CLK or C class coupe, HELP????

[IceBoy]

Hi All,

I'm new to this forum and to MB cars, so please bare with me.

We have decided to purchase one of the above cars with a diesel engine for Mrs Ice to drive.

We have 2 children aged 5 & 8 and need a good compromise of space, grace and a little pace.....with good fuel economy.

We have a budget of £7-8k and can get both of the above cars within budget, with the C class couple being a little newer.

My main concern is the the 270 cdi engine. I wouild prefer the CLK 270 (as this is the only version in budget) but what I have read is that, it is a little corse and thirsty?

When checking the various websites they all state 40mpg combined for the 220 cdi and 270 cdi???

So I'm a little confussed.

Please could someone help us.

CLK or C coupe ?
220 or 270 cdi engine
It must be the auto.

Thanks in advance
Iceboy

 

[kusanku]

Welcome to the forum.

I have neither car, but have considered both. There is bound to be someone who has had both come along in a while, but until then here is my lay perspective.

I would go for a CLK, probably with the 270cdi engine. I had a c-class estate with the 220cdi, and that is not a particularly smooth engine either. I have had two 320cdi engines, and there is a massive difference. The 270 is not particularly smooth, but it is certainly more powerful than the 220, and not that far off it in economy. The CLK looks much nicer than the c-class coupe, both inside and out. You can also choose between avantgarde and elegance, whereas the c-class coupe has just one trim option. Both are cramped in the back, but CLK may be slightly less so.

There is however one good reason to opt for a c-class coupe: if you have a dog. One of my best friends has the CLC, and he chose that because the hatchback style is more canine-friendly.

I bet the next post will say the exact opposite

 

[kbhogalW126]

CLK 270cdi.

Used to have a 53 plated one.

Brilliant fun, good economy(56mpg - average about 45mpg).

You wont regret it.

I regret selling mine though!

Good Luck,

KJ

 

[grober]

The CLK is the better built car imho. The 270 engine was perhaps only defined as "coarse" when it was first released in comparison to the other CLK petrol engines. There was big change in Mercedes body rust prevention around 2004! You would be well advised to buy a model after this time. GALVANISING of MERCEDES CARS - MBClub UK Forums

 

[Smatt]

The CLK is a larger, more mature car.
I would expect less economy for the larger heavier car
The C-coupe is the more practical car with a very large hatchback & may be easier to park

just one trim option

The C-coupe is available in base, SE & sports trim levels
-approx similar to CLKs' classic, elegance & avantgarde respectively


Best advice is for Mrs Ice to try both

 

[kusanku]

The C-coupe is available in base, SE & sports trim levels
-approx similar to CLKs' classic, elegance & avantgarde respectively


In that case, I stand corrected.

I think I read about the single trim level on a here somewhere, and the review on Honest John's website also states "There is only one trim level, with optional Evolution and AMG Evolution equipment packages, and a long list of optional extras including a Panoramic Glass Sliding Sunroof that turns most of the top into glass.", although in other places on that site there is mention of Classic, Classic SE and Sport. Do any of these options feature wood panels as found in the some CLKs?

 

[steve333]

Hi All,

I'm new to this forum and to MB cars, so please bare with me.

We have decided to purchase one of the above cars with a diesel engine for Mrs Ice to drive.

We have 2 children aged 5 & 8 and need a good compromise of space, grace and a little pace.....with good fuel economy.

We have a budget of £7-8k and can get both of the above cars within budget, with the C class couple being a little newer.

My main concern is the the 270 cdi engine. I wouild prefer the CLK 270 (as this is the only version in budget) but what I have read is that, it is a little corse and thirsty?

When checking the various websites they all state 40mpg combined for the 220 cdi and 270 cdi???

So I'm a little confussed.

Please could someone help us.

CLK or C coupe ?
220 or 270 cdi engine
It must be the auto.

Thanks in advance
Iceboy

Can't comment on the diesel engines as i haven't owned one but as far as looks/build quality go i think the clk is an altogether better car,have you not considered a clk200?(supercharged petrol)shouldn't be that much difference in cost to maintain than a 220/270 diesel.

 

[davidjpowell]

Just to bring another dimension - your budget would get you a C class 320 cdi. It would be worth considering as the engine is in a different league. Obviously downside is it's a saloon not a coupe.

 

[IceBoy]

Thanks for all your replies, keep them coming.

I think we will try both cars and ultimately Mrs. Ice is the one who will pick the car.

Economy is important and my understanding is that the 200k with an auto box would not be frugal?

Persoanally I think the CLK looks like it is in a higher legaue than the C-coupe but surprised to hear that the C-coupe would be more practical.

I shall have to have a look at the boot and legroom.

Thanks.
IceBoy

 

[steve333]

Thanks for all your replies, keep them coming.

I think we will try both cars and ultimately Mrs. Ice is the one who will pick the car.

Economy is important and my understanding is that the 200k with an auto box would not be frugal?

Persoanally I think the CLK looks like it is in a higher legaue than the C-coupe but surprised to hear that the C-coupe would be more practical.

I shall have to have a look at the boot and legroom.

Thanks.
IceBoy

You will only know which car is the one for you after testing the various options mentioned,don't rush(loads of good used cars like your after out there)make sure you do all the usual checks(full history/hpi clear/no rust-check inside arches)as far as the clk200k not being frugal the way that diesel prices have soared above petrol(at least where i live)& bearing in mind service costs doubt there will be much difference in running costs unless your wife will be doing high mileage?

