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Hey, are you forgetting the even rarer “73” badge??? They are out there, I’ve seen one in person. They were fitted to a very small number of SLs. A stroked and tuned V12 that makes the 65s look commonplace
My brother, good video, but why do you not open it up a single time? Do you know what we are here for? Yes of course. I need a more open throttle in a car like that.
I had a E class with the 5.5 TT V8. Probably the best engine I’ve ever had. It had less power on paper than my current RS6 But hmmmmmmmmmm as brutal as the RS6 is at over 600bhp, I reckon the 5.5 TT AMG, Well put it this way if the Audi has just over 600 then the 5.5 TT had over 650. Mighty isn’t the word.
2007 to 2015 I agree. This was a company who thought it would be a good idea to shove detuned SLR engine into an SLK, as well as assuming it would be great to plonk a 661hp twin turbo V12 into an SL and gave it Jean-Claude van Damme steroid bodywork, a solid carbon roof, and suspension made from granite. And this is before we talked about R63.
Also the fact that they didn't yet scream about their presence, and the AMG brand hadn't yet been diluted by adding the badge to slightly upgraded C- and E-classes that we now have.
Honestly this was the golden period for all 3 Germans. Mercedes had cars like these with massive turbo V12s, Audi had the insane turbo V10 RS6, diesel V12 Q7, and BMW also had their M5/6 with the V10. Beautiful insane times that will sadly never return. Timeless designs for all across the board.
had one. They're stupidly large even when compared to SUVs. The C216 is a coupe that's as tall as a regular executive limousine and requires you to step "on" it rather than "in", like in a normal car.
The only time i saw one was at a petrol station. When the driver noticed my interest, he gave me a nod, opened the throttle and pulled away really, really hard.
You’re a fascinating TH-camr and I love following all your videos - how you manage to have the perfect balance of “hard core journalism”, “film festival cinematography”, and “eloquently worded and moving voiceovers” baffles me. Thank you for making such down to earth and engaging content!
I agree with Jacob. However I think you're better than TH-cam. Top Gear is over. Fith Gear is..... well its Fith Gear. There's no motoring shows anymore. Keep doing exactly what you're doing but.... BB2 9PM "Jayem on Cars ". Tell me I'm not bonkers.
I love this CL. At the time, it was about 60k more than the CL63, and a whopping 100k more than the entry model, you can really tell that it's a car for people who want the best, no expense spared. Never the sharpest tool, but usually the most comfortable. And I love the styling, soft and muscular, just like a killer whale. It's never been as famous as its competitors (no, not the M6), like the Bentley Continental GT or the Aston Martin DB9, because it's "just a Merco", but it has always had its fanatics, shown by the fact the Mercedes is still producing an S-Class coupe. Which is crazy when you remember that until recently, in that "very exclusive coupe/cabrio" niche, they had the S-Class coupe and cabriolet, the SL, and the AMG GT (you could maybe also include the CLS and the AMG GT in there if you count cars who have 4 doors only for the style). Only Mercedes can have a range this complete. Oh, and the pillarless design is just so satisfying...
There are two things that make the life of the average car enthusiast just that little bit nicer: (1) Cars like this (and the manufacturers who produce them) and (2) People like James who go to the effort of bringing them to us. Thankyou James.
"If you want a sports car get the M6 ...if you want an EVENT get the CL 65" you literally just explained my boyhood fantasies " and now tragically a hybrid 4 cylinder" and worst fears ( as a devout Petrolhead the hybrid movement looms over my garage like a dark cloud ) in under 20 mins and that is part of the imense pleasure of watching your show ..appreciating how you explain both the science of motoring and it's heritage in such a casual yet profound manner . A truly great piece of entertainment.
What I love about these (and the S65) is that you can get them with a fridge in the back! The ultimate family cruiser - making sure the kids have chilled drinks and snacks, and it's quiet enough inside that you can hear everything they're up to...
Yeah but if they only sell one or two per year per country the chances of the original purchaser optioning the thing you might like on a £30k car (ten years later) are almost zero! I remember working at MB in 2006 and having a particularly insistent buyer literally “demanding” a used E55 or early E63 Estate with the rear child seat bench, then getting very angry when MB UK informed me that, as far as they were aware, no UK buyer out of the 59 vehicles ever ordered up to that point is had ever optioned it !
This last generation of the CL is a Stunning Timeless Design & is one of my favourite Mercedes ,You should get one James, Great video James as always !
What a beast! That engine note alone is insane. One of those cars where you need to also have the purchase price in savings for ad-hoc repairs however.
I just bought one! I haven't taken delivery yet. 2010 iridium silver with dark gray diamond stich interior. 77,000 miles. So excited, I can't contain myself!!!
For those who didn't know, CL's of this and the prior generation have a cult following here in Germany, especially (who'd have guessed) with young people. Basically every german rapper has one, thus they are seen as super cool status symbols. A total must have are the MAE Crown Jewel wheels - which is THE legendary aftermarket wheel for these cars. Also you don't see them as much on the Autobahn as you do in every bigger city like Frankfurt, Cologne and especially Hamburg.
Interesting. Can you show some examples of rappers having this car (maybe link). And why have this generation CL become so popular? I know it’s an astonishing vehicle for us enthusiasts, but for the general public, it is a scary money pit…
That's also a big reason why nobody normal can drive a car like this. Everybody looks at you and thinks you're an idiot. Rappers have ruined a lot of cars here in Germany.
Bear in mind that the C216's predecessor, the C215 was approximately 200 kg lighter. It had aluminium bonnet, roof, doors & rear wings with polycarbonate front wings & boot lid. Even the doors were built with single piece cast magnesium frames & aluminium skins. It was powered by the same M275 (in both CL65 and CL600 forms).
