Sister Just Purchased 05 CLK500 Cabrio
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Maryland
04E55AMG, 05Dodge RAM 1500 Quad Cab, 02Montero Limited
Sister Just Purchased 05 CLK500 Cabrio
I just wanted to say how impressed I was with the 05 CLK500 Cabrio and the ease of how the top went up and down. She ordered the car and it will be at the dealers at the end of April. She was able to get $3K off MSRP.
We test drove the one on the lot and my sister was very happy. She owned the previous model cabrio and noticed a huge difference with the current model. She had the old CLK320 so upgrading to the CLK500 (V8) is a huge difference in power. I was shocked to see that the CLK55 AMG list for $20K more and is not that much more powerful.
The CLK500 is your "best bang for the buck" in this model line.
We test drove the one on the lot and my sister was very happy. She owned the previous model cabrio and noticed a huge difference with the current model. She had the old CLK320 so upgrading to the CLK500 (V8) is a huge difference in power. I was shocked to see that the CLK55 AMG list for $20K more and is not that much more powerful.
The CLK500 is your "best bang for the buck" in this model line.
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sl and M-class E320 4Matic SLK350
Decisions, Decisions
Is she locked into the 05? The 06's are coming around the corner (Fall 05 at latest)and the CLK350 may be the new value leader with its increased power over the 320, and cost below the 500. There are some modifications too which might be of importance to her so would suggest she check some of the other threads that discuss the upcoming changes for 06. On the other hand she might not be able to get that 3000 discount on a new 06 and she would have to forego a summer of open air motoring unless she still has her CLK320.
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'03 M5
I bet it was easy to get the $3k off because the info on the 350 is trickling out, and with the Hp increase, that really is "the one". That's the one that I've been waiting a year for.
Hopefully the price for the 350 will not go up too much.
Hopefully the price for the 350 will not go up too much.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Maryland
04E55AMG, 05Dodge RAM 1500 Quad Cab, 02Montero Limited
Originally Posted by northbenz
Is she locked into the 05? The 06's are coming around the corner (Fall 05 at latest)and the CLK350 may be the new value leader with its increased power over the 320, and cost below the 500. There are some modifications too which might be of importance to her so would suggest she check some of the other threads that discuss the upcoming changes for 06. On the other hand she might not be able to get that 3000 discount on a new 06 and she would have to forego a summer of open air motoring unless she still has her CLK320.
She only put a $1K deposit which is refundable, but will the CLK350 be introduced in a cabrio or just the sedan? From a performance perspective I can not imagine the 350 in the same league as the 500. I have read some of the threads but no one seems to know and some seem to doubt that a drastic change is around the corner since the current model is only a few years old. I will ask my buddy at the dealer.
Thanks for the advice and I will loook into it. As far as price, I was at my local dealer and they said that the SLK350 has frustrated many old SLK owners because of the price increase over the last generation base model. Those same customers are not able to afford the car and the ones who can afford the higher models get something else. Interesting if that will happen with the new CLK350 when it comes out.
She is getting the CLK500 cabrio for $60K plus tags/taxes. I would not be surprised if the CLK350 Cabrio will be within $5K or less then that.
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'03 M5
I would guess that it will be within $5K of $60K since with only a few options the current 320 cab stickers out to about 57-58, and with the engine change, there will be less of an ability to geal on the price below sticker.
From a Hp standpoint the 350 is supposed to be about 270hp, so it's closer to the 500 302Hp, than the 320's 215Hp.
From a Hp standpoint the 350 is supposed to be about 270hp, so it's closer to the 500 302Hp, than the 320's 215Hp.
