CLK 55 - Should I?
Discussion
I'm thinking about changing my E46 330Ci in the spring and have been looking at a CLK55. I've only managed a short test drive in one and it seemed nice enough, but I am worried that it won't handle as well as my Beemer if I get excited. Has anyone got some first hand experience of what these cars are like generally as well as on the specific handling point? I'm still not set on this as a replacement, but it seems to always crop up on my window shopping exercises...
Depends what you define by handling. I have to ask because people think they know what handling means but really they mean something else.
It isn't unpredictable. It's piss easy to not get wrong in the wet. You can play about with the back end. The suspension is harder than a non-AMG but not Ferrari-hard.
It isn't unpredictable. It's piss easy to not get wrong in the wet. You can play about with the back end. The suspension is harder than a non-AMG but not Ferrari-hard.
Good question. I guess what I like about my car is the predictability and confidence that it gives me to drive quite hard. I'm no expert driver, but the BM copes with my abrupt inputs and gets me round corners very nicely. I'm concerned that the Merc will be more of a straight line machine (having read the E55 comments elsewhere) and that come a corner it will prefer to roll (I had enough of that with my previous Grand Cherokee). I suppose the answer is that I want confidence and predictability as well as ability. (I live in hope that I might explore those limits through choice one day)
Interesting that you mention the ride as the only two things I would change on my car are the power (50bhp more would be nice occasionally)and the ride, as the back end tends to skip about and it gets a bit jarring on bad roads. I felt during my brief test drive that the CLK was a little more composed, but as it is supposed to be Mercedes' answer to the M3 maybe I just didn't get to drive it enough. I've avoided an M3 given friends comments that it is like driving a light bulb (just before he introduced it to the armco on the M25) - plus I imagine it will be more of the same and I want a change. Sorry for the long winded reply...
Interesting that you mention the ride as the only two things I would change on my car are the power (50bhp more would be nice occasionally)and the ride, as the back end tends to skip about and it gets a bit jarring on bad roads. I felt during my brief test drive that the CLK was a little more composed, but as it is supposed to be Mercedes' answer to the M3 maybe I just didn't get to drive it enough. I've avoided an M3 given friends comments that it is like driving a light bulb (just before he introduced it to the armco on the M25) - plus I imagine it will be more of the same and I want a change. Sorry for the long winded reply...
Well, it probably rolls more than a BMW (I'm talking about a W208 not W209 but I am not sure if they are that different) but that doesn't necessarily affect handling! Mine's still predictable and I can drive it confidently but it still slides in the wet and will punish you if you take liberties (ESP off).
Ask on here: http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/ or here: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/
Ask on here: http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/ or here: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/
I have a 2003 (209) clk55 amg and I love it. The good points are: gadgets (if you like them) keyless go; satnav; distronic are all very useful; power on tap and predictability in handling.
The bad points: costs of parts and servicing.
The standard amg car doesn't have a mechanical limited slip diff so when you lose grip the ESP kicks in and you lose power to the wheel until grip is regained. Its only milliseconds but you can have mechanical LSD fitted and this makes the car more usable at the limit.
The car used to understeer allot but you can get H&R anti roll bars that are a lot stiffer at the back to make the car have less understeer and more oversteer.
I have had my clk since new in 2003 and haven't found a car that I want to replace it with yet because it’s so much fun. It’s heavy and people may say that not good for track days when I find managing the weight transfer and car dynamics make the care great fun.
I drive it every day into central London 12 miles each way and it takes 7mph fine and yet it’s taken me across Europe many times as well as on lots of track days - I'd recommend it in a flash.
The bad points: costs of parts and servicing.
The standard amg car doesn't have a mechanical limited slip diff so when you lose grip the ESP kicks in and you lose power to the wheel until grip is regained. Its only milliseconds but you can have mechanical LSD fitted and this makes the car more usable at the limit.
The car used to understeer allot but you can get H&R anti roll bars that are a lot stiffer at the back to make the car have less understeer and more oversteer.
I have had my clk since new in 2003 and haven't found a car that I want to replace it with yet because it’s so much fun. It’s heavy and people may say that not good for track days when I find managing the weight transfer and car dynamics make the care great fun.
I drive it every day into central London 12 miles each way and it takes 7mph fine and yet it’s taken me across Europe many times as well as on lots of track days - I'd recommend it in a flash.
petermansell said:
I have a 2003 (209) clk55 amg and I love it. The good points are: gadgets (if you like them) keyless go; satnav; distronic are all very useful; power on tap and predictability in handling.
The bad points: costs of parts and servicing.
The standard amg car doesn't have a mechanical limited slip diff so when you lose grip the ESP kicks in and you lose power to the wheel until grip is regained. Its only milliseconds but you can have mechanical LSD fitted and this makes the car more usable at the limit.
The car used to understeer allot but you can get H&R anti roll bars that are a lot stiffer at the back to make the car have less understeer and more oversteer.
I have had my clk since new in 2003 and haven't found a car that I want to replace it with yet because it’s so much fun. It’s heavy and people may say that not good for track days when I find managing the weight transfer and car dynamics make the care great fun.
I drive it every day into central London 12 miles each way and it takes 7mph fine and yet it’s taken me across Europe many times as well as on lots of track days - I'd recommend it in a flash.
Sounds great!The bad points: costs of parts and servicing.
