w209 place in Mercedes history
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I don't see the CLK becoming a classic any time soon. Too many were made. And besides, the A207 E-Class is just another name for the CLK, so it's not really as if it's been discontinued. Maybe 20 years from now things will change, but for now, I consider it to be just a "good buy" for a nice daily driver touring car.
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2008 CLK550 Cab
"Classic," like "hero", is an overused word that has no set criteria in everyday use. There is a set list of pre-war American cars that are officially designated as classics, but beyond that it often is just a synonym for "old" or at best "old and kinda cool." I don't see the CLK as standing out in the future as a particularly worthy design.
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
It’s funny, the things we throw away today are the things we desperately want tomorrow. In high school I ignored Chrysler products. They were “throw away” cars – when they broke, it was cheaper to buy another. Two friends of mine had perfect examples - one had a yellow AAR 340 Cuda, and the other a purple rag top Challenger with a 383. Another friend had a ’69 428 CJ equipped Mach1. They were all given away for a song when the second gas crises hit. My older brother had a ’69 E-type Jag. 4.2, BRG with a tan top and interior. That was sold for near nothing. About $3k IIRC. I know I didn’t want it. More modern cars were available. Why would anyone want a temperamental Jag when Pontiac was selling new Smokey and the Bandit Trans Ams that started EVERY time? Many early 911s were thrown away because the 924 was cutting edge and didn’t reek of oil when the heater was on. And when the 924 Turbo was introduced, we knew every 911 before the SC was junk. Oh the things we “knew”.
Will the CLK ever be considered a 'classic'? There was a time when the 280SE 3.5 Coupe was very common in So Cal. Those early coupes don’t do anything as well as a new E, yet they command a hefty sum. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Will the CLK ever be considered a 'classic'? There was a time when the 280SE 3.5 Coupe was very common in So Cal. Those early coupes don’t do anything as well as a new E, yet they command a hefty sum. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
+1^ ~ I think the W209 will always be considered to have pleasing lines, but only time will tell.
I let an Aston Martin DB6 short chassis Volante slip through my hands for peanuts as a youth. One of 37 built. Boy do I regret that today.
I let an Aston Martin DB6 short chassis Volante slip through my hands for peanuts as a youth. One of 37 built. Boy do I regret that today.
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2004 CLK320
I think a w209 is still a great looking car and mine is almost 10 years old.
I don't think my opinion is biased. My previous car was a Honda Preldue. While the Prelude was fun to drive, I never considered it to be a good looking car. I bought the car because of the lack of choice in coupes at the time.
I remember I found the Infinity G-Coupe attrctive a few years ago. Now I find the car quite boring.
I don't think my opinion is biased. My previous car was a Honda Preldue. While the Prelude was fun to drive, I never considered it to be a good looking car. I bought the car because of the lack of choice in coupes at the time.
I remember I found the Infinity G-Coupe attrctive a few years ago. Now I find the car quite boring.
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From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
Agreed! Until a couple of years ago an indie mechanic I was using had a late-80's 560SEC that he'd give me as a loaner while fixing my car, and it always garnered lustful looks from neighbors who, like me, had dreamed about having one when we were younger.....
THAT's a classic, and I like to think ours will be as well, in time.
THAT's a classic, and I like to think ours will be as well, in time.
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I've always loved all the classic MBZ pillarless coupes and cabriolets. They have such a unique look that is unmistakable. If I had the time and money, I'd grab an old 200 series and restore it. They are still "affordable" for now.
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From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
Thanks Frank! I'm due for a new sig pic since debadging and smoking the sidemarkers, but the seats are my favorite too.
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Yup. How many pillarless coupes do you see made? Very few. Everytime my friends get in the car and we drive on the freeway with the windows all down at night they always compliment the pillarless aspect of the car. Hit PCH with the car and it's nothing but smiles. It really sets it apart from cars like the 3 series, 6 series, g coupe, and so many others.
I was parked next to a 2014 E550 coupe. The car was nice but something is off about that body. The back slants down to quickly and the trunk length is too short, like "it has no butt" if you would say. And it has that little piece of fixed glass all the way on the back which throws off the look when windows are down imo. The backseat has way less room from what I could tell. I am quite amazed with the rear legroom and trunk space on the 209 CLK coupe as well.
I was parked next to a 2014 E550 coupe. The car was nice but something is off about that body. The back slants down to quickly and the trunk length is too short, like "it has no butt" if you would say. And it has that little piece of fixed glass all the way on the back which throws off the look when windows are down imo. The backseat has way less room from what I could tell. I am quite amazed with the rear legroom and trunk space on the 209 CLK coupe as well.
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From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
It often takes a year or two for a new MB body style to grow on me; not so with the 209. MB seems to alternate between squarish/straight up/beefy and oval/slanted/wiry, if you know what I mean. In 2003 I got my first MB, a w202, and I preferred its "heft" to the newer w209. Remember the E and CLK of that "family," the googly-eyed 210 and the 'roid monster 208? By 2005, my wife was driving the 202 (a silver 280 Sport with black and gray interior) and I got a 203 Coupe. Suddenly the 202 seemed dated: puffy and square. The 209 and 211 were out each had the same effect on the model it replaced: trimmer, meaner, more slanted. Fast forward to the 204 and 212? Back to straight-up grilles and bigger, squarer lines.
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Actually, it took me a quite a while to warm up to the W209. I immediately loved the W203 when it was introduced, but the W209 seemed too feminine or something compared to the W208. Of course I warmed up to the style enough to buy one, but I actually like the looks of the A207 better. And my favorite body is the R230 SL.
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2004 CLK320
It was love at first sight for me. I first saw it in a parking lot in Montreal and I did not even know of its pillarless design.
I was actually concerned about the reliability of this pillarless windows, too many moving parts. Then they are all working after 175k miles.
I was actually concerned about the reliability of this pillarless windows, too many moving parts. Then they are all working after 175k miles.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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2004 CLK320
It was love at first sight for me. I first saw it in a parking lot in Montreal and I did not even know of its pillarless design. It was funny, i was on a date and we went back to the car so she could smoke a joint. I had a few minutes to admire a w209 right in front of me. I went to the dealership the next week.
I was actually concerned about the reliability of this pillarless windows, too many moving parts. Then they are all working after 175k miles.
I was actually concerned about the reliability of this pillarless windows, too many moving parts. Then they are all working after 175k miles.
