first test drive (3.8sec 0-60)
Why not break the deal on the quad exhaust? It's suppose to be a AMG signature and it's not there, while the SLK55 has the same motor, but it has quad tips, in fact the CLK55s were the one AMG without quad tips, as Ted had said before, it was the neglected child in the AMG lineup until this year. Why did you think MB finally offer them? Because they actually listen to customers. We want quad tips on AMG cars period.
Yes, after market can change the tips arguement, but compared with the whole market, the modding crowd is still a minority, so the factory look of the car plays a major role in deciding if a car is successful or not.
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A CLK555 with dual tips on one side of the car looks almost exactly like a CLK500 with the optional AMG body kit, but if it has quad tips it will never be mistaken as a lesser CLK.
Hell consider this, some people insists on natural breasts, 'aftermarket' surgery could fix the size problem but it will never feel the same as natural ones no matter how good the surgery is, it will always be 'aftermarket'. See the logic better now?
Maybe to your dismay, but AMG people are serious about the tips and that's why they are offering quad tips on stock AMG CLKs now in case you haven't noticed.
A CLK555 with dual tips on one side of the car looks almost exactly like a CLK500 with the optional AMG body kit, but if it has quad tips it will never be mistaken as a lesser CLK.
Hell consider this, some people insists on natural breasts, 'aftermarket' surgery could fix the size problem but it will never feel the same as natural ones no matter how good the surgery is, it will always be 'aftermarket'. See the logic better now?
Maybe to your dismay, but AMG people are serious about the tips and that's why they are offering quad tips on stock AMG CLKs now in case you haven't noticed.
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Ted
Wow, even the Cabrio is 4.1 sec 0-60?! Dang. I didn't realize.
It was the favorite car of mine from last year's AMG Challenge by a -wide- margin. Though I think 3.9 or 4.0 is more likely for the Black then 3.8 (gains of 0.3 sec is huge down near 4 sec), I'll take either! (the momentum added from those bigger brakes is going to sap some of the gains from the lighter weight and small increase in power)
Actually, put the wide-body on the Cabrio and I'd prefer that. 4.1 sec and the handling I know that car has from the time I thrashed it around the track and set the day's record in it on the technical driving short oval, is good enough for me!!! ...I'm finally sorry for the money and work I put into my car that could have been better spent on a down-payment on either the cabrio or black.

Very true enough, AMG CLK is kinda low target.
Maybe I suggest a CL63 as your target? powerful enough to be very fast but not as heavy as the bi-turbo V12 65? But seeing you like convertible I suspect you would lust after the SL instead.
Last edited by Fifth Ring; May 18, 2007 at 03:41 PM.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
I don't claim to be an expert by any means but going back to Drag Racing and Muscle Car days in the late 60s and early 70s, we were always told by the experts of that Drag Racing era that the more you could unrestrict an exhaust system, the more horsepower you could expect from your engine.
Having another pipe running back I don't think would add that much more weight over a single tube system with its crossover and larger diameter pipe. Whatever the weight gain, it would probably be offset by the horsepower gain plus! In addition, if you tried to run your system through only one muffler (or whatever a fancy name they may call them now), you would restrict the flow even more over a dual system set-up. Also, regarding just the header itself, the shorter the collector tube (where all the exhaust tubes join), the more top end horsepower you would get. If you had a long collector tube, you would gain added torque for a harder launch and more mid-range horsepower. (Just thought I'd throw this in!)
Referring to the CLK63 Quad tips, I believe that each dual tip is split off a single tube running back to each side and that it's mostly for looks and maybe the sound note. Personally, I think the Quad tipped exhaust system has a meaner look to it.
To me, the LARGE single exhaust tube looks goofy. I see it time and time again on all these 'Fast and Furious' imitators who run around our town all the time pretending to be 'Indy 500' racers.
BTW, I'm not trying to put these kids down. It may be that is all their financial situation allows them to do at the present time. It just seems to be a 'little' phony.
Magwheel
I sure hope you are getting something flashy for your CLK63 Black, as I see your garage has turned into a boring sea of silver.
.......on another note, does this mean that the SLR is overpriced?
Ted
Sorry my garage is so boring to you.
I couldn't afford any of the other custom colors!
Mags
these cars are exclusive ,,,
Furthermore to simply point to a sales report and to draw conclusions about what customers want and don't want without any thought as to why a particular model might be down in sales, doesn't take any effort at all.
You can draw a 1,000,001 conclusions from a sales chart, what I wanted to know from you is what do you think MBUSA or Mercedes-Benz in general needs to change.
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Last edited by Germancar1; May 21, 2007 at 06:19 AM.

Very true enough, AMG CLK is kinda low target.
Maybe I suggest a CL63 as your target? powerful enough to be very fast but not as heavy as the bi-turbo V12 65? But seeing you like convertible I suspect you would lust after the SL instead.
Seriously though yeah the SL is my goal or a CL.
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Just in case......., which one do you want?????????