cong28

My brother's lease is up for his Q45 and wants a Mercedes. He was debating about the C32 or the 2003 CLK430. My brother likes the looks of the CLK but for the same amount of money he can get more horsepower from the C32. He still doesn’t like the idea that the C32 is a C-Class, which is the lowest class of the Mercedes. Also, my mom just bought a C240 and he doesn’t want the same kind of car in the family even though it’s a different model. I’m telling him to get the C32 because it has 349hp and it’s 4 door and have more space then the CLK. But for now, he’s still debating until his lease if over which is in February. What do you guys think he should get? He won’t get a GS because I already have one.

Francis K

I'm in the market for either a G4 or a CLK so I've done a bit of reasearch......

CLK will be re-designed in a 2003 model so expect to pay alot for it......it should be faster but doesn't come in a 8 cylinder.

Try a CLK55AMG if that's not out of his budget or get a 2000 CLK430...enjoy it...sell it before the new model comes out and before the warranty is up...

fever

Hands down, the C32. The C is nothing to be ashamed of; the days of the 190's are gone. But, hey, if he's insecure and is worried about impressing people who are unaware of the technical genius of the C32 and breathtaking performance, fine, overpay for the CLK.
Frankly, I think the C32 has all the panache of any other Benz short of the v12s, CL or Maybach. The C32 is a winner.

Intellexual

I agree whole heartedly with Fever

Seriously, the AMG line up is in a class of its own, nothing to be ashamed about owning a C32 just because its a C-class.

CLK430's are a dime a dozen in my area so any AMG car would be impressive.

If it was up to me, I'd get a C32 and debadge it to surprise some folks

Mr Johnson

I'm with fever on this. The C32 is a very sweet car. It isn't roomy by any standards but it has reasonable 4 dr sedan room while retaining some serious performance.

Won't get a GS4 because you've got one ? If he wants to stand out there are a bunch of other cars he could buy. If he just wants to know for himself what he's got he can't go wrong with a C32.

My $0.02,

Peter

gsnav

If you do a lot of research on mercedes. The 430 engines are being discontinued by 2003. They are being slowly cut out of their lines. They will replace it, with i think a 4.0 liter engine instead of 4.3.

GS4Will

hey Cong,

no offense here ..this is truly a no-brainer. C32 please...clks are based on the old c-class chasis, which IMHO, is another way for benz to rip in hugh profit by using the old c-platform, instead of redesigning/making a new one. plus, the new clk will be here next year.

RacingAristo

I agree with SICK. If you think C32 is the lowest class in Mercedes and if you own it, you feel terrible by the badge. By all mean, buy whatever you can be proud of.

It's what's inside that counts.

biggie27

in ,y opinion the only mercedes worth bying would be the AMG class or the 600's but thats it all the other ones are not that great, I drove my dads 2002 S500 and to tell you the truth I was not impressed at all.

Iceman

I can't quite put my finger on it, but the C-class doesn't impress me. The CLK, on the other hand, is a fine looking automobile. I don't really care if it was built on the "old" C-class platform. When I bought my Acura CL (and was also shopping for a Prelude), the Honda dealers kept telling not to get the CL because the new Accord coupe had come out and the CL was based on the "old" platform. Who the hell cares?

willard west

Leaving a Q45 his only consideration should be the LS430.

mooretorque

Presumably the Q he's leaving is the previous generation; he ought to drive the new one. The front end, to me is buttugly but Infiniti has restored some of the performance associated with the first generation.

But anything AMG gets their hands on is almost not "just" a Merc anymore (I know MB brought AMG in house a few years back, but they've kept their hands off the way the business is done). If it's got to be MB, it oughta be C32.

SCWells72

I'd recommend the C32 AMG if he wants a definitely Benz maxing out in that price range. As for the car being based on the entry-level Benz, ask him if he considers the M3 to be "just the entry-level BMW!" I'd think that the AMG or //M badge is the standout over the C or 3 badge on the tuner cars!

Francis K

Like how in the GS we describe our HP as "working horsepower". The CLK is extremely light yet has been tested up to 6.5 0-60 with 275hp.......?