Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class 2003 $14,995

This sharp driving and looking Mercedes coupe is in excellent condition, with only 66,631 miles. With 362 horsepower and a curb weight of 3,635 pounds the performance is quite good, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds, and the handling on twisty roads is superb. Motor Trend published the following article in October of 2003:, , The recipe comes straight out of the 60s musclecar heyday: Drop a biggish engine into a smallish chassis to create a lusty, V-8-powered, two-door hardtop coupe. The word synergy wasnt around in 1965, but thats what Mercedes-Benz gets in its top-of-the-range CLK55 AMG: a performance car thats more than the sum of its parts. Those parts themselves arent especially humble, either. The second-generation CLK line appeared for 03 (a Cabrio joins the family in 04) using a lot of existing E Class componentry to bring the swagger of the flagship CL coupes to a friendlier price point. The rigid, aerodynamic body carries a full complement of Mercedes finest hardware, from well-sorted brakes, steering, and suspension bits to all the computer-based driver aids (Electronic Stability Control, Automatic Slip Control, Brake Assist, and more). ...Mercedes adds the stroked 5.5-liter V-8 assembled by in-house tuners AMG. ...In naturally aspirated form, the engine makes 362 horses and 376 lb-ft of torque, giving the 3635-pound CLK plenty of pop. Lapping Germanys Hockenheim race course (the new track through the stadium, not the old one through the woods), the CLK55 felt solid, but lively and eager. More responsive than the E55, more settled than the SL55, and more agile than the S55, the midsize coupe was the nicest of the line in hard direction changes, heavy braking into bends, and clawing out onto straights. The stiff body structure and supple suspension give good comfort and accurate control--about all we might have wished for was more talkative steering and a true manual gearbox. An impromptu slalom competition demonstrated not only how calm the CLK remains when being flogged and how lustily the V-8 pulls from modest revs, but also how enthusiastic the electronic-traction nanny can be. Dashes through the course, at equal levels of intensity, consistently gave faster times and less drama when the ESP and ASR were left engaged. The dampness of a morning shower especially emphasized the systems value, but even when the pavement dried, the electronics were still the fast way to go. Impressive. A dense array of luxury features and convenience items fills the CLKs interior, though the layout is more logical and intuitively manageable than some recent Mercedes. Front seats are an AMG-specific sport design, giving reasonable lateral retention while retaining the complex power adjustability, pneumatic contouring, and memory you expect. The back seat is sculpted into two buckets. , , At $69,470 suggested retail, the CLK55 AMG is a lot of money, but its also a lot of car. The pieces come together in a particularly happy way, blending the sheer thrust weve loved since the 60s with 21st-century polish., , 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG, Base price $69,470, Vehicle layout Front engine, rwd, 2-door, 4-pass, Engine 5.5L-362-hp V-8, SOHC, 3 valves-cyl, 0-60 mph, sec 4.9, 1-4 mile, sec@mph 13.24 @ 107.41, Braking, 60-0, ft 116, 600-ft slalom, mph 65.8, Skidpad, g 0.83

• ABS Brakes
• Cargo Area Tiedowns
• Electrochromic Exterior Rearview Mirror
• Alloy Wheels
• Curb Weight-automatic: 3635 lbs
• Electrochromic Interior Rearview Mirror
• Anti-Brake System: 4-Wheel ABS
• Daytime Running Lights
• Engine Type: 5.4L V8 SOHC 24V
• Automatic Headlights
• Driver Airbag
• Fog Lights
• Body Style: COUPE 2-DR
• Driver Multi-Adjustable Power Seat
• Front Air Dam