Still Pissed....

[kaps]

k, i know i expressed this before, but after finding out that the new clk55 is on mbusa.com, i was reminded at how infuriated i am at mercedes for the way theyve treated the clk55. every other amg model has been thorougly upgraded from the e55 to the s55 to the cl55, etc., and there was very little increase in price. yet, here is the clk55....400 lbs heavier....20 more hp....same torque....and UGLIER....and i really feel like its very overpriced now...why, i ask, did benz treat the clk55 so poorly? esp. when it has the most potential to be the best "sports car" in the mb lineup? its pretty much the best size.....not too heavy (well, the w209 is)....and even if they didnt drop the SC v8 (which should be in there!), they could have at least gotten more out of the n/a v8....its basically the only model that still has the N/A v8, save for the ml55, which is soon to be extinct with the new ML class thats coming soon....so i just felt like venting cause im thoroghly disappointed with the new clk55amg and the way benz treated it, and am very jealous of all the new amg's that were vastly improved, which shouldve included the clk too. i def will keep my w208, no more clk's for me.

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[Ebrigham]

Originally posted by kaps
k, i know i expressed this before...

Call me an optimist, but I bet MB will put one of those nasty supercharged engines into the CLK 55 within 3 years for regular production. Of course, I could be completely wrong...

In the interim, voting with your wallet is the right thing to do.

[Aus]

I agree with both of you

[FrankW]

well, it's because the best "sports" car in the MB line up is the SL55 AMG. Although the CLK might look like the E-class coupe, but it's based on the C-class. With the extra kompressor on top of the engine, means more weight to the front. Which might result in disapointing handling ability. I think the NEW CLK55 is just fine with the newer NA V8. It's still going to be a great car.

a CLK55 with the kompressor might be a special vehicle from AMG in a couple years.

[tango]

clk supposed to be related to the C class or the CL class? im confused..

Oh come on guys, have you guys not seen teh recent AND old posts regarding teh CLk V8 Kompressor, that AMG can make for you, it also has F1 safety car bodykit. they can't put that engine in teh new CLK without charing you for it, I'm still a bit angry that they have put that engine in the E-class it takes the exclusivity awawy from the Sl, the car that the sound of the engine actually suits.

[FrankW]

Originally posted by tango
clk supposed to be related to the C class or the CL class? im confused..

if you remember the old E-coupe that was sold in coupe and convertible form. The CLK is supposed to be the replacement for that E-coupe. By using the chassi of the C-class, MB saved a lot of money on producing the car and for the buyer. That is why the W208 looks like the W210 E-class and the W209 still retain some of the look of the W211 E-class.

The CLK name is just a name MB dig up to say it's a smaller CL two door type car. Nothing more.

[tango]

then its supposed to be a small CL not C

[G1zm0]

Originally posted by kaps
k, i know i expressed this before, but after finding out that the new clk55 is on mbusa.com, i was reminded at how infuriated i am at mercedes for the way theyve treated the clk55. every other amg model has been thorougly upgraded from the e55 to the s55 to the cl55, etc., and there was very little increase in price. yet, here is the clk55....400 lbs heavier....20 more hp....same torque....and UGLIER....and i really feel like its very overpriced now...why, i ask, did benz treat the clk55 so poorly? esp. when it has the most potential to be the best "sports car" in the mb lineup? its pretty much the best size.....not too heavy (well, the w209 is)....and even if they didnt drop the SC v8 (which should be in there!), they could have at least gotten more out of the n/a v8....its basically the only model that still has the N/A v8, save for the ml55, which is soon to be extinct with the new ML class thats coming soon....so i just felt like venting cause im thoroghly disappointed with the new clk55amg and the way benz treated it, and am very jealous of all the new amg's that were vastly improved, which shouldve included the clk too. i def will keep my w208, no more clk's for me.

I totally agree with you.
If money wasn't a thing I'd put the SL55 engine in my CLK55

[f1vu]

I agree with all of your posts.

Guys, if you really want to kill the new SL55 car and engine, just add on the Kleemann supercharger. I read somewhere that the technology used in the Kleemann SC is superior to the the new SL55 AMG engine and also puts out more HP (550 bhp instead of the 496 bhp on the SL55). The technology used in the SL55 SC is licensed/OE from some Japanese SC company.

Kleemann SC is much better the the new SC in the SL55.

I am serriously thinking of putting on the Kleemann SS on my 2001 CLK55 this year.

