mercedes clk200

[sam100000]

buying advice needed for Mercedes clk200. Im looking at the w209 model ranging ideally between 2003 up to 2006. My budget is around 4.5-5k but im willing to spend up to 6.5k. What's the ideal mileage I can expect? Theres one for sale at Synter for 5.5k but its 2003 with 50k on the clock. How risky would it be to buy a 10 year old merc with that mileage? Also what year did Mercedes have rusts problem, I heard it stopped in 2003 is that correct?

Thank You.

[sam100000]

bump

[Hammerhead]

Paint improved a lot for the '04 onwards models (not sure if the actual rust proofing itself improved though). Good long distance car but quite stodgy on B-roads. 200 will feel very un-endowed, my 320 was no ball of fire. Mine also rusted at just over 2 years old/30k miles on the clock. Sold it back to MB in disgust.

[sam100000]

Hammerhead said:

Paint improved a lot for the '04 onwards models (not sure if the actual rust proofing itself improved though). Good long distance car but quite stodgy on B-roads. 200 will feel very un-endowed, my 320 was no ball of fire. Mine also rusted at just over 2 years old/30k miles on the clock. Sold it back to MB in disgust.

Thank you for that info. Also what year was your 320? And I know the 200 will feel underpowered but its due to running costs and age. If I was 25 and fully employed I would buy the clk500 no questions asked.

[schmalex]

The 209's were fully galvanised from 04. There was a small face lift in mid 2005, providing an improved nav unit (no nasty yellow screen), a new engine for the 500 (5.5), more power for the 350 and 500 (not sure about the 200) and updated body detailing.

209's are lovely straight line cruisers, but a little wobbly through corners.

My old 2004 CLK500 was hugely fast (5.3 or something to 60 and 70 - 130ish was just incredible, with a seemingly never ending amount of power). I bought it at 4 years old with 35k on the clock and ran it to 90k over the following 2 years with nothing other than the recommended service intervals and it ran like clockwork. Absolutely no rust, no issues, nothing. It was one of, if not the, best car I've ever owned.

Downsides were:

Not overly planted through corners (a bit too much body roll)

The front seats could have offered a little more lateral support

Manual shifting on the autobox was a little lazy


My advice would be go for a facelift version (you'll be able to tell, as the nav screen sits more flush with the dash than the pre-facelift.

[Hammerhead]

sam100000 said:

Also what year was your 320?

It was on an 02 plate so first of the W209s.

[sparks_E39]

The 320 drinks pretty much the same as a 200. Great cars, they do rust after 2004 but not to the extent they did before. For what it's worth BMWs of the same age can rot just as much.