bgsm1th

I'm guessing it's more like 25%-30% of the 540's were made with 6spd manuals...if not more. I've never actually been in a 540 that WASN'T a 6spd.

I agree with you to some extent, that a manual is a little out of place in a car that is soley bought for luxury. However, when you get a 540 as opposed to a 525, you are obviously buying it for some sort of speed/sporting purposes and not JUST for luxury. I don't know if you have ever driven a 6spd 540, but it is an EXCELLENT blend of luxury and sport. It's great for going to fancy dinners with the misses on a friday evening and even better for going on a spirited drive down an isolated road the next morning. I would think a M45 w/6spd would be a very similar experience, you could get luxury alone without the power from the M35.

What the above is saying is that Infiniti should have at least offered the MT for those who really want the luxury sport experience. And for those who find the idea of a 6spd in a "luxury car", the automatic is still readily available.

cob3683

CLK55, Corvette, or M3

I love the M45 but have a real hard time justifying almost $60,000 on an Infiniti.

Ashburner

M45 for me

BstonBruin

im the same age as him and there is no way I could make a monthly payment of about 700-1000 a month. So we're all just curious as to what you do. I doubt that if your a college student like me you could afford something like this, but maybe your parents are helping you out or something?

Crazy88

Mercedes has serious quality/reliability issues. And yes, a CLK500 is a chick car....and the CLK55 looks pretty uncompelling compared to an E55.

Go with an M3 or M45.

BstonBruin

I'd say go with an M3, you can get a M45 when your in your 30s and ^

treyster

The CLK is definitely a chick car, but that CLK55 AMG isn't

MattT516

As for the whole ''how I'm affording this car situation,'' I'm splitting payments with my father. My sister got married in August and she got a lot of things from my parents including payments on a house and a really extraordinary wedding, so my parents believe in the whole ''give one, give all'' thing. For the record, I'm going to be 20 in May but I go to NYU on my way to law school and as soon as I leave school on Thursday I work until Sunday, so I'm not one of those spoiled rich kids that sits on their ass and collects money from daddy. My girlfriend should break up with me soon given this point - think of how much I see her. I'm working for this car, and since I don't have a lot of expenses at this age I want to buy myself a nice car. Thank you for not being jerkoffs about it guys.

As for the car, everything in my head is coming down to a new M45 Sport or buying a used CLK55 AMG. I'm not going with the S4 because it's a car for smurfs, I like the M3 but I can't justify buying the E46, which is now 6 years old and they are pretty much all over the road, and the 550i is pretty much out of my price range. I think it's coming down to these two cars. What do you think of this one in Florida? I think it's really gorgeous:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...n&cardist=1073

Thanks again.

nahooneyya

you rich bastard

i would personally take the M45 or the S4..both are sex

zeroday

s4 is a car for smurfs? huh?

zeroday

what about a used porsche? (not boxster) I personally think the new CLK is a chick's car.

MattT516

I just think that it's too small inside for a four-door car. I hit the gas when I test-drove it and I just didn't feel comfortable driving aggressively in it. Coming from a TL-S, I'd at least want something similar in size. For some reason I think the CLK is somewhat roomy, at least I liked the room in the W208. I've only sat in a W209 once but I don't really remember much about it. Too bad the S6 isn't out yet, even though Audi will probably want tons for that car.

As for Porsches, most of them have low miles and are still too expensive to justify buying one. Hypothetically speaking, if the Cayman was out for 2 years and there were used ones out there, then we'd be talking! haha

brianlin87

iTrader: (1)

weird that you would use money to even fix up a leased car if you know in a few years you'll get rid of it for somethin newer.

Black CL-S 4-Life

I just don't get why everyone says the CLK is a chick car?? I thought the SLK was but not the CLK.

zeroday

^^ just look at it the last one wasn't, but the current gen sure is.

bgsm1th

is it :ghey: that I like it?

oonowindoo

______________________
Yah i know... but think about it... CAN YOU RESIST?????

oonowindoo

btw: i am not hating on this kid. Shit... i wish i could be as lucky as he is...

a 19 years old should buy a car that he can have fun with ...... it doesnt have to be cheap....SLK55 or something but not M45.... it s too "OLD" for u.

oonowindoo

_______________________
WRONG!!!!!!
i hit the shift key and the underscore key ONLY ONCE!!! i just never let it go =)

Well the real reason is because when i first joined the forum back in 01... this is the first internet forum i ever joined. another word, i was a noob...

i wanted to use a LINE to separate my stuff with the quotation when i reply. but later on i found out that the quote is usually in a BOX

i guess it s just a bad habbit...

BstonBruin

i agree with you about the "too old" factor

bgsm1th

If you can swing it...Red CLK55 it up while you're young...

Do it now while you can still pull it off, cause once you get to be my age, it just looks like I'm trying not to be old...

Let us know what you get man!

DownUnder

I don't have a problem paying $60K for an Infiniti if it's a great car and retains it's value well. Only badge whores would have a problem paying that much for an Infiniti even if it's superior to a comparable model from MB or BMW.

BstonBruin

at your age?? your 24 if your info is correct. 95 percent of the time somebody cant afford a CLK55 yet by that age. 24 is still young.