The standard amg car doesn't have a mechanical limited slip diff so when you lose grip the ESP kicks in and you lose power to the wheel until grip is regained. Its only milliseconds but you can have mechanical LSD fitted and this makes the car more usable at the limit.
The car used to understeer allot but you can get H&R anti roll bars that are a lot stiffer at the back to make the car have less understeer and more oversteer.
I have had my clk since new in 2003 and haven't found a car that I want to replace it with yet because it’s so much fun. It’s heavy and people may say that not good for track days when I find managing the weight transfer and car dynamics make the care great fun.
I drive it every day into central London 12 miles each way and it takes 7mph fine and yet it’s taken me across Europe many times as well as on lots of track days - I'd recommend it in a flash.
What's it like in terms of reliability and quality?
I went from an E46 M3 to a CLK55 a couple months back.
I owned the BMW for over 3 years and liked it. Eventually the stupid service and insurance costs just got me down, plus my car had a poorish gearbox which would ultimately have cost a lot to sort out.
So far I've been pleased with the CLK, although it's too early to comment on service costs.
Things I like:
1) Engine. It's a monster, noticably better performance than the M3 plus the auto makes it so accessable. If the BMW really had the horspower it was supposed to then this must be producing more than the quoted 367bhp. Also, the noise is brilliant when you press on but quiet when cruising.
2) Transmission. For an auto its good, it notices when you're pressing on and holds onto gears rather than changing up too quickly.
3) Running cost are lower so far. It uses about the same petrol, insurance is cheaper. According the dealer servicing should be cheaper (we'll see about that).
4) It's subtle, you don't see many of them
5) Sat nav is miles better than the BMW system
6) Brakes are miles better, the M3 was noticably difficult to stop when the brakes were cold.
7) The wife can drive it, she gave up with the BMW, what with all the cold kangarooring etc.
I haven't pushed it to the limit handling wise. I'd say it doesn't have the grip or accurancy of the M3 but then it's just so much more comfortable. The lack of a limited slip diff is noticable and I guess could be a problem if you habitually drive very hard. Overall it's still fun as long as you don't expect it to do things it can't.
Best thing is A road overtaking. In the dry it's absolutely unbelievable, floor it and you're past.
There really isn't much I don't like. The interior feels a tiny bit flimsy compared to the bmw, occasionally all the electronic toys are bit baffling (I'm stupid like that).
I hope this helps
I owned the BMW for over 3 years and liked it. Eventually the stupid service and insurance costs just got me down, plus my car had a poorish gearbox which would ultimately have cost a lot to sort out.
So far I've been pleased with the CLK, although it's too early to comment on service costs.
Things I like:
1) Engine. It's a monster, noticably better performance than the M3 plus the auto makes it so accessable. If the BMW really had the horspower it was supposed to then this must be producing more than the quoted 367bhp. Also, the noise is brilliant when you press on but quiet when cruising.
2) Transmission. For an auto its good, it notices when you're pressing on and holds onto gears rather than changing up too quickly.
3) Running cost are lower so far. It uses about the same petrol, insurance is cheaper. According the dealer servicing should be cheaper (we'll see about that).
4) It's subtle, you don't see many of them
5) Sat nav is miles better than the BMW system
6) Brakes are miles better, the M3 was noticably difficult to stop when the brakes were cold.
7) The wife can drive it, she gave up with the BMW, what with all the cold kangarooring etc.
I haven't pushed it to the limit handling wise. I'd say it doesn't have the grip or accurancy of the M3 but then it's just so much more comfortable. The lack of a limited slip diff is noticable and I guess could be a problem if you habitually drive very hard. Overall it's still fun as long as you don't expect it to do things it can't.
Best thing is A road overtaking. In the dry it's absolutely unbelievable, floor it and you're past.
There really isn't much I don't like. The interior feels a tiny bit flimsy compared to the bmw, occasionally all the electronic toys are bit baffling (I'm stupid like that).
I hope this helps
Well PK328 since I purchased mine in July 2003 and covered 56000 miles so far the only things that have broken are as follows: 1) electrical fault with the door locking mechanism fixed by a call out in two hours 2) new alternator regulator £37 and 3) a new power steering hose. So in all I'd say the car has been very reliable (especially when it’s had to cope with the Ring, Spa, Le Mans Bugatti et. al.
I'd also agree with Dougt's comments - the brakes, engine and gearbox are all strong points.
In terms of quality when I have looked at making improvements to the car it’s been difficult to find areas to do so! In fact it’s only cosmetically (19 inch rims) or in the driving dynamics (se earlier post) that I have changed things.
Having said that I have paid eye watering bills - £17000 in four years but this includes all improvements and servicing - in fact all costs except petrol and insurance. The worse bill was £2700 for a Service B where the thruster arms, disks and pads all needed changing!
I'd also agree with Dougt's comments - the brakes, engine and gearbox are all strong points.
In terms of quality when I have looked at making improvements to the car it’s been difficult to find areas to do so! In fact it’s only cosmetically (19 inch rims) or in the driving dynamics (se earlier post) that I have changed things.
Having said that I have paid eye watering bills - £17000 in four years but this includes all improvements and servicing - in fact all costs except petrol and insurance. The worse bill was £2700 for a Service B where the thruster arms, disks and pads all needed changing!
Thanks for all of that - it doesn't sound like theres much to complain about. I understand the comments about servicing, but I spend the money on servicing my BM and you do get the odd whopper of a bill, but it's better than sitting on the hard shoulder. I'm just hoping the bonus arrives in time!
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