Pkorkis

Nice, I'm the one who started it, don't I feel special ...jk!

karl k

Regrettably, the CLK's rugged individualism is history.

Perhaps it will re-emerge at the next generation in 5 years as a distinguished auto it used to be, -- unencumbered by the the MB blend of unimaginative, idiosyncratic stylistic features.

...just some nostalgic reflections, wishful thinking, -- perhaps...

Safet

Maybe with some good karma it will reincarnate itself.

Mercedes101

"..It seems like MBZ is just trying to save money by throwing spare parts from the C-class onto all their other classes..."

Wha? It IS a C-Class.

Safet

karl k, do you still have your CLK55 or you sold it?

Pkorkis

Ok, then are you saying that the CL is considered a C-class? Because the CL doesn't have the same parts as the C320 (diff. lights, diff. rear, diff. front, etc.). I guess you could say it is part of the C-class, but I think that the CLK looks like the C320, and it shouldn't...

karl k

On this 2002 CLK55 AMG I toured 15,000 enjoyable miles so far. This without a shadow of a doubt id the BEST car I've driven and owned.

Just debating, whether I should get the extended warranty to - 100,000 miles and 8 yrs for $2,300 - or to get the new E, a masterpiece in a couple of years.

The new SL - which I think is an aesthetic triumph, but for my anatomy, is just too small and uncomfortable, -- unfortunately, just like my previous 2001 SL500.

Tomorrow, I'll put the "rubber to the road" in the E-motion event, and we'll test this new MB E-creation road etiquette and behavior.

1SICKLEX

IMO, I like the exterior of the CLK 430 more than the CLK 500. The new one has those lovely pillarless windows, but otherwise not thank you.

calboy

I was at Kinko's the other night and saw the new e-class which at first I thought was the back of the clk which got me to thinking that all those comments about the back looking more like the c class are no longer founded. Actually, the back of the new clk looks more like the e-class than c-class. On the c-class the lip seems to extend over the rear lights whereas in both the clk and e it ends 2/3 of the way to the end. Secondly both the clk and e have more rounded lights on the edges unlike the c-classes' very triangular lights. So maybe the clk's styling is just falling suit with the new style of mercedes benz which I'm sure after we all get used to it will come to love as well.

Secondly people complain about the peanut headlights. They are nowhere near as bad as the c-class headlights. The clk lights have a much sharper separation between both lamps and the actual lights still retain their oval frame inside. I think it is more like the sl if you have to compare, which is a compliment I think. So although some people seem to think the clk has been a step down and looks a lot like the c class, and although I agree it is a mixed bag, it has many styling elements of the e, sl and cl as well. In fact I think the new clk and new E have almost as many similarities as the old clk and e.

clkfrk

calboy -

I agree with you. Standing next to (or in front of) a new CLK is a totally different experience than standing next to a C. The car looks nicer, more elegant....better overall. Although it could not compare to the new SL (which is by far one of the best cars I have ever seen) the similarities outnumber the differences.

karl k

You can say that again re SLs.

A salesperson at my MB dealership told me, that they delivered already a few new SL55 AMGs.

Additionally, if you ordered an SL AMG, it would have cost only $117,000! The AMG is reselling for more than a $150,000!! -- I was told.

Pkorkis

That was the same with the 2001 CL's. The 600's MSRP was around 120,000, but at Fletcher Jones Newport Beach, we (my brothers and I) saw new and used CL's going anywhere from 150,000-180,000.

dtclk320

So can everyone here agree that the 209 totally lost the individualism that the 208 had?

MMAfia

sorry, but the W209 looks more c-class while the W208 looked more e-class.

a brand new clk is parked next to my e46 bimmer in the garage, and i see it everyday, and i was thinking about getting the new clk once my bimmer lease ends, but am glad that i didn't.

just my opinion. although, almost every single friend (most of who aren't into cars at all) say that they'd take my car over the clk in terms of looks when we have to go into the garage since i'm giving them a ride home. in fact, the only ones who actually said they like the new clk, were *ahem* girls... sorry, but it's true.

MMAfia

karl k

The 208 AMG is a rare living legend.

karl k

I'm in FULL agreement with the first part.

...but who are the "ahem" girls??

MMAfia

just sum female friends of mine... the majority of them said they liked the new clk a lot as they passed it on the way to my car.

i wonder what the demographics for the W209s sales are in terms of gender...

MMAfia

MBking

Women are attracted to money.

Mercedes usually mean money.

Not that hard to understand as to why they like it.

C-Kompii

The W208 definitely has more individualism and presence in comparison. The new W209 design are not bad, its just that it looks too tamed and common (mainly due to MB's same look different size designs). But I think by having the clear projector head lights really makes the car look more macho and aggressive. Add bigger and better looking wheels to that and the car would be fine. The Brabus W209 CLK is a good example.

-G'day-

MDCLK500

MMafia- My sales person said that the 209 is 50/50 (men/women) whereas the 208 was two-thirds men. Quantification of everyone's comments. Hey, I still like it and can't wait to get mine.

woodyww

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002421229,00.html

MMAfia

well, i never intimated that the W209 is ugly... by no means is it anywhere near ugly... in fact, it's a very good looking car.



i just like the W208 design more, that's all. just my opinion.

50/50 women to male W209 owners, huh? hmm......

MMAfia

Mike T.

My opinion:

The W 208 was a good-looking car. However, there were a few things that were odd:

- the HUGE (double-sized) gap between the bottom of the door and the plastic rocker panel covers (what's the deal with THAT?)
- from some angles, the **** end of the W 208 was FAR too bulky, or even obese-looking. Not from all angles though, mainly front and rear 3/4 views
- the round headlights were not adapted well into the car's design - it looks as though the car's nose was designed for rectangular headlamps.

The W 209 is a better-looking car, being more harmonious in its overall shape. It is definitely more feminine-looking (what's wrong with that, unless you're a straight woman or a gay man?) and delicate. I've yet to see major 209 design flaws such as exist in the 208, but - to quibble - perhaps the character line on the upper front fender is too pronounced, and the beltline droops a little too much towards the rear? Still, I'd say it's more unified in its look than its predecessor.

Hey, both are good, but the new one does it for me. It's almost as good-looking as the 1996 Peugeot 406 Coupé by Pininfarina (another "feminine" design). I'd rather own a W 209 though.

I'd be happy to own either the 208 or 209, don't get me wrong.

karl k

Good PRO 208 article...hitting the nail on the head!!

Favorite quote:

" Five years ago, the giant company announced that it had
been over-engineering its cars and that behind the
scenes, in places where customers would never look, they
were going to cut a few corners.

Yeah, right. Like we’re not going to notice the car’s boot
hinges are made out of veal chops and lettuce.

Well, this week I’ve had the new CLK on test and, to be
blunt, it isn’t as good as the old one.

At first, I thought it was a styling thing. I was a huge fan
of the old car’s looks and figured the new one didn’t
measure up because it isn’t so pretty.

It isn’t, but that’s not the problem. The problem is that it
seems to have been made from thinner metal.

It hasn’t, but there was something about the panel
shapes on old Mercs that made them look more solid.

This new one looks like a normal car, like a Hyundai or a
Mitsubishi."

dtclk320

or a c class....

LOL:o