CarVertical: The History Checking Service Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount! www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm
I own a silver Amg Clk 55 2004. It has done 80000 miles. It is a brillant car. The engine is bulletproof. It comfortable and stylish. I love the looks. It is a joy to drive.❤.
Thanks for this review! The 63 version had more engine issues. They sorted out those issues by 2013. With gearbox you can out more torque threw them if you modify the car than will go threw the C63 Gearbox believe it or not!
In Australia , a good one is many times more than ten thousand pounds in AUD ..I have a 2005 CLK55 AMG Coupe in the very rare Jasper Bright Blue with only 110,000 kms. I have never seen another one in person or on line in this colour in Australia. It has the later six piston Brembo brakes as fitted to the CLK63's which are awesome , and the quad pipes at the rear. They are well engineered , and are the perfect high speed highway cruiser ...with 270KW and 510Nm I have no complaints with the transmission...I think it shifts plenty fast enough . Perhaps in high mileage cars with no maintenance the shifts become slow , but they just need some servicing and maybe a seal kit in the valve body. Similarly , the suspension and steering is much better when the control arms etc have been replaced vs a car with 20 year old components. The best thing is the engine , which is ultra reliable and relatively economical , even compared to the only similar new car available like a Mustang. To top it off , they have a timeless , unique appearance which is very good looking from all angles. No ABC suspension or SBS brake systems to worry about , these cars are the most reliable and easiest to maintain AMG's ever made in my opinion.
Not many people know what gems the W209 CLK's are esp the rare 2005 and 2006 models with the updated hardware as you mentioned. I owned a Silver 2005 CLK55 for 6 years, it was a pleasure to drive and the only issues that car gave me was age related items that needed sorting but mechanically it was bulletproof; I miss it everynow and then.
Agreed lol the two cars could not possibly look more different. The W208 has a very flat, sharp edged design while I dont think the W209 has a single flat surface on the entire car. Both very nice looking cars, but they look totaly different.
I owned a late clk 350 sport with a full factory amg kit, wheels and exhaust. Black with chrome, absolutely loved it. Great car looking car and extremely reliable. Last good mercs
I’ve wanted an AMG ever since the W202 C36 and W210 E55. A few months ago, I realized my AMG dream by purchasing a 2004 55 Cabriolet in firemist red. So far, I love it! Except, huge caveat, one of the hydraulic main lift cylinders is leaking so I’m going to replace all 7. It looks nice, makes a great noise (esp after some exhaust work), and will carry my wife and our two little kids. Great car!
Nice vid. I own a 2004 clk55 AMG and I love it. It’s my daily too. It’s a strange beast. It doesn’t handle no where near as well as my previous Porsche 987, (or 996), but it absorbs the road better. So you find you’re going quick without realising it. Swap it to a manual? You’re kidding!! It’s a Mercedes. Manual mercs are for philestines. I do agree about the suspension though. A little tightening up would be great. That’s my only criticism. Cheers👍🏻😃
Great video James! I picked up an '05 CLK 55 convertible back in June (like you, I didn't want a boring silver or black and wound up with one in a bronze Designo shade called Havana), and I have to say I think it works well as a punchy cruiser with a *bit* of extra edge. That engine is the star of the show as you said. The transmission is indeed completely useless in manual mode, particularly under hard acceleration up-shifts where it will simply cut power completely if it even suspects you might be heading towards an over-rev. Best to leave it in sport where it's perfectly competent and let that torque make up for the rest. Been a fan for a year or so now, excited to see a car I own make the channel. Keep it up!
You've driven so many different AMG's and M cars now, your opinion is like gold sir! My 2005 US-Spec CLK 55 is almost identical to this except with the big brakes, 18"x18.5" staggered wheels, factory stiffer suspension setup, rear differential auxiliary cooler and quad exhaust from the "AMG Sport" Pkg that was available for 2005 only. She just hit 190k miles today, thank you for the awesome review Jay! I hope one day you'll be able to drive one of the 2005-only "AMG Sport" CLK 55's and see the differences. It's practically a DTM-lite without the supercharger or carbon fiber interior and is really special. I'm doing research and it turns out that the 2005 "AMG Sport" cars and the CLK DTM were both built in Bremen at the same place. Amongst other evidence, it's possible that they could've been in line to become CLK DTM's but Mercedes wanted to limit the production of the CLK DTM to 100 units. The CLK 55's that were in line on the spec sheet to become DTM's, but weren't started yet, might've instead been turned into "AMG Sport" CLK 55's. It's interesting, only 247 US Spec 2005's were built with a total worldwide production of 882 CLK 55 Coupes produced in 2005. These also included the special "Designo" models and the "Elegance" trims so how many Avantgarde-only "AMG Sport"s were built is unknown. It would be awesome if some definitive evidence were to come out of AMG to prove or disprove this theory. Either way, they are magnificent performance cars!
@@revinot Thank you! and that's awesome you got to experience one too! Do you mind me asking what happened to it? I think I'm going to be permanently stuck with mine as when I bought it and did a VIN Lookup, it's Release date/Delivery date is one day before my Birthday. Talk about fate when buying a used car ehh? lol.
I may be biased but these cars are so awesome :) they look great and with a V8 under the bonnet they go and sound great too. Always wondered what you'd make of the CLK / AMG 55 so it pleases me that you like it!
I own an '07 CLK63 AMG and what a joy it is to drive. Yes the M156 is more problematic but if well maintained it doesn't give too many issues. I'm just about to hit 200000km on it and the engine is still using the same cams, lifters and injectors. I use Liqui Moly lifter additive at every oil change which seems to work well. The 7G-Tronic was much sharper with manual changes, not as quick as today's cars but quick enough to be enjoyable. Put the windows down and that pillar less look is unmistakable, I get a lot of hoots, waves and thumbs up from fellow motorists not to mention a few offers to purchase it. :)
my dad had one of these when i was younger, went through all the CLK models and ended up with the AMG55 in silver (almost identical to the one you filmed) i remember him picking me up from ipswich one night in the rain and this V8 rumble just came bouncing off the walls as he appeared from behind the building, ill never forget it, he works so hard so to see him have his dream car, was so cool, he now has the 63amg convertible and has since 2009 i think, its been apart of the family forever- hope youre doing good Jayemm!
Thanks for this great review! With the gearbox I see what you mean. I own one. I believe this car was partly designed to be a autobahn cruiser. What is interesting if you modify this car the gearbox can take more torque threw it than the C63 6.2 can. Seems unbelievable but the it's true!