TypeSAddict

haha I thought the same thing. I was like when I read that :killer:

youngTL

I'm 22 and I just bought an '06 Accord EX-V6 6MT coupe with my own money. Now I'm out over $33500 + 7% tax. It was a stretch to afford, but my parents are helping me by paying insurance (which isn't actually that bad after the reforms). Cars cost too much in Canada!

cob3683

While I somewhat agree on the Benz side, the M45 is not superior to a 550i. Anyone who has driven both and has half a brain can tell the 5 is still the better sport sedan.


Back to this thread: go with the C6.

rdml07

I'd get a S4 or E39 M5 or RS6 or M3(SMGs since you do not prefer mts). E39 M5 is awesome!!! CLK?!?!? ugh! Nasty. IMHO, its a waste of DINEROS.

BTW, S4 is small for you but CLK isn't?? I dont think CLK is that big...besides, mercedes AMGs( I'm talking about the CLK55 and etc) are too common these days. Since I live in Japan and they sell many Alfa Romeos here...I'd probably get 156GTA....or porsche....oh who cares.

West6MT

they do cost too much in Canada.

aaronnn

the S4 is actually alittle cramped.. i'll have to agree with him.

im 19 now.. but i bought a used 99TL when i was 18.. but only for about 8000 bucks. i personally think owning a car is ALOT better than leasing a car.. leasing is not that great, you really cant do anything to it since you dont really own it..
i rather be able to sell the car later on too.

im pretty satisfied with my TL still. i dont think i ever want to upgrade to anything else for a while.

i could never understand leasing a car like the CLK.. but iif thats what you want to do, then no one's stopping you.

good luck with the snow in NY man.

F900

I had a 2005 CLK 55, signed the papers etc... Week later returned it. For 47K with Nav, hmm Maybe. Its a fast car, i'll give it that, but the interior feels cheap, no where near the whole 70K feel.

Do a search and you will find my topic on it.

zeroday

^^ how did you pull that off? never heard of anyone being able to 'return' a car??

MattT516

I did a search and it says that you had a CLK500, then got into a C230 and didn't really like either car. What didn't you like about the CLK's interior? I happen to like how the interior is situated with the navigation and the dual climate controls, but that's just me.

And by the way, how deep is the center console, and for the love of God, where the hell are the cupholders located in the front? I really have to sit in this car again to remember it before I even consider buying it - stupid and obvious comment, I know.

MattT516

I agree with this statement to some extent because the 5 Series has always been the benchmark in that class, but in comparing prices I really would have to credit the M45 with being a really, really difficult competitor for the beloved BMW. The M45 has nearly the same amount of horsepower, what I believe is a more comfortable interior than the 5 Series, and a fantastic amount of gadgets in its interior. The BMW does have the edge in driving ergonomics, which is pretty much the determining factor in why its a better car. No one could really discredit Infiniti for building one hell of a machine, however.

In terms of pricing, I mean the following:
M45 Sport, every option including aero kit: $629/39 months, taxes paid off
550i, most options: over $1000 a month/36 months, taxes paid off

Which would you choose for that price?

F900

When I went to the dealer, I was only looking for a 30-40K car, When they pulled my credit got approved for 100K.

They had a whole stack of CLKs and where desprate to get rid of them, told me i'd get a deal of a lifetime lol.. rightt.. after the whole cirus act from the sales guys to the GM, i gave in with the condition if i did not like the car I could return it, since it was not what i was looking for at that time.

No problems returning it, but getting my trade back (CLS) was a whole different story..... I've talked about it before but i had to steal my own car back ...lol , And becuase of all that I did not want to deal with them anymore, I could not believe all this was happening at a S Florida's largest Merc dealer... In the end they tried to make it up..but it was too little too late..

They think just because your approved means your going to buy no matter what, as long as they win.


Matt......

See this was the thing with the CLK, it started with the little things i did not like they all added up, was not worth me paying 70K. The cupholder... thats right for 70K you only get ONE cupholder in the centre between the seats.


Right now I drive a 2005 porsche 911...holy fawk, its like the faster you drive the better it handles.


BTW I might be in the area tomorrow where that red CLK 55 is.... I'll take a look if i have time, let you know what i think....It would be interesting to see how much i can get off 47K.

darrinb

y not a used e55, its got a blower that the clk doesnt, alot quicker!!!!

MattT516

That really sucks. I'm thinking about an M45 Sport, which is the pinnacle of luxury and has every single gadget you could think of in a car, and a car with one cupholder. I guess the whole Mercedes emblem is really taking over my brain right now.

If you can, please look at that car for me so you could save me the trip of flying down. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

F900

Np I will either monday or tuesday....but rememeber with 0 down and not including % rate and tax.

assuming you looking at buying the car for $45,000 your looking at a payment of $750/month.

bgsm1th

I wasn't referring to the CLK55 so much as I was referring to the RED CLK55. Whenever I see someone 30 or older driving a bright red Mercedes, it just looks a little too garish to me. But I think a 19 year old could pull it off in fine style.

Yes, I am only 24, but I personally have outgrown my flashy tastes of my teen years. I've test driven a CLK55 recently and enjoyed it a LOT, but I'd have to go with the more subdued Black on Black.

rise

S4, personally.

RyeCL

I agree, at 19...that would be a bad ass car to have fun with..... hell i'll take one now.....