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Mercedes-benz Used Cars- A Look At The Clk-class
Mercedes-Benz used cars like the CLK-Class was brought on to the production floor back in 1996. The CLK was developed to compete against the likes of the BMW 3-series coupe-convertible, Audi A4 cabrio and the Volvo C70. This particular Mercedes can be expensive to buy new so as a Canadian it would be worth your while to look at this model in the U.S. as a used vehicle. Since the Canadian dollar has been over parity, I wanted to do some research on high end vehicles such as the CLK-Class as used vehicle to look at.

Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class used cars:

I looked at models of the CLK-Class from the years 2004 to 2008 and was impressed with the interior design of the vehicle. This model has all the whistle bells when it comes to luxury and you notice that when you sit in one of them. The CLK comes with high end leather seats and a nicely designed speedometer and engine gage system to look at. The center console is easy to read and is equipped with a GPS navigation system. The CLK comes standard with power steering, ABS brakes, power windows, am-fm radio and a CD-Player just to name a few.

A found several fuel statistics for the different models the CLK-Class has to offer. The CLK 320 model has a fuel rating 12.2 litre, per 100km, for city driving and 8.1-litre, per 100km for highway driving. The CLK 430 model has a fuel rating of 13.3-litre, per 100km, for city driving and 9-litre, per 100km, for highway driving. The CLK 550 has a fuel rating of 14.5-litre, per 100km for city driving and 7.7-litre, per 100km for highway driving. There top model, the CLK 63 AMG has a fuel rating of 18.4-litre, per 100km, for city driving and 11-litre, per 100km, for highway driving.

There are several different engine sizes for the various models that the CLK-Class has to offer. There base model, the 320 CLK has a V6, 3.2-litre engine and this produces 215 horsepower. The CLK 430 has a V8, 4.3-litre engine and this has 275 horsepower under the hood. The CLK 500 has a V8, 5-litre engine and this produces 302 horsepower. The CLK 550 has a V8, 5.5-litre engine and that produces 382 horsepower. Their best model, the CLK 63 AMG has a 6.3-litre engine and this produces 475 horsepower.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of the Mercedes CLK-Class as a used vehicle:
1-There models from 2003 had coolant leaking from the transmission.
2-An online watch dog reports that oil can leak from these particular models.
3- Leaks from the air conditioning unit are well known.
4-I could not find any reports on crash tests done to the CLK-Class. The two leading organizations that crash tests vehicles show know reports on the CLK ever being in a crash tested.

I hope this helps if your think of buying Mercedes used cars like the CLK-Class.

New Mercedes C Coupe AMG coming out

The storied history of famous AMG coupes began in the ’80s with the 450SLC AMG, 280CE 5.0 AMG, 500SEC 32V AMG and the 300CE 6.0 The Hammer.

Fast forward to the new millennium and you have the likes of the CL65 AMG and CLK63 AMG Black Series. My favourite is the CL65 because the 1,000Nm of torque should feel like it can peel the skin off your face when you floor the accelerator.

Recently, the C-Class _ which already has the C63 saloon and estate AMG variants _ got a new attractive bodyshell style: C63 AMG Coupe. Competing against the Audi RS5 and BMW M3 Coupe, Mercedes’ newest Coupe by AMG is mean.

Under the hood is a hand-built 32-valve 6.2-litre V8 engine that delivers 457hp and 600Nm of torque; output can be increased to 487hp with an AMG Performance Package which, according to AMG, uses the crankshafts, rods and a retuned ECU system from the SLS “Gullwing” supercar.

The C63 sprints to 100kph from a standstill in 4.5sec and tops out at an electronically-controlled 250kph (4.4sec and 280kph with AMG’s Performance Package).

To counter all this testosterone are two-piece front brake rotors and harder brake pads; other cosmetic changes include a carbon fibre spoiler and red brake calipers. The brakes are very responsive at short braking and also display excellent fade resistance.

The steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara and leather is very precise, although a tad light, taking a bit of feedback from the wheel because a slight twitch results in directional change. Yet, the C63 is always composed on the road and the racetrack around the outskirts of Seville, Spain.

The front seats are comfortable and supportive; even the rear seats allowed Mercedes-Benz Thailand’s PR manager to sit cross-legged at the rear.

The suspension is firm and the widened front track makes sure the C63 is able to negotiate in and out of corners with effortless ease. The dynamic handling of the C63 is flawless. At least, I thought I could keep up with the SLS lead car at the Circuito Monteblanc race track.

But the sound engineering produced by the C63′s V8 is absolutely intoxicating. Stress the engine and you get that deep baritone thunderstorm-like rumble as if Thor (Norse god of lightning) went on an all-you-can-eat buffet binge; lift the throttle and a siren-like heightened roar develops.

Mated to all this power is the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT seven-speed sports transmission with standard-fit Controlled Efficiency C mode that provides early comfortable upshifts while maintaining lowest possible engine speed for improved fuel economy.

Also featured are the S, S+ and M modes for more agility via a new rotary control just like in the SLS. AMG says gear changes in S+ and M modes require only 100 milliseconds.

A wet start-up clutch replaces the torque convertor which helps in the dynamics and faster shifts, but the paddle shifters made me wait when I wanted multiple gear-changes.

The design is typical AMG with a bespoke front skirt, LED daytime running lights and side air vents. Power-domes on a newly-designed aluminium hood give it a robust presence. Its profile is accentuated by wide front wheel arches and special side skirts and new alloys.

At the rear is a new rear skirt with black diffuser insert and then there is the two-chromed twin tailpipes that make it distinctly AMG.

The C63 is fast and very easy to control. I can’t say enough about its awesome exhaust sound (no disrespect to Thor).

It is truly an everyday high-performance coup offered at an entry-level AMG with lots of new tech such as LED lights for daytime running lights, LED tail lights