Defo one of the prettiest Mercs ever. Defo a future classic. Built solid. Had the 320 CDI AMG Sportpack '09 which I loved. Had remapped to add 60 - 70 bhp so about 280 to 290, and 3 - 4 mpg. Fabulous on a long run. Did Southampton to Edinburgh once overnight at average 70 m.p.h. fresh as a daisy on arrival. The OM642 engine on mine is a great block. Sometimes called the million mile engine. 06 to 09 better than the earlier ones. Nicer rear end and less rust issues.
I own a silver 208 55amg which I bought as my late grandfather used to have a clk. I had to get the daddy of the 208’s as a reminder of him. Also used to lust for one from the gran turismo days. The rarity of them now fascinates me. I love the car and although I barely drive as they are prone to rust, I will never sell and will do a full restoration soon. The na power and torque is meanacing.
You should also drive the W208 CLK 55 AMG. As much as I like the W209 CLK 55 AMG, and although less geared towards driving dynamics, 208‘s are built much more in the sense of old-era Mercedes ultra-high quality. It‘ll be amazing to point out the differences of the two.
This is my favorite generation of Mercedes design language. It was so elegant even the amg versions were hinting at the performance without being brash.
I bought one 2 years ago in manchester for £800 it had a head gasket problem kept heating like mad after 20 minutes ,i put 2 bottles off head gasket seal in it, I left it running an hour will full heaters full on . Or i was going to break it for parts ,it worked and its still going today it worked so good my mates wife runs around in it .
I had a 2004 CLK320 Coupe and it drove better than my 2010 E350 Coupe. It had lots of annoying electrical faults, but none of them critical. The water-into-the-transmission problem you mention was fixed by 2004. Loved that car - it was fun to drive and a pretty little thing.
Good video. In fact these paddles are pointless with 5Gtronic. This tranny fits the engine perfectly - no need to change gears to often with such torque and power. It also adjusts to driving style. It would be good to have it behind some button on the dash. If you put in good tires and push thru twisty it can be pretty quick. Not for the track thow. Absolutely perfect GT car with a bit cabrio feeling with windows down and sunroof open. Modern top class mercs can only dream about quality of some materials inside. And it is way better with beige interior.
07-09 CLK 550 (M273) is a great, faster, updated option too. facelifted body and interior, +20-30 HP and TQ over the 55, and comes with the 7-spd trans. They all have the "AMG" package, so they come with the same body, suspension, and wheel upgrades (07 had different wheels). The only things you don't get are the AMG badge on the boot and the AMG seats. The CLK "Power Lineup" would be 55, 550, 63, 63 Black, DTM. I found my '08 in '17 with 26k miles for $16k, a 75% discount on a car with 2-years of miles. She now has 101k and other than changing motor mounts twice and changing an oil cooler gasket, it's been a fantastic ownership experience!
I really Like my 2007 W209 Cabriolet for what it is - a luxury (for the time) soft top GT. it has the 7 speeder box and the paddles actually work well - I can hold on to lower gears and the thing flies very smoothly. Where I live (London) 25 mph is speeding ... and it takes about 25 minutes to get to any roads above 30 .... but, hey, it's ULEZ compliant ( a miracle!) even if the Tax is nightmarish. I bought it for £5k in lock down and kept it. I like driving it on day trips and weekends when it's decent weather. With he top down it has a lovely sense of occasion and then I don;t mind the miles and miles of 50 MPH of "temporary" motorway speed limits. I'm relaxed and feeling nice. I'll keep it until the government bans it.... which no doubt is very soon. Is it a classic? Not yet, but it might be and I'd rather own it than any EV iPad on wheels.
When you did the C55 video, I was excited! I was thinking “Oooh, that’s almost like my car!” And now I’m thinking “Yay, that’s my car!”. I have a 2004 US Market CLK500 in Baby Blue with grey interior (that, strangely enough, came with AMG wheels but is stock otherwise, not even parking sensors). It has its ups and downs, but being from California originally, it’s rust-free and has only 64k miles (55 when I bought it). As JayEmm mentioned, the cabin liner is a known issue in these early naughties Mercs - mine was starting to slough off as the glue was dried out, so I bought a handful of what are, essentially, cushion pins that are the same color as the liner and stuck them on. The back of the seats are also peeling from all the years in the Californian sun, but I didn’t really pay all that much for the car, so that’s okay. I was kind of wanting a convertible for a while, but this model as a coupe is a perfect substitute without the convertible top problems! Being pillarless, with the windows down and the sunroof open, it totally feels like a convertible. The car did surprise me with leaking valve cover gaskets and a malfunctioning CPS at 58k, but that’s the price of owning an old German car…
Manual swapping it with a manual that can take the brunt of bigger power mid range diesels would be better. Long geared as it may be it would be fitting and good for cruising still. E 270 and C270 versions of E and C class were offered with 2.7 Inline 5 turbo diesel with 425nm of torque, it could easily contend with NA V8 torque.
I have a first gen 55 convertible, which I recently found out was a US and one year only car 02’, and love it! 240k miles on it and recently did a full overhaul by myself, so easy on those cars. Muscle car to the max. I also have a 190k ml55 but I’m in America haha
Great Review - I sadly had to sell my low mileage CLK55 AMG when moving house. Positive points were the noise and the torque. It did however in my ownership have quite a few issues and needed a new ECU and headlight ignitor which cost a fortune! I don't miss the bills! The torque converter was on the way out and the increased cost in insurance at the new home, and potential bills on the horizon made my mind up for me! I do miss the noise however and currently looking at a V8 for the weekends!
On all the Merc's I own the difference between selecting C/S (Comfort or Sport) is negligible. A little like on the ABC suspension, which is a marvellous system providing sublime comfort, selecting sport provides a barely perceivable difference. However, an older Mercedes is (nearly) always a wonderful thing for cruising around in.
Those gearboxes really are the killer for these Benz vehicles. I actually had a W204 C250 a couple of years back and it was an absolutely fantastic car in almost every way. It was smooth, extremely well built, ergonomically perfect, handsome, handled decently, and to this day I've never owned a car that is anywhere near that comfortable over long drives - you come out after a 3 hour drive feeling like it was 10 minutes. But it had one thing that absolutely killed it for me, and it was that horridly slow gearbox. The engine itself was pretty strong - quite torquey and never felt lacking. But when you put your foot down the gearbox was so damn slow to respond that it made it feel like the worst turbo lag on the planet, andkilled any hope that car had of ever feeling even remotely sporty. A shame, because it really was the only thing letting the car down - but it let it down a lot. I liked the car enough that I've genuinely considered bying a C204 C350 coupe, hoping that the more free revving natrually aspirated six might help to make the car feel that bit more responsive...but sadly I dont think it will help because as long as it has that laggy gearbox, I dont think that sluggish feeling will ever go away.
