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Another... "what car thread!!" Merc CLK
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:39 pm
by renmure
Anyone have any advice or experience to offer?
Looking for a something for Wendy and I to gently cruise about in on the nice sunny days (and where 4 seats and a boot might be handy!) but have no experience of Mercs whatsoever. Would like to keep the budget to 16k and dont really want one of the big engined cars since we are not really looking for any great performance. (just for Rossybee's benefit.. that means things with 3,4,5,6 litres are a no-no

)
There are a lot of cars within the budget with 50-70k miles on sale. I take it that, if serviced properly, the mileage shouldn't be too much of an issue?
Also, some are advertised as 'Elegance' trim and others as 'Avantgarde' but its not that easy to see what is so different. Is one better than the other?
Auto/manual .. instictively I think it should be an auto
Open to (sensible) advice.
Jim
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:11 am
by woody
Think DDTB's selling one of these?
Well it's a merc and its a coupe anyway.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:12 am
by woody
woody wrote:Think DDTB's selling one of these?
Well it's a merc and its a coupe anyway.
He is and It is.
http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... php?t=8692
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:37 am
by Fluoxetine
£16k = 2002 onwards model...
A la
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/216295.htm
CLK240 or CLK200k if you want a smaller engine...Not sure if CLK 270CDi falls within budget...?
Avantgarde = Top spec / most options as standard (more modern interior, with metal look trim, as opposed to wood)
Elegance = Pipe & slippers spec...More fake wood / comfortable suspension...
Definitely an auto...Manual cars tend to be poverty spec...And difficult to sell!
Cheers,
Ross.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:58 am
by Dominic
I would not touch anything with a merc badge on it since year 2000. The chauffeur company I use to work with had about 25 mercs, of various model and age. They were all built like sh1t! Fully maintained & serviced, but from brand new, they nearly all had quality problems. Service for dealers was shocking too.
Best bet would be BMW or Audi IMHO.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:40 am
by EliseR
Go on...take a Jag
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/150579.htm
I would get it if I could.
Gary.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:45 am
by Dominic
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:47 pm
by renmure
Missed out one fairly important detail...
It has to be the Cabrio version as opposed to coupe.
We have looked at BMW convertibles so thats still a possibility. Not keen on Audi (dont know why, but they seem a bit plain) and the convertible Jags look odd with the roof up and anyhow, it is supposed to be a not-silly car-decision!
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:49 pm
by EliseR
renmure wrote:Missed out one fairly important detail...
It has to be the Cabrio version as opposed to coupe.
We have looked at BMW convertibles so thats still a possibility. Not keen on Audi (dont know why, but they seem a bit plain) and the convertible Jags look odd with the roof up and anyhow, it is supposed to be a not-silly car-decision!
Jags need the rood, I agree. The curves are lovely, and the softop has no curves!
G.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:37 pm
by gorrie
My mate has an A4 Cabriolet... it's just an S-Line (1.8 or 2.0 from memory) and is quite a nice place to sit in. What about a Saab?... not my kinda car, but the wife likes them.
Stuff practical... These would look nice in your already lovely fleet
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/216308.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/215455.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/215793.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/197163.htm
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:52 pm
by renmure
gorrie wrote:My mate has an A4 Cabriolet... it's just an S-Line (1.8 or 2.0 from memory) and is quite a nice place to sit in. What about a Saab?... not my kinda car, but the wife likes them.
Neighbour has a Saab convertible. Looks a bit slab-sided
Stuff practical... These would look nice in your already lovely fleet
Nothing to see here.. move along...
You have too much time on your hands

... and I have too little money!!

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 4:42 pm
by Rag_It
Gof ro a BM Cab, represent much better value for money, better fun to drive and the engines are far superior to anything Merc are knocking out in the CLK cabs!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/216094.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/196632.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/176235.htm
All lovely cars, my choice if sensible would be the first one, second the 330 as the engine note is lovely, esp with roof down! The last one is a good example, a vtidy car!
Dave
Re: Another... "what car thread!!" Merc CLK
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:11 pm
by rossybee
renmure wrote:Open to (sensible) advice.
That'll be me Donald Ducked then

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:34 pm
by bertieduff
Had an A4 S-line 2.0l turbo diesel cabriolet for a few months last year, and was quite inpressed with it...well screwed together and surprisingly nippy- you'd get a reasonable one for that sort of money.
The diesel version does sound like a bag of spanners right enough..would go for a petrol
Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:49 pm
by renmure
Oh well... might have done the dirty deed
Mercedes 320 CLK Avantgarde AMG Cabriolet
Lots of Toys to play with and Wendy says the pics looks pretty.
Just need to hear what the insurance company say in the morning.
(oh yeah, and check whether the sun is going to shine again this summer)
Gawd I hate being so indecisive
