The auto gearbox blunts acceleration in lower gears unless you manually override it. If you so, and give it full throttle you get instantaneous thrust.

I find COMAND fine for my uses. The only irritating things are that it only takes the first 5 characters of a postcode (fixed on more recent versions) and that up update DVD is c £200. I'm sure the graphics of Tom Toms, etc are a million miles better but I'm not interested as I prefer a fully integrated system. Mine has sat nav, bluetooth phone, radio (FM/AM/LW/SW), CD/DVD player in dash and a CD changer in boot. All with 420 watts of HK 7.1. It used to have TV too until the digital switchover. I could hook an iPod up if I wanted to.

Looking at the E55k at the mo. Staggering performance it would seem. 0-100 in 10.4 or so.

My wife has 2003 CLK500 Convertible. We've had it several years now, bought it with 6K miles and we've done 45k miles.
We bought the CLK as it had more rear-seat and boot space for touring on family hols (have done several European trips) than BMW 3 series, Audi A3 or Saab 900.
Had problems with electrics (hood micro-switches, and seat and steering wheel adjustment).
We don't have Comand, heated seats or parking sensors.
With hindsight I would have heated seats and parking sensors (look for hooded LEDs on dashtop and between rear seats) not sure about Comand as use Mobile for Sat-nav.
We bought a 500 cos it was the one we saw and liked it. Didn't look at others.
I think its quite quick, but doesn't feel it. Capable of keeping up with most things. It's also comfy (despite 500 being lower/stiffer than 320s etc).
I'm sure we'd like a 55amg, but one of the nice things about the 500 is that it's so understated for its performance - its nice to surprise people from time to time.
I agree about noise - it doesn't make much, but when I hear it start and leave in the morning, it's obvious its quite a large engine (subtle again).
MPG = 18-23, never more than 25.
Ours doesn't have gearchange on steering wheel. Can tap lever from side to side, but hardly ever do.
We don't find front seats particularly comfy - might be worth trying sports seats.
We don't find heating to rear any good - kids always cold, we're always roasting.
If you have any other more specific questions - feel free.
Regards,
Shentodj

It's two years since I bought mine and I can't remember all the ins and of the various trim levels and anyway they were for E Classes.

But someone had paid an additional stack of cash on mine for HK, TV, DVD, bluetooth phone pre-wire, sunroof, sun kit (extra visors and rear blinds), convenience kit (electric memory seats and wheel), electric tailgate, seven seat option and kiddie pack (pop up boosters in rear seats).

Basically everything except Linguatronic, Distronic and the electric extending boot floor(which you can't get with the seven seat option anyway)

Things standard on E500's over and above non-500's at the time included quad zone air, 17's, xenons, air suspension and 7G.

Basically it took a fair but of reseach to work all that out - all over at mbclub.co.uk where no doubt you could find someone to give you a more refinitive view of the CLK 500's.

Of course, makes sense.

Bit confusing, i thought i was told it like this:
Elegance - Comfort trim
Sports - Sporty trim, harder suspension etc
Avant - Top spec trim with all trimmings, minus extras that people pay for.

??

I can't comment on all Elegance, but I was told that the 500 had uprated suspension/brakes over the smaller engines.

Regards,
Shentodj

It'a a March 2005. The facelift cam in in late 2005. Amongst other things the facelift models got the new 5.4 motor and the Sport version appeared for the first time.

As far as I am aware Avantgarde trim replaced Sport - i.e a name change only (also Elegance replaced Classic? But not so sure).

Not sure if that helps....