MercedesBoss

My son who recently got his drivers lisence (17 yrs old) has been begging my for a CLS 55 AMG. I told him I would think about it.

What do you guys think?

Blk04cobra1

To be honest, if he's responsible and you think he is deserving of it, then go for it. We do not know your son, only you do. For me, it would be a little too much for a 17year old. Not only the power, but the car itself would only draw negative attention to him IMO. Good luck with your decision, you can find some great deals on 2006 CLS55's right now.

DucatiNut

IMHO...Tell him to get a job and pay for it himself..... that way he will appreciate it. Have many friends who give their kids fancy cars and all they do is mistreat them. Life is hard and this is not a good lesson on how to get somewhere. Apart from that, 470 hp in inexperienced hands.??? you gotta be crazy

MercedesBoss

really? how would such a beauty draw negative attention towards him?

MercedesBoss

No, he will take care of his car. He keeps my S600 and my wife's Porsche Cayenne in tip top shape. He is really into this car mechanics business.

C280 Sport

Take all this from me. I have three kids. What kind of a kid is he? He trustworthy? Gets good grades? Get into any trouble? Does he have a girlfriend?(Just bare with me here). Will he driving it to school? I purchases a brand new Mustang GT V8 for my oldest when was 16. Thank god nothing went wrong. Kept it on the road and out of the court room. My other kids of 20 and 16. The second oldest in College and says he doesnt need a car but my 16 year old wants an SLK. We will see what comes around. If he desrves it and can take care of your cars I say BUY IT for him.

MercedesBoss

Yeah same here i have two kids, both boys, one is 17 and the other 21. My 21 year old is a poster child but had a little speeding problem. I bought him a brand new corvette in 2006. Although he never got ticketed, people told me of his speeding problems.

My 17 year old is pretty popular at his school but is quiet and keeps to himself pretty much. The only reason I am considering this is because he rarely asks for much and is also the valedictorian of his class.

C280 Sport

I would say get it for him. He deserves it 100%. Where are you located? Looks around or have him pick it out.

MercedesBoss

I was thinking that i could get it for him and surprise him on his birthday (March), but i dont know what he would like. He are located in Corpus Christi, TX but we can easily go to San Antonio or Houston.

C280 Sport

Personally I would have him pick it out. Hes the one that has to live with it and drive it. You just want to make sure its right for him. He may like it but if he gets in and test drive it and hates it then its about $45,000 for nothing.

MercedesBoss

Yeah that's what i'll do. I'll fly him up to Houston and we'll pick one out there.

Thanks!

fasttommyv

Waaaay too much car for a 17 year old. 500hp is alot for experienced drivers to handle! Even if he is responsible and trustworthy, a 17 year old still lacks the driving skills and judgement that only experience can provide, and at that age they are more prone to make poor spontaneous decisions. Just look at the story about the kid who crashed his M5. He overshot the runway he was racing on at dark and went into a tree at 100+ killing him and all his passangers. Your kid probably isnt that irresponsible, but all a 500hp car needs is a little error in judgement, and he is a statistic.

IMO get him something nice, safe, luxurious and with decent power. Something like an Audi A4 3.2 or A6 4.2 would be good. Quattro will keep the car on the road, and theyll have enough power to have some fun, make tough freeway merges, but you'd really need to go crazy to get in trouble.

Improviz

This level of power and speed is something that you don't want to be giving to an inexperienced driver, imo.

This guy's dad did it, over his mom's objections, and even though the kid didn't have a drop of alcohol in him when this happened, his 18 year old judgement got the better of him, and tragedy was the result, with five young men killed:
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/228159-five-killed-2008-bmw-m5.html

Too risky...I can tell you with a pretty high level of certainty that, had I had a car this fast when I was 18, I wouldn't be sitting here typing this now.

Ymmv, but I'd get him something with under half of the horsepower that this thing makes.

C280 Sport

If he is smart with it and doesnt drive like an F1 driver on drugs then I am sure he will be fine. The car only goes as fast as he lets it go. Just drive it like a normal car, have him take driver ed and other driving programs and he should be fine. Have respect for 500bhp and you will live. Be crazy and stupid then your going into a tree.

auclutch

I definitely would not recommend this car for your son. despite his better than average judgment and intelligence, this car is too much to handle for an inexperienced driver. if you press on the gas on the highway it can spin out going 70mph... easily. although I would imagine the roads in TX are pretty dry, on a rainy day this car could also spell disaster.

