02 CLK55 or 05 CLK55--That is MY question???
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 45
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From: San Francisco
CLK55 AMG Cabriolet-Capri Blue
02 CLK55 or 05 CLK55--That is MY question???
Hi guys,
I keep hearing 02 is a more reliable model of CLK55 than the new style. I am choosing between 2002 with 20k miles and '05 with 35k miles. 2002 is $4,000 less in price. Both are in immaculate shape with all the records but Both out of warranty.....
PLease share your thoughts and beliefs. WHich would be more expensive to maintain and repair, which would brake more, mpg, performance, resale value etc.....THANK YOU....I am making the purchase on Friday!!!!
I keep hearing 02 is a more reliable model of CLK55 than the new style. I am choosing between 2002 with 20k miles and '05 with 35k miles. 2002 is $4,000 less in price. Both are in immaculate shape with all the records but Both out of warranty.....
PLease share your thoughts and beliefs. WHich would be more expensive to maintain and repair, which would brake more, mpg, performance, resale value etc.....THANK YOU....I am making the purchase on Friday!!!!
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 363
Likes: 1
From: San Francisco
Sold - CLK500
Hi guys,
I keep hearing 02 is a more reliable model of CLK55 than the new style. I am choosing between 2002 with 20k miles and '05 with 35k miles. 2002 is $4,000 less in price. Both are in immaculate shape with all the records but Both out of warranty.....
PLease share your thoughts and beliefs. WHich would be more expensive to maintain and repair, which would brake more, mpg, performance, resale value etc.....THANK YOU....I am making the purchase on Friday!!!!
I keep hearing 02 is a more reliable model of CLK55 than the new style. I am choosing between 2002 with 20k miles and '05 with 35k miles. 2002 is $4,000 less in price. Both are in immaculate shape with all the records but Both out of warranty.....
PLease share your thoughts and beliefs. WHich would be more expensive to maintain and repair, which would brake more, mpg, performance, resale value etc.....THANK YOU....I am making the purchase on Friday!!!!
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Chicago
2015.5 Volvo V60 Polestar
That is a tough choice. IMO, I prefer the look of the exterior and size of the 02. But the 05 does have some nice qualities. It would come with the quad exhaust, 18rims, and the nicer interior.
With 12k less miles and costing less, I would prolly go with the 02.
With 12k less miles and costing less, I would prolly go with the 02.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Sparks, NV
03 CLK 55 AMG, IMCO muffler/Magnaflow tips, KW V1 coilovers, 19" Petrol Metrix Wheels
I would go with the 05. you could buy an aftermarket warranty for it until 2015. with the 02 you are done by 2012.
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
Unless this is a trick question, the older car will be more expensive to maintain. Older cars are always more expensive to maintain. But that just means the things you fix on the ’02 will probably have to be done on the ’05 three years later. Or it could be some regular wear items (rear diff seals for example) have already been done on the ’02 and will be needed real soon on the ’05. In either case, a PPI is money well spent.
According to the 2002 and 2005 press kits, the ’02 is one tenth of one second faster to 60 MPH, get’s 1 MPG better economy, and they both have the same stopping distances from 60. However, those are just specs. In a 700-foot slalom, the ’05 is noticeably faster. Ditto for the Streets of Willow (the small track at Willow Springs Raceway). The 209 weighs more but is stiffer. Resale? The less you spend now, the less you’ll be out of down the road. I can't say if CLKs will ever be collectors. The 2002 is the last of the AMG 208 coupes, but the ’05 is the last of the AMG 209 coupes. So your guess is as good as mine. For $4K, I’d get the 2005. But I think you should get whatever you want.
According to the 2002 and 2005 press kits, the ’02 is one tenth of one second faster to 60 MPH, get’s 1 MPG better economy, and they both have the same stopping distances from 60. However, those are just specs. In a 700-foot slalom, the ’05 is noticeably faster. Ditto for the Streets of Willow (the small track at Willow Springs Raceway). The 209 weighs more but is stiffer. Resale? The less you spend now, the less you’ll be out of down the road. I can't say if CLKs will ever be collectors. The 2002 is the last of the AMG 208 coupes, but the ’05 is the last of the AMG 209 coupes. So your guess is as good as mine. For $4K, I’d get the 2005. But I think you should get whatever you want.
