After a Maserati Gransport, a BMW M5, a Porsche Cayenne and a TVR Chimaera, PHer Paul Norris (V8PBN) compares his new CLK63 AMG to what has gone before. By the way, his first car (aged 18) was a Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1...
Paul (on the left, we presume...)
"I've only had it a month!" Paul exclaimed at the recent Sunday Service at MB World. He first came across the CLK on a previous visit to Merc's imposing Brooklands premises and decided that such a car could be more useable than his previous Maserati Gransport.
"I bought the car from Hoffmans in Henley, who I must say were great to deal with. I was very lucky to find this particular one, as it has all of the toys I wanted except keyless-go and has only done 20,000 miles with full MB history at the same garage. Everything works beautifully except the television - I just can't get it to pick up anything! I've been in contact with the original supplying dealer (MB Guildford) and they've been great in supplying all of the previous copy invoices, the factory spec sheet, and they also confirmed that there were no outstanding recalls. Another bonus is that the next service is about 12,000 miles away."
Paul chopped in the Gransport for the fast Benz, although he admits that it took some considerable thought before doing so. But so far the new relationship seems to be going well. "The CLK is a mix of strong, subtle performance and practicality. It's a very fast car, and the power delivery is impressive, although it is a bit...sterile compared to the Gransport. So far I like it; it's subtle enough to use to go and meet my customers and is really sensational to drive."
Aside from the Maser Paul has owned a Porsche Cayenne, an M5, and a TVR Chimaera (among other machinery) although none of them get used as much as he'd like. "I work from home so my mileage is pretty low at about 5000 miles a year". I drive to the office in Reading a couple of times a week, and other than that I'm in the back of a car going to the airport.
"When I got the GS I even stopped parking it at my local railway station because I'm so fussy about maintaining ding-free bodywork. Only yesterday I left the CLK tucked up in the garage whilst I cabbed it to the railway station heading for London. Sad, I know..."
The question of 'what next?' brings an interesting answer. "Probably a classic. I do so few miles a year that something like an eighties Aston Martin V8 Oscar India might do the trick."