Well done, James. That is not only the best video title possible, but the only adequate description for that particular automobile. "Undisputed God-king of the Autobahn"... Just ... Bravo. That car is what dreams are made of. Automotive perfection.
Had one of these for nearly 5 years a decade ago. Remapped to 750hp/1200nm, added a Quaife LSD, pegged down the traction control system along with the choked-me-silly seatbelt safety system. Rarely ever stayed straight on any road on any condition. Utterly spectacular thing to tour around with.
I have owned one for 3 years now. Unbelievable. I describe it a throwing £50 notes out of the window. New AMG alloy wheels for this car with four tyre cost £9K. I took the car to Europe for a long holiday and it was imperious in its progress. Prior to departing, I had my independent dealer do some work on it, and a service, including new front discs pads and service. Another £6.5K spent. They are incredible cars, but you need to know it is going to cost. In my three years of ownership, I have spent about £20k on services, fixes and job I wanted doing. Unlike this car, I believe it should be kept 100% original, and I have tried to respect its heritage. The only thing that has been done (prior to my ownership) was a re-map taking it to 680 HP. Iwill NEVER sell this car. My gift to myself after my divorce. They will never make cars like this again….. and I believe there are only 350 made. Next up for me is likely a naturally aspirated v12 Ferrari.
Hi. Sory for being slow in replying. @@j.t.553 Next to the gear stick with the multi-function buttons, there is a A,S,M - automatic sport and manual button. The main difference is with the gear changes, mainly holding onto gears longer.
Jay, I own one of these, it’s a 2012, a true gem, it’s one of my favorite cars in the stable, it has a sport mode and it’s quite different than the comfort mode you were in, I can tell by the way it sounded and what you were describing, anyway if you get a chance to drive it in sport mode… it’s a real kick in the butt, a lot more fun and much more responsive. Thanks for your videos, I enjoy them
This is in my opinion the best luxury and most powerfull car mercedes ever made. After lookin for one for over 2 years with the right specs, colors and low km, i finally got one! Its black outside, interior is black, celing is black alcantara, and its even got the interior carbon fibre pack original! Its only been driven 48.500 km. and its a 2007 Model. Feel very lucky to have one, and im gonna keep it like it is. Even with the original 20" amg Wheels 😊
@@garyrains5996 Yeah, i love those circular headlights. My dad had a CL500 back around 2000 (then an S65 around '06 for that engine)... always hated the S-class of that gen, but the CL--one of the best-looking cars. Large, pillarless coupe
The response lag is a known issue with Mercedes for many years, it is down to the electronic throttle pedal programming, you can get a box that fits on the throttle pedal which massively improves the responsiveness. Alternatively you can fool the software by stabbing the pedal quickly which in a CL65 is not to be recommended :D
@@Stormy177 Speaking from experience (owned two Mercedes of that era), you stab the throttle twice, one until the kickdown button and then floor it. It downshifts quicker than just flooring it and kinda revmatches too (a function that the 5spds lacked).
on this car its mainly down to the boosty engine- 22psi combined with low CR- 9;1 and the throttle/ TCU mapping secondarily. I have the E55K with basically the same transmission, but obviously a supercharged V8 and the response is very sharp.
You are talking crap, dude! This wasn't a "known issue" at all, because the AMG CL's aren't sportscars! The AMG CL65 certainly doesn't have to feel like a lighter sports car. The AMG CL65 still is a heavy performance/super luxury vehicle from that era 15 years ago, which still outpaces every Bentley and Aston Martin coupe from that era with ease!
I've got the W220 sedan version with just 38500 miles on it, with the exact engine and gearbox... It's a lovely ride, very comfortable, and somewhat "sporty". On a straight road, it does what it's suppose to do.... mine has the limiter removed, so 320 - 330km/h is not that far away... It sure is NOT a city car.... a 5.20m and 2.2 ton lump of car is a bit clumsy in traffic, not to mention the consumption... the gearbox is pretty much bullet proof, handling 738pft (limitet), unfortunately it's VERY sluggish, specially in manual, it takes about 1 sec to shift gears with the paddles. The cocoon feeling in the cabbin is like a cigar lounge, smooth and quiet, the ABC (Active Body Controll) unit/system with hydraulic does a great job soaking up the imperfections on the roads while keeping the car leveled in the bends and corners. Driving a 100 - 200 mile trip is nothing short of a massage room, getting to your destination all rested up. The downside is the maintenance cost, parts and service are not cheap, I had to change the left ignition coil from cylinder 7 - 12 at a cost of €1200 (refurbished ), new costs €2300, a full service at AMG center, another €2300, front brake pads and rotors, another €2400... The car is not cheap to own, it's all about smiles per gallon. If you find one in mint condition and have the budget for the maintenance, then go for it! But if you go by the "so far so good" theory, then skip it, you'll find yourself in a money pit situation!
My friend used to have CL600 like 7 years ago,he changed probably close to 7 cars since then,but still talks about that beautiful CL,he even confessed to me that he begged the dude he sold it to to sell it back to him but that guy just said no.Dont know why would he sell that beautiful beast!
You forgot to mention the generation of E63's that sported a 5.5 litre twin turbo V8. With tuning capabilities of 8-900 horsepower and nearly 1000 foot pounds of torque. The true unicorns were the 2012 E63's before AMG decided 4.7 litres was enough for a V8... Sadly later anything with a turbo got an AMG badge regardless of displacement or number of turbo's. These early 2010-2012 AMG variants were special. I think it was a love letter from AMG well knowing the direction the company would have to take in order to skirt EPA fuel economy requirements, and also knowing Mercede's master plan the leverage the AMG badge to drive sales regardless if the badge was warranted or not. I miss when a Mercedes badge indicated its engine size, and when AMG badge really meant you had something special.
