g4drive

Hey guys, how about a few posts ... This messageboard is awfully quiet. There must be at least a couple of hundred of us with CLK Blacks by now (I can't quite bring myself to call it a BS).

Here's a few comments to kick it off:

- disappointed EVO magazine placed it 4th behind the Audi R8 ... I'm a big Audi fan but when I saw them both at the NY show, it was the Black that stirred the juices.For EVO readers, note the negative comments about the steering in the first drive (8/07) did not reappear in the Best Car 2007 comparo.

- the Black is great fun to drive for sure ... Hopefully I'll get to try it on a track next year

- it could use a bigger fuel tank

- nav system is rubbish compared to other systems out there Audio quality is ok though

- lack of Bluetooth for common phones a surprise - only works with a Merc-supplied phone, right? My other cars work with my Blackberry (which I am using now on a train that has just got stuck ... But I digress!)

- I was surprised that it is so hard to put things where the back seat was.

That's it for now.Love the car.
Andy

Jim Brady

The european models had the nav from the CLS models which is much easier to use. The lack of being able to access the back seat (sorry no back seat) is a slight hassel.
This car is so much fun to drive, I've had to put the trickel charger on the porsche as its not getting driven much.
I'm working on my launch techniques,....just in case.
Jimmy

JDB

How does the European Nav vary from what we have in the U.S. models?
JDB

alexander stemer

What else did Evo put in front? I haven't seen it yet, but may pick it up today- and will read it on my way to the Race of Champions in London.

I have the advantage of being old enough (59) to have owned and driven lots of great cars. These range from modded muscle cars of the 60's, 427 Vettes including L88, ZR1, C6 and C5 ZO6,and race '67 427, many Ferrari's, most of the Porsches made since 1980, and then the race cars including my old beloved Lola Can Am T163, my current Kurtis and Loti (Elise 190R, and Super 7, and my Studebaker-bodied 1990 Nascar Monte-Carlo. The Black is by far the greatest combination of razor handling (steering!!!), speed, and street drivability. My Lola was street licensed, and is the only one I'd say was more exciting, but really couldn't be driven more than 20 miles at a time. Until somebody puts a Helwand LG6 into a street car, nothing will ever shift like that.

Comparisons are based upon variable criteria. If it is usable fun to drive, I don't see much getting ahead of the BS. Ferrari 599 I guess. After that?? AS

Jim Brady

Look at the buttons on the CLS and compare to the C class. Also, more intuitive as to inputs.
Jimmy

g4drive

1: Porsche 997 GT3 RS: 95.7
2: Ferrari F430 Scuderia: 94.9
3: Audi R8: 93.6
4: Mercedes CLK63 AMG Black: 91.4
5: BMW M3: 90.9
6: Honda Civic Type-R: 89.4
7: Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera: 88.2
8: Nissan 350Z: 87.6
9: Lotus 2-Eleven: 87.0
10: Mini Cooper S Works: 86.1

LZH

Thats a very track oriented breakdown. Try driving the first 2 on the street and you will quickly become tired of them. The BS is a much better all round vehicle, that can be driven daily and taken to the track and never skip a beat. I have driven cars 1-5 and can tell you, hands down, the BS is much more fun and livable.

alexander stemer

Well, we beat the Nissan by 4 points (whew!). I guess it still boils down to criteria. When somebody adds points for torque, we'll probably pick up in the rankings. AS

Jim Brady

I hate to bring price into the equation but here's what I can buy TODAY ( top three in EVO) from a dealer in my local and not what somebodys brothers uncle bought one in the snow belt. BTW, forget MSRP on these cars it doesn't exist in SOCAL.

F430 Scuderia $275,000.
GT3RS $189,000
R8 $156,000.

CLK 63 BS looks like a steal.
Jimmy

bp95gsx

Wow, you've had a chance to drive a Scuderia? I didn't know they let the public drive them yet, but maybee you're not a "pedestrian". LOL. I was only lucky enough to look at it in the NYC showroom.

chiphomme

I don't understand that. Isn't the high end car market soft? I wouldn't buy from a dealer that charged above MSRP. But hey I live in the middle of nowhere. What do I know about supply and demand in California?

Jim Brady

Ya, I thought so too. Guy just paid $204K for a GT3RS in Riverside Ca.
Jimmy

alexander stemer

And my local Audi dealer wanted $40,000 over sticker for an R8. AS

TECHNICIAN

R8 better then a G SL... are they on crack?

alexander stemer

How does any of it make sense? Look at the comparative scores of the 430 Scuderia vs. the BS, and compare that to the spread to Honda. I haven't been able to read the article yet, so Maybe I will hold off on further comments til I do. AS

LZH

Dont waste your time. Horribly written article, complete waste of time. The writer gives no technical data whatsoever and focuses mostly on their surroundings, the food and wine, and each of the other drivers thoughts about each car. I will never, ever waste my money or time buying or reading the crap Evo publishes. The only thing they got right was putting the DBS at the bottom of the list.