What's the convertible really like?

[PositronicRay]

Currently I run a 2008 280 Mercedes CLK convertible, great car for not much money.

I'm not really a fast driver and fairly low annual mileage. The reason for the change is I fancy something a bit more blokie, with a V8, not bothered about gadgets and spec, I'd rather not have them TBH. As long as it has A/C, auto, power hood and black leather seats I'm pretty relaxed.

Convertible with 4 reasonable seats are non negotiable.

I do like a refined car, decent ride, supportive seats, bright colours and a quiet cruiser roof up or down. Is the mustang going to be a disappointment?

[PositronicRay]

That's sounding positive.

I see that used can be be picked up for low £20s k.
Puts them on the list. I assume they're not the same thief magnet as Land rovers and performance German cars

I like the sound of yellow or bright red.

Edited by PositronicRay on Saturday 17th February 16:42

[PositronicRay]

ratrod 2 said:

PositronicRay said:

Currently I run a 2008 280 Mercedes CLK convertible, great car for not much money.

I'm not really a fast driver and fairly low annual mileage. The reason for the change is I fancy something a bit more blokie, with a V8, not bothered about gadgets and spec, I'd rather not have them TBH. As long as it has A/C, auto, power hood and black leather seats I'm pretty relaxed.

Convertible with 4 reasonable seats are non negotiable.

I do like a refined car, decent ride, supportive seats, bright colours and a quiet cruiser roof up or down. Is the mustang going to be a disappointment?

Assuming you are talking about a modern Mustang not classic, You say you like a refined smooth car with a decent ride,

You will not find that in a Mustang or any other American sports/muscle car, The ride will be hard and will have various rattles coming

from most parts of the car not helped by being a convertible ,The Mustang being a Ford is mass produced as is the Merc but the quality is

a hundred times higher in the Merc, Although the plastics in todays Mercs are not what they once were in earlier cars they are still much

better than you will find in the Mustangs which are cheap looking brittle items,

What you will find though is that every trip in the Mustang will be a event and the sheer theatre

that will get from the sound of the V8 with a decent after market exhaust will more than make up for the negatives,

Forget about it if you have a shy nature as you will get lots of thumbs up , photo's taken and fuel stops will take longer as you answer questions

about your car, Unlike Ferrari's and some Porsches people are nice to you and instead of a finger you will get a wave .

I'm fortunate as i have both a classic Merc and a modern Merc Wagon for daily use plus a few classic yanks so have the best of both worlds.

One thing i can guarantee you that a Mustang V8 will make you feel more blokie than a CLK every can .

Edited by ratrod 2 on Sunday 18th February 15:24

I'm pretty sensitive to NVH so I'm going to have to tread carefully.

[PositronicRay]

shirt said:

Haven’t driven the convertible, but have so the v6 and v8 hardtop. It’s heavy, not a gt nor a sports car. Steering and general handling is lazy which may be a good thing from the type of driving you describe, but refined it is not. Feels like it struggles with its weight in a way that a big merc or bmw doesn’t.

Ok in the main on wide smooth roads like we have here (if you avoid expansion joints on corners) but can imagine it being very skittish on UK roads. If you can find one with magneride dampers they are better at managing the weight but still lacking finesse over the rough stuff.

Most of its woes can be fixed by the aftermarket, but that would not be a straight forward undertaking in UK.

Just had a quick look at ph classifieds and the ‘manliness’ aspect would have to be a big factor in making me look past a 6series v8. Drove one of those the other week, with the roof up it was almost imperceptible that I was driving a soft top in terms of NVH.

That's a good point, sounds like the flaws would drive me to distraction. I deliberately chose std suspension and 17" wheels for my current CLK, favouring a supple compliant ride. My SL ended up on 16"s for the same reason.

A Mustang would cost many multiples of my CLK and for what?
Perhaps I should just man up and buy some gym membership.