Had the CL63 years ago and absolutely loved it. Personally it was preferable to the V12 due to weight and traction and of course the noise of the 6.2. Absolutely wonderful road trip machine.
While I much prefer the CL63, I have to say that this is an appealing car as well. Too bad big powerful coupes arent popular, because damn! That Pillarless coupe look is also a rare treat amongst the auto world now, wish more cars had it.
It has always been my dream car to own one of the 65 series AMG cars. Nothing beats that glorious V12 and its such an underrated powerplant as well. When I use to mention it to people that my favourite car is the W221 S65 AMG, even some car guys, they didn’t believe that existed and were surprised to find out that it was real My goal is to get one of these, delimit it and max it out. Then, upgrade and tune the car to 900whp, mostly through Renntech (including all supporting mods as well) as well as swapping the 5-speed to an uprated ZF 8 speed. Thank you Jay for reviewing this car, its such a rarity to find good reviews on any 65 series
@@rahulsudhir666 expensive is an understatement man😅. I’m no drug dealer or fraudster so the money will have to be hard earned as well to purchase the car and make all the required modifications, but I’m sure it will be a car I keep for life and do 100s of thousands of miles in across the globe, many autobahn top speed runs and the occasional drifting, so like you said, it will be well worth it once its all done!
@@dwoolwichpoly9086 I heard the Renntech builds r pretty solid n reliable too, so that spend won't be in vain. My uncle owned a Renntech R129 SL600 in Abu Dhabi for a couple of years. He was absolutely in love with it. He sadly sold it when he retired n returned to India.
I have a CL 63 that was sent to Rentech for larger throttle bodies, carbon fiber airbox, headers, and a ECU tune. What a fun car to cruise in. very strong, powerful, and comfortable. Pushing 600hp/625 torque. 😂
So glad you have reviewed this car. I was passed by one on the motorway a summer or two ago and chased it to a hotel car park to speak to the owner! Yes I was that curious about the lack of the distinct V8 sounds and two added numbers on the badge. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't the same car pre modification?
Dude I have a 2007 s65 amg and the engine builder for mine is also Volker Haag! That was so cool to see in your block as it is on mine! I love my 65 with a passion but I’d love a cl65 or sl65, or s65 coupe next! Volker Haag my man!
For looks? Yes. But encountering one of the old chrome-barges (I'm talking 60s American land-yachts) when the sun is out is a short-lived pleasure, because you are literally blinded by it. So in a way I can understand why they opted for avoiding such reflection hazards. As pretty as those old cars are aesthetically, they got more optical flares going than your average JJ Abrams movie.
Oddly enough the 65 actually uses a relatively cheap V12. Mercedes had a much more advanced V12 in the 90's, which Pagani kept using afterwards, while Mercedes and AMG started to cheap out. The retail price didn't reflect that, of course.
Three years ago I test drove the CL65 and CL500 and I preferred the CL500. Realistically, 99% of the time the CL500 would keep up with the CL65 being lighter and more agile and able to brake later. Also doing it in far more comfort and with all the same toys. I ended up getting the S500 4Matic instead of the same era (W221). It was one of the best-looking S-Classes of all time in my opinion. When I later replaced it with the next generation one (W222) with even more/better toys, it frankly didn't look as good and was slightly less comfortable. I wouldn't touch the current one (W223) with a barge pole, way too touch-screeny. #SaveTheButtons
After seeing this review I would not be surprised if the one on Autotrader is now sold! What a fabulous looker, great quality and wonderful performance and soundtrack. Thanks for this, brilliant review as usual and what a car!
I suspected I wouldn't be the only one who jumped straight to AutoTrader to try to find one! Currently trying to determine which major organs I could live without, and what price they fetch... 😂
Haha not at £40k. You’ll lose another £25k in depreciation and be selling your house to pay for the maintenance in the meantime too. Like all big cars wit( big engines, these are best left to multi millionaires, but they can afford new ones so there’s virtually no second hand market for them until they get silly cheap.
@@neilturner6749 While I'd agree with you if the price was £70k, I'm not sure about the depreciation at £40k - the top end models seem to hold their value pretty well once they've taken the initial massive depreciation hit that all luxury cars suffer. Agree about the maintenance costs though - at this price its market is either people who want luxury motoring but will skimp on the maintenance (possibly selling the car around the time it's due a major service), or it's those of us who reason 'how expensive could it possibly get?!' and find out the hard way!
Jay , super nice video on one of my all time favorite cars as a merc fan. If you have not reviewed in the past, another one from that era, which is low key is a beast is the CLS 6.3 w218, would be a phenomenal review, especially knowing that Benz is discontinuing the CLS series as such or would be nice to see how much the S class W222 tech has or has not aged after 20 years, as it was completely unbelievable car at that time which paved basically luxury trends for next 10 years.
When I was a little guy my dad had a CL600 and he’d always let me sit on his lap and hold the steering wheel while he drove, some of the best memories were made in that v12 Benz
I absolutely freak out every time I see a Merc with a 65 badge and this is coming from someone who lived and worked in Miami Beach for many years where these kinds of cars tend to be a dime a dozen. There's something magical about a 65.
Jay,if only Jaguar could've done this with either the XJ S or XJ 12 making the v12 a double turbo variant. Britain could've given Germany a run for it's money. But as we know Jaguar retired the V12 long ago. Well I suppose we really can't complain since both Aston Martin and Rolls Royce are available with a V12 as British cars. That AMG Mercedes coupe is stunning anyway you look at it. Happy motoring Jay Emm
Driven both this and the m6 as good as the cl65 looks and sounds, the m6 is just a better drivers car, feels better in turns, turns better, and just overall better, the cl65 has better suspension for comfort
I love that you reviewed this and the M6 almost together. I'd go for the M6 every day of the week. I have a BMW 4 series and I get the feeling that "generally but not always" BMW does sporty. Mercedes does luxury. Mercedes interiors have been really good. BMW needs to catch up..
