theine

I wen't to my Mercedes-Benz dealer today for service. While waiting, I wen't to the showroom. Of course I sat on the W230 and dreamed for a while (still 2 1/2 years more before I get one, I always buy my cars, never lease them, so I have to save).
So I came down to earth and looked for the CLK-500, to compare with mine, I like the new front grill and headlights, don't like how it looks from the side, the rear is even worst (looks like a Volvo!) , so I sat inside....feels like a woman car to me. Too much luxury, delicate, Lexus like, I hated it! I like my car much more now, much more muscular. I will be fine for the next 2 1/2 years.
Just my personal opinion, no ofense to anybody.
What do you guys think?

nickv

Same experience recently, I agree, the W209 is too feminine for my taste. Don't get me wrong, it is a nice car, but it just doesn't make the same statement our cars do. I guess we like our cars like our women, fast, curvy, nice round headlights, and a nice tail to look at!! Sorry if that was a bit graphic, I've been spending too much time in the OT forum!! My brother drives an M3 and he said that my car is never leaving the family, even the Bemer guys agree the W208 is an instant classic!

Safet

The 209 is for girls, IMHO.

ghova

I figured since I own a 208 I can give my reply here without hurting anyones feelings. I went to a dealer today and actually sat in a 209. Are those guys on their board serious? I like the car, but not to the point where it's the car I've gotta have. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah I understand it depends on your taste but damn, if a Lexus GS series pulls up next to me, I don't want to feel like I'm in a Mini Cooper. I know they say the 209 is bigger but it sure doesn't feel like it. At least with the 208 you feel like you have the appearance of muscle and brawn. I've seen the 209 In black with the brabus wheels and they look damn good, but I'm just not convinced. I feel that if Mercedes is going to build a vehicle in the same price range of competitors, give it some size and then sleek it out. I really want to like this car but I also keep thinking about all the Hondas and other vehicles that think that they can just pull up next to me and challenge me. I'll give Mercedes some slack with the 208's size since it was the first model, but they should have maybe improved on the model and made it a coupe version of the new e320 although it would probably cost more. Just my opinion even if you don't like it.

Petie

/slips on the flame-retardant suit/ i feel like livening things up a bit...........the only reason yall sit here and bash the W209 is because you drive a W208, and for some reason, which i think relates in some way to ******** size.....if the W209 came out first and yall had that, you would be sitting here bashing the W208.......


There ya go guys, this may not reflect my opinions, but i thought it would be fun, being one that does like the W209......

ghova

Petie, I do like the 209, and if I saw one that got my attention I would buy it. The problem with me is that I wouldn't feel like I'm steppin' up with my purchase. The clk500 I saw at the dealer today with 2000 miles was selling for $67,000. At that price or with a couple thousand more I could buy 7 series. I know, I know it's a sedan but I personally would feel like a jerk spending that kind of money on a clk when I could take it to the next level and get a 7 series or a used s500.

Michael T

theine:

Good choice of autos in your past. I see you had a 450 SLC which is much overlooked, I had a 450 SL in my twenties (15 years ago), I am thinking about restoring a 450 SLC for my ten year old. I had a CLK 430 and it does have the muscle car thing that most German cars miss.

We should make the complete history mandatory, including spouse's cars, if any. I agree that many views of the W209 are feminine, but the Jaguar XK8 is good looking as well. Glad to see you pay cash for your autos, it's the way to go.

Safet

Petie, no, we bash the 209 because it looks like a p***y car, a shame of Mercedes development.

I could've had either the 208 or 209, but once I saw the 209 when it was unveiled, the decision was hands down: cancel the 209 contract.

Petie

haha, i just want to see someone get angry.....i am selling my CLK soon for a new CLK, but not the 209, instead a 2002 CLK55 AMG coupe, which i plan to keep for quite some time, maybe even park it in my garage and restore it later in life.....

Johan Baecksin

From the looks ……. In my view, the 208 and 209 are somewhat different cars.
The 208 is a practical sports car and the 209 is an elegant coupe.

When the 208 was released I owned a 300CE. At least initially, the 208 did nothing for me. I liked the front but it was too small any chubby, like a compact car, and not at all what I wanted from an MB coupe. In my view, both the 300CE (w124) and its predecessor 280CE (w123 ?) were both elegant coupes, and the 208 didn’t continue in that spirit. I had to buy a non-MB car.

Later, I did start to learn to like the 208 muscular looks, and I almost bought one 2 years ago.

