can anyone help with some CL buying advice?

[snazza]

Good Morning all,

I am really quite taken by the CL500, and am looking to get into either an 02 CL500, or an 51 CL55AMG. I have not test driven either yet, and would apprecaite some advice/thoughts prior to doing so, if you lovely poeple would oblige of course . I have come from a background of small sporty coupes (alfa 3.0 GTV, Nissan 350z, TVR T350c) and am now looking for a more refined, yet still a spirited drive. Also being a Merc 'virgin' what are the servicing costs on one of these beast like, will I have to sell a kidney every year?

look forward to your replies

Snazza

[a11lvj]

Good choose of car one of the better in the current range,sound engine and eletrics(hardly any recalls),with regard to which one ,with your history you will prefer the AMG,and its sounds the nuts at full bore, and can be used as day to day car.

[tonylal]

NICE CAR. No more to run than a regular S Class - same car essentially. The 500 is a safer bet - the AMG will be an early normally aspirated unit and costs more to service, brakes are pricier etc. It is only 50 bhp more than a 500 so not a great deal quicker until you are doing over the ton. Engine will cost twice as much if it goes pop. Watch out for early version keyless go (flat key card type), always trouble, and check the suspension all works, have a habit of collapsing to one side. I have seen them down to £20K and would get one tomorrow if I needed to buy my own car. Avoid Chalcedony blue (pale silver blue). Bugger to match and horrendous to pay for. Headlights cost a bomb if they break. Just go for it, they can't get much cheaper...

[snazza]

Thanks very much for the replies chaps , very helpful ....I was kinda thinking that there would be some horror stories about ownership, but looks pretty god to me ....a LOT of car for the money . Tony I am coming round to the 500 idea more and more ....as I live in the centre of town makes more sense (also the insurance is a damn site cheaper!!)

once again thanks guys