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Luke.
5,752 posts
119 months
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Meanwhile, I can't seem to find a decent C55 AMG for love nor money.
Got a little boy, so really need the practicality of the saloon, otherwise would jump at the convertible.
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AC43
1,972 posts
77 months
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Luke. said: Meanwhile, I can't seem to find a decent C55 AMG for love nor money.
Got a little boy, so really need the practicality of the saloon, otherwise would jump at the convertible. They're like hens' teeth. There were only every something like 260 RHD C43 saloons and 140 estates - so 400-ish all in. C55 sold in far lower quatities - about half According to how manyleft.co.uk there are 268 C43's still on the road but only 130 C55's - good luck! http://howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=c55...
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Sir Snaz
317 posts
55 months
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Luke. said: Meanwhile, I can't seem to find a decent C55 AMG for love nor money.
Got a little boy, so really need the practicality of the saloon, otherwise would jump at the convertible. I have a 4yo daughter and the CLK55 (coupe) is great ....easy to get in and out of, a decent amount of boot space, and she loves it when we go fast 
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Luke.
5,752 posts
119 months
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Sir Snaz said: I have a 4yo daughter and the CLK55 (coupe) is great ....easy to get in and out of, a decent amount of boot space, and she loves it when we go fast Cheers. That's really good to hear. Might have a rethink. Would the convertible be more restrictive or do you reckon they're about as practical as one another?
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MikeM3Power
Original Poster
160 posts
35 months
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AC, if i can stretch to a late 05 CLK500 which would be new 5.5 engine i would but i dont think i can, maybe circumstances would change by then which they could do. Hope so. Blues, i too am thinking the exact same thing. Convertible or the coupe. So i also would want to know the convertible has issues!
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Blues
8,349 posts
88 months
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MikeM3Power said: Blues, i too am thinking the exact same thing. Convertible or the coupe.
So i also would want to know the convertible has issues! It just HAS to be convertible for me. I'm rationalising the cost and number of cars I have. My reliable daily business machine, 09 BMW 535D is going, and so is my trusty supercharged TVR Chimaera. I'll replace both of these with probably, an 03/04 CLK 55 convertible, and run it for a couple of years. If all goes well, I will upgrade with something newer. There, I've said it...the TVR is going after 6 years 
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MikeM3Power
Original Poster
160 posts
35 months
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I did want another convertible but i actually could be persuaded by a clean CLK55 amg coupe. Least you enjoyed the TVR for 6 years, hope it worked for those 6years . Actually performance wise how does it compare to E46 M3?
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Blues
8,349 posts
88 months
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MikeM3Power said: I did want another convertible but i actually could be persuaded by a clean CLK55 amg coupe. Least you enjoyed the TVR for 6 years, hope it worked for those 6years . Actually performance wise how does it compare to E46 M3? My Chim has been one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned - until it blew a head gasket last year I sold the M3 because I felt the car was doing the driving for me. It was fast, competent, comfortable - everything I had wished it to be. But... I was occasionally a passenger as it looked after me. So, sublime to the ridiculous, I bought the TVR. 4.5 ltr V8, no traction control, no ABS, no airbags... After driving for almost 30 years, I still needed a ride-drive course to help me get to grips with the car. Having got used to the standard 275bhp, i had it supercharged and for the past 4 years have been playing with a 1,000kg car with 435bhp and 409 torques. So performance wise, its probably up there with my F430 (let alone the M3)to 60 or 70 mph. It is extremely rapid, with constant power delivery. The trouble is, the Ferrari is such a wonderful car, that i now only seem to use the Chim for commuting to work on dry days. I could happily do that in a CLK - hence my quest
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MikeM3Power
Original Poster
160 posts
35 months
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Blues, I would love to have that kind of car history
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Blues
8,349 posts
88 months
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MikeM3Power said: Blues, I would love to have that kind of car history I am rather old
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Luke.
5,752 posts
119 months
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Off to see a 2004 CLK55 convertible in the morning. Can't wait. 
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MikeM3Power
Original Poster
160 posts
35 months
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Excellent luke, pics and full description of test drive.
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Blues
8,349 posts
88 months
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Luke. said: Off to see a 2004 CLK55 convertible in the morning. Can't wait. Just been to have a look at one myself, near maidenhead. Alas, it's not the one for me...
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Luke.
5,752 posts
119 months
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Blues said: Just been to have a look at one myself, near maidenhead.
Alas, it's not the one for me... That's a shame. The car or that particular example? What was the problem?
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Blues
8,349 posts
88 months
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Luke. said: That's a shame. The car or that particular example? What was the problem? Superficially, the car looked superb. I loved the interior with the aluminium trim, and it was a comfortable place to be. There didn't seem to be much more room in the back than in an Audi A4 convertible, which surprised my - bot the boot space was very generous for this type of car. However it just didn't "feel" right. On close inspection there was some orange peel paint around the rear offside quarter, and it didn't sit correctly at the back. The gap between rear tyre and wheel arch was significantly different between the sides. Dealer, who was a nice chap, said it was because the ground was uneven. I'm not so sure,but hey ho. Finally, and most crucially, he wasn't going to give me a very good deal on the price. No need to rush, however I have often bought the first car I have seen, and had no issues as a consequence.
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Luke.
5,752 posts
119 months
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Blues said: Superficially, the car looked superb. I loved the interior with the aluminium trim, and it was a comfortable place to be. There didn't seem to be much more room in the back than in an Audi A4 convertible, which surprised my - bot the boot space was very generous for this type of car.
However it just didn't "feel" right. On close inspection there was some orange peel paint around the rear offside quarter, and it didn't sit correctly at the back. The gap between rear tyre and wheel arch was significantly different between the sides. Dealer, who was a nice chap, said it was because the ground was uneven. I'm not so sure,but hey ho. Finally, and most crucially, he wasn't going to give me a very good deal on the price.
No need to rush, however I have often bought the first car I have seen, and had no issues as a consequence. Cheers Blues. Do you by any chance have a link to the ad? There are so few out there and just curious to see which one it was.
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Blues
8,349 posts
88 months
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Luke. said: Cheers Blues. Do you by any chance have a link to the ad? There are so few out there and just curious to see which one it was. Sure thing, here it is on Autotrader: CLK 55 AMGThere was also an odd noise (like a squeaking belt?) from the engine compartment when it was started, and all of the brake discs appeared to be approaching the end of their lives. As I am working to a budget, I might step down to the CLK 500 for a better deal, and am also going to consider Audi S4 convertible, as the rear leg space didn't seem to differ much. Good luck in your hunt
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Luke.
5,752 posts
119 months
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It's funny how deceptive ads can be. Sounds like the best one out there from the description.
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MikeM3Power
Original Poster
160 posts
35 months
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Thats a shame Blues.
I had put the S4 in the running too but it didnt scream out at me at all. Looks very boring.
So if you go down to the CLK500 would it be the 5.4 engine one which came out in 05 but still named 500?
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Blues
8,349 posts
88 months
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No, I think it will be a 2003 model - they are cracking value, which will help me feed the other hungry horse in the stable 
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