My late friend rode his GSXR750 slabby down to mine one night to tell me of this one time where he was challenged to a race by some young lads and thoroughly lost 😂 It was the clk black that left him shaken
The original A class was advertised by easy car rental as in easy jet, for £13 per day. I never found such a deal but the thought of renting a brand new Mercedes for that was like catnip. And no I’ve never driven one!
For me the CLK was one of the best cars for UK roads, with one proviso. In the winter as temperatures dropped and potholes bred like rabbits. the AMG wheels became fragile, country lanes could prove very expensive. Friends with Audi RS wheels had similar problems. It really is worth getting winter rims and tyres designed for a +/- 15 deg Cent temp range, unless living at altitude.
I'm not sure how back to back comparisons of cars decades old can really mean anything at this point in time where they can no longer be properly comparable after wear, tear, maintenance and upgrades are concerned. The only fair way to compare both would be fresh suspension, bushings, all fluids including transmission flushed and replaced, full service oil and filters, same brand tyres and so forth. Otherwise all you're feeling is potential neglect vs fastidious care.
I think the facelift CLK500 with the 5.5L is the sweet spot. Facelift interior, 7g Tronic and more power than the 55, but significantly lower running costs than the 63.
Always loved the clk my uncle had a twin headlight one when I was a kid..by the time I could afford a merc coupe they were too old so I had settle for a w204 and how I wish it was pillarless would really suit it
i never understand how this stuff can be so cheap in the UK. in germany there are currently only about 40 for sale, 10 of 'em are 208s... most of them are overpriced at around 20-30k and beyond - they're not pristine examples. it's ridiculous. it seems the cheap days are definitely gone for previously "unloved" mercs from the late 90s / early 00s... i personally would love to own a naturally aspirated v8 from that era. a clk 55 in a nice colour would be awesome.
@@STERNWAERTS the heavy “road tax” costs in the UK and likely impending city centre bans expected soon. ULEZ in London compliant now but likely not for long. The guy that Services mine also has one and he says he’s keeping his. So I’ll hang on for now.
I've had a bunch of v8 mercs and loved the clk 55 but prefer the old e430 for the lazy power and old school merc style ... On the hunt for a 560SEC ... now that's the bomb.. Style whilst retaining your licence.
a manual swap on a W211 E55 (with the supercharger) is a great upgrade, makes the car feel so much more torquey and precise. the new hot is the zf 8hp swap though, really shows how these engines aren't nearly as agricultural as people once though they were.
Former CLK200 owner here, the Indicator stalk requires a complete change of the steering coloum as I was told in multiple workshops back then. Seeing the prices to repair this I decided to just keep it as is, but it can get on your nerves at some point. Great cars though, I also have a constant search for 500s with the amg pack and 55s open.
There was even convertible version of DTM special... By but I would pick from the opposite page of menu...purely non-AMG CLK Convertible and saved money spent on swap to some lovely 6-speed manual from Tremec...
I do think these are some of the best value cars you can get your hands on, except maybe the 63 which is more as expected. All the other V8 models are under £10k, more like £5k for a 5.0. A late model 350 which is still a plenty quick car with facelift sport kid can be found for £5k as well. If it's got some miles and a 320 CDI or earlier petrol V6 they basically give them away for free! Despite that they're still great looking cars, lovely to daily drive, pretty reliable and had a decent crash test rating I think even.
2008 ML 350. I got one in September. I drove a cayenne and a range Rover Sport. All about the same age and price £8000. I expected the RRS to be sublime and it was until the infotainment system shutdown. Electrical gremlins. That was after paying for a PPI (inspection) the cayenne wouldn't start new battery was flat. So jump packed it and already knew it was not for me but had to take it for a drive. I hate licorice strap tires they are not suitable for my unsealed roads. The brakes were cooked. The Mercedes was a breath of fresh air. Rides very soft around town. But somehow firms up to be very accomplished on the worst winding off camber mountain roads. Super comfortable. Took it home the long way. 4 days 2100km. These have a gearbox rated to take double the torque input of the RRS. Still need to service them so the sensors don't get grumpy. Every 60000km they tow to 3500kg brakes. Zero to 100 shocked me as the 7 speed auto is snappy just over 7 seconds. Weighs 2.4 ton I drive a TVR so I enjoy the roads and the merc I can say is much more a drivers car than I expected. Tires are not cheap though R19 245 55. Massive fuel tank 1000km range is a bonus. Head lights are fantastic at night, side lights (they are not fog lights on this particular car) for winding roads work very well. I sure it will be far cheaper to maintain that the other two.
I own a 210 E55 estate, extremely rare in the UK. Often conflicts about whether it was the last "proper" Merc due to its typical over engineering of the period, or the first "cost cutting" Merc due to its notorious rust issues. It would be awesome to see a test to gauge your opinion on whether you think the 210 deserves the hatred it gets as being deemed the first "cost cutting" Mercedes model, or whether you think it deserves a 2nd chance and think it's still a quality Mercedes product from the era when they developed their bulletproof reputation
You should bring it to James. W210 e55 is a great car. Of course I am biased being the owner of the c55 estate he just drove. Very similiar cars I imagine but e55 probably the better car
@KingofInterns I would love to but mine is a poor representation. Mine was neglected by its previous owners and I'm slowly trying to right it's wrongs. Plus ofcorse aforementioned, the rust problems which is a constant uphill battle.
@@BusThrashfair enough, unfortunately I share this battle. Tailgate starting to rust out, doors will follow soonish. It is odd the body is good (except for some currently superficial rust on the rear arches) I think the doors and tailgate were not galvanised properly at the tailend of Mercedes galvanising issues (97-2004)
@KingofInterns sadly my car is much further along. I've bought several new panels for it in preparation for a proper teardown. Both wings on the brink of cheesery, rear arches rusting through, every door is rotten, random blotches of rust in the roof, I'm terrified to look under the sill covers to find the horrors that lie there. Jacking point rusted, tailgate totally rotten, holes in the Wells around the boot. It's such a shame that Mercedes dropped the ball so catastrophically when it came to rust, and especially the 210. Mechanically the suspension is extremely tired and wants a full overhaul. Clonks and rattles over bumps, accelerating one way and coasting another. It's a shame the 210 AMG is so worthless because it just encourages the sorts of owners who can't afford to look after them properly to run them into the ground :(
@@BusThrash Such a shame indeed! We had a w210 320 when growing up. It made it to 20 before it had to be written off due to rust. You would go to change a cd in the boot and see the road. Engine and gearbox were still tip top though. Cars in the UK tend also to be in much worse shape than on the continent. Roads, upkeep and sea air all take their toll
How would you compare handling of them. My impression was that 63 was a bit to nervous - chasis could not cope with all that torque and power. 55 and 500 are perfect fit to chasis instead. But maybe it was something wrong with this particular CLK63 - short exeprience.
