CLK230, 320 or 430?

[AK76]

Hi, I'm brand new to this and am lucky enough to be about to break my MB cherry. However i have a choice dilemma.

I love the CLK and thats what i'm looking to buy. However i dont know whether to get a 230,320 or 430?

I've driven a 230K C Class and it was a little pokey but a bit rough. It is fairly common and as such easier to find.

I really fancy a 320 but havent driven one. It seems like the best one with a good mix of performance, refinement, cheap-ish insurance.

The 430 is a very, very attractive proposition but i'm wondering about a few things:

1. the prices are similar to a 320 which makes me think that its a heavier depreciator and potentially more difficult to sell in a few years.

2. Performance is quite important but a few mags have quoted 7.4 -60 for the 320 and 430. i know this isnt the best benchmark but it seems that its a little too similar for my liking. what are the real performance differences in the real world (taking into account the 430 is a lot heavier)?

3. Fuel consumption isnt a huge issue but what sort of mpg does the 430 give as opposed to the 320?

All help greatly appreciated as i really want to make the right choice.

 

[wagamama]

Hi Ak76,
in answer to question 3:
from the MB website:
the 320 gives around
City 17
Extra urban 35.3
Combined 25.5

the 430 gives
City 15.5
Extra urban 31
Combined 22.8

thou i've found the fuel consumption rarely reaches the quoted figures. I normally get 12-15 mpg from home to work, which is about 6 miles, and I drive a C240.

HTH

 

[AK76]

Thanks for the reply -very helpful - especially the bit about your C240.

I usually take the manufacturers figures with a pinch of salt because they dont get those figures under realistic circumstances (test track and all that). I usually like to check what owners get out of a tank because that gives a full average figure.

the bit about to and from work is so true - at the moment i have a golf gti and get about 16-20 mpg to and from work and i dont rag it to death! its just the engine is cold and so only once its warmed up does the average hit about 28-30. I just wonder with a 430 if you have 'a bit of a go' in it if you're looking at more like 12-15mpg?!

 

[wagamama]

Well, if i put my foot down a bit, i usually get 10-13mpg, but am driving quite gently now, so am getting nearer 12-15. Not that much of a difference!
The quoted fuel consumption figures for my car are:
City: 18.0
Extra Urban: 35.8
Combined: 26.4

so, i would guess you could take the manufacturers figures and deduct 15-20% from that to get real life figures.

 

[toady]

I suggest you have a look @: www.bensoncars.co.uk as they have cracking clks: one 430 and one 230 as well as a decent selection of other high spec mercs, bmws, jags and even an DB7 for £35k with really low miles!!! Proper pics are also inc for each car! Worth a look just to see whats out there.

Hope this helps...

 

[Arnie]

About two years ago, I was considering the same choice of either 320 or 430 CLK. In the end, I bought neither, but the 430 would have been my favourite. It is actually faster than the 320 and the engine is much nicer sounding. The salesman giving me a testdrive put his foot down on a strecth of A4 and hit 80 mph in just a few seconds. The 430 also has better brakes and few more extras than the 320. Second hand prices may be similar because, as you say, the depreciation is much heavier on the 430 and that is also due to the higher servicing costs (from MB) and higher insurance. However, if you intend to keep it for a long time and can find a good independent service place then the 430 is the more fun car. The 320 though, would be perhaps the "sensible" choice. But, if you really want a sports coupe, unfortunately, as good as it is, the recirc-ball steering is a bit woolly, the standard wheels and tyres are relatively small (17" is option), and the chassis is based on a two-generations old C-class. There is no-doubt that any merc will hold its value over time, but I would also give the BMW 330-Ci a serious look. The interior fit and finish on the BM is also a class better than Merc was in them days. The new CLK has fixed most of the problems of the old one, but in my view has lost some of the nice styling features, such as the swooping rear pillar. You may wish to keep a lookout for the "designo" versions of the CLK that came out towards the end and which had more interesting colours and finishes. Anyway, tough choice.

 

[AK76]

Thanks for all your help. I must admit the 430 appears attractive on the face of it but the cost and depreciation make it a scary thought and the 320 perhaps that little bit more sensible.

I have been looking at BMW 330ci's and they are quite an attractive proposition - the only thing being that i live in bournemouth and they're a bit clitoris (you probably know what i mean!)

The Merc is getting older and i am fretting that now its been replaced how the values might be affected. The new ones nice, its jsut a shame it nicked the rear end off of a volvo c70! The old one still has that presence that i dont think the new one does tho.

Regards servicing i was planning to use Motech near Pokesdown - my girlfriend takes her BMW compact there and they seem very good for the money. does anyone else use Motech for their merc?

 

[RichardM]

If the 430 is similar in price to the 320 now, the previous owner has already taken the depreciation hit. The 430 is never going to be worth less than the 320 so you should find they depreciate at the same rate. Just don't pay to much extra for the 430.

 

[toady]

I would suggest going for the 430, the V8 is dream to drive and the car always loses the majority of its value in the first three years so a 00 W reg will be the best bet, you'll also benefit from new model releases already doing their most substancial damage now so 430 prices couldn't get more attractive!
As for the BMW 320/330 they will be comparitively expensive for what they are, they don't have the presence/status/lovely extras of a v8 bruiser and will be suffering greatest losses in the next couple of months as the new 3 series coupe is launched, so you would lose a lot more in terms of depreciation if you went for one now!

 

[RichardM]

'New 3 series coupe', its only a minor face lift to match changes made to the saloon a year or so ago, I wouldn't expect that to affect second hand prices - it hasn't for the saloon.

 

[FELLOW]

have 320v6 clk w208
power in abundance but limited by g'box try and get a 5 speed auto if possible
if you don't need the room try a heavily depreciated slk amg 3.2 v6 supercharged or old m3 Z3 bmw but if you like the shape would go for the 430 just for the 0-60 time 6.5 s /7.6s for 430/320 respectively and the fact that with that poke you wouldn't need to chip/supercharge it....do look on brabus web site for a second hand rocket ship though!
both clk's electronically limited to 156 v6 when de limited seems endless!!!!!

 

[IndyHiggie]

I just purchased a 2002 CLK55 AMG, with 27,000 miles on her. I have driven the car 700 miles the last 4 days, and get 23 mpg highway, with cruise set at 78 mph. The power is exciting, definately the finest auto I have ever owned. I just traded one of the new 2005 Ford Mustang GT cars for the Benz. Not that they compare well, the MB is way out of the Ford's league. The 300HP Mustang was sure fun to drive (6500 miles on the car, when traded), but the Benz is way more fun. Based on this experience, I would steer toward a V8 if the mpg sounds reasonable for your situation.

Looks like 14-16 around town/highway combined.

V8 CLK Cabriolet :grin: