Deciding between a E350 Cabriolet or CLS400
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2000 s430
Deciding between a E350 Cabriolet or CLS400
I posted this in the A207 cabriolet thread but want input here also. I'm the former owner of a 2000 Mercedes S430. Poor reliability in that car pushed me over to Lexus. I currently own a 2008 Lexus ES350. I want a second car and prefer the Mercedes look. I'm trying to decide between a 2013-2014 E350 Cabriolet convertible or a CLS400, any year. First, the problems I had with my S430 that I'm trying to avoid, if possible: Air suspension, fiber optic audio, oil leaks, radiator problems, and just poor reliability overall. Next, I love the looks of the CLS because of the 4 door coupe look and size. The E350 Cabriolet convertible is giving me a hard pause though. I like the looks of it also. I like both engine sizes, but I've always been afraid of turbo charged engines (CLS400). I don't care about rear seating room or the trunk space because this will be a second car. I'm aware of the vast difference between a sedan and a convertible, but like I said, this will be a second vehicle. Can someone convince me either way.
Last edited by nubirthestate; Jan 2, 2022 at 07:25 PM.
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CLS400. No brainer to me! You can get them with 4Matic and no Air suspension if you desire. The CLS looks great and is well built.
The E is not even really a E. It’s built on a C Class platform. Has a soft top and a useless backseat. If you want the route of a convertible then go with a SLK or SL. They make sense to own as the E Cabriolet really does not. Since you don’t care about rear seats then this E really makes no sense.
The E is not even really a E. It’s built on a C Class platform. Has a soft top and a useless backseat. If you want the route of a convertible then go with a SLK or SL. They make sense to own as the E Cabriolet really does not. Since you don’t care about rear seats then this E really makes no sense.
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2000 s430
CLS400. No brainer to me! You can get them with 4Matic and no Air suspension if you desire. The CLS looks great and is well built.
The E is not even really a E. It’s built on a C Class platform. Has a soft top and a useless backseat. If you want the route of a convertible then go with a SLK or SL. They make sense to own as the E Cabriolet really does not. Since you don’t care about rear seats then this E really makes no sense.
The E is not even really a E. It’s built on a C Class platform. Has a soft top and a useless backseat. If you want the route of a convertible then go with a SLK or SL. They make sense to own as the E Cabriolet really does not. Since you don’t care about rear seats then this E really makes no sense.
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First, THANKS for the response. I appreciate it. Next, I don't want a v8 engine. Thats why I was looking at the CLS400. If the CL class ( CL63, CL550, etc.) had a v6 engine, or similar gas mileage, I would consider one of those. The SL is a nice looking option, but again, its the v8 engine. What I do like about the SL class is the hardtop. The soft top of the E350 Cabriolet HAS given me pause as its easy to vandalize the car with a soft top. Looks like I may lean toward the CLS400 so far.
You can get a SL with a V6. SL400 it’s called. ABC again is optional on those too. I hated the soft top so much on my Cabriolet. It was just awful. I would never recommend it. It looks out of place too.
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2000 s430
You got me leaning toward my original preference, the CLS400. Do you know of any issues I should be looking at with that vehicle? Also, I assume it comes with the standard comand system featuring the fiber optic loop?
Last edited by nubirthestate; Jan 2, 2022 at 09:32 PM.
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CLS400 4Matic EC Tuned
Definitely the CLS400.. It's a more fuel efficient and more powerful vehicle than the E350 (with wayyy better tuning potential if you're into that). Where are you located? Different markets have different options for this car. I wouldn't be afraid of turbocharger reliability at all, unless you're buying something with 160,000km+. I recommend you find one thats highly optioned out, in Canada that would be the premium package, sport package, and intelligent drive package. The US market, it would be both premium packages (I think), driver assistance package, and parking assist package. I can't believe in the US that you had to buy the parking assist package for the 360 camera and front/rear sensors, it should be standard or in one of the premium packages themselves.. Keep in mind that there is no difference between the 2015 and 2016 CLS400 except that in the infotainment screen, the 2016 has a feature in the software that shows oil temperature/horsepower/torque/transmission oil temperature. It's really only useful for seeing the temperatures to see when your car is truly warmed up; the horsepower and torque reading is just some "play" that you get from pressing on the accelerator. It's not a real indication of the power the vehicle is making at that point in time you're pressing on the accelerator.
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Thread Starter
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2000 s430
Definitely the CLS400.. It's a more fuel efficient and more powerful vehicle than the E350 (with wayyy better tuning potential if you're into that). Where are you located? Different markets have different options for this car. I wouldn't be afraid of turbocharger reliability at all, unless you're buying something with 160,000km+. I recommend you find one thats highly optioned out, in Canada that would be the premium package, sport package, and intelligent drive package. The US market, it would be both premium packages (I think), driver assistance package, and parking assist package. I can't believe in the US that you had to buy the parking assist package for the 360 camera and front/rear sensors, it should be standard or in one of the premium packages themselves.. Keep in mind that there is no difference between the 2015 and 2016 CLS400 except that in the infotainment screen, the 2016 has a feature in the software that shows oil temperature/horsepower/torque/transmission oil temperature. It's really only useful for seeing the temperatures to see when your car is truly warmed up; the horsepower and torque reading is just some "play" that you get from pressing on the accelerator. It's not a real indication of the power the vehicle is making at that point in time you're pressing on the accelerator.
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CLS400 4Matic EC Tuned
