Getting a bit bored of the CLK...(are you bored with your car?)

[SilverSaloon]

I wouldn't sell the W124 - it is an absolute classic and a beautiful car. If you were sell it and keep the E300 and get a 7 series you'd have two large family style cars and nothing to "play" with. Dropping the roof in a W124 on a sunny day is something I'd love to do!!

the W124 is an estate so no roof dropping here! The SL however is, like you say, great on a sunny day, and does bring a smile to my face every time i drive it.

 

[Lugy]

2 door.
Good Marque history
fast
a bit rare
within budget.

think that's it !!

A SAAB 9-3 Viggen, yup it's FWD, it's very quick though, in gear acceleration times upset nearly anything you'll come up against - way more than 250bhp suggests, it's tuneable also, it's rare and as such they hold value well, they're not appreciating yet but not depreciating either.
As for marque history, here's the other SAAB Viggen

I'm hopefully picking up a 9000 Aero next week due to boredom

 

[wemorgan]

I'm glad it's just no me with a thing for Saabs. The coupe 9-3 is a nice shape IMHO.

Enjoy that 9000 Aero Lugy.

 

[Lugy]

I'm glad it's just no me with a thing for Saabs. The coupe 9-3 is a nice shape IMHO.

Enjoy that 9000 Aero Lugy.

I shall indeed , keep eyes peeled for a thread in the defectors area

 

[rossyl]

the W124 is an estate so no roof dropping here! The SL however is, like you say, great on a sunny day, and does bring a smile to my face every time i drive it.

Apologies I got that mixed up (it is a Friday) I meant your SL. If you sold the SL, kept the W124 and got a 7 series you'd end up with two large cars and no "fun" car.

As you suggest, maybe give the W124 a good clean this weekend, and if you still think...hmm nope its time for a change, then at least you know you've made a slightly more informed decision.

 

[rossyl]

A SAAB 9-3 Viggen, yup it's FWD, it's very quick though, in gear acceleration times upset nearly anything you'll come up against - way more than 250bhp suggests, it's tuneable also, it's rare and as such they hold value well, they're not appreciating yet but not depreciating either.
As for marque history, here's the other SAAB Viggen


I'm hopefully picking up a 9000 Aero next week due to boredom

I must say that's not a bad shout...

 

[Lugy]

It might be a bit out of budget, though it'd seem you wouldn't put too many miles on it and it's not going to lose any value!

There's always the 2.0 Aero HOT though it has to make do with around 200bhp, easily changed with a remap though!

 

[Mactech]

I don't think I get bored with cars but I have had the opposite problem! Whilst working for the VW group I had the pick of the Audi range and 'had' to have a new one every 8000 miles. You didn't really get chance to fully run them in or learn what all the buttons did before you had to give them back, normally about every 4 months
I do admit to getting itchy feet and changing car perhaps more often than most, but not because I'm bored, it's because I think a different car may do a specific job better

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I like SAABs - I quite fancy a 1980s convertible

 

[mykulmerc]

Are you actually bored with your car, or is it more a case of itchy feet/grass is greener syndrome?

I have had the " I wants" for a CLK for some time now and I thinking about doing something this weekend - then I get in the W202, which is running beautifulll and think there's not a lot wrong with this.

(I'm not in the league of things that are called **55, **500 or AMG etc)

Unless you can afford anything that will give you a lot more driving pleasure, why spend a little bit of money on your CLK. Maybe just a really good clean and polish? Is there any rust that need sorting? Wheel refurb? Of course the car won't drive differently, but you might enjoy ownership again.

 

[fabes]

Just back from holiday, found this thread and am in the same boat

Faniced a change

I fell across this model, test drove one and am very impressed (like the cream leather interior)

2006 PEUGEOT 407 2.7 V6 HDi GT Tip

Half the price of an equiv CLK, maybe half the badge, but not half the car at all

wife on the other hand responded with the Saabs this dealer has (cannot get the link to the car to work)
Martin James Cars - Quality Used Motor Cars in Sittingbourne, Kent
but I cannot afford the £5k over my car due to new kitchen etc happening soon.

Really tempted by the Pug, but in the sunshine with the pano roof open, mine is too reliable, economical, fast (enough) and good enough to give up on....

Pug is tempting though....V6

 

[bpsorrel]

I'm glad it's just no me with a thing for Saabs. The coupe 9-3 is a nice shape IMHO.

Enjoy that 9000 Aero Lugy.

Maybe that's why I'm not bored with my Saab yet - there IS something about it that makes it feel good... especially when the roof comes down!

 

[mykulmerc]

Really tempted by the Pug, but in the sunshine with the pano roof open, mine is too reliable, economical, fast (enough) and good enough to give up on....

Pug is tempting though....V6

That sums it up - best off with what we've got.....until we can get loads of money

 

[chiefski26]

The title says bored of the clk and people are talking about buying pugs and saabs

 

[rossyl]

The title says bored of the clk and people are talking about buying pugs and saabs

I still want a Jag XK8 or a Porsche, or similar.

To be honest a Saab doesn't seem like a trade-up more sideways.

 

[Peterstu1]

I think one of the troubles with cars can be that the grass seems greener on the other side of the fence.

