CLK500man

Took the plunge and purchased a 2005 CLK500.
Brilliant Silver w/ Charcoal Interior.

Lighting & Sunroof Packages, w/ Factory CD-Changer.

I look forward to becoming an active participant on the board. I am a CAR NUT so I am eagerly anticipating learning the TIPS & TRICKS from the senior members on this board.

Thanks in advance for the warm welcome!
-Jon :v

PS: what is the newb initiation ??? if any..

fadedinc

welcome aboard!

clkcadet

welcome to the board...and i hope you enjoy your new car...only in good health

one problem though sort of a forum tradition


you gotta post pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


enjoy!

RJC

Welcome, the 05 is the best W209 yet. Many happy and safe miles ahead

Frisco

Congrats!!! Enjoy.

x-tian-230k

Where are the pictures...one thing about this forum, if you got something new and want to share, you gotta post pictures!

x-tian-230k

Ohh yeah, welcome aboard!

c2jones

We're in the market for this same car for my wife. (She has an '03 C-Class now).

She wants Diamond Silver, but this cannot be made with the blue leather seat inserts! So, now she's deciding whether the interior or exterior of choice becomes the preference.

What I like about the 500 is that it comes with the 7-spd transmission!

Have us know your impressions.

CLK500man

First, thanks for the replies and comments. PICS are coming soon, same old line, I've been too busy to post pics and post on the forum.

I've driven my new 2005 CLK500 for approx. 700 miles. It is a fantastic GT coupe, effortless torque and seamless transmission. The 5.0-liter V8 and the 7-sp. transmission are perfect partners. Shift buttons on the rear of the steering wheer are cool and different but are not under FULL Manual control. That is reserved for CLK55 AMG models. The std. suspension is ever SO SLIGHTLY soft. Never floaty, or discombobulated simply controlled comfort at the SLIGHTEST expense of RAW handling. Interior controls are what other have echoed on the forum, blue on the Inst. Cluster and amber everywhere else (except displays for radio and climate readouts). It doesn't bother me one bit. The vehicle is extremely well built, fit-and-finish are first rate. AUDIO system is the best I've ever encountered in vehicles. On par w/ the DVD-audio system of the Acura TL; I've never sampled the Mark Levinson audio from Lexus. The exterior is simply beautiful, AMG treatment ALL AROUND! My favorite aspect is the stunning exterior (and the 5.0 V8 :v ). FULLY factory finished, if you enjoy the AMG look as i do the 2005 CLK500s exterior is exactly the same as the CLK55 AMGs exterior (save the dual-exhaust and 18" wheels). No standard lumbar for a $58,000 vehicle is REALLY FCKED-UP, oh well, M-B wants you to check the option of Multi-contour seat and it is only for the drivers side. I am still confortable though.

IN my opinion, you must DRIVE, not TEST DRIVE, DRIVE the vehicle in the same manner you intend to operate it on a daily basis. Then you may make your assumptions and decisions.

A welcome bit of what I call "GT comfort," see I've had 2 BMWs since 2000. A 2000 328Ci coupe w/ Sport & Premium Packages and I still currently have a 2002 X5 4.4i w/ Xenon, Sport & Premium Pack., and 19" wheels. The 2005 CLK500 is a car i purchased to compliment my X5. I still have to remind myself that the CLK500 is not a BMW. The CLK500 is just as capable of delivering the performance i crave, it simply does it in a different manner. It is decidedly German in nature, simply put, a different flavor. I chose to omit the individual option on the CLK500 of "AMG-sport suspension calibration" because I feel it is not needed in my situation. Remeber, I chose the car as a second GT coupe; OKAY I'LL ADMIT IT! I SIMPLY GOT A TINY BIT TIRED OF HEAD TOSSING RIDE MOTIONS IN BMW SPORT-PACKAGE EQUIPPED MODELS. However, the suspension in the CLK is great for my application. I still drive the X5 as my daily driver.

Thanks for allowing my rant. ANYBODYS opinions and comments are welcomed and appreciated.

Questions for the 2005 CLK500man??? I'd be more than happy to oblige.

-jon

BustYoLipz

Hi everyone, just took delivery of my new CLK yesterday! Before this car, I had a 2002 M3 which I liked very much, but it was time for a change. Planning to lower the car and dressing it 19" Brabus Monoblock VI soon... Will post pixs once I figure out how to