The problem that the 208 owners might have is that the 209 doesn’t continue where the 208 ended. The 209 is more of a continuation of the 300CE type of car. If you like your 208 type of car, just as I was left with no new MB to buy after the 300CE, you are left with no new MB to buy after the 208.

For me, MB had an alternative again, and I bought the 209.
The only thing I dislike ….. it should be a tad bigger.

Just my two cents..... and perhaps a different angle.

Cheers

nickv

MichaelT,
When you say pay cash, do you mean not borrowing the money (loan) or not a lease? Curious about this comment as well as leasing option in the future...

tango

cancel the order and got a 2000 clk? or is it that ur not man enuff to have one heh j/.k

tango

different ppl got different opinions... i have heard ppl saying the 208 is damn ugly and looks like a box i nearly knocked out his two front teeth

i guess its quite a huge jump from 208 to 209.... appearance wise... it will just need some time before ppl get used to it.... mb never disappoint ppl!!

theine

MichaelT

I agree that many views of the W209 are feminine, but the Jaguar XK8 is good looking as well.

What's the story with the Jaguar?

BlackC230Coupe

whats the XK8 doing in this?

I had a XK8 Convertible that i traded in for my CLK430 coupe and some people were askin me why i went down in cars? i dont talk to those people anymore.

As for the W209, it personally is not my favorite car but its OK i like the look of my CLK430 alot better, I hear alot of girls liking the W209 though. But when i get rid of my CLK in a year or 2 the most, i will consider the CLK500, or maybe even a CL500, i am not sure yet.

BANSASN

Plain and simple, W208 shows more ***** than W209.

However, I am jelious of W209 b/c of the cool gadgets that our W208 don't have. One example, the "keyless go" function.

BANSASN

theine

.....and the front grill and headlights!

Josh K

LOL The headlights are part of what make the car look so weak. One reason I bought my 208 was because it looked like a 2 door E-Class, not like a 2 door C-Class. If they made the 209 look like a 2 door version of the new E-Class, I'd be all over it, but alas, they decided to go for the Accord Coupe look. The grille IS cool, but MH-Dezent makes one very similar for the 208

innerloop

So why does pretty much every after-market 208 grill try to make it look more like a 209? It almost seemed like MB took a look at some of the aftermarket stuff and decided to make it standard.

I totally love the newer front end. With a hood ornament and E-style grill, the 208 just skews a lot older, I feel. I'd prefer to think of the CLK as a smaller SL than as a 2-door E-class. E classes are like hondas around here, anything to put a little distance between that and a sportier car seems like a good thing.

Benzo

I had both. I prefer the styling of the 208, hands down. NO CONTEST. The 208 is far burlier and does seem more of a man's vehicle vs the more feminine 209.

Pffelan

your all forgetting why the 209 looks like it does....


cos it sells most in clk240 / clk270cdi guise in europe to fleet / business drivers.. who dont give a damn about howling v8's mean looks and road scraping spoilers... unlike us real clk owners...

innerloop

Really? So the CLK is a common car in the lower-end models for like rental cars in Europe or something? That's kind of surprising, I figured a 4-door like a C-Class would be more practical for that sort of thing.

Here in the US we get only the top two (or three) models and damn few of them even then, so its a bit more exclusive. I think if the CLK was a fleet vehicle here, it wouldn't be quite as popular (or pricey).

bmac002

In response to Petie's post stirring things up. If the w209 came out before the w208 I would not be driving a CLK!!!!

Pffelan

in europe the clk has a premium image... but... not as high as in the us... the small engine clks are very much a wifes car here in the uk.. as is any 4x4 or 3 series coupe etc...

hence they out sell the v8's hence the new model tends towards the lower spec to move more metal...

rocky

I am enjoying all the threads regarding the differences between the CLK-500 and the CLK-430. I recently acquired a CLK-500 and love the car. I remember back in late 1999 my Lexus SC 400 was coming off lease and I needed to replace it with another car. I test drove the new CLK-430 MB just introduced. I do recall the power was awesome but was very disappointed with the interior of the car. It didn't look like the interior that goes with a $50,000 car. Also I thought the car was alittle too small, so I opted for a 2000 BMW 540i. That was a great car and would have gotten another one if the new design would have been available but needless to say it will not be available until Spring 2003. When my 540 recently came off lease I decided to get the CLK-500. It is powerful, the layout of the interior is very nice and all the goodies I ordered on the car are a blast. Parktronic, Keyless Go, Command system, Phone, CD changer, with voice recognition. The front end looks totally awesome and the pillarless window design makes the car look great. Next year I will order the new BMW 6 series coupe and I am sure that also will be AWESOME.