Quote:
Originally Posted by Dee8go
How do you like the CLK, Gee? Sorry for the hijack.
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It's kinda like comparing apples to oranges.
We did the switch because for one, my wife's knees could no longer handle her climbing out of a low-slung vehicle...the CLK sits a bit higher.
The CLK has a rear seat...the SL does not. We have a kid who's growing up...case closed.
The SL has a hardtop included, so the ragtop has a plastic window. Ours split within six months of ownership (fixed under limited warranty)...the CLK has a permanent ragtop with a glass rear windshield (heck, even the old VW convertibles had glass rear windows!) The SL hardtop went on the car twice...upon delivery, and upon trade-in...it mostly dangled precariously over the car via the roof hoist during our ownership.
The 4.3L motor on the CLK seems more powerful than the 5.0 in the SL...still, the SL moved quite rapidly, but felt like a far heavier car. So this could all be perception. The CLK is a bit more stable when stomping on the gas...the SL was a total beast, breaking the rear wheels loose like a NHRA funny car!
The SL seemed to have a more robust chassis, which is paramount to any convertible lacking the extra support from a canopy. The CLK groans a bit regardless of pavement quality, so perhaps the R129 was built more solidly.
The CLK has a HUGE blind spot due to the vast area of the C-pillar. Best driven with the top down. The SL is plagued with the same, but the C-pillar is not as wide.
Both V8-equipped cars are all engine up front, so the battery for each car sits in the rear compartment. Weird sizes, so expect to spend a chunk upon replacement.
The R129 got lots of approving nods, as everyone recognizes the SL as the flagship luxury roadster. The CLK, not as much, as there are more of them around, especially the hardtop versions. The paint scheme on my wife's CLK along with the chrome AMGs do help it garner more attention.
But the R129 is looking dated, especially with R230s cruising the streets. The newer CLKs body lines didn't depart much from the very first model year, so the car doesn't look as old.
The cars:
