quadocox

I have the option of buying one of these veichules. Can anyone with experience with these cars give me some additional insight?

I can afford a:
2003- 2004 CLK 500
or
2002 SC430.

Just your thoughts are needed.

BAYAREA

MB faster and bigger...no room in the back seat of sc430...i just like MB and you can get a car a couple of years newer......... repairs are expensive on both.....theres 2 pennys worth.........good luck and let us know which way you go, that way we can disown you if you go the other way

quadocox

Well,
You can't i have a 230 "coupe"
I wanted to buy 1 about amonth ago but I decided to go with a different lender that won't let me buy from private parties or ebay : (

I'm leaning towards the SC430 only because i see few on the road and it's a hard top convertible.

ItalianStallion

This kid who has an SC convertible was always extremely jealous of my CLK500. He got inside and was like "now this is a car." Otherwise, its personal preference.

Larrym96815

I can't say about the SC but I have a CLK 320 (2005) and a Lexus IS 350 (2006). The IS 350 is more hp than the SC. The IS 350 is faster than the CLK. Which do I prefer? The MB CLK.

Aloha,
Larry

quadocox

Thanks gus still weighing my options. I'm not lookins for aazing speed. The only think I don't like about the 500 is the interior is almost the same as my 230!

iguess

the interior is pretty nice, if you ask me. the only thing i dont really like about the 03-04 is the radio display (if the car doesnt have navigation) you could probally get a 05+ radio unit for a good price and change it.
the sc430 is a pretty hot car and hard top convertible which is great. i have a clk coupe, but i bet it must feel pretty good crusing down the highway with the top down..........cons.....the back is VERY tight.

FEGELEIN

Get the Benz, much more of a car!

sportf190

lexus is more realibile and maybe there are alot less on the road but the benz has that status that says you got money lol... and its not like they are all over the road like bmws

J.C.Holo

depends on where you live. In NY and Cali, MBs and BMWs are a dime a dozen. I was once at a stoplight in LI and all 5 cars around me were MBs. Felt like I was in a MB commercial.

The SC is definitely rarer...maybe it doesn't sell as well

FEGELEIN

lol, I am an ardent nyorker. Have a home is Westchester and an apt in the West Village. I would say the Beemers dominate the road between the 2. A Lexus to me is a nice car, but doesn't demand my respect as a beemer or a especially Benz would!

iguess

i agree with fegelein. i think lexus' are great cars, but they dont get as much attention as a benz would. honestly if there was an M6, which is much better than my car, on the road next to my CLK350, ppl would notice my car more. Everyone knows its a benz cause it has a huge star on the front. It annoys me sometimes, so if you're looking for a nice car and lots of attention. get a CLK500. If you're looking for a nice car and maybe less attention (with the top UP of course lol) go for the sc430.

ItalianStallion

Nice, where in Westchester? You can PM if you don't want it public lol. I'm in Scarsdale/Ardsley.

BrianKim

l0l bobby always tryin to find a race X_X

juhasev

Well, in my opinion consider the use of the car and what that means to you. Mercedes is mercedes, Lexus is Toyota. You will not find the refinements and quality that you find in Mercedes in Lexus. Althought Lexus wants to be Mercedes, they are close but now quite there.

ItalianStallion

Well...in that case, you could say Mercedes is a Chrysler...

BAYAREA

NOT ANYMORE

ItalianStallion

Tou che...

Well, at least the earlier w209's were

bzliteyear

the lexus is nice w/ the hardtop and it's probably very reliable, but ever since i saw a picture of demi moore driving it, i've noticed that it's pretty much being female driven in CA. also, i personally have never liked the shape much, esp since i used to own the SC400 and that was beautiful. lastly, i think lexus should have made the back just storage like the SL's. i think they could have made it more practical as the backseats are a joke - even smaller than 911s, i think.

alexmn

I'd differ ... Lexus is a really high quality built machine. I was split between SC and CLK myself, choose CLK but here is my take:

- if you must'v hardtop, buy SC
- if you need for 4 seater and more room, get CLK
- CLK from outside, looks much more elegant (compared to a too much sporty toad-like exterior of SC)
- drive: SC runs very smooth 'n quiet. CLK you feel road bumps a lot (though its still smoother to BMW)
- SC has Mark Levinson audio, which beats the crap out of CLK's Bose/Harmon
- Brand: Mercedez has a opulence of its own (BMW as for fun-ride), Lexus crowd is kinda less-pretentious eco-centric new-age wall-street hipsters

KwlAznKid

ah i was in a very similar situation a few months ago, i totaled my bmw e46 325ci and had to choose between a e46 m3 or a clk500, i didn't want the same boring interior since the e46 m3 interior and my e46 325ci are almost exactly the same 99% i would say is the same .. so i went with the clk500, i can't say i regret the decision but... the m3 would have been more fun to drive, i guess what i'm trying to say is test both cars and DRIVE them both before you decide, looks aren't everything good luck man

Davideo

I personally don't like the look of the SC430... and over time I'm sure I'd hate it more and more if I had one! The back seat is rediculous! I saw 4 people in one and the kids in the back were squashed.

BAYAREA

looks like somebody stepped on the sc

rhampar

Go for the Benz. If you can afford I'd say stretch yourself and get an 05 CLK. It has better radio, 7 speed trans and a couple of other nice things that aren't on the 03 and 04.

sportf190

i would agree much nicer interior in my opinion in the 05