DIFFERENT MODEL CLK QUESTION
 

Looking to buy a 1999-2003 clk convertible, My question is what are the differences between the 4 different ones? (I don't need a lot of speed)

All the engines are fantastic. Here are a few points off the top of my head:

I4 Supercharged
+ It's supercharged so it goes all the time, not only when you rev it.
+ Easy & cheap for servicing.
- It doesn't get that much better gas mileage than the V6.
- It's noisier at higher speeds.

V6
+ Considered by many as the best compromise
- A lot pricier to service than the I4. Think 12 plugs + 6 coils vs 4 plugs + 2 coils.
- Royal Pain In The Ass to change plugs.

V8
- The power really shows at higher speeds and it's kind of too much for most people.
- A tad pricier again on maintenance. Basically the V6 with 2 more cylinders, do the math.
- Double Royal Pain In The Ass to change plugs.
- Super tight, might need to remove the radiator fan to work on the accessories and pulleys.

A couple of considerations:

• Don't bother looking at the non-supercharged I4s.
• If you're not a rice-boy, you'll be fine even with the I4. They all accelerate pretty fast from a standstill.
• If you get the I4, get the 230.
• If you do a lot of cruising you may find the I4 a tad harsh.
• If you do a lot of stop-and-go traffic with the V6/V8 you'll feel like gas is pouring out of the exhaust.

Then again I'm from Europe - I'm used to tight streets and smaller-engined cars, so you might want to adjust up a little if you see fit.

2 things. all this has been covered in depth. Second is that you only have 3 choices in the US 320 430 or 55.

Like Insame1 said, there are only three choices. You're in Connecticut, so I'm going to guess you mean the choice between the four model years - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003. I've said it a number of times, I'd only consider a 2001 or later. The 2000 is a nice vehicle, but there were substantial upgrades in 2001. The biggest change was to the drivetrain. Additional transmission upgrades were made as well as upgrading the engines to ME 2.8. You can read about the changes here.

Lastly, I've changed plugs in a V8 CLK twice. For me it wasn't bad.

clk
 

Thanks for the info. The car is going to be in San Diego, So 2001 and up it is,