2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series

First of all, if I read Car and Driver I wouldn't be on this site...

Second, I'm genuinely concerned for the design of the next-generation. The new Benzes are losing their trademark understated elegance just to prove they can hang with BMW. It's like the 70-year-old that wears leather pants and dyes his hair to keep up with the young crowd.

Lastly, you're a douche.

— Will_ (View Profile)

Posted on 4/4/2007 7:27:39 PM | | Votes: -1   

New Mercedes are doing no such thing. Every new Mercedes I see has a refined and elegant look. Where you seem to be taking exception is in the AMG cars and they have never made any claim of understated elegance since their inception in 1967. Their outlandish vehicles and brutish characteristics are what got them noticed in the first place.

— Threepoint1415926 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/4/2007 7:52:35 PM | | Votes: -1   

Will, I loved it when Mercedes had the old-school looks about them... a great example is the W220 S-Class. It's very traditional, smooth, feminine.

But I must say, I like their late styling revolution even more. The new S is just gorgeous, and it has so much more presence than its predecessor. It even renders the mighty Maybach 57 useless. There's also the fabulous new CL, the GL, and the CLS that started it all. Bravo. They have enough power and bravery to explore new design ideas, and I respect them for that. S is still my favorite big luxo sedan.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 4/4/2007 8:33:03 PM | | Votes: -2   

"It's like the 70-year-old that wears leather pants and dyes his hair to keep up with the young crowd."

Oh and, that's completely false. I hate to bring it into this... but isn't Mercedes's average customer about ten years younger than the average Lexus customer? And do you see LS430s in rap videos? I think not.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 4/4/2007 8:37:12 PM | | Votes: -2   

Mr. Omar,

I apologize for my use of language at a higher degree than what you can comprehend, obviously. For future reference, do not bother responding to people's comments you can barely make out.

— Will_ (View Profile)

Posted on 4/4/2007 8:39:31 PM | | Votes: 1   

I would beg to differ. The M6 is based on the 5-Series while the M3 on the 3-Series. Similarly, the CLK is based on the C and the CLS on the E. I think that the better comparison here is between the CLS/6 and the CLK/3. In my opinion, the CLK and 6 are not good comparisons for their size alone.

— Threepoint1415926 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/4/2007 11:48:15 PM | | Votes: 1   

Threepoint. Think about power and size. While I do understand your argument on platform basis. Think about real world, style and price heck and even power. I have an 06 ClK500, I only bought the 06 because it saved me 10,000 over an 07 CLK 550, I cross shopped the 650 and the Jag XK, I put an order on an XK and changed my mind. The 3 series wasn't even a thought in my mind because its too small, which incidentally was one of the reasons I didn't go with a 6, the 3 doesn't offer an 8 cylinder and is quite common. Also, didn't the CLK replace the E Class coupe in the Mercedes lineup? Isn't the CLK on a stretched C Class platform? And doesn't it offer all the features of the E rather than just the features of the C? And once again...the main factor...PRICE. All that said, I agree with your platform argument but its a moot point.
T

— TauronB2G (View Profile)

Posted on 4/5/2007 1:34:49 AM | | Votes: 1   

Touche, my friend! Price is probably a more reasonable cross shopping basis but I still believe there must be a form of size/chassis restriction on comparative tests. Otherwise, there are just too many variants of GT's, sports cars and roadsters priced the same to make comparison testing viable. In price shopping, the CLK 63 Cabrio is a good chunk less than the M6 cab and quit a bit more than an M3 cab (when they still existed) and this car looks poised to be quite a bit more expensive than the M6 coupe. Price wise (and it seems possibly performance wise) this CLK may be better suited to take on a 997 Turbo. But who knows... This car seems to be very niche.

The CLK was the W124 Coupe replacement, however the W124 was only slightly larger than the current W203. The chassis of the CLK is stretched nominally but still retains a similar wheelbase to the C-class, more so than the W210 or 211. Sans the motor options, these day you can get about anything that comes on the E as an option on the C and hence the CLK.

On another note, how do you like Your CLK500? Do you feel jyped that you didnt get as much power as another 10 grand could have bought you? I would guess no and why you decided to go that rout. These days, everything auto manufactures make just get faster and faster. You pay for a fast car this year and it becomes the standard model next. I especially hate that my '92 500E cant outrun an '03 E500 to 60... I only paid bags of money for it. Now an E550 can outrun a W210 E55 AMG.

— Threepoint1415926 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/5/2007 2:27:24 PM | | Votes: 1   

Please..I worship Mercedes, I drive a CLS..But the last-gen of Mercedes have clear issues..The new generation of cars, including CL,S,GL are much superior and seem to be as reliable as the Mercedes we are used to..

— theman (View Profile)

Posted on 4/5/2007 11:14:39 PM | | Votes: 2