Cabriolet

Max (SD) · 07-13-2003, 11:02 PM

We are number 1 at our local dealer for the CLK 55Cab. Wife really wants a cab. Wants to trade in the ML320. Just received brochure, the option that I would select are;

Active Ventilated front seats
6-disc changer
Lighting package
Everything else is not necessary.

Since MBUSA has not upgraged their "build your own" feature, I built a coupe CLK55, with comprable specs and it came out to about $72K.

How much do more do you think the cab will be? I am assuming between $5k and $7k.

Now the real dilemna.

I also built an E55 and it ran aout $82k for what I would want. To me that seems a difference of about $5k.

For this extra amount I feel the E55 is a much more substantial car. Should I start lobying the wife to change her mind? This will be our first CLK, so all those with prevous CLK experience please chime in. One argument that I can use against the CLK, is our two kids 3.5 and 4.5 (in booster seats) may be a pain to get them in an out of the back seats.

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55 cabdriver · 07-28-2003, 12:32 AM

Not sure if this helps...but my 208 55 cab stickered at 82k w/o command, but I was able to get close to $5k off. Bought in January in Sioux Falls, SD off of Ebay from the MBZ dealer there. I was waitlisted at my local dealer for the new e55, and was intending to do a trade in, but while waiting drove an 03 C32, and decided to buy that one instead, and kept the 55 cab. The c32 gave me 95% of the e55 performance, and I still have the cab to enjoy on sunny days! My cab just turned over 20k miles; took my 10 year old daughter on a 1,800 mile, ten day road trip and we never put the top up. The c32 is one heck of a car, too.

E55AMG99 · 07-28-2003, 12:52 AM

3.5 and 4.5 years old AND boster seats? Go with the E class. Aside from being a huge difference in performance, your back will thank you later! I have both a 210 and a 208 cab as well as 2 kids (11 and 14). I'm 6'03" which makes the seat behind me useless. My wife drives the cab as a secondary car and the only time we take it on a trip is if the wife and I are going alone. The kids hate the back seat. Getting kids buckled in and out of the back is going to be a nightmare.

Either way, go with the charcoal interior. The kids will make a mess of the ash.

CME4BENZ · 07-28-2003, 04:11 PM

Decisions, decisions.

First of all:
Base price of 2004 CLK55 cab = base, $79,500 + $720 D&D + $1,300 gas guzzler = $81,520

Base price of E55 = $76,000 + $720 D&D + $1700 = $78,420

If performance is your priority then the E55 provides much more HP for less $.

If a convertible is a priority then the CLK55 is the fastest MB Cab. made and is no slouch with 362 HP (although it gives up 100HP to the E55)

2 doors, plenty of performance and a drop top
VS.
4 doors and over the top performance

I personally like performance over style (E55)
If style and "convertibleness" are important than the CLK55 is the one.

2 very different animals, you can't go wrong either way.

P.S. I see so many people buy cabs that are not really "convertible people". If you are going to buy the cab and then drive around with the top up and the A/C blowing all summer do us a favor and get the E. There's nothing that irks me more than seeing a beautiful cab/conv. on a beautiful day with the top up. Has your wife had a conv. before? Will she be OK with her hair being "messed up". If not don't waste the 10K on a cab that will not get used. (Sorry, one of my peaves, nothing personal)

reb13 · 07-28-2003, 06:43 PM

I agree. When I bought my 430 cab I thought I would use it all the time. But with the midwest weather, lots of highway driving, etc., I don't drive with the top down nearly as much as I thought i would. And, if you or your wife are a "hate squeaks and rattles" person, don't get the cab. Even though its an MB, the diminished structural rigidity of the cab makes them unavoidable. I was surprised at how many mine had. That's one of the reasons why I'm getting rid of my cab for the E55.

Quik$ilver · 08-19-2003, 06:33 AM

hey this is my first post. i think the E55 AMG has more bang for your bucks but the CLK55 AMG has more street cred-and who can not love the wind in your hair. cant you get childrens seats ?????? as an opion?