500hp is a lot for anyone, let alone a young driver. imagine if his friends pressure him to top it out (180+mph) or to drag against a friend. do you think he could handle it? in all total honesty, a 911 turbo (which I have) is easier to handle than this car... (weight vs. power vs. braking vs. handling) every aspect of it. so if you're prepared to let your son drive a 911 turbo on drugs, go ahead.

ScottCLS55

+ 1 on not recommending this car.. Its just too risky.. Everyone will try to race with him and talk him into racing. He is wanting a CLS55 for a reason, He must know how fast and performance based it is. If not, why not get a CLS500.

I'm pretty mature and this car gets the best of me somedays, it just tempts you... eventually you have to give in and stomp it.

ps..don't take this the wrong way, your son sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders.

46woodie

Your son sounds like a kid we would all wish for and you seem like the father we would of all wanted, however the tree, power pole, or wall does not care if your son is poplar or valedictorian. A CLS55 is not the car for a 17 year old kid. Others are right, why does he want a car like this, if not to go fast. All it takes is the poplar girl to say "Let go fast". Reward him in another way. My 2 cents ,"NO WAY". Keep your son safe and enjoy many more years with him. Think of how you are going to feel when he is 30 minutes late coming home ? Or how you will feel if you get the call at 2 am... The lost or Seeing him is a wheelchair for life would be more than I could deal with and I know you feel the same. Regards, and good luck !
P.S. Besides, the back seat is useless for 17 year old kids...lol

bigben320e

I have to say no on the CLS55 as well. Yes he may be responsible, and a all around good kid, but temptation is very great at that age. Most drivers with 15 years under their belt don't know how to handle a car with 469HP, let alone 300.

I got good grades, went to college, and worked my way up to getting a car. I appreciate everything I have as I had to pay for it. You sound like a very loving and generous father, but this I feel is a little much for a first car.

CakeDaddy

This is suicide! It will be wrapped around a tree before you know it. This is too much car for 17 year old KID. Peer presure will be the killer and not to mention the hate and envy from others. Sorry, but just say "NO"

Zod

It is a dream car though...17 though hmmm, he might have to drive for at least 2 years ,i feel before heare ready for such a car, by then though it wil be old, and if he has driven the S600 alot,then he is used to the power.
Its in your hands

S600 power is nearly = or maybe even more Then cls55, if is it newer then 2003. Sot he power argument is off here a little, The cls55 will make him want to go faster though, its teh way its designed AMG

Just educate him on the examples you have seen here, about the M5 crash.
As for high speeds the car tops out at 150 (limiter), higher if it is a 030 package

Quadcammer

I don't think the car is too much for a 17 year old. That said, unless you are extremely wealthy, I think its a bit silly to give a 17 year old a $50k vehicle (especially one that stickered for about $100k).

If he is interested in performance, why not give him a fairly late model C55? That will have better handling, a bit less power, but still the nice MB amenities. It will also be significantly cheaper to own and maintain.

Blk04cobra1

By negative attention I meant how others at his high school might perceive him. Sounds like you have a very smart and respectful son, so he might be able to treat the car like an adult. Good luck with your choice, Im sure he would be grateful whatever color you got him.

khelawanb

I am not in a financial position to know whats its like to even think about buying my 17 year old son such a car.

My first car was a Ford Escort Pony, and my mother made sure that I worked my way up in life. She never bought me Jordan's, or fancy clothes, etc, even though she could have. I think this method of her's made me the man I am today. I love her for that.

You know your son better than we do, so do what you think is best.

I would probably get it as a wedding, or college graduation gift.

Dogshine

One son already has a speeding problem so gear up the other with a cls55 so they can go race and see who's got a faster car? Then they start modding them both to make them faster... What happens when one gets seriously maimed or killed in that first race.... Can you imagine the poor dad's mindset after just trying to be a good dad and giving his children the tools to kill themselves? Oh man. This is a messed up thread!

NJBoy115

A CLS55 AMG for your 17 yr old .... Lucky Kid!

Good luck with your purchase, there great cars!!