James, the original A class is poorly built, fidgetly, hard riding and top heavy. Inside it is cramped with not a lot of leg room thanks to the high floor but it does have a lot of headroom so it may fit you with your long torso.
On Saturday, i was watching ACA auctions and was so shocked at the prices at this era of mercs , not necessarily the amg's but in general. 2 or 3 grand will buy you something in great condition. . I'm looking for something LHD ,that's old or interesting to bring back with me to France.
I am fairly certain that the CLK model has the most quantity of different engines offered in the same chassis. -CLK200, 1.8L i4, 161hp -CLK200K, 1.8L i4, 181hp -CLK200C, 1.8L i4, 168hp -CLK220cdi, 2.1L i4, 148hp -CLK230K 2.3L i4, 194hp -CLK240, 2.8L V6, 168hp -CLK270cdi, 2.7L i5, 168hp -CLK280, 3.0L V6, 228hp -CLK320, 3.2L V6, 215hp -CLK320cdi, 3.0L V6, 221hp -CLK350, 3.5L V6, 258hp -CLK430 4.3L V8, 275hp -CLK500, 5.0L V8, 302hp -CLK550, 5.5L V8, 382hp -CLK55, 5.4L V8, 362hp -CLK63, 6.2L V8, 475hp -CLK63BLK, 6.2L V8, 500hp -CLKDTM, 5.4L V8, 574hp -CLKGTR, 6.0L V12, 789hp -CLKLM*, 5.0L V8, 322hp -CLK CLR* 5.7L V8, 478hp * Race car only, no homologation cars built. Also keep in mind that the majority of these came in both coupe and convertible.
late 90s-mid 00's mercedes must've been designed with either silver or black paint because those are the cars' best colors. This clk is no exception. Bite the back of your hand gorgeous!
I wish I saw it that way... I really wish I did. But to me it just looks painfully dated and simple in a bland rather than elegant sort of way. Almost all of the mainstream models from the Germans from this era were solidly meh in design. Like what an 8 year old would draw if you told him to sketch a generic car.
The 5 speed auto lets these cars down. The 7G is much better but can't handle the torque of the big V8s. I'd like a CLK55 but I'll settle for my dark blue CLK320
I'm in the camp that prefers the older car. It looks and feels like a classic Merc should. The later car lost some of that charm with both the exterior and interior styling.
James, I'm from Australia and been following you for several years now, chasing your advice, I'm considering buying a 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 R129, we'll maintained, low kms, great condition and most of all reasonably priced too. What you ever reviewed or driven one? What's your thoughts on future value? Would it be a good investment? Would appreciate your thoughts on this model, cheers
Excellent video, as always. Thanks. If you want to try an old, extremely vgc ML, you could do worse than contact Matt, of the High Peak Autos channel here on TH-cam, who recently acquired a particularly good example, featured in his I Bought A Cheap Car series.
CarVertical: The History Checking Service
Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount!
www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm
I own a silver Amg Clk 55 2004. It has done 80000 miles. It is a brillant car. The engine is bulletproof. It comfortable and stylish. I love the looks. It is a joy to drive.❤.
But it's never been driven. Just an average of 400 miles a year!
@@norwegianzound4000!
Thanks for this review! The 63 version had more engine issues. They sorted out those issues by 2013. With gearbox you can out more torque threw them if you modify the car than will go threw the C63 Gearbox believe it or not!
@@norwegianzoundDo your maths again. 😉
Beautiful.
Enjoy 😊
one of AMG's best wheel designs. works so well on the 203 c-class too.
Cars like these make you seriously question why you’d bother with a complicated new car. Good review thanks James.
In Australia , a good one is many times more than ten thousand pounds in AUD ..I have a 2005 CLK55 AMG Coupe in the very rare Jasper Bright Blue with only 110,000 kms.
I have never seen another one in person or on line in this colour in Australia.
It has the later six piston Brembo brakes as fitted to the CLK63's which are awesome , and the quad pipes at the rear.
They are well engineered , and are the perfect high speed highway cruiser ...with 270KW and 510Nm I have no complaints with the transmission...I think it shifts plenty fast enough .
Perhaps in high mileage cars with no maintenance the shifts become slow , but they just need some servicing and maybe a seal kit in the valve body.
Similarly , the suspension and steering is much better when the control arms etc have been replaced vs a car with 20 year old components.
The best thing is the engine , which is ultra reliable and relatively economical , even compared to the only similar new car available like a Mustang.
To top it off , they have a timeless , unique appearance which is very good looking from all angles.
No ABC suspension or SBS brake systems to worry about , these cars are the most reliable and easiest to maintain AMG's ever made in my opinion.
Not many people know what gems the W209 CLK's are esp the rare 2005 and 2006 models with the updated hardware as you mentioned. I owned a Silver 2005 CLK55 for 6 years, it was a pleasure to drive and the only issues that car gave me was age related items that needed sorting but mechanically it was bulletproof; I miss it everynow and then.
2:34 Anyone who can't tell the difference between the w208 and w209 doesn't have sufficient eyesight to even be on the road in the first place lol
Agreed lol the two cars could not possibly look more different. The W208 has a very flat, sharp edged design while I dont think the W209 has a single flat surface on the entire car. Both very nice looking cars, but they look totaly different.
As much as I love the 55 engine from this era and some of the cars Mercedes did from 00-10 era.. Peak Mercedes will always be 84-94 era.
I owned a late clk 350 sport with a full factory amg kit, wheels and exhaust. Black with chrome, absolutely loved it. Great car looking car and extremely reliable. Last good mercs
I’ve wanted an AMG ever since the W202 C36 and W210 E55. A few months ago, I realized my AMG dream by purchasing a 2004 55 Cabriolet in firemist red. So far, I love it! Except, huge caveat, one of the hydraulic main lift cylinders is leaking so I’m going to replace all 7.
