Grand Prix - Mercedes-Benz CLK
500
Not too small, nor too big, just the right
size. For many the CLK is a perfect blend of sportiness
and opulence, fitting perfectly in the middle of the
Benz lineup. Now, chop off the top and what do you get?
Adding all that space often helps mediocre cars get
better. What happens when a very nice car goes
topless?
Look at the handsome lines of the
CLK500 Convertible. Was it born this beautiful? Few cars
lend themselves as effortlessly to the convertible
conversion as the Mercedes-Benz CLK...just look, it's
simply gorgeous.
Mercedes left little out of this car's
content, equipping the convertible with enough gear to
keep both sun worshipers and canyon carvers
content...sort of.
On the muscle end, the 5-liter V8
is certainly up to task. It'll eclipse 60 mph in 6 sec,
and its electronically limited 130-mph speed limit comes
up mighty fast. Hold down a switch, and the roof
disappears within the body, all nice and tidy. It's damn
quiet at speed, too, which is a good thing as the
standard eight-speaker Bose stereo is exceptional. While
the cabin is well made, the interior styling was
somewhat uninspiring. We just expected more pizazz from
a car of this caliber.
Shod with 17-in. AMG wheels and AMG
athletic wear (front air dam, side skirts, rear apron),
the CLK 500 looks the part, but compared to its hardtop
sibling, it just doesn't have enough chassis stiffness
to be considered an exceptional driver. With 302 bhp and
339 lb-ft of torque on hand, the convertible exhibits
cowl shake, enough to remind you what happens when you
bend a shoebox without its top on.
You'd have to shell out 60 grand to go CLK
topless (add another $670 for the Brilliant Silver
paint, $410 for the CD player and a $1,000 gas-guzzler
tax), but who's counting? If open-top motoring is your
thing, this car does it all. If you're satisfied with a
sunroof and open windows, and you like to go around
corners, consider the hardtop version as a better
choice. Better yet, buy two, one for sunny days and the
other for hustling around your favorite back
roads.
The Buzz...
"What a great
motor. It's a shame, then, to put such performance in a
convertible with just average chassis stiffness. Too
much cowl shake."
"Interior styling is a bit long in
the tooth; COMAND system is convoluted, and there's no
in-dash CD player, just a cassette player--in a $60,000
car?"
"Many cars are more fun without a
top; with the CLK, the hardtop is definitely the better
choice."
"A very handsome car. I'm not a
big convertible fan, but I really like the way Mercedes
makes them."
"Quiet at speed with the top down
and good wind deflection. Gets boomy inside with the top
up."
"Very comfortable interior; good
seats; lousy climate controls."
"One of those 60-grand cars that's
nice and pretty but doesn't quite stir the soul; if you
just need a convertible Mercedes, wait for the new
SLK."
The Contenders
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