You should really have founds the sport button as it sharpens the gear box up no end . I have an s600 of the same era and since I found the sport button I have never switched it off . Just holds the engine a little closer to instant boost the entire time and makes it slightly less ponderous changing gear
That engine 🥰😍😍 car people usually don't get why the SL65 Blackseries is on my all time list ahead of the SLS Blackseries and the SLR, 1000NM and that intoxicating noise...
That V12 would snap the 7G and even the new 9G shorter ratio transmissions like a twig. 5 speed was only option strong enough, was very reliable transmission too!
I love Mercedes V12 and at the same time I can’t believe my dream car is a V8 SUV these days.😂 The best sounding exhaust system, super high tech, most practical and the most safe, the new Cadillac Escalated V has arrived and soon will be mine🤤🤑👑
"those will know, will know"... This is very much like the A180 AMG cars you see, like to most people it's just a nice Merc so not going to make a difference at all but to anyone that knows your look silly with an AMG badge on a 1.6 diesel manual haha. What thing the CL65 is thou! I've just bought a 645Ci last week on a massive impulse buy after watching your video! I really do have too many cars now but I love it, it's brilliant and just unreal for the cash!
I test drove a cl550 once (was considering buying it, lost out on the being a trailer auction) and it was mesmerizing. Can’t imagine one with an extra 180 hp
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@ 007 Valkyrie he loves McLarens and therefore hates the way the sales business is managed... Otherwise he just wouldn't care
I'm amazed you drove that CL65 without being tempted to go over 60 mph at some point.😄😄
Hey, are you forgetting the even rarer “73” badge??? They are out there, I’ve seen one in person. They were fitted to a very small number of SLs. A stroked and tuned V12 that makes the 65s look commonplace
My brother, good video, but why do you not open it up a single time? Do you know what we are here for? Yes of course. I need a more open throttle in a car like that.
@@STEEPPOW I did - it just doesn't sound like it
This era of AMG was peak AMG imo. They had a TTV12, a 6.2 V8 and later on a 5.5TT v8 that were thrown into everything.
I had a E class with the 5.5 TT V8. Probably the best engine I’ve ever had. It had less power on paper than my current RS6 But hmmmmmmmmmm as brutal as the RS6 is at over 600bhp, I reckon the 5.5 TT AMG, Well put it this way if the Audi has just over 600 then the 5.5 TT had over 650. Mighty isn’t the word.
2007 to 2015 I agree. This was a company who thought it would be a good idea to shove detuned SLR engine into an SLK, as well as assuming it would be great to plonk a 661hp twin turbo V12 into an SL and gave it Jean-Claude van Damme steroid bodywork, a solid carbon roof, and suspension made from granite. And this is before we talked about R63.
Also the fact that they didn't yet scream about their presence, and the AMG brand hadn't yet been diluted by adding the badge to slightly upgraded C- and E-classes that we now have.
And now, 4cyl hybrid vacuum cleaner... Man how I miss the "real" AMGs
Honestly this was the golden period for all 3 Germans. Mercedes had cars like these with massive turbo V12s, Audi had the insane turbo V10 RS6, diesel V12 Q7, and BMW also had their M5/6 with the V10. Beautiful insane times that will sadly never return. Timeless designs for all across the board.
It's crazy that those 21" wheels don't look oversized on the car. Speaks volumes about the size of the car.
The look just right
Its a titanic, mate!
That slab of metal is pure presence, wherever it goes.
had one. They're stupidly large even when compared to SUVs. The C216 is a coupe that's as tall as a regular executive limousine and requires you to step "on" it rather than "in", like in a normal car.
@@dingopisscreek rude! It's a nice car. It might not be to your taste, but there's no need to be rude
The exhaust sound that comes out of this car justifies every pound spent at the petrol station to fuel that pleasure!!!
The best sound to come out of any car, in my opinion. 😊
agree
I agree, I have an 07 s65 amg
The only time i saw one was at a petrol station. When the driver noticed my interest, he gave me a nod, opened the throttle and pulled away really, really hard.
You’re a fascinating TH-camr and I love following all your videos - how you manage to have the perfect balance of “hard core journalism”, “film festival cinematography”, and “eloquently worded and moving voiceovers” baffles me. Thank you for making such down to earth and engaging content!
That's extremely kind praise Jacob! Thankyou very much
I agree with Jacob. However I think you're better than TH-cam. Top Gear is over. Fith Gear is..... well its Fith Gear. There's no motoring shows anymore. Keep doing exactly what you're doing but.... BB2 9PM "Jayem on Cars ". Tell me I'm not bonkers.
I love this CL. At the time, it was about 60k more than the CL63, and a whopping 100k more than the entry model, you can really tell that it's a car for people who want the best, no expense spared. Never the sharpest tool, but usually the most comfortable. And I love the styling, soft and muscular, just like a killer whale. It's never been as famous as its competitors (no, not the M6), like the Bentley Continental GT or the Aston Martin DB9, because it's "just a Merco", but it has always had its fanatics, shown by the fact the Mercedes is still producing an S-Class coupe. Which is crazy when you remember that until recently, in that "very exclusive coupe/cabrio" niche, they had the S-Class coupe and cabriolet, the SL, and the AMG GT (you could maybe also include the CLS and the AMG GT in there if you count cars who have 4 doors only for the style). Only Mercedes can have a range this complete.
Oh, and the pillarless design is just so satisfying...
Yeah I remember in the Netherlands the CL63 was €200k and the CL65 was €300k
I've always loved the interior of the CL. Even the old generations which looked pretty ugly from the front.
