system, same wheels except the SL has 18"....performance the SL has nothing on my CLk....which makes me look at the SL and cL 500 being more expensive cars and just slightly bigger.

proaudio22

I like the SL much betta, but ur car isn't a 03 either. I think that would lessen the difference.

zeroday

dude...stop. just stop. stop comparing your car to an sl500. i'm not even going to get into tech differences here, and there are MANY...looks are of course subjective....but there is no way in haaeeeell your car is even in the same playing field as the SL....and the cl600....just drop it. your car is awesome...but it is what it is. not trying to start a battle here...you drive a nice ass car....but cmon.

bigman

Lou i love th clk 430, my lil bro just got one. But i have yet to see anyone on the mb boards or any times posted saying that the 04 sl 500 is slower than the clk 430. Last i saw, the sl500 was doing 0-60 in mid to late 5's the clk is low to mid mid 6's. The sl also has the active suspension and all kinds of technology running through it. The cl on the other hand is very heavy. But you gotta take a ride in a twin turbo cl 600 to appreciate the power. The 430 is a sick ride, but its not as fast as the sl 500 and doesnt come close in handling.

bigman

and doesnt come close in handling.

in stock form of course.

chef chris

Guys, no offense, but the 430 is about $10K more than I can comfortably afford. Gotta pay the mortgage too...

Sounds like the 320 is a good car, just not terribly fast. I do like the looks of it though...

goldmember

For 10k less, I'd also get a 320, I'm not anything close to rich =)

BoostedM3

put a kleeman charger in it.

lou_RENAMED

straight from the MBUSA.com

Performance
Acceleration1 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds
Fuel economy
EPA estimate2 15 mpg
Highway estimate3 22 mpg
Emission certification TBA

Im sorry but Im not comparing the cars in looks because I agree the SL and CL look better. Im talking more like technology and performance wise.

For 2004 the SL is coming with the 7 speed tranny so things may change but 2003 SL are doing 0-60 in low 6's and 1/4 miles in mid 14s which is on par with the CLK 430 stock for stock.

I would be foolish to think my car is the same as a $100K car but if I was going to spend that much I would rather get the E55 for $85 and know that it is on a different playing field. The SL 500 or the CL 500 Ill race anyday....and welcome them to go in the twisties Now if it was top speed they may have me but I cap out at 155 MPH which is fast enough for me.

proaudio22

I think it would almost be silly to spend over $100K on a SL500 vs. stepping up to the SL55. I'm sure you could work out some kind of deal, $20K more on a $100K car isn't a huge jump in the monthly payment, and the car is well worth it IMO.

acura_service

since i work in mercedes service, clk320, good car, esp if its for your wife, don't worry about a 430, yes i like the 430 more than the 320, but if its for your wife and the price is right, get it, things to worry about, none really, some vehicles have had a failed brake stop lamp switch causing a bas/esp light to come on, some have had the windows come out of syncronization, but it can be re-sync'd easily withought going to dealer for that, as far as prices on repairs, yes they are expensive, yes the parts are expensive, be prepaired to pay for anything that goes wrong, if you can get an extended warranty, is it from a mercedes dealer? - if so get a starmark warranty

BlkTypeS

i'd say 430

BlkTypeS

but i agree with acura_service

chef chris

SleekSilver

CLK320 is a sweet car, its not very fast but its got style... so whatever floats you boat. As far as the guy whos dad had the e430... they are geared for the autobahn, and te rear end gears are really low (or high???) to keep RPMs down while cruising at high speed so that hurts acceleration.

JRock

I'm not a big fan of C, CL, CLK, SLK, S, or E class. Exceptions being E-55, CLK-55, S-600, and CL-600. I'd take an SL-600 or SL-55 any day over the others.

I guess that just means I'm not a Benz enthusiast.

dfreder371

MB's are suspect electrically.

My buddies C230K, at four months old, decided to burn itself down in a stand alone garage with no electricity. Fire started in the ignition switch.

goldmember

So you're saying the ML rocks you hard?

acura_service

JROCK, i'd probably take a SL55 over a C-Class anyday also