CLK cabrio opinions please

[del320]

I’ve said it before here - with the sunroof open and the windows down, the pillarless C124 gives 95% of the A124 cabrio experience without the downsides of additional weight, noise and fuel consumption as well as reduced performance, accommodation and boot space.

As the C208 has fixed rear windows, it’s a non-starter for comparison and the A208 offers nothing over an A124 other than it’s newer and has a greater choice of engines. (Looks are subjective )

The C209 and A209 are the true successors to the 124 and the coupe has the same advantages over the cabrio. Four seaters they may all be, but no-one will enjoy sitting in the back of a cabrio at anything over 45 mph with all the windows down.

If it is likely to bother you, think about the image you will project (at your age) driving around with the top and windows down, Phil Collins blaring from the stereo…

Height of summer – baseball cap required to shield eyes. Depth of winter – aviator helmet required to keep warm.

Get a 124 coupe…

...or an(y) SL

 

[BTB 500]

no-one will enjoy sitting in the back of a cabrio at anything over 45 mph with all the windows down.

Our kids do, and they've been a bit faster than 45

 

[BTB 500]

I wouldn't bother with the diesel as a soft top.

AFAIK M-B are just about the only manufacturer that doesn't do diesel soft-tops.

 

[A210AMG]

With all the convertibles I have had the roof is down at EVERY opportunity.

Make sure you look for one with Bum warmers and get the pop up rear wind deflector and its great.


Winter, summer, night....even in rain as long as your moving its great.


If you have never had a convertible do it, I miss ours....

 

[pammy]

I've had a convertible for the past 6 years and would not go back to a non-convertible readily! The heaters are very effective and it is rarely cold in the cabin!! The roof comes of mine at every given opportunity.

Go for it and enjoy!

 

[unit504]

had someone comment the same when i took them out in mine (W208), they was surprised at the quiteness of the drive, as long as all the windows are set at the correct hight to the hood you have no worries! Hood operates good too, but there are stories about on here regarding the hood malfunctioning etc... ive been there. But i still recommend one!

Hood operates smoothly and there is no leaks or wind noise. In fact, with the hood up you would never know you are in a Cabriolet.

 

[renmure]

I am a bit biased since I have 2 softtops and a no-top-and-no-doors-and-no windscreen cars but...

I really love my CLK Cabrio. Inside the car, with the roof up, you would never know you were in a convertible. Roof down I think they look as classy as hell. Got to confess I dont think they look at their best with the roof up but ya cant have it all ways. I have done about 5k miles in about 8 months and all have been enjoyable. I reckon I have done about 3k of these miles with the roof down. No idea if the rear seats are comfortable since mine have never been used and I suppose the boot is a bit compromised.

Every now and again I end up looking on Pistonheads then look at my bunch of cars and think that I might change this one or that one for something or other. I dont think I have considered changing the CLK Cabrio and wish I had bought one ages ago.

Jim

 

[barryj]

Great car (although they do not feel as robust as the E46 convertible) but my wife only kept hers about a year as she hardly ever got the roof down and decided the negative aspect of owning a rag top in the UK was just not balanced by the odd day of roof down motoring.

 

[The Dent Guy]

I've had a convertible for the past 6 years and would not go back to a non-convertible readily! The heaters are very effective and it is rarely cold in the cabin!! The roof comes of mine at every given opportunity.

Go for it and enjoy!

Its just occurred to me that i've never seen an SLK on the road, with the top down - even on hot days.

 

[GRAV888]

Its just occurred to me that i've never seen an SLK on the road, with the top down - even on hot days.

As Pammy says, she often goes topless

 

[Dryce]

Its just occurred to me that i've never seen an SLK on the road, with the top down - even on hot days.

I'd say the opposite. On good days most SLKs around these parts are open. Same goes for Saab and Audi four seaters. Same cannot be said of the various CCs such as Meganne and 307 - I'd say a large number of these rarely get opened up.

 

[television]

Having had a 129 in 2005 to 08-2007 my observations are that they are not as quiet inside as a saloon or estate (Estates are noisier than saloons) the road and traffic noise does enter the car, hot tarmac roads can be intrusive. The 230 is 100% better in this respect.

The Rake of the windscreen on 230 is so much better re any wind blowing than the 129 and the rear screen is not so necessary. Yes I have had the top down on every month of the year, the last months of the year are more comfortable than from Jan to March. Yes I have been out in shirt sleeves in Winter in the 230 and never cold.

Revisability yes joining a fork road when turning right can be hard,, I have overcome that one by when I get to the junction to turn right, at the last minute I swing the car left, and the few degrees makes all the difference.

For me having the top down"just because it can" is not an option for me, sometimes its nice to have the top up for a change, and it is not fun doing a 200 mile run with the roof down at 77MPH the noise again from other cars causes fatigue

 

[gbjeppm]

Having had a 129 in 2005 to 08-2007 my observations are that they are not as quiet inside as a saloon or estate (Estates are noisier than saloons) the road and traffic noise does enter the car, hot tarmac roads can be intrusive. The 230 is 100% better in this respect.

Malcolm, just to add to the healthy debate though , I would say though that there is a world of difference between a 129 soft top and a 208.

The 208 has a glass window and a design that is supposed to last years and be used all year.

The 129 design is at least 10 years older, has plastic windows, and is not designed to be up in the winter as the hard top is expected to be used.

I have not been in a 129 when the soft top is up, so happy to be proved wrong, but would expect it to be a lot noisier than a 208 or 209.

Anybody here had both to give us their experience?

 

[television]

Malcolm, just to add to the healthy debate though , I would say though that there is a world of difference between a 129 soft top and a 208.

The 208 has a glass window and a design that is supposed to last years and be used all year.

The 129 design is at least 10 years older, has plastic windows, and is not designed to be up in the winter as the hard top is expected to be used.

I have not been in a 129 when the soft top is up, so happy to be proved wrong, but would expect it to be a lot noisier than a 208 or 209.

Anybody here had both to give us their experience?

Maybe I am too critical, you also have noise even with the hard top on a 129. the boot area is not sealed off like on a saloon and you are aware of that.

OK I am a noise damping freak in that I sound proof most of the cars that I have owned.

Interesting from the 60's In 1965 Ford USA advertised the Galaxy 500 convertable as being quieter than a RR and you can hear the clock tick at 60 mph

Though it hard to cast your mind back to yesteryear the one that I had was silent, and yes you could put up that huge soft top at 30 MPH

 

[pammy]

Its just occurred to me that i've never seen an SLK on the road, with the top down - even on hot days.

Find that a bit hard to believe - never seen an SLK with its top off?

As Pammy says, she often goes topless

What can I say - Edna's a tart

 

[GRAV888]

What can I say - I'm a tart

 

[pammy]

Cheeky so and so

 

[GRAV888]

Cheeky so and so

I know, but you love me really

 

[pammy]

I know, but you love me really

Mmm I guess so

 

[C240Sport97]

The 208 has a much better insulated and thicker roof than the 129 .. in addition to the glass window.

The SL was designed with the hardtop.

208 definitely much quieter than 129 and canvass roof.

Malcolm, just to add to the healthy debate though , I would say though that there is a world of difference between a 129 soft top and a 208.

The 208 has a glass window and a design that is supposed to last years and be used all year.

The 129 design is at least 10 years older, has plastic windows, and is not designed to be up in the winter as the hard top is expected to be used.

I have not been in a 129 when the soft top is up, so happy to be proved wrong, but would expect it to be a lot noisier than a 208 or 209.

Anybody here had both to give us their experience?