vraa

For the guy that posted that CL from overboost...

PANEL GAPS?!!

If the new CL has better build quailty it will automatically IMO beat the old CL. That's a big criteria in aesthetics for me.

dcowan699

I just bought a brand new CL500. I'll be happy for years and years.

CY

I find the new version to be MUCH better looking at both of those angles...but that's just my opinion.

red00lght

That pic of the "Old School" silver CL looks pretty awesome!

I'm not trading mine in for the new one. My car has fallen in love with the service advisor and I can't break its' heart.

Anyway, I'm very tall (6'7") and even in the current one my knee is pushed against the center console when I have my seat set to where I can still reach the steering wheel with it all the way telescoped. That new center console looks different and I don't see where my knee would have room like it does now? I'll be interested to sit in one and try it out.

GMW

That looks very nice...but....I'm still inclined to admit that the new one looks sweeter!! Plus check out the new 20inch AMG design for the new CL!!

GMW

for ease of comparison, here is the earlier 'old' CL pic.

CLFREAK

Maybe in CT you can get away with driving around in dated bodystyles, but not in the affluent and materialistic bling-saturated cities on the West Coast like Vegas!

Wehrmacht_benz

I do not live in the woods here in Connecticut, in fact where I live is one of the most expensive places to live in the country (fairfield county), think Greenwhich. I also stay in Manhattan, so it is not as if I am living amongst people who do not know what nice things are. As for Las Vegas and Los Angeles I suppose "bling" is more important out there, but here having class is more important. Just what do you mean by "get away" with driving dated bodystyles, that is such a ridiculous remark, just what is there to get away with? I have never been out west (and I have no desire to) what is it like, would my car not be considered nice because it is 2001? Does everyone drive the latest and greatest? Tell me, maybe I just do not know, does everyone drive a lamborghini out there? By the way do you all realize the richest man in the world drives a 1980's porsche. I don't mean to deliver speeches here I just wonder why with the coming of the new cl class people who raved about their cl all along are suddenly worried there beloved car will no longer be the wonderful car it has always been.

Bouncer

Okay okay, let's keep the East vs West coast sillyness out of the thread. I have to admit, on first glance, I'm not getting the "wow" factor out of the new model I get out of the current. Yes, it has a "swoopier" appearance in some respects. On the other hand, the grill is no where near as sloped and that plus the ridiculous wheel wells look like they were stolen straight off a Chrysler 300C.

Anyways, from my perspective, this is a good thing. I'm thinking of going to a CL500 around fall, and this will tank the prices of the current body style. For those of us looking to pick up a 2 or 3 yr old model? Oh yeah, Thanks for the new bodystyle!

Regards,
-Bouncer-

CLFREAK

I agree, class outweighs garish and bling, but definitely being on the cutting edge by having the latest model is key with those who have the bucks - at least it is in these towns. Too bad and I hate it, but all too often you hear them say, oh, he still has that "old" 6-year old Mercedes that's so out of style now. So, you do get second-rated in terms of prestige if you have the "old" bodystyle. How so? The first place you can see that as apparent is with the valets. Unless you fork out the required up-front fee, a W215 will definitely get automatically put at the end of the line when the new CL is out. And yes, there are more Lambos, Phantoms, Bentleys that you see here on a daily basis that it's commonplace. And TONS of CLS's. So, people that live here are exposed to the "new cutting edge of Mercedes" design long before it saturates other cities. Vegas now surpasses even LA and Miami as the exotic car capital in the world. This only in the last couple years. And there's more highline dealerships to come!

CLS_AMG

A nice Mercedes is a nice Mercedes, no matter what year it is.

CLFREAK

Maybe to you and me, but not to the valets in this town. They are little snobs when it comes to this.

CLS_AMG

Personally, i won't let anyone park my car but myself.

CLFREAK

I would like to as well, however, in this town, no one except tourists that don't know better, or those who are on a tight budget, will want to walk miles, go up and down elevators with a bunch of mouth-breathers from Timbuckktoo, and walk in 110 degree heat, to a dimly-lit parking garage when you can pay a little extra and have your shining chariot awaiting your return and within 30 seconds you're outta there. This, not to mention the added bonus of impressing all the common folk envying you as the valet pulls up and they see you get in.

CLS_AMG

Yeah i guess, i just hate the scuff marks on the front of my seat and sill plates from their shoes (door dings). Some people are very careless with others property.

CLFREAK

Oh, and even worse. They can steal stuff from your center console and dash if you don't lock it either. The best thing - since you're driving an expensive vehicle and it's expected that you aren't "cheap" - is to pay a little extra and have them not even drive it to some valet parking only; have them just keep it away from everyone else right out in front of the place. Some valets will even place those colored orange cones around it and block off anyone from getting near it. Now, that's prestige!

