Hello everyone. I haven't had a Benz for quite some time now. I was looking for something fun to drive when I am not in the mood for my S2000 or the Range Rover Classic. Test drove a CLK 320 and remebered what I was missing. Decided to look for an AMG, what the hect right, if I'm going to get a clk why not the AMG they seem to be a bargain right now in my eyes anyway.

Concerns are minimal, I have thought about the fuel mileage as a 320 would likely do much better.

The other is are the amg more maintenece than the 320 or 430?

As far as what to look for it seem this has been covered already and from what I can tell they are very reliable cars.

Here's the maintenance on a 2002 CLK430. The 55 and the 320 have the same schedule. The major expense on the 55 will be front rotors every other brake job. They are directional rotors and they are pricey. The rears are about $60.

Here's my fuel economy for a round trip to Arizona from So Cal in my car. Naturally it's mostly highway but it does include several cold starts (after being parked overnight) and some around town. My house in So Cal to AZ is about 425 miles or so. That left about 100 miles for running around town. The 320 no doubt gets better economy, but The 430 really isn't bad. I don't envision a well maintained 55 to be much under 25 MPG for the same trip.

Thanks for the info on the mileage it seems the cars do very well for the displacements we are talking about here. The cars appear to be an increadible bargain to me, can't wait to get my hands on one.