Quik$ilver · 08-19-2003, 06:34 AM

as an option** sorry

07-28-2003, 12:32 AM	#2
55 cabdriver Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 74 Drives: '02 CLK 55 cabrio (sold), '03 C32 (sold), '04 R32 (sold), '04 911/X-51 (keeper)	cab Not sure if this helps...but my 208 55 cab stickered at 82k w/o command, but I was able to get close to $5k off. Bought in January in Sioux Falls, SD off of Ebay from the MBZ dealer there. I was waitlisted at my local dealer for the new e55, and was intending to do a trade in, but while waiting drove an 03 C32, and decided to buy that one instead, and kept the 55 cab. The c32 gave me 95% of the e55 performance, and I still have the cab to enjoy on sunny days! My cab just turned over 20k miles; took my 10 year old daughter on a 1,800 mile, ten day road trip and we never put the top up. The c32 is one heck of a car, too.

07-28-2003, 04:11 PM	#4
CME4BENZ Super Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 629 Drives: All of the above	E55 vs. CLK55 cab? Decisions, decisions. First of all: Base price of 2004 CLK55 cab = base, $79,500 + $720 D&D + $1,300 gas guzzler = $81,520 Base price of E55 = $76,000 + $720 D&D + $1700 = $78,420 If performance is your priority then the E55 provides much more HP for less $. If a convertible is a priority then the CLK55 is the fastest MB Cab. made and is no slouch with 362 HP (although it gives up 100HP to the E55) 2 doors, plenty of performance and a drop top VS. 4 doors and over the top performance I personally like performance over style (E55) If style and "convertibleness" are important than the CLK55 is the one. 2 very different animals, you can't go wrong either way. P.S. I see so many people buy cabs that are not really "convertible people". If you are going to buy the cab and then drive around with the top up and the A/C blowing all summer do us a favor and get the E. There's nothing that irks me more than seeing a beautiful cab/conv. on a beautiful day with the top up. Has your wife had a conv. before? Will she be OK with her hair being "messed up". If not don't waste the 10K on a cab that will not get used. (Sorry, one of my peaves, nothing personal) __________________ never put off till tomorrow if you can: ride/drive/fly/dance/sing today! 1991 300CE Cabernet / Palamino (the last true "E class coupe") 2003 Yamaha FJR1300 1994 Ducati 900SuperSport 1982 Suzuki GS1100E 1988 Ford Econoline E250 w/ hydraulic lift for the bikes (track van)

08-19-2003, 06:34 AM	#7
Quik$ilver Newbie Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 26 Drives: Clk 55 AMG Cabriolet	as an option** sorry __________________ 1.2004-CLK 55 AMG Cabriolet (on order) 2.C 32 K AMG(wife) 3.2001 E430(until my CLK/SL arrives) 4.2003 E55AMG (sold)

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07-28-2003, 12:52 AM	#3
E55AMG99 MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: WOT somewhere in the Bay Area Posts: 3,438 Drives: '10 E63 soon, '09 C63, '09 Denali, 08 Range Rover, '08 ZO6, '07 Rubicon	3.5 and 4.5 years old AND boster seats? Go with the E class. Aside from being a huge difference in performance, your back will thank you later! I have both a 210 and a 208 cab as well as 2 kids (11 and 14). I'm 6'03" which makes the seat behind me useless. My wife drives the cab as a secondary car and the only time we take it on a trip is if the wife and I are going alone. The kids hate the back seat. Getting kids buckled in and out of the back is going to be a nightmare. Either way, go with the charcoal interior. The kids will make a mess of the ash.

07-28-2003, 06:43 PM	#5
reb13 Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 77	I agree. When I bought my 430 cab I thought I would use it all the time. But with the midwest weather, lots of highway driving, etc., I don't drive with the top down nearly as much as I thought i would. And, if you or your wife are a "hate squeaks and rattles" person, don't get the cab. Even though its an MB, the diminished structural rigidity of the cab makes them unavoidable. I was surprised at how many mine had. That's one of the reasons why I'm getting rid of my cab for the E55.

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