It looks nice, makes a great noise (esp after some
exhaust work), and will carry my wife and our two little kids. Great car!
Nice vid. I own a 2004 clk55 AMG and I love it. It’s my daily too. It’s a strange beast. It doesn’t handle no where near as well as my previous Porsche 987, (or 996), but it absorbs the road better. So you find you’re going quick without realising it. Swap it to a manual? You’re kidding!! It’s a Mercedes. Manual mercs are for philestines.
I do agree about the suspension though. A little tightening up would be great. That’s my only criticism. Cheers👍🏻😃
Great video James! I picked up an '05 CLK 55 convertible back in June (like you, I didn't want a boring silver or black and wound up with one in a bronze Designo shade called Havana), and I have to say I think it works well as a punchy cruiser with a *bit* of extra edge. That engine is the star of the show as you said. The transmission is indeed completely useless in manual mode, particularly under hard acceleration up-shifts where it will simply cut power completely if it even suspects you might be heading towards an over-rev. Best to leave it in sport where it's perfectly competent and let that torque make up for the rest. Been a fan for a year or so now, excited to see a car I own make the channel. Keep it up!
You've driven so many different AMG's and M cars now, your opinion is like gold sir! My 2005 US-Spec CLK 55 is almost identical to this except with the big brakes, 18"x18.5" staggered wheels, factory stiffer suspension setup, rear differential auxiliary cooler and quad exhaust from the "AMG Sport" Pkg that was available for 2005 only. She just hit 190k miles today, thank you for the awesome review Jay! I hope one day you'll be able to drive one of the 2005-only "AMG Sport" CLK 55's and see the differences. It's practically a DTM-lite without the supercharger or carbon fiber interior and is really special. I'm doing research and it turns out that the 2005 "AMG Sport" cars and the CLK DTM were both built in Bremen at the same place. Amongst other evidence, it's possible that they could've been in line to become CLK DTM's but Mercedes wanted to limit the production of the CLK DTM to 100 units. The CLK 55's that were in line on the spec sheet to become DTM's, but weren't started yet, might've instead been turned into "AMG Sport" CLK 55's. It's interesting, only 247 US Spec 2005's were built with a total worldwide production of 882 CLK 55 Coupes produced in 2005. These also included the special "Designo" models and the "Elegance" trims so how many Avantgarde-only "AMG Sport"s were built is unknown. It would be awesome if some definitive evidence were to come out of AMG to prove or disprove this theory. Either way, they are magnificent performance cars!
Very rare car you have there, I too had the 05 coupe CLK55
@@revinot Thank you! and that's awesome you got to experience one too! Do you mind me asking what happened to it? I think I'm going to be permanently stuck with mine as when I bought it and did a VIN Lookup, it's Release date/Delivery date is one day before my Birthday. Talk about fate when buying a used car ehh? lol.
@@ftffighter I had to sell mine due to financial reasons sadly, I could no longer afford the fuel bill 🙂 and upkeep.
I may be biased but these cars are so awesome :) they look great and with a V8 under the bonnet they go and sound great too.
Always wondered what you'd make of the CLK / AMG 55 so it pleases me that you like it!
I own an '07 CLK63 AMG and what a joy it is to drive. Yes the M156 is more problematic but if well maintained it doesn't give too many issues. I'm just about to hit 200000km on it and the engine is still using the same cams, lifters and injectors. I use Liqui Moly lifter additive at every oil change which seems to work well. The 7G-Tronic was much sharper with manual changes, not as quick as today's cars but quick enough to be enjoyable. Put the windows down and that pillar less look is unmistakable, I get a lot of hoots, waves and thumbs up from fellow motorists not to mention a few offers to purchase it. :)
Impressive! And no major issues!
my dad had one of these when i was younger, went through all the CLK models and ended up with the AMG55 in silver (almost identical to the one you filmed) i remember him picking me up from ipswich one night in the rain and this V8 rumble just came bouncing off the walls as he appeared from behind the building, ill never forget it, he works so hard so to see him have his dream car, was so cool, he now has the 63amg convertible and has since 2009 i think, its been apart of the family forever- hope youre doing good Jayemm!
Thanks for this great review! With the gearbox I see what you mean. I own one. I believe this car was partly designed to be a autobahn cruiser. What is interesting if you modify this car the gearbox can take more torque threw it than the C63 6.2 can. Seems unbelievable but the it's true!
I love my clk280. Sport, Only 58,000 miles. Dream to drive.
Defo one of the prettiest Mercs ever. Defo a future classic. Built solid. Had the 320 CDI AMG Sportpack '09 which I loved. Had remapped to add 60 - 70 bhp so about 280 to 290, and 3 - 4 mpg. Fabulous on a long run. Did Southampton to Edinburgh once overnight at average 70 m.p.h. fresh as a daisy on arrival. The OM642 engine on mine is a great block. Sometimes called the million mile engine. 06 to 09 better than the earlier ones. Nicer rear end and less rust issues.
I own a silver 208 55amg which I bought as my late grandfather used to have a clk. I had to get the daddy of the 208’s as a reminder of him. Also used to lust for one from the gran turismo days. The rarity of them now fascinates me.
I love the car and although I barely drive as they are prone to rust, I will never sell and will do a full restoration soon. The na power and torque is meanacing.
You should also drive the W208 CLK 55 AMG. As much as I like the W209 CLK 55 AMG, and although less geared towards driving dynamics, 208‘s are built much more in the sense of old-era Mercedes ultra-high quality. It‘ll be amazing to point out the differences of the two.
I own a clk 200 2004 and i love it, i can't imagine the 55 amg... i done 570.000 km on it without any problem!
This is my favorite generation of Mercedes design language. It was so elegant even the amg versions were hinting at the performance without being brash.
I bought one 2 years ago in manchester for £800 it had a head gasket problem kept heating like mad after 20 minutes ,i put 2 bottles off head gasket seal in it, I left it running an hour will full heaters full on . Or i was going to break it for parts ,it worked and its still going today it worked so good my mates wife runs around in it .
That was a cheap AMG🤣😂🤣
@@phil25051 yes he was sick off it i said 800 he said take it .
I’ve watched SPR’s videos on this car. Was great to see all the work done and the lengths that Sam and the team go to to make it perfect.
Great comment. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had a 2004 CLK320 Coupe and it drove better than my 2010 E350 Coupe. It had lots of annoying electrical faults, but none of them critical. The water-into-the-transmission problem you mention was fixed by 2004. Loved that car - it was fun to drive and a pretty little thing.
