What W208 CLK Should I go for?

[ADY1983]

Hi I have seriously been thinking about selling all my cars and just getting one, so far I have decided on a CLK 320 I think, I was thinking about a 430 but I dont think i want to run one. Other suggestions welcome on different cars .
I would like something reasonably quick 0-60 7seconds ish, and quite a lot of extras, my journey to work is 14 miles each way so not far really, under a 100k would be good and maybe something 2000 on. My budget is around £6-7k maybe more or less, I am looking to buy a new car by the end of march, and my mortgage fixed rate is up then so I could extend that a little. As soon as the other cars have gone the drive is being block paved..:bannana:

Cheers
Adrian

p.s if anyone is interested in a mk1 Golf cabrio, 500 SEC or the CE let me know..

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

p.s if anyone is interested in a mk1 Golf cabrio, 500 SEC or the CE let me know..

Can we have some pics please?

I followed one of the last Mk1s (K-reg) over Christmas and thought to myself ...one day I just might.

 

[ADY1983]

Can we have some pics please?

I followed one of the last Mk1s (K-reg) over Christmas and thought to myself ...one day I just might.

Yeah sure I will put some up when I get home, mine is an 82 though its a nice example and flew through the mot but it is a 1.5 gli it really Isn't about speed

 

[LeighW]

I think the 320 is the best compromise for power vs running costs. If you can get a 2000 on (facelift) 320 with good spec for £7k, I'm going to cry.

Don't expect the build quality or reliability of older Mercs though. Electrical gremlins, rust problems etc are all part of the 'joys' of ownership...

 

[Carrotchomper]

Yes, I agree. The 430 is said to be very very quick, but only comes into its own over 70mph, which will clearly be of no use to anyone here

There is very little difference between the 0-60 times anyway.

 

[SilverSaloon]

yes best advice is to get a facelift model - which is best identified by indicators in the wing mirrors.

facelift updates bought in in 2000 are:

indicators in mirrors
multifunction steering wheel
multifunction cluster display
part electric seats as standard
bumper lowers and sideskirts are colour-coded

thats about it really.

good luck in your search. i had a 320 cabrio and it was fab. Try and get one with comand fitted but it can be EASILY retrofitted to a CLK so dont worry if you cant find one with it.

spec wise, you should go for automatic, full leather, heated electric seats AT LEAST

 

[Alfie]

I think the 320 is the best compromise for power vs running costs. If you can get a 2000 on (facelift) 320 with good spec for £7k, I'm going to cry.

Don't expect the build quality or reliability of older Mercs though. Electrical gremlins, rust problems etc are all part of the 'joys' of ownership...

The 2001 cars onwards are pretty much sorted with respect to the earlier problems.

The 320 is certainly the best compromise as its way way smoother and more refined than the four cylinder models. Mine regularly returns 22mpg around town and 33 on a shortish run.

 

[LeighW]

The 2001 cars onwards are pretty much sorted with respect to the earlier problems.

I have a friend who's the service manager at my local MB dealership, he says they all get 'niggly' faults. Besides, £6k-£7k won't get a 2001 on 320, even with starship miles on it. Mine's a facelift model, and certainly likes to misbehave when the mood takes it. So far, MAS, steering damper, front balljoints, brake light switch, door check strap are the items that have failed on mine. Thank goodness I get my servicing cheap - B service with balljoints, steering damper and brake light switch replaced, plus transmission oil and brake fluid change - £290. (excluding cost of engine oil)

 

[Howard]

Yes, I agree. The 430 is said to be very very quick, but only comes into its own over 70mph, which will clearly be of no use to anyone here

There is very little difference between the 0-60 times anyway.

Don't know if i'd agree with that , we have a 430 and it is very quick , but at all speeds ..... the difference is IIRC about 50ish bhp ....

In a drag with a 320 , there would be a considerable margin opened up by the time 60 is hit .... ( I know , believe me ) paper times don't always tell the whole story ....

Plus with the 430 you get that delicious V8 noise , although i reckon you'd struggle to find a decent one for under £7k ....

On a run we get about 26/27 mpg , around town 20ish

Good luck !

 

[C240Sport97]

these are common 202/208 issues, and not that horribly expensive

So far, MAS, steering damper, front balljoints, brake light switch, door check strap are the items that have failed on mine.

 

[LeighW]

these are common 202/208 issues, and not that horribly expensive

Not that expensive, no. Just irritating. Previous to my Merc, I had a Mitsubishi Evo VII, and in two years of hard use, the only thing to fail was a bulb in the dash, which took 10 minutes and £3 to fix.

 

[Howard]

Did you have an osteopath permanently on call ? two years driving an Evo is enough to cripple you .....

 

[DieselE]

As soon as the other cars have gone the drive is being block paved.

Does this mean that off-road capability is important?

 

[LeighW]

Did you have an osteopath permanently on call ? two years driving an Evo is enough to cripple you .....

Hehe, the fuel bills were more crippling. Actually, I fitted Eibach progressive rate springs, and it wasn't too bad, but seriously, it was hard work as a daily driver, which is one of the reasons I went for the Merc.

 

[Kam]

I would recommend the CLK320, its a lovely car to drive, im sure the 430 is a better drive and growle but the 320 is a good compromise. Unless of course you do want that V8 growl, which is just so awesome. mpg is pretty good for the car and performance you get.

My clk car came with all the normal extras in a facelift model but also had rain sensors, elec climate control, and parking senosrs. Only extra it is missing is command system which i am lookin into right now.

Also had to change the MAS, and door check strap. The MAS had also gone on my C240, very common in these two cars once the car goes over 70k.

Otherwise a super car

 

[ADY1983]

Thanks for all your replys, the cheapest 430 I have seen has been £8000 so I know I will have to up my budget if I want one. I have seen a couple of good spec 320s for 6k and then up. But thats what mortgages ar for Isn't it?..

Here are a few I like the look of the 4th one...

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ww...rr&ukc****arch_full.x=57&ukc****arch_full.y=1

 

[Howard]

A cheap 430 isn't necessarily a good bet .... i know you're mechanically minded so it might not bother you that much .....

Lots to go wrong with the V8 if it hasn't been looked after properly ...

p.s. I had a Mk1 Golf Cab 1.8 GLi ..... the insurance company wouldn't touch me on a GTi but were happy to insure me on a GLi ( which is basically the same thing ).....

Happy days, i loved that car !!

EDIT :- Your link doesnt work ...

 

[C240Sport97]

a V8 if you can .. everytime!

not just hp .. torque is much more too, and fuel consumption really isn't that much higher (except in town!)

 

[LeighW]

a V8 if you can .. everytime!

not just hp .. torque is much more too, and fuel consumption really isn't that much higher (except in town!)

Slightly off topic, what sort of mpg do you get from your 55? I've seen a nice one for sale but I figure the mpg around town must be horrific? (I get approx 18-20mpg around town from my 320)

 

[C240Sport97]

around town between 13-16 mpg .. but this is central London

on motorway, on long trips, it is about 25-27mpg. best ever was 27.8mpg on a 300 mile high speed drive to Cornwall