 

[kwakdonut]

The 5 pot, 270 engine is nothing like coarse at all! It's not as silky smooth as the 6 pot 320 but it's still a lovely engine with a good mix of power (170-177bhp) and economy (50mpg is not unusual) and IMHO a far better bet than the 200/220 diesels.

The CLK holds it's value better than the C Class coupe and I agree with the above statements that it's a more 'mature' car.

Does it have to be a coupe? The estate C & E Classes respectively are also very versatile vehicles

 

[bpsorrel]

I've had both, though not diesel powered versions. I found the C Coupe nice, but not as high quality as I'd expected it to be, although fundamentally the same interior as the C class saloon and the CLK, the trim level is much more basic, the CLK feeling a bit more like the E class, with it's ruched door panels etc. C Coupe much more practical becuase of the tailgate and I would say roughly the same amount of room in the rear, although easier to squeeze in the rear of the C as it has a simple bench rear seat.

Neither was very reliable for me, but that might just have been my bad luck AND, crucially, my C Coupe was a late 2003 and ...rusted! So please, avoid any before 2004!

To sum up: For me they were both similar cars (change the grille on the coupe to a CLK one and it's hard to tell them apart from the front!), built on the same platform and sharing many interior features, but the CLK definately felt like a higher quality car due to it's better trimmings - whether it's worth the premium over the C coupe, only you can decide! And, of course the C Coupe isn't available with the 270 or 320 cdi engines...

 

[IceBoy]

Mrs. Ice is going through a mid life crisis early !!! She wants a quality coupe which won't break the bank.

We will hopefully test drive a few cars over Christmas when we have a bit of time on our hands.

I would prefer an estate but I think Mrs. Ice has dug her heals in!!

I know the 220cdi will be out of my price bracket but what are they like in comparision on the 270 cdi?

IceBoy

 

[fuzzer]

the 270 is a better engine than the 220 in the CLK. Dont even think about it lol.

The 270 once warm is a smooth quiet and powerful engine that drinks like a camel. Its positively the best all round engine fitted to the CLK for MPG and performance within the speedlimit. The 150bhp 220 engine on the other hand is underpowered and generally not anywhere as good or as nice as the 270. The 270 has a nice gruff sound when accelerating.

Ive had both the 220 CDI 150 and the 270 170 BHP engines.

The CLK is much nicer than the C class coupe

 

[kwakdonut]

I've had both, though not diesel powered versions. I found the C Coupe nice, but not as high quality as I'd expected it to be, although fundamentally the same interior as the C class saloon and the CLK, the trim level is much more basic, the CLK feeling a bit more like the E class, with it's ruched door panels etc. C Coupe much more practical becuase of the tailgate and I would say roughly the same amount of room in the rear, although easier to squeeze in the rear of the C as it has a simple bench rear seat.

Neither was very reliable for me, but that might just have been my bad luck AND, crucially, my C Coupe was a late 2003 and ...rusted! So please, avoid any before 2004!

To sum up: For me they were both similar cars (change the grille on the coupe to a CLK one and it's hard to tell them apart from the front!), built on the same platform and sharing many interior features, but the CLK definately felt like a higher quality car due to it's better trimmings - whether it's worth the premium over the C coupe, only you can decide! And, of course the C Coupe isn't available with the 270 or 320 cdi engines...

Mmmmm a 270 or 320 CDi Coupe, now that would have been quick! Pity there never was one....

 

[grober]

Mmmmm a 270 or 320 CDi Coupe, now that would have been quick! Pity there never was one....

There was a 270CDI C class coupe ---in Germany! -- in fact AMG did a modded one!

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/87182-c30-amg-cdi-sport-coupe.html

[YOUTUBE]e_xfF43NnXQ[/YOUTUBE]

 

[kwakdonut]

I wasn't going to make any reference to the C30 AMG as it wasn't a standard production model! LHD only too....

 

[Smatt]

The C-coupe is available in base, SE & sports trim levels
-approx similar to CLKs' classic, elegance & avantgarde respectively


In that case, I stand corrected.

I think I read about the single trim level on a here somewhere, and the review on Honest John's website also states "There is only one trim level, with optional Evolution and AMG Evolution equipment packages, and a long list of optional extras including a Panoramic Glass Sliding Sunroof that turns most of the top into glass.", although in other places on that site there is mention of Classic, Classic SE and Sport. Do any of these options feature wood panels as found in the some CLKs?

Yes, I forgot about the AMG spec, although I believe this to be mainly body kit/wheels.

So there is;
Base
SE
Evolution/ Sport
(Evolution) AMG

I don't think any came as standard with wood, but had differing plastic or aluminium finishes

 

[GP801]

Clk has much more up market feel and really comfortable on long drives. Our 200k auto gives about 30-34 mpg in general use and up to 40mpg long distance. Unless you do big mileage might be better to get a later petrol engined model. Earlier ones only came in elegance or avantgarde spec - no classic. Later ones had option of sport pack aswell. In my opinion avantgarde is best compromise as sporty but not too firm on the suspension.

 

[crockers]

Just to bring another dimension - your budget would get you a C class 320 cdi. It would be worth considering as the engine is in a different league. Obviously downside is it's a saloon not a coupe.

Whatever you do - DO NOT TRY the C320 cdi. You will never like the other engines afterwards. Also as a 4 door saloon you may find it far too practical as well.