Good video. In fact these paddles are pointless with 5Gtronic. This tranny fits the engine perfectly - no need to change gears to often with such torque and power. It also adjusts to driving style. It would be good to have it behind some button on the dash. If you put in good tires and push thru twisty it can be pretty quick. Not for the track thow. Absolutely perfect GT car with a bit cabrio feeling with windows down and sunroof open. Modern top class mercs can only dream about quality of some materials inside. And it is way better with beige interior.
Not also forgetting the CLK GTR and CLK DTM
Great to see it’s being used getting some attention, great looking car.
Cheers Sam and Co.
07-09 CLK 550 (M273) is a great, faster, updated option too. facelifted body and interior, +20-30 HP and TQ over the 55, and comes with the 7-spd trans. They all have the "AMG" package, so they come with the same body, suspension, and wheel upgrades (07 had different wheels). The only things you don't get are the AMG badge on the boot and the AMG seats. The CLK "Power Lineup" would be 55, 550, 63, 63 Black, DTM. I found my '08 in '17 with 26k miles for $16k, a 75% discount on a car with 2-years of miles. She now has 101k and other than changing motor mounts twice and changing an oil cooler gasket, it's been a fantastic ownership experience!
Literally, my realistic dream car! Thanks for this review!
I really Like my 2007 W209 Cabriolet for what it is - a luxury (for the time) soft top GT. it has the 7 speeder box and the paddles actually work well - I can hold on to lower gears and the thing flies very smoothly. Where I live (London) 25 mph is speeding ... and it takes about 25 minutes to get to any roads above 30 .... but, hey, it's ULEZ compliant ( a miracle!) even if the Tax is nightmarish. I bought it for £5k in lock down and kept it. I like driving it on day trips and weekends when it's decent weather. With he top down it has a lovely sense of occasion and then I don;t mind the miles and miles of 50 MPH of "temporary" motorway speed limits. I'm relaxed and feeling nice. I'll keep it until the government bans it.... which no doubt is very soon. Is it a classic? Not yet, but it might be and I'd rather own it than any EV iPad on wheels.
Is she an AMG??
@@phil25051 No, the V6 Sport version with the AMG factory-fitted kit.
When you did the C55 video, I was excited! I was thinking “Oooh, that’s almost like my car!”
And now I’m thinking “Yay, that’s my car!”. I have a 2004 US Market CLK500 in Baby Blue with grey interior (that, strangely enough, came with AMG wheels but is stock otherwise, not even parking sensors). It has its ups and downs, but being from California originally, it’s rust-free and has only 64k miles (55 when I bought it).
As JayEmm mentioned, the cabin liner is a known issue in these early naughties Mercs - mine was starting to slough off as the glue was dried out, so I bought a handful of what are, essentially, cushion pins that are the same color as the liner and stuck them on. The back of the seats are also peeling from all the years in the Californian sun, but I didn’t really pay all that much for the car, so that’s okay.
I was kind of wanting a convertible for a while, but this model as a coupe is a perfect substitute without the convertible top problems! Being pillarless, with the windows down and the sunroof open, it totally feels like a convertible.
The car did surprise me with leaking valve cover gaskets and a malfunctioning CPS at 58k, but that’s the price of owning an old German car…
I always loved the clean looks of that car.
You can get a gearbox tune and that makes it much quicker to respond, and the whole car much more enjoyable.
That's right!
Manual swapping it with a manual that can take the brunt of bigger power mid range diesels would be better. Long geared as it may be it would be fitting and good for cruising still.
E 270 and C270 versions of E and C class were offered with 2.7 Inline 5 turbo diesel with 425nm of torque, it could easily contend with NA V8 torque.
Do you know who does the tuning?
@scarrollnz MSL Birmingham.
He’s only gone and done it. I know you saw my comment Jay. Much love for this one.
I had one in Vivienite Green. Rare colour
CLS55 here. Mega.
Regarding the old A-class, the A210 has always piqued my curiosity
I have a first gen 55 convertible, which I recently found out was a US and one year only car 02’, and love it! 240k miles on it and recently did a full overhaul by myself, so easy on those cars. Muscle car to the max. I also have a 190k ml55 but I’m in America haha
Great Review - I sadly had to sell my low mileage CLK55 AMG when moving house. Positive points were the noise and the torque. It did however in my ownership have quite a few issues and needed a new ECU and headlight ignitor which cost a fortune! I don't miss the bills! The torque converter was on the way out and the increased cost in insurance at the new home, and potential bills on the horizon made my mind up for me! I do miss the noise however and currently looking at a V8 for the weekends!
On all the Merc's I own the difference between selecting C/S (Comfort or Sport) is negligible. A little like on the ABC suspension, which is a marvellous system providing sublime comfort, selecting sport provides a barely perceivable difference. However, an older Mercedes is (nearly) always a wonderful thing for cruising around in.
You a go in my mint, 2004 E55 Kompressor Estate! Modified to around 580 bhp , sounds and rides superb, and its a 7 seater!
Had the clk 320cdi re mapped. Decent motor
Those gearboxes really are the killer for these Benz vehicles.
I actually had a W204 C250 a couple of years back and it was an absolutely fantastic car in almost every way. It was smooth, extremely well built, ergonomically perfect, handsome, handled decently, and to this day I've never owned a car that is anywhere near that comfortable over long drives - you come out after a 3 hour drive feeling like it was 10 minutes.
But it had one thing that absolutely killed it for me, and it was that horridly slow gearbox. The engine itself was pretty strong - quite torquey and never felt lacking. But when you put your foot down the gearbox was so damn slow to respond that it made it feel like the worst turbo lag on the planet, andkilled any hope that car had of ever feeling even remotely sporty. A shame, because it really was the only thing letting the car down - but it let it down a lot.
I liked the car enough that I've genuinely considered bying a C204 C350 coupe, hoping that the more free revving natrually aspirated six might help to make the car feel that bit more responsive...but sadly I dont think it will help because as long as it has that laggy gearbox, I dont think that sluggish feeling will ever go away.
Bang a kompresor on it, tweak the tranie and suspension and you have an incredible machine? Another great video
My late friend rode his GSXR750 slabby down to mine one night to tell me of this one time where he was challenged to a race by some young lads and thoroughly lost 😂
It was the clk black that left him shaken
I've a 2006 CLK with the m273 and the 7g box. I'm sticking with this. Best car in the world
The original A class was advertised by easy car rental as in easy jet, for £13 per day. I never found such a deal but the thought of renting a brand new Mercedes for that was like catnip. And no I’ve never driven one!