Word of warning - if you ever come to Vegas, do not expect to get that treatment at the Wynn; they park EVERYTHING in the garage, even if valeted - even if it's a $500K car. In this case, I park in the garage and in a remote area. At least walking into the casino from the self-park garage isn't too far in this property, unlike the others which are horrible.

Wehrmacht_benz

ok well these are the things i did not know...for instance i never have used valet parking. so they would put a new cl in front of the old one...well i guess thats the way it goes in this world today..

Wehrmacht_benz

i guess its a whole different world out there in vegas...i mean in manhattan most people drive junk and since they never even got a license they know nothing about new models and such...well most people...anyway...do you own a cl "clfreak"? are you getting the new model when it comes out?

MBZFAN55

Speaking of Mr. Wynn, he rides around in a Maybach while the "vip" guests are left to mere Bentley Arnages.

CLFREAK

I hate that the longevity of a bodystyle is like the blink of an eye now - and everyone (at least in Vegas) is attune to it. It used to be that a Merc bodystyle had a lifespan of about 10 years. My first Merc was a 79 450SL (W107). That body had a 12 year lifespan. Now, it's less than half that. Mass-marketing gives everyone in the know a first look and bombardment of the new automotive styles at the click of a mouse or dial. There is no longer any wait till it's "on the street". No longer any mystery. It's like the hi-tech industry. As soon as it's in ensconced in the consumer market, they're already working on something new.

If you want something truly timeless that will always be considered a classic, stick with something tried and proven - like a vintage Gullwing, or a vintage SL, cabriolet, etc. Those are even too good for the snobby little valets to even know what they are! The cars nowadays, technical marvels and up-to-the-minute designs they may be, are too mass-production and assembly-line, non-bespoke items, made for the masses, to ever become classics. Even today's SLR Gullwing I have serious doubts about.

CLFREAK

You are correct. I have seen Steve being driven around in it. Poor guy. Even with his billions, he is slowly losing his eyesight.

Wehrmacht_benz

i'm pretty sick of it..of course i am always late to the party...i bought a 99 sl500 when the newer body style was already out. now i am trying to sell it. i currently own a 2001 cl500 bought in january of this year, i was not aware of any plans to update the car, i guess i figured it would be someday updated but as long as it wasnt so boxy like the sl i had, it would still look newer in design for a while. why do i do this though. i guess it is because i am 20 and i simply can't afford the latest and greatest..i guess it really doesnt matter...the sl is timeless and the cl i have now will be with me for some time...CAN ANYONE TELL ME, DONT CARS LIKE PORSCHE PRETTY MUCH HAVE THE SAME BODY STYLE THEY HAVE ENJOYED FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.? MAYBE I WILL BUY A PORSCHE NEXT.

CLFREAK

I think most people in the city would drive junk because most don't even need a car. You take a cab - or if you live on Park Ave you get driven - or in the Hamptons, you take a chopper to & from the city. I tell yah, I would much rather welcome the NY lifestyle and culture, but Vegas is Manhattan 90 years ago and has a long ways to go in terms of mature culture - but it is the #1 place to be for opportunity, growth and business. At least we're getting some "class" for a change in terms of famed NY eateries (e.g. Il Mulino opened up here 18 mos ago, and Rao's is opening up here in Dec.).

Vegas is a now LARGLEY influenced by the Southern Californian 'image' machine in terms of its culture; it is evidenced by the car culture and personal styles. After all, Vegas is only a 3 hour or so drive from LA and LA is all about driving a long time to get from point A to B , hence, the importance placed on one's ride.

I just sold my 2001 Lorinser Edition CL600 and almost wept when I drove it out
my garage to deliver it to a buyer. I put so much of my heart and sole into my creations. Nonetheless, it was time for it to move on, coming up to it's end of lease, and with the change of bodystyle, nothing but more drops in value (good for future buyer, bad for old owners). Will I get the new CL? Can't say right now. There is sooooooo much to choose from now. Bentley, Aston Martin, RR (they'll be coming out with a 'baby' Phantom), Lambo, Ferrari. If I had to narrow down the Benz lineup - I would say the new CL or S-class. I just can't make up my mind. Who wouldn't want an SLR, however, I can get a CL or S AND a Lambo or Ferrari or AM for the price of that thing!

CLFREAK

I'm no Porsche guy, but they too change in bodystyling more often also. This is the way it is now for most makers.

hawk20

Yes it looks more and more like the front of an R class or B class but with ugly headlamps. Shame. Could someone who knows how post a pic of the front end of an R class or get the B class from Merc's UK website, pleeez??? It is interesting to compare them.

A lot of the Vegas/Dallas inspired chat in this thread reminds me of the old Chet Atkins number "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex on His Television Show?"

The Queen has cars over twenty years old as do many rich and successful people. Only the flash harrys and the nouveau riche are so insecure that they feel the need to change models every 5 minutes.

In the UK, the 220 series S class has risen in value since the new one came out. A classic in the making.