CLK question(s) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rickg · #1 03-13-2009, 10:04 PM

Ok. So I'm FINALLY considering another Benz. (No, I'm not selling the Lexus)
I see the circa 2000 CLK 320's are down in the price range I'd spill for, and I love the model. My main concern, considering where I live, are these things worth a damn in the snow? (With decent winter tires of course) I'm a pretty devoted fan of front or AWD cars in the snow(hence the Subie). But the little Subie is getting damn boring. And it just won't die!! There's couple CLK's close by in the $8k to $9k range, with 90k to 100k miles on them. And I see M-B has finally owned up to that harmonic balancer issue, which has kept me way away from Benz for awhile now.

PaulC · #2 03-13-2009, 10:33 PM

I think that ground clearance would be the primary impediment to deep snow driving. Furthermore, in my opinion, FWD/AWD spoils winter drivers from returning to RWD. Last time there was a bit of snow in my neighborhood, I drove my Tahoe for about a mile in 2WD. Sucked.

Audi A4 w/AWD? Audi TT w/AWD? BMW 3-series AWD?

rickg · #3 03-13-2009, 10:56 PM

Yeah, was afraid of that. That's one reason the Lexus goes in the garage for the winter. That and I want to keep it out of the salt. Only time I had it in the snow, it had terrible tires on it, fresh from Las Vegas where I bought it. Even with the traction control, I got stuck in my own driveway. It has good Michelin tires now, but haven't ventured out in the white stuff with it.
Audi's are REAL popular around here, but I don't need a money pit like those. I've known just enough folks with Audis to know to stay the heck away from one without a factory warenty. Love the cars otherwise.
And I haven't heard much encouraging news about the reliability of M-B's AWD system, whatever it's called, at least on that vintage car. Maybe the newer ones have it sorted out.
Oh well. I guess it's back to a Subie. Did look at the new ones at the car show a few months ago. Pretty nice cars! And I can pick up a decent used one for not much more than the CLK's I've been eyeing.

G-Benz · #4 03-14-2009, 09:50 AM

Moreso than handling, you'll destroy the front air dam in the winter! Heck, I have trouble not messing it up in Texas!

Prevalent with these models is the failure of the LED displays on the gauge cluster...check for that when you look for your CLK...

rickg · #5 03-14-2009, 01:37 PM

Thanks! That's the kind of stuff I'm looking for, to look for. After I bought the Lexus, I learned that the LCD display on the stereo dies, which mine has. Why can't they design these kind of things to last?

iwrock · #6 03-14-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickg

Thanks! That's the kind of stuff I'm looking for, to look for. After I bought the Lexus, I learned that the LCD display on the stereo dies, which mine has. Why can't they design these kind of things to last?

*GASP* A Lexus with problems?