@10.44...best line ever!😂😂😂😂😂
For me the CLK was one of the best cars for UK roads, with one proviso. In the winter as temperatures dropped and potholes bred like rabbits. the AMG wheels became fragile, country lanes could prove very expensive. Friends with Audi RS wheels had similar problems. It really is worth getting winter rims and tyres designed for a +/- 15 deg Cent temp range, unless living at altitude.
Brilliant Merc!!!
I'm not sure how back to back comparisons of cars decades old can really mean anything at this point in time where they can no longer be properly comparable after wear, tear, maintenance and upgrades are concerned. The only fair way to compare both would be fresh suspension, bushings, all fluids including transmission flushed and replaced, full service oil and filters, same brand tyres and so forth. Otherwise all you're feeling is potential neglect vs fastidious care.
Very good points , I agree.
Enjoyed the video James, thank you.
I think the facelift CLK500 with the 5.5L is the sweet spot. Facelift interior, 7g Tronic and more power than the 55, but significantly lower running costs than the 63.
Agreed
@@RobBoothAutomotive good call
True, but there was also a facelift CLK 55, it came with better hardware than pre facelifts
Indeed! That is the sweetspot CLK ;) leg me Tell you
Don’t forget the god tier CLK GTR 😎
At least the grille, headlights and taillights were common.... 😂
@ doesn’t matter, says CLK on the back.
Always loved the clk my uncle had a twin headlight one when I was a kid..by the time I could afford a merc coupe they were too old so I had settle for a w204 and how I wish it was pillarless would really suit it
These are very cool. One of my all-time fav mercedes!
Currently building a w208 clk55 track car, got wheels, widebody kit, cams, headers, suspension, racing seats. Keeping it n/a.
i never understand how this stuff can be so cheap in the UK. in germany there are currently only about 40 for sale, 10 of 'em are 208s... most of them are overpriced at around 20-30k and beyond - they're not pristine examples. it's ridiculous. it seems the cheap days are definitely gone for previously "unloved" mercs from the late 90s / early 00s... i personally would love to own a naturally aspirated v8 from that era. a clk 55 in a nice colour would be awesome.
UK ist ein viel kleineres Markt Weil rechtslenker.
same reason why r34s, 240z's and old porsches were available 15-20 years ago and now they're impossible to own for normal people
@@STERNWAERTS the heavy “road tax”
costs in the UK and likely impending city centre bans expected soon. ULEZ in London compliant now but likely not for long. The guy that Services mine also has one and he says he’s keeping his. So I’ll hang on for now.
I've had a bunch of v8 mercs and loved the clk 55 but prefer the old e430 for the lazy power and old school merc style ... On the hunt for a 560SEC ... now that's the bomb.. Style whilst retaining your licence.
Your Merc content is top notch. Hope you get to review an E55 W211 soon. Or even an E500 W211 :)
Klasse - great
£10k in UK.
$50kAUD in Aus. What a country. 😂
a manual swap on a W211 E55 (with the supercharger) is a great upgrade, makes the car feel so much more torquey and precise. the new hot is the zf 8hp swap though, really shows how these engines aren't nearly as agricultural as people once though they were.
Former CLK200 owner here, the Indicator stalk requires a complete change of the steering coloum as I was told in multiple workshops back then. Seeing the prices to repair this I decided to just keep it as is, but it can get on your nerves at some point. Great cars though, I also have a constant search for 500s with the amg pack and 55s open.
I have a clk500 with original AMG package if your interested? UK
TY 🙏🙏
I really like these, I want one sometime over the next few years
It's ok there is a CLK DTM for sale at a mere£800k - Autotrader
The CLK55 was a great car but the CLK63 that followed. in my humble opinion, was peak AMG!
The early 6.2 had a few engine issues such as head bolts!
@@danielshinerock1526 all AMG`s have engine issues...
@@ca9968although the M113 is MUCH more reliable
It was not. Not only because of reliability. I drived both and CLK55 is better composed car and easier to drive it faster in random conditions.
@@ca9968 M113 engines have no issues.
Peak Merc will always be the W124 and R129 SL500.
Until you drive it right after driving CLK55 or even CLK500. Pretty but heavy animal.
@ class and robust engineering, those are peak Merc characteristics. The melted headlight cars lost some of that
There was even convertible version of DTM special... By but I would pick from the opposite page of menu...purely non-AMG CLK Convertible and saved money spent on swap to some lovely 6-speed manual from Tremec...
I do think these are some of the best value cars you can get your hands on, except maybe the 63 which is more as expected. All the other V8 models are under £10k, more like £5k for a 5.0. A late model 350 which is still a plenty quick car with facelift sport kid can be found for £5k as well. If it's got some miles and a 320 CDI or earlier petrol V6 they basically give them away for free! Despite that they're still great looking cars, lovely to daily drive, pretty reliable and had a decent crash test rating I think even.
2008 ML 350. I got one in September. I drove a cayenne and a range Rover Sport. All about the same age and price £8000. I expected the RRS to be sublime and it was until the infotainment system shutdown. Electrical gremlins. That was after paying for a PPI (inspection) the cayenne wouldn't start new battery was flat. So jump packed it and already knew it was not for me but had to take it for a drive. I hate licorice strap tires they are not suitable for my unsealed roads. The brakes were cooked.
The Mercedes was a breath of fresh air. Rides very soft around town. But somehow firms up to be very accomplished on the worst winding off camber mountain roads. Super comfortable. Took it home the long way. 4 days 2100km. These have a gearbox rated to take double the torque input of the RRS. Still need to service them so the sensors don't get grumpy. Every 60000km they tow to 3500kg brakes. Zero to 100 shocked me as the 7 speed auto is snappy just over 7 seconds. Weighs 2.4 ton
I drive a TVR so I enjoy the roads and the merc I can say is much more a drivers car than I expected. Tires are not cheap though R19 245 55. Massive fuel tank 1000km range is a bonus. Head lights are fantastic at night, side lights (they are not fog lights on this particular car) for winding roads work very well. I sure it will be far cheaper to maintain that the other two.
I've got nice '04 ML350 W163 but I need to sort few bits and bobs. I'll contact you once it will be film ready
I own a 210 E55 estate, extremely rare in the UK. Often conflicts about whether it was the last "proper" Merc due to its typical over engineering of the period, or the first "cost cutting" Merc due to its notorious rust issues. It would be awesome to see a test to gauge your opinion on whether you think the 210 deserves the hatred it gets as being deemed the first "cost cutting" Mercedes model, or whether you think it deserves a 2nd chance and think it's still a quality Mercedes product from the era when they developed their bulletproof reputation
You should bring it to James. W210 e55 is a great car.