They actually discontinued the s class coupe but still an epic car
the exact car in the video is up now on autotrader for 30k
There are two things that make the life of the average car enthusiast just that little bit nicer: (1) Cars like this (and the manufacturers who produce them) and (2) People like James who go to the effort of bringing them to us. Thankyou James.
My absolute pleasure
"If you want a sports car get the M6 ...if you want an EVENT get the CL 65" you literally just explained my boyhood fantasies " and now tragically a hybrid 4 cylinder" and worst fears ( as a devout Petrolhead the hybrid movement looms over my garage like a dark cloud ) in under 20 mins and that is part of the imense pleasure of watching your show ..appreciating how you explain both the science of motoring and it's heritage in such a casual yet profound manner . A truly great piece of entertainment.
Absolutely love it. Nothing like a good v12 rumble and endless torque. The owner is living the dream
That exhaust note: It sounds like King Kong gargling gravel. Love it.
Haha... I didn't see this. I just said about the same thing. Lol
😂😂😂
Nah man more like Godzilla's plumbing,
I think, it almost sounds like a Messerschmitt Bf 109 V12 engine...
The C216 has aged like fine wine. Already a modern classic.
I'm not generally a Mercedes fan, but the 65 is a beautiful car.
What I love about these (and the S65) is that you can get them with a fridge in the back! The ultimate family cruiser - making sure the kids have chilled drinks and snacks, and it's quiet enough inside that you can hear everything they're up to...
Yeah but if they only sell one or two per year per country the chances of the original purchaser optioning the thing you might like on a £30k car (ten years later) are almost zero! I remember working at MB in 2006 and having a particularly insistent buyer literally “demanding” a used E55 or early E63 Estate with the rear child seat bench, then getting very angry when MB UK informed me that, as far as they were aware, no UK buyer out of the 59 vehicles ever ordered up to that point is had ever optioned it !
This last generation of the CL is a Stunning Timeless Design & is one of my favourite Mercedes ,You should get one James, Great video James as always !
I'd love to get my hands on a CL63. Theyre stunning cars.
I have a 2014 CL500 and I love it
I just sold my CL55 after running it for 250,000 miles and I really miss it. Great cars!
What a beast! That engine note alone is insane. One of those cars where you need to also have the purchase price in savings for ad-hoc repairs however.
I just bought one!
I haven't taken delivery yet. 2010 iridium silver with dark gray diamond stich interior. 77,000 miles. So excited, I can't contain myself!!!
77k miles? Let us know how much the repair shop is earning from you.
@JerzyBoy973 not a penny yet.
I have bumper to bumper coverage with a $250 deductible!
The torque for that vehicle is actually 1250nm but limited to 1000nm. That's often forgotten in x65 reviews.
Im sure its even more reduced to 800 but 1000 kept ripping the best tyres of that time haha
I love everything about this car. One of my favourite cars ever. The purest modern representation of what a Mercedes Benz is supposed to be.
For those who didn't know, CL's of this and the prior generation have a cult following here in Germany, especially (who'd have guessed) with young people. Basically every german rapper has one, thus they are seen as super cool status symbols. A total must have are the MAE Crown Jewel wheels - which is THE legendary aftermarket wheel for these cars. Also you don't see them as much on the Autobahn as you do in every bigger city like Frankfurt, Cologne and especially Hamburg.
crown jewels are objectively ugly
187
Interesting. Can you show some examples of rappers having this car (maybe link). And why have this generation CL become so popular? I know it’s an astonishing vehicle for us enthusiasts, but for the general public, it is a scary money pit…
@@joelk6586 Just search: Ich hol mir einen runter in mein cl500
That's also a big reason why nobody normal can drive a car like this. Everybody looks at you and thinks you're an idiot. Rappers have ruined a lot of cars here in Germany.
Bear in mind that the C216's predecessor, the C215 was approximately 200 kg lighter. It had aluminium bonnet, roof, doors & rear wings with polycarbonate front wings & boot lid. Even the doors were built with single piece cast magnesium frames & aluminium skins. It was powered by the same M275 (in both CL65 and CL600 forms).
Yeah my w220 was about half a ton lighter than my 7 series!
Well done, James. That is not only the best video title possible, but the only adequate description for that particular automobile. "Undisputed God-king of the Autobahn"... Just ... Bravo. That car is what dreams are made of. Automotive perfection.
Had one of these for nearly 5 years a decade ago.
Remapped to 750hp/1200nm, added a Quaife LSD, pegged down the traction control system along with the choked-me-silly seatbelt safety system.
Rarely ever stayed straight on any road on any condition.
Utterly spectacular thing to tour around with.
Carl/Karl has ruined it.
I have owned one for 3 years now. Unbelievable. I describe it a throwing £50 notes out of the window. New AMG alloy wheels for this car with four tyre cost £9K. I took the car to Europe for a long holiday and it was imperious in its progress. Prior to departing, I had my independent dealer do some work on it, and a service, including new front discs pads and service. Another £6.5K spent. They are incredible cars, but you need to know it is going to cost. In my three years of ownership, I have spent about £20k on services, fixes and job I wanted doing. Unlike this car, I believe it should be kept 100% original, and I have tried to respect its heritage. The only thing that has been done (prior to my ownership) was a re-map taking it to 680 HP. Iwill NEVER sell this car. My gift to myself after my divorce. They will never make cars like this again….. and I believe there are only 350 made. Next up for me is likely a naturally aspirated v12 Ferrari.
Wish he could have turned on the sport mode. The vehicle does have one correct? And if so how do you enable it?
Hi. Sory for being slow in replying. @@j.t.553 Next to the gear stick with the multi-function buttons, there is a A,S,M - automatic sport and manual button. The main difference is with the gear changes, mainly holding onto gears longer.