[karl k]

Originally posted by kaps
k, i know i expressed this before, but after finding out that the new clk55 is on mbusa.com, i was reminded at how infuriated i am at mercedes for the way theyve treated the clk55. every other amg model has been thorougly upgraded from the e55 to the s55 to the cl55, etc., and there was very little increase in price. yet, here is the clk55....400 lbs heavier....20 more hp....same torque....and UGLIER....and i really feel like its very overpriced now...why, i ask, did benz treat the clk55 so poorly? esp. when it has the most potential to be the best "sports car" in the mb lineup? its pretty much the best size.....not too heavy (well, the w209 is)....and even if they didnt drop the SC v8 (which should be in there!), they could have at least gotten more out of the n/a v8....its basically the only model that still has the N/A v8, save for the ml55, which is soon to be extinct with the new ML class thats coming soon....so i just felt like venting cause im thoroghly disappointed with the new clk55amg and the way benz treated it, and am very jealous of all the new amg's that were vastly improved, which shouldve included the clk too. i def will keep my w208, no more clk's for me.

I agree that the 209 is a disappointment.

Because at best, it is not what it is,-- but moreover what it could have been.

Another opportunity of GREATNESS - in the Karl Benz tradition - has been lost.

...so pityful!!

[tango]

Originally posted by karl k
I agree that the 209 is a disappointment.

Because at best, it is not what it is,-- but moreover what it could have been.

Another opportunity of GREATNESS - in the Karl Benz tradition - has been lost.

...so pityful!!

enuff bashing of the 209 sour grape, give it a rest now will ya?! cry me a river

[Ted Baldwin]

well, it's because the best "sports" car in the MB line up is the SL55 AMG. Although the CLK might look like the E-class coupe, but it's based on the C-class. With the extra kompressor on top of the engine, means more weight to the front. Which might result in disapointing handling ability. I think the NEW CLK55 is just fine with the newer NA V8. It's still going to be a great car.

.............I think this has been discussed before. MB is not going to put the supercharged 469HP engine in a CLK55. The CLK weighs less and it will result in the CLK 55 outperforming the SL55 which costs twice the price of the CLK. This is basically the mistake Chevrolet made with the Camaro and the corvette before the Z06. The Camaro will outperform the corvette in all their testing but they will not publish it. But word got arround and it cost them corvette sales. MB is already trying to do something to prop up the SL55 by purposely placing more restrictive air intake system in the E55 and labelling its HP as 469 not 496 as in the SL. This has nothing to do with extra weight in the front causing poor performance. The folks that put KleemanS/c in their cars don't suffer from poorer performance. This is not W209 bashing......The W208 CLK 55 will as a result of the screw ups with its W209 counterpart remain a very sought after car.

Ted

[AMG4life]

if u dont like the new clk 55, u can always get a 996 carerra/4s or a SL 500/55 if money is no object. at least thats what im planning to do. frankly i dont really dig the new clk either tho it still looks nice.

[karl k]

Originally posted by Ted Baldwin

.............I think this has been discussed before. MB is not going to put the supercharged 469HP engine in a CLK55. The CLK weighs less and it will result in the CLK 55 outperforming the SL55 which costs twice the price of the CLK. This is basically the mistake Chevrolet made with the Camaro and the corvette before the Z06. The Camaro will outperform the corvette in all their testing but they will not publish it. But word got arround and it cost them corvette sales. MB is already trying to do something to prop up the SL55 by purposely placing more restrictive air intake system in the E55 and labelling its HP as 469 not 496 as in the SL. This has nothing to do with extra weight in the front causing poor performance. The folks that put KleemanS/c in their cars don't suffer from poorer performance. This is not W209 bashing......The W208 CLK 55 will as a result of the screw ups with its W209 counterpart remain a very sought after car.

Ted

Ted - well put.

...and considering, that there are only 2k CLK55 AMGs adoring the roads of the Western Hemisphere.

[G1zm0]

I agree, I'm not angry though just disappointed

[ndabunka]

Ted's comments above were right on the money. Look at the weight difference between the base models of each car. Even the new CLK500 is 460lbs lighter than the new SL500 (3585 vs. 4045). MB obviously couldn't have the $74K car outperforming the flagship SL-series now could it? Granted, the price increase from '02 to '03 SHOULD have warranted "some" additional performance, but what-the-heck. Driving one of the new ones helped me with my decision to buy a used '01 CLK55. Got all the performance for a good $25K (or better) less than the new acura, oh, um, the new body style (Love the front, hate the rear).

[FrankW]

Originally posted by ndabunka
Ted's comments above were right on the money. Look at the weight difference between the base models of each car. Even the new CLK500 is 460lbs lighter than the new SL500 (3585 vs. 4045). MB obviously couldn't have the $74K car outperforming the flagship SL-series now could it? Granted, the price increase from '02 to '03 SHOULD have warranted "some" additional performance, but what-the-heck. Driving one of the new ones helped me with my decision to buy a used '01 CLK55. Got all the performance for a good $25K (or better) less than the new acura, oh, um, the new body style (Love the front, hate the rear).

PRICE says it all when the 208 and 209 55s have the similar performance. Like all of you, I would get a used 208 55 just because it's a cheaper buy. But it doesn't make one or the other better.

[tango]

frank i think sometimes ppl just have too thick of a skullcap.