Of course I am biased being the owner of the c55 estate he just drove. Very similiar cars I imagine but e55 probably the better car
@KingofInterns I would love to but mine is a poor representation. Mine was neglected by its previous owners and I'm slowly trying to right it's wrongs. Plus ofcorse aforementioned, the rust problems which is a constant uphill battle.
@@BusThrashfair enough, unfortunately I share this battle. Tailgate starting to rust out, doors will follow soonish.
It is odd the body is good (except for some currently superficial rust on the rear arches) I think the doors and tailgate were not galvanised properly at the tailend of Mercedes galvanising issues (97-2004)
@KingofInterns sadly my car is much further along. I've bought several new panels for it in preparation for a proper teardown. Both wings on the brink of cheesery, rear arches rusting through, every door is rotten, random blotches of rust in the roof, I'm terrified to look under the sill covers to find the horrors that lie there. Jacking point rusted, tailgate totally rotten, holes in the Wells around the boot. It's such a shame that Mercedes dropped the ball so catastrophically when it came to rust, and especially the 210. Mechanically the suspension is extremely tired and wants a full overhaul. Clonks and rattles over bumps, accelerating one way and coasting another. It's a shame the 210 AMG is so worthless because it just encourages the sorts of owners who can't afford to look after them properly to run them into the ground :(
@@BusThrash Such a shame indeed!
We had a w210 320 when growing up. It made it to 20 before it had to be written off due to rust.
You would go to change a cd in the boot and see the road.
Engine and gearbox were still tip top though. Cars in the UK tend also to be in much worse shape than on the continent. Roads, upkeep and sea air all take their toll
I have a W209 CLK 55 and a W209 CLK 63 both brilliant under cover rocket ships !!
How would you compare handling of them. My impression was that 63 was a bit to nervous - chasis could not cope with all that torque and power. 55 and 500 are perfect fit to chasis instead. But maybe it was something wrong with this particular CLK63 - short exeprience.
CLK AMG my favourite Merc of all time... peak AMG
Sam is brilliant SPR is brilliant .Even though i drive a 1999 200,000 mile BMW E38 728i in Manchester ,SPR Stockport still rocks ,
James, the original A class is poorly built, fidgetly, hard riding and top heavy. Inside it is cramped with not a lot of leg room thanks to the high floor but it does have a lot of headroom so it may fit you with your long torso.
On Saturday, i was watching ACA auctions and was so shocked at the prices at this era of mercs , not necessarily the amg's but in general. 2 or 3 grand will buy you something in great condition. .
I'm looking for something LHD ,that's old or interesting to bring back with me to France.
@@ricado372 get in now with a great example. Perfect timing.
I am fairly certain that the CLK model has the most quantity of different engines offered in the same chassis.
-CLK200, 1.8L i4, 161hp
-CLK200K, 1.8L i4, 181hp
-CLK200C, 1.8L i4, 168hp
-CLK220cdi, 2.1L i4, 148hp
-CLK230K 2.3L i4, 194hp
-CLK240, 2.8L V6, 168hp
-CLK270cdi, 2.7L i5, 168hp
-CLK280, 3.0L V6, 228hp
-CLK320, 3.2L V6, 215hp
-CLK320cdi, 3.0L V6, 221hp
-CLK350, 3.5L V6, 258hp
-CLK430 4.3L V8, 275hp
-CLK500, 5.0L V8, 302hp
-CLK550, 5.5L V8, 382hp
-CLK55, 5.4L V8, 362hp
-CLK63, 6.2L V8, 475hp
-CLK63BLK, 6.2L V8, 500hp
-CLKDTM, 5.4L V8, 574hp
-CLKGTR, 6.0L V12, 789hp
-CLKLM*, 5.0L V8, 322hp
-CLK CLR* 5.7L V8, 478hp
* Race car only, no homologation cars built.
Also keep in mind that the majority of these came in both coupe and convertible.
It's definitely a diverse range 😂
CLK 63 coupe 481 bhp, more than the later C63 !
I forgot about that luxury beast!!!
W208 mentioned RAHH beauty at its peak❤
Good show. I prefer my econocar the w215 CL. (cl500mbz)
The old A class.....hilarious J 😅
Großartig!
late 90s-mid 00's mercedes must've been designed with either silver or black paint because those are the cars' best colors. This clk is no exception. Bite the back of your hand gorgeous!
I wish I saw it that way... I really wish I did. But to me it just looks painfully dated and simple in a bland rather than elegant sort of way. Almost all of the mainstream models from the Germans from this era were solidly meh in design. Like what an 8 year old would draw if you told him to sketch a generic car.
I know this was said before, but I never clicked on a video so fast. Absolutely dream car that you can afford to buy and maintain ❤️
I'd like to see you test an SLK 350 with a manual gearbox. Very rare for a merc.
You forgot the clk GTR!
Haha, perhaps there are a couple of components left under that skin
SLK A55 2007 was the sweet spot
Better to have a CLK 500 with AMG package.
Why?
I remember it being a boat in NFS Most Wanted. Guess that game misrepresented that a bit.
I almost bought a clk 320 cdi at one point it's gorgeous
The 5 speed auto lets these cars down. The 7G is much better but can't handle the torque of the big V8s. I'd like a CLK55 but I'll settle for my dark blue CLK320
There is neglible difference when you compare 5G and 7G at least in CLK500. You feel it you hear it but cars are accelerating nearle equal. Checked.
Incredibly rare to find a nice one these days.
It's a coupé with a big engine and rwd. I think that it's an automatic win.
(Pun may or may not be intented)
I'm in the camp that prefers the older car. It looks and feels like a classic Merc should. The later car lost some of that charm with both the exterior and interior styling.
James, I'm from Australia and been following you for several years now, chasing your advice, I'm considering buying a 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 R129, we'll maintained, low kms, great condition and most of all reasonably priced too. What you ever reviewed or driven one? What's your thoughts on future value? Would it be a good investment? Would appreciate your thoughts on this model, cheers
Excellent video, as always. Thanks. If you want to try an old, extremely vgc ML, you could do worse than contact Matt, of the High Peak Autos channel here on TH-cam, who recently acquired a particularly good example, featured in his I Bought A Cheap Car series.