Yes! This is a beast! Thank you for the review. V12 FTW 😃
Jay, I own one of these, it’s a 2012, a true gem, it’s one of my favorite cars in the stable, it has a sport mode and it’s quite different than the comfort mode you were in, I can tell by the way it sounded and what you were describing, anyway if you get a chance to drive it in sport mode… it’s a real kick in the butt, a lot more fun and much more responsive. Thanks for your videos, I enjoy them
I take it the sport mode isn't in a rush to change into top gear?
Such a shame he has chavved it up to the max, hopefully it the next owner can save it. Such a rare car.
What does this mean?
@@OchoaSzn if you aren't from England then I guess chavved up doesn't make sense. Its like putting not very classy improvements on the car
Our former company car was a 2018 S65 stickerprice 245k€ we bought it for 80k€ in 2020. Depreciates like a rock.
I am very glad to see this car featured. V12s are very very cool especially 65s
Kings of in-gear acceleration. You overtake using the power of suggestion in this thing.
This is in my opinion the best luxury and most powerfull car mercedes ever made.
After lookin for one for over 2 years with the right specs, colors and low km, i finally got one!
Its black outside, interior is black, celing is black alcantara, and its even got the interior carbon fibre pack original!
Its only been driven 48.500 km. and its a 2007 Model.
Feel very lucky to have one, and im gonna keep it like it is. Even with the original 20" amg Wheels 😊
also most luxury with cars they make in times like this?
Have to disagree with the styling the previous cl was more elegant than this with the bulging arches and the ride height at the rear.
Yes the previous one was pure class. Looks amazing from every angle. Well the front wasn't that pretty but he side profile... Wow
Yeah, and the previous CL was also available with the same twin turbo V12 w all that crazy power+torque.
When you realize the previous CL is now over 20 years old you can see what masterful design it has.
@@quackman yes that W220 CL65 is a unicorn 🦄
@@garyrains5996 Yeah, i love those circular headlights. My dad had a CL500 back around 2000 (then an S65 around '06 for that engine)... always hated the S-class of that gen, but the CL--one of the best-looking cars. Large, pillarless coupe
The response lag is a known issue with Mercedes for many years, it is down to the electronic throttle pedal programming, you can get a box that fits on the throttle pedal which massively improves the responsiveness. Alternatively you can fool the software by stabbing the pedal quickly which in a CL65 is not to be recommended :D
'...stabbing the pedal quickly which in a CL65 is not to be recommended' - should we ask you how you know? 😁
@@Stormy177 I tried it on a CL600, this can only be worse 🤣
@@Stormy177 Speaking from experience (owned two Mercedes of that era), you stab the throttle twice, one until the kickdown button and then floor it. It downshifts quicker than just flooring it and kinda revmatches too (a function that the 5spds lacked).
on this car its mainly down to the boosty engine- 22psi combined with low CR- 9;1 and the throttle/ TCU mapping secondarily. I have the E55K with basically the same transmission, but obviously a supercharged V8 and the response is very sharp.
You are talking crap, dude!
This wasn't a "known issue" at all, because the AMG CL's aren't sportscars!
The AMG CL65 certainly doesn't have to feel like a lighter sports car.
The AMG CL65 still is a heavy performance/super luxury vehicle from that era 15 years ago, which still outpaces every Bentley and Aston Martin coupe from that era with ease!
The carbon add-ons don't fit this car. It's not meant to be sporty looking, but a monster in disguise.
- How much stick on carbon do you want?
- Yes
😂
I've got the W220 sedan version with just 38500 miles on it, with the exact engine and gearbox... It's a lovely ride, very comfortable, and somewhat "sporty". On a straight road, it does what it's suppose to do.... mine has the limiter removed, so 320 - 330km/h is not that far away... It sure is NOT a city car.... a 5.20m and 2.2 ton lump of car is a bit clumsy in traffic, not to mention the consumption... the gearbox is pretty much bullet proof, handling 738pft (limitet), unfortunately it's VERY sluggish, specially in manual, it takes about 1 sec to shift gears with the paddles. The cocoon feeling in the cabbin is like a cigar lounge, smooth and quiet, the ABC (Active Body Controll) unit/system with hydraulic does a great job soaking up the imperfections on the roads while keeping the car leveled in the bends and corners. Driving a 100 - 200 mile trip is nothing short of a massage room, getting to your destination all rested up.
The downside is the maintenance cost, parts and service are not cheap, I had to change the left ignition coil from cylinder 7 - 12 at a cost of €1200 (refurbished ), new costs €2300, a full service at AMG center, another €2300, front brake pads and rotors, another €2400... The car is not cheap to own, it's all about smiles per gallon. If you find one in mint condition and have the budget for the maintenance, then go for it! But if you go by the "so far so good" theory, then skip it, you'll find yourself in a money pit situation!
My friend used to have CL600 like 7 years ago,he changed probably close to 7 cars since then,but still talks about that beautiful CL,he even confessed to me that he begged the dude he sold it to to sell it back to him but that guy just said no.Dont know why would he sell that beautiful beast!
I very nearly bought one of these recently but the wife put a stop to it! Absolutely love this car and these type of videos. Thanks
You can thank your wife. A lot of things can go wrong and hit you bad financially.