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From: Southern California
2017 W205 C43 AMG
With the exception of the steering (rack & pinion on W209 vs. track and ball on W208), eh Chappy?? 
To the OP -I've owned both chassis, and they are both great cars in their own right. You've got to test drive each one and decide on your own. The W208 had more character and was more raw, the W209 is more refined, in terms of interior appointments and freeway driving/smooth ride.
To the OP -I've owned both chassis, and they are both great cars in their own right. You've got to test drive each one and decide on your own. The W208 had more character and was more raw, the W209 is more refined, in terms of interior appointments and freeway driving/smooth ride.
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From: Hotlanta
AMG
With the exception of the steering (rack & pinion on W209 vs. track and ball on W208), eh Chappy??
To the OP -I've owned both chassis, and they are both great cars in their own right. You've got to test drive each one and decide on your own. The W208 had more character and was more raw, the W209 is more refined, in terms of interior appointments and freeway driving/smooth ride.
To the OP -I've owned both chassis, and they are both great cars in their own right. You've got to test drive each one and decide on your own. The W208 had more character and was more raw, the W209 is more refined, in terms of interior appointments and freeway driving/smooth ride.
or CLK DTM
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: San Francisco
CLK55 AMG Cabriolet-Capri Blue
GOT IT!!!!
I pulled the trigger on the 2005 guys. Thanks for all the feedback. Its getting delivered tomorrow to my place in San Francisco....CANT WAIT! The factory warranty just expired in May, so I need some advise on extended warranties (Easy Care? Mercury? Western general?). The car is perfect with all the recordds and services done, B service just completed a month ago. Oh, it only has dual pipe ezhaust on the left side, I thought somebody mentioned about it having quads?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,974
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From: Southern California
2017 W205 C43 AMG
I pulled the trigger on the 2005 guys. Thanks for all the feedback. Its getting delivered tomorrow to my place in San Francisco....CANT WAIT! The factory warranty just expired in May, so I need some advise on extended warranties (Easy Care? Mercury? Western general?). The car is perfect with all the recordds and services done, B service just completed a month ago. Oh, it only has dual pipe ezhaust on the left side, I thought somebody mentioned about it having quads?
FYI - only the coupe got the quad tips exhaust. The cabrio like yours has the standard dual tip on one-side, just like mine, even though mine is a coupe, they only did quad tip for 2005 coupes.
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From: Charlotte, NC
No longer car shopping...
You didn't say they were both cabrio's in your first post. That small distinction may have swayed a number of these guys. The 2002 was the last year that was made and those were fairly rare (200 cars) even at that time so now-a-days they are probably an even rarer critter (and thus the smaller difference). If the 2002 wasn't a cabrio, then I think 95% of the guys on here would have directed you to the '05. Both are nice cars and the '05's do have the newer technologies on the interior.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2009
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From: San Francisco
CLK55 AMG Cabriolet-Capri Blue
Thank you all for the feedback guys, I think I made the right choice with the 05.
Few questions:
1)It's dark blue-I have never seen that before, is it some rare or custom color?
2)It came with 18s and I am thinking of getting 19's...any suggestions on the size tires and set ups? The goal is better look without compromising mpg and ride.
3)I need to get alignment done-how much is a good deal on that? -any local sources around SF/Peninsula?
4)Any idea how many 05 clk55 cabs were produced that year?
Few questions:
1)It's dark blue-I have never seen that before, is it some rare or custom color?
2)It came with 18s and I am thinking of getting 19's...any suggestions on the size tires and set ups? The goal is better look without compromising mpg and ride.
3)I need to get alignment done-how much is a good deal on that? -any local sources around SF/Peninsula?
4)Any idea how many 05 clk55 cabs were produced that year?
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From: Connecticut
2003 CLK55
For production numbers:
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...n-numbers.html
This info is from the AMG Private Lounge. You should sign up there.
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...n-numbers.html
This info is from the AMG Private Lounge. You should sign up there.
