What to do?

[martin_b]

Hi Guys

First thing is the wife likes Merc's so thats a good start!

Now here's the question I either spend C£10K on a fun 2 seater, maybe a mid 1990's SL500 or an SLK350 to use as a weekend car.

or

Do I trade in my current "day" car and spend C£20K on something that's still fun but must have 4 seats a reasonable luggage capacity a CL500 perhaps?

what would you do?

cheers

Martin

[G Man]

I would buy a CLS 55 AMG 500bhp 200mph £20K will get a 2005 or 2006 Clarkson thought it a crazy car

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_cl...

[gmarks1]

"I would buy a CLS 55 AMG 500bhp 200mph £20K will get a 2005 or 2006 Clarkson thought it a crazy car"

The CLS55 is a nice car, but you won't find one for £20k.

CL55 can be had for <£20k though - like this one:

http://www.eclecticcars.co.uk/pages.php?stock=263

Gary

Edited by gmarks1 on Tuesday 12th May 22:04

[martin_b]

I have been very seriously considering a CL however the problem as I see it is that spending £20K on one means getting one from right in the middle of the "dodgy period". I cant really afford for it to be off the road for an extended period, (or probably afford to pay the repair bills!) that's why I leaning towards a mid 90's model.

Edited by martin_b on Wednesday 13th May 06:15

[HUW JONES]

C55 AMG?

[HUW JONES]

Er...or an E55 AMG.

[ShadownINja]

I understand the trick is to get a very new one or a very old one.

[steve_amv8]

gmarks1 said:

"I would buy a CLS 55 AMG 500bhp 200mph £20K will get a 2005 or 2006 Clarkson thought it a crazy car"

The CLS55 is a nice car, but you won't find one for £20k.

CL55 can be had for <£20k though - like this one:

http://www.eclecticcars.co.uk/pages.php?stock=263

Gary

Edited by gmarks1 on Tuesday 12th May 22:04

If we overlook the hideous interior colour combo of that wood and leather (the grey interior looks much classier) ....

.... that car lacks a full MB service history - the last two are just MB specialists. Without the proper MB service, you won't get the anti-corrosion work done for free ... which you almost certainly will need (and which mine has just had done).

Just to give you an idea - my car (one of the last N/A CL55s, 2002 on a 2003 plate) has just returned after warranty corrosion repair which included ...

- front edge of bonnet, between lights on each side (bubbled)
- both rear arch leading edges (badly bubbled)
- both door lower panels (small rust bubble on each)
- minor corrosion on both front wings
- removal and re-seal of gap between C-pillar and wing on both sides
- respray of all panels as needed

This car didn't have a hard life and I thank God I only ever have it serviced at my local MB dealer in Lincoln. You can only guess at the cost if it had been repaired at my cost!

Remember, these cars have a composite construction with aluminium skins and magnesium door frames. There are only a small number of approved MB repair centres for these cars including ones in Nottingham, Birmingham and Bishop's Stortford.

Make no mistake, just because a car is available at between £15k and £20k, it doesn't change the fact it is a £100k car and the parts reflect that. Get a dealer to change the spark plugs and you'll be looking at a bill north of £400, ABC pump replacement (a common problem) is £1000+, replacement tyre pressure sensors are £70 per wheel (and they break easily), rear tyres typically £220+ each side.

They are great cars and I love mine, which I have every intention of keeping. To me, it is already a classic and (in AMG form) quite rare in the UK - you certainly don't see many, although the standard CL500 are a lot moer common.

Don't get me wrong - you WILL love the car and particularly the ease with which it will eat miles in real comfort, even for the rear passengers, who tend to get more headroom than those in a CLS! (my F-in-L had one of those for comparison). On the NA engine (pre-2003), you can easily get 25mpg average and on a long journey you can manage 28-29mpg (or even 30 at a push!) assuming you don't drive it like an idiot ... and these are real world figures that I see from my CL55 ....

Edited by steve_amv8 on Wednesday 13th May 13:00

Edited by steve_amv8 on Wednesday 13th May 13:04