You're a man. If you want it (you damn should, it's brilliant) then go get it period. Deal with the wife later 🥂
Great video! Talking about rare AMGs, I spotted an SL73 when I was in Berlin a few years ago
my favourite youtuber. Always look forward to your videos mate. as always this one didn't disappoint👌
Cars like this should never be modified. They should be kept original and maintained properly. You wouldn't seek to "upgrade" a van Gogh
You forgot to mention the generation of E63's that sported a 5.5 litre twin turbo V8. With tuning capabilities of 8-900 horsepower and nearly 1000 foot pounds of torque. The true unicorns were the 2012 E63's before AMG decided 4.7 litres was enough for a V8... Sadly later anything with a turbo got an AMG badge regardless of displacement or number of turbo's. These early 2010-2012 AMG variants were special. I think it was a love letter from AMG well knowing the direction the company would have to take in order to skirt EPA fuel economy requirements, and also knowing Mercede's master plan the leverage the AMG badge to drive sales regardless if the badge was warranted or not. I miss when a Mercedes badge indicated its engine size, and when AMG badge really meant you had something special.
Had the CL63 years ago and absolutely loved it. Personally it was preferable to the V12 due to weight and traction and of course the noise of the 6.2. Absolutely wonderful road trip machine.
While I much prefer the CL63, I have to say that this is an appealing car as well. Too bad big powerful coupes arent popular, because damn! That Pillarless coupe look is also a rare treat amongst the auto world now, wish more cars had it.
This Era of AMG was great because they had a lot to prove so the engines were outrageous ❤
No air suspension on the 65, ABC. Thanks for the review. Please review a W215 65 if you get a chance. Thanks
I feel the same way about my 05 s55.
Built by true gear heads.
Nothing can replace the experience and emotions.
Absolutely sensational sound from that exhaust
I've often pondered buying a CL500 or 63 of this generation... But the rural roads and my use case don't really suit it. That and me being under 50 😅
Can’t believe you have to slide the sunroof visor yourself 😂
You don’t on mine the visor slides with the button
It has always been my dream car to own one of the 65 series AMG cars. Nothing beats that glorious V12 and its such an underrated powerplant as well. When I use to mention it to people that my favourite car is the W221 S65 AMG, even some car guys, they didn’t believe that existed and were surprised to find out that it was real
My goal is to get one of these, delimit it and max it out. Then, upgrade and tune the car to 900whp, mostly through Renntech (including all supporting mods as well) as well as swapping the 5-speed to an uprated ZF 8 speed.
Thank you Jay for reviewing this car, its such a rarity to find good reviews on any 65 series
Sounds like you've an expensive bill coming your way 😉 But damn that's gonna be worth every penny!
@@rahulsudhir666 expensive is an understatement man😅. I’m no drug dealer or fraudster so the money will have to be hard earned as well to purchase the car and make all the required modifications, but I’m sure it will be a car I keep for life and do 100s of thousands of miles in across the globe, many autobahn top speed runs and the occasional drifting, so like you said, it will be well worth it once its all done!
U can upgrade the gearbox to the ZF 8 speed. This would make it perfect tbh
@@dwoolwichpoly9086 I heard the Renntech builds r pretty solid n reliable too, so that spend won't be in vain. My uncle owned a Renntech R129 SL600 in Abu Dhabi for a couple of years. He was absolutely in love with it. He sadly sold it when he retired n returned to India.
I have a CL 63 that was sent to Rentech for larger throttle bodies, carbon fiber airbox, headers, and a ECU tune. What a fun car to cruise in. very strong, powerful, and comfortable. Pushing 600hp/625 torque. 😂
Unless modified it will be hydraulic ABC suspension, not air. Great car, great video. Thanks Jay
Yeah, all of the CL cars, even the 500, had the ABC. it was optional on only the S-class.
12:23 - 12:52 is just pure magic. What a noise!
Man, your narrative and enthusiasm with quirky remarks remind me of old school Top Gear. You deserve 100X the recognition 🔥
So glad you have reviewed this car. I was passed by one on the motorway a summer or two ago and chased it to a hotel car park to speak to the owner! Yes I was that curious about the lack of the distinct V8 sounds and two added numbers on the badge. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't the same car pre modification?
Dude I have a 2007 s65 amg and the engine builder for mine is also Volker Haag! That was so cool to see in your block as it is on mine! I love my 65 with a passion but I’d love a cl65 or sl65, or s65 coupe next! Volker Haag my man!
Love the car, but the dechrome is such a bad trend :-(
For looks? Yes. But encountering one of the old chrome-barges (I'm talking 60s American land-yachts) when the sun is out is a short-lived pleasure, because you are literally blinded by it. So in a way I can understand why they opted for avoiding such reflection hazards. As pretty as those old cars are aesthetically, they got more optical flares going than your average JJ Abrams movie.
No it's not it modernizes the car and makes it look way more slick I think you're just boring tbh
I'm not a fan of black alloy wheels either.
@@uhuh9595 nah its more boring to go with the same old budget gangster blacked out look
It’s for Turkish German gold chain short sides hair cut having chavs
The power and acceleration are simply mind-blowing!
Early Swedish breakfast - Italian late dinner! It never becomes more beautiful than this! An absolute Autobahn monster. Mercedes ❤
absolutely fantastic thing… but owner needs to calm down on his cheshire spec quest asap!
Oddly enough the 65 actually uses a relatively cheap V12. Mercedes had a much more advanced V12 in the 90's, which Pagani kept using afterwards, while Mercedes and AMG started to cheap out. The retail price didn't reflect that, of course.
9:56 is a fantastic demonstration. Bloody hell.
Three years ago I test drove the CL65 and CL500 and I preferred the CL500. Realistically, 99% of the time the CL500 would keep up with the CL65 being lighter and more agile and able to brake later. Also doing it in far more comfort and with all the same toys. I ended up getting the S500 4Matic instead of the same era (W221). It was one of the best-looking S-Classes of all time in my opinion. When I later replaced it with the next generation one (W222) with even more/better toys, it frankly didn't look as good and was slightly less comfortable. I wouldn't touch the current one (W223) with a barge pole, way too touch-screeny. #SaveTheButtons
Both W221 and W222 look awesome.
