Posts tagged coupe

There are two ways to look at a Mercedes.  The first is to recognize Daimler-Benz’ commitment to building the most solid, luxurious, and impressive vehicle possible, to consider every Mercedes-Benz automobile a sort of high-concept automobile, with the newest and greatest technology available wrapped up in a stylish, flawless package.  This is the view that Mercedes’ recent ads would have you believe.  The other way to look at a Mercedes is to see it as an overpriced, over-engineered waste of resources whose job could be done equally well by a car costing a third as much.  We don’t know the exact demographics on those two views, of course, but those anti-Benz folks in the second group will probably join the first after a drive in the new CLK430.

The CLK isn’t much bigger than a Ford Mustang, but has much more presence.  That small size allows the CLK to be luxurious without seeming wasteful. There’s something over-the-top about a full-size S-Class Mercedes that can be somewhat off-putting, but the CLK is friendlier.  You can get to know a CLK; it isn’t going to tell you you’re not worthy.  Just the same, the car is an arrogant little puddle of Mercedes attitude.

The C-Class shares the round-eyed look of the larger E-Class, giving it a very familiar face.  It’s instantly recognizable as a Mercedes (with the notable exception of one passerby who thought the CLK was a Mustang).  The curvy front end, with its proud three-pointed star hood ornament and deep sculpting around the headlights, gives way to a more traditional car from the A-pillar back.  The squared-off rear is just as much a family look as the front.  An interesting feature is the secondary turn signal indicators located in the side mirrors; yes, those are lights. The square-cut, five-spoke AMG “Monoblock” wheels on our test vehicle are another classic Mercedes hallmark and standard on the CLK430.

From the driver’s seat, you can see that hood ornament again, standing proudly in the middle of the hood.  Mercedes’ “designo” Editions are new for 2000; each provides a specially selected interior theme.  On the CLK this means elegant wood details for the interior, including a panel running across the top of the dashboard.  It’s accented by colored inserts on the seats, in the door panels, and on the steering wheel.  The interior is nonetheless cozy.  Four people can ride in comfort, but long trips are best left to the sedans.  And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Mercedes if it weren’t packed full of electronics.  Remember that “newest and greatest technology” thing?  Although it isn’t obvious at a first glance, the CLK’s purposeful cockpit hides fully powered seats (including the headrests), a rear sunshade, a nifty springloaded cupholder, an optional integrated cellphone, and Mercedes’ COMAND system which combines the radio, CD, and navigation systems into one hard-to-use unit. The system itself, produced by Bose, is a small, mobile concert hall and rewards the difficult programming handsomely.  More gadgets are overhead.  Three buttons in the overhead console offer assitance if needed; the red “SOS” button puts passengers in voice contact with a 24-hour service capable of calling the police or EMS if necessary.  The button marked “i” will contact the Mercedes-Benz Client Assistance Center to provide information about the car, and the button with a picture of a wrench calls Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assitance.  Together these devices make up the Tele Aid system, which can also use the car’s navigation system to direct emergency personnel to your CLK’s location.  Even the key is an infrared, electronic unit rather than the standard metal ignition key.  You will rarely ask yourself why the car costs as much as it does.

Lots of sports cars are wonderful because of their ability to become an extension of the driver; the car quietly molds itself around the driver until the point of interface is blurry.   Miatas, most BMWs, and Audis excel at this.  And that’s a good thing.  The CLK430 staunchly refuses to blend with the driver.  No matter how intense the drive gets, the whole business remains a distinct interaction between Mercedes and driver.  It’s a different kind of driving experience, but rewarding in its own way.

It’s so docile that you’ll forget you’re driving a 3,323-lb car with a 275-hp V8 under the hood.  The CLK takes the route of smoothness over speed.  Thanks to a dual-stage intake manifold and a typically lazy Mercedes gas pedal, there’s always a very discreet pause between stomping on the pedal and the inevitable surge of thrust, so that passengers’ heads aren’t snapped back by the rush.  Once the power hits, however, hang on.  On dry pavement, the traction control is sometimes kept busy keeping the tires from squealing all the way to sixty!  Stomp on the gas while turning and the tail will step out of like, just like any overpowered muscle car’s.  The five-speed automatic transmission features a manual mode.

The CLK is as stable and silent at 55mph as it is at twice that speed.  Extremely high-speed travel is eerily drama-free.  That solidity gives the impression of great bulk, but it’s just an impression.  The car is light on its feet.  Mercedes uses a five-link independent rear suspension, and a double wishbone setup up front.  Backing up that tried and true system are full-range traction control and the Mercedes Electronic Stability Program (ESP).  ESP uses the brakes to stop slides as they begin, often before the driver has even sensed them.

Does all of this amazing performance and gadgetry come at a cost?  You bet it does. Base price for the CLK430 ins $49,100.  Equipped with the COMAND system, designo package, sunroof, rain-sensing windshield, and heated seats, our test car stickered at $59,555, enough to send the anti-Mercedes crowd screaming back to their cheap, practical cars, any one of which could do what the CLK430 does, and not one of them capable of doing it with quite the same class.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2000 Mercedes CLK430, which we tested.

Length:     180.2 inches
Width:        67.8 inches
Height:        54.0 inches
Wheelbase:        105.9 inches
Curb weight:        3323 lb
Cargo space:        11.0 cu.ft
Base price:    $49,100
Price as tested: $59,555
Engine: 4.3 liter V8
Drivetrain: five-speed selectable automatic, rear wheel drive
Horsepower: 275 @ 5750
Torque:     295 ft/lb @ 3000-4400 rpm
Fuel capacity:        16.4 gallons
Est. mileage:    18/25

6/2009 update: Handsome though it is, the early-’00s Mercedes are notorious for quality issues as they get older, and the CLK is no different.  Going older or newer seems to be a good idea when shopping used.