When it's not that important to change, you sometimes get a bit bored. The difference is, when it comes to the crunch, what better cars (overall as a package) can you get for similar money?

If you're seriously not happy with it, and can think of a few cars that you'd much rather have that are similar money to buy/run/own, then go for it (a swap/change )

I think we are all sometimes guilty of forgetting how lucky we are/how good are own cars are etc. Sure there's always better ones about, but consider how many people drive boring cars because of circumstances etc.

Will

The other problem is that if you love your cars as much as we all do, you tend to want them as perfect as possible. So you buy a car and then spend £xxxxx on it over the course of the next 6-12 months and then boredom sets in and it's time for a change.
Ever thought that we're all due some kind of award for taking used cars and bringing them back to scratch for the next owner to enjoy trouble free motoring....

 

[steve333]

I don't have the problem of getting bored with cars as much as i do with wondering what a better performing car would be like.Typically i keep my cars about 3 years(current clk320 w208 cab only had 7 months).Perfectly happy with my current merc but am already convinced i will change it eventually for a v8 clk w209 500/55

 

[LBJ CLK]

Hi

Rossyl - I think all car / bike enthusiasts can relate to this......and there's nothing wrong with it! It's great to work through / own as many as possible of the vehicles that have featured on your 'wish list'.

I think 'Blue C220 Okehampton's suggestion to freshen the car up (wheel refurb, polish etc) is a really good one - as having just done this with my CLK 320, I am over the moon with the results, to the point where I can't stop checking the car out from my window! I've only owned the car about a month, so obviously I'm still in the honey moon period though.

I can also relate to 'Peter Stu 1's point about making lots of tweaks and improvements to a car during ownership, only to pass it on to the new owner a few years down the road! I seem to do that all the time, but I do try to buy the best possible example (from the'right' kind of owner) in the first place, to give myself the best possible starting point.

I think that it generally comes down to budget ££££. Rossyl, you mention an interest in Jag XK8s. An interest I share. Off the top of my head, I think you'd need to spend at least £10k to pick up one with sub 120k miles, the 'right' colour and a service history. If your budget is around £4500, ie CLK + £1000, I think you might be in one of the most difficult, over populated markets - as I think there are a lot of people who are looking for an interesting coupe in great condition at that price. The trick I think, is to sell your existing car, then put in the hours / days / nights on autotrader until 'the one' comes up in your search results. This is what I did with the CLK since last Christmas!
The other factors which might help to prolong your interest in your new wheels are:

1. Don't compromise on your search criteria (colour, condition, service history, spec)
2. Take your time and try out 2 or 3 examples of each car on your 'possible' list. (I did this with Golf V6 and Golf V5 recently - but realised that I just can't be doing with manual trans).
3. Look at the typical owners of the car in question and the 'vibe' on the related forum!

Re car ideas:

You mention Porsche 944. My last car was a MINT 944S which I kept for 5 years. Fantastic shape and great on a long run / smooth surfaces, but not so good around town or bumpy roads......and the manual trans began to bug me big time! It's also a car which looks better than it really is. Mine was the 2.5 16 valve version, better that the 8v 2.5 earlier version, but not as quick as the 3.0 S2 version. I drove an automatic whilst looking for one and it just wasn't right. If you fancy a Porsche at the £4000-5000 mark, I would advise a 928 automatic. 5.0 litre V8, which is much more like it. However, only endulge if you either have the funds to maintain it or can do the work yourself! 928s are fantastic to drive, but funny enough, I don't think they are as nice looking as a sharp 944 on the right wheels and in a nice colour. Subjective opinion obviously!

I also looked at the Alfa 166 V6 3 Litre. The 2.5 I drove was SLOW. Never found a really nice 3 Litre to try, but I expect they are pretty nice. I have spent some time on an Alfa forum and have seen nothing but 'horror' stories though......

With regard to your CLK; I've not driven the 230, but as with most cars, larger engines are generally more engaging. The 6 cycl 3.2 engine is pretty fast and surely the minimum BHP for a car of this size? I reckon the 430 is probably the way to go though.

Other cars on my 'interest' list would be; the first generation C43 / C36, Jag XK8 / XJR, BMW M5.

If possible, try and get something with a V6/V8!

Happy searching.

LBJ.

 

[Honey Bear]

I'm bored of my car just a little. I want to explore a little, have fun, ect. But this morning was different. Everything came together perfectly. The back end was trying to step out all the time. There were no red lights, pedestrians at zebra crossings, idiots crossing the roads; it was just perfect. Compared to most cars it looks like a ragamuffin. I wasn't hooning it around or driving dangerously, tbh I didn't really put any power down as the local roads were too greasy to even try. Still a mighty good drive though.

That's why I could never sell her. Whenever I think of other cars she's always in the background, under a cover, waiting for the next drive. Maybe it is because I started young, or maybe it is because I love the car like a family member.

I wouldn't mind having other cars; but this one is a keeper.

 

[gary350]

Up to recently I did not really get bored with cars just itchy to buy one that I fancied more, as I only drive about 3K miles a year its not such a big problem but my SLK350 started the rot after about 9 months I was looking around to change it but I got bored on some of the test drives that I took (is it me). I still do not do many miles but my present car has cured the boredom and its coming up for 2 years old, still look at car books mind.