After seeing this review I would not be surprised if the one on Autotrader is now sold!
What a fabulous looker, great quality and wonderful performance and soundtrack.
Thanks for this, brilliant review as usual and what a car!
I suspected I wouldn't be the only one who jumped straight to AutoTrader to try to find one!
Currently trying to determine which major organs I could live without, and what price they fetch... 😂
Haha not at £40k. You’ll lose another £25k in depreciation and be selling your house to pay for the maintenance in the meantime too. Like all big cars wit( big engines, these are best left to multi millionaires, but they can afford new ones so there’s virtually no second hand market for them until they get silly cheap.
@@neilturner6749 While I'd agree with you if the price was £70k, I'm not sure about the depreciation at £40k - the top end models seem to hold their value pretty well once they've taken the initial massive depreciation hit that all luxury cars suffer. Agree about the maintenance costs though - at this price its market is either people who want luxury motoring but will skimp on the maintenance (possibly selling the car around the time it's due a major service), or it's those of us who reason 'how expensive could it possibly get?!' and find out the hard way!
Jay , super nice video on one of my all time favorite cars as a merc fan. If you have not reviewed in the past, another one from that era, which is low key is a beast is the CLS 6.3 w218, would be a phenomenal review, especially knowing that Benz is discontinuing the CLS series as such or would be nice to see how much the S class W222 tech has or has not aged after 20 years, as it was completely unbelievable car at that time which paved basically luxury trends for next 10 years.
A car i never knew i wanted, till jayemm reviewed it.
When I was a little guy my dad had a CL600 and he’d always let me sit on his lap and hold the steering wheel while he drove, some of the best memories were made in that v12 Benz
6:02
Different exhaust and air filters without mapping: IQ 1000000000.
What an interview 🙌🏽 Dr. Sithole siyabonga 🙏🏽
I absolutely freak out every time I see a Merc with a 65 badge and this is coming from someone who lived and worked in Miami Beach for many years where these kinds of cars tend to be a dime a dozen. There's something magical about a 65.
Jay,if only Jaguar could've done this with either the XJ S or XJ 12 making the v12 a double turbo variant. Britain could've given Germany a run for it's money. But as we know Jaguar retired the V12 long ago. Well I suppose we really can't complain since both Aston Martin and Rolls Royce are available with a V12 as British cars. That AMG Mercedes coupe is stunning anyway you look at it. Happy motoring Jay Emm
It has 1000 Nm...for a few fractions of a second above 200km/h when traction control finally flickers off for a few brief moments
Driven both this and the m6 as good as the cl65 looks and sounds, the m6 is just a better drivers car, feels better in turns, turns better, and just overall better, the cl65 has better suspension for comfort
This is a beast. Always loved the 63 but like you mentioned the 65 is like rocking horse poo. Rare as
Monster in a suit.
That growls like none other... I love it......BUT....my V12 SCREAMS!¡!!....DB9.2 FTW!!!
Got a bit curious after watching this, managed to find this exact car on Autotrader...I may be tempted 😅
I love that you reviewed this and the M6 almost together. I'd go for the M6 every day of the week. I have a BMW 4 series and I get the feeling that "generally but not always" BMW does sporty. Mercedes does luxury. Mercedes interiors have been really good. BMW needs to catch up..
You should really have founds the sport button as it sharpens the gear box up no end . I have an s600 of the same era and since I found the sport button I have never switched it off . Just holds the engine a little closer to instant boost the entire time and makes it slightly less ponderous changing gear
There is a "Sport" mode. The first button on the left of the console changes the modes i.e. sport, comfort and manual.
The CL is the prettiest model Mercedes ever made. I smile every time I see one of these rare beauties.
12:25 wow that does sound great w that classy exhaust
These AMGs are amazing anyone willing to risk it is a champion
Nice treat, I have an 09 CL550 and it’s wonderful:)...
That engine 🥰😍😍 car people usually don't get why the SL65 Blackseries is on my all time list ahead of the SLS Blackseries and the SLR, 1000NM and that intoxicating noise...
12:21 I haven't heard a nicer engine. Absolutely savage.
It's a good looking but frankly ridiculous car. I love it!
That V12 would snap the 7G and even the new 9G shorter ratio transmissions like a twig. 5 speed was only option strong enough, was very reliable transmission too!
You are such a good reviewer james!
i always loved the c215 & c216
i personally prefer the CL55 & CL63 models - because the V8 sound is soooo good...
I love Mercedes V12 and at the same time I can’t believe my dream car is a V8 SUV these days.😂 The best sounding exhaust system, super high tech, most practical and the most safe, the new Cadillac Escalated V has arrived and soon will be mine🤤🤑👑
I have a 2010, S65. Like you say, a 4 seat version and fully equipped. 21 to the gallon and pure luxury
Holy mother of carbon
Not Forgetting SL73 and the Brabus versions
The 65s are amazing 😍 This one is a classy and powerful vehicle 😃👍
I have S63 4.0 V8 with 1045Nm and I love it 🫠🔥
Death by fake carbon, staggering to think that that car had real class a few months ago and now it's just tat.
I miss the crazy Mercedes days. Used to amaze me as a kid everytime they made a new model
"those will know, will know"... This is very much like the A180 AMG cars you see, like to most people it's just a nice Merc so not going to make a difference at all but to anyone that knows your look silly with an AMG badge on a 1.6 diesel manual haha. What thing the CL65 is thou! I've just bought a 645Ci last week on a massive impulse buy after watching your video! I really do have too many cars now but I love it, it's brilliant and just unreal for the cash!
I test drove a cl550 once (was considering buying it, lost out on the being a trailer auction) and it was mesmerizing. Can’t imagine one with an extra 180 hp