Cls 500 / 55 Amg

[Speedmaster]

HI Guys

I had been thinking of trading my 645 BMW Cabriolet (nightmare car!!) for a Cl or SL. Then I moved onto the CLS500 which seems to be cracking value for money and the owners on the whatcar reader review sections love their CLS's. It seems the reliability and build quality have returned on them!

However, I have been persuaded to go and drive a CLS55 AMG at the weekend, not a huge amount more than a similar CLS500.

Is there are major drawbacks with the 55, apart from fuel or is the 500 "enough car" ?

 

[100%Bitch]

If you buy a 500 you will always wonder "what if?"

 

[Speedmaster]

Was that your argument Helen?
I was wondering about the SL55 AMG but I still have my 1999 SL320 and love it to bits, so got the convertible thing covered.

The CLS just looks very striking and good value for money

 

[100%Bitch]

Well, I went from a 320 to a 55 and I must say that although some big bills will come in I'm glad I didn't buy a 500 because of the above reason. I sit in the car and I really don't want to get out. I know it could get rather wet if that was the case, but I really could drive it all day, every day. If I had bought a 500 I would always be looking to get better. Now, as far as I'm concerned, I don't think I can.

 

[jibcl500]

CLS55 any day robinsons cambs have one 19k £32k it will be dearer to service but it doesnt have the 7 speed auto that tends to need replacement every 12k miles.

jib

 

[television]

Well, I went from a 320 to a 55 and I must say that although some big bills will come in I'm glad I didn't buy a 500 because of the above reason. I sit in the car and I really don't want to get out. I know it could get rather wet if that was the case, but I really could drive it all day, every day. If I had bought a 500 I would always be looking to get better. Now, as far as I'm concerned, I don't think I can.

So you are 1 sec quicker up to 60 mph than me, well I would not trade that for all the toys that I have on my 500.

I can use all of my toys on every journey, you cant use the gained 1 sec on many journeys.

You will pay roughly £1000 to change you disc,, mine cost £100

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Your not the first to ask this question or similar, if your in the market for a 55 then there's no question - if you are asking then you should go for the 500.

 

[100%Bitch]

So you are 1 sec quicker up to 60 mph than me, well I would not trade that for all the toys that I have on my 500.

I can use all of my toys on every journey, you cant use the gained 1 sec on many journeys.

You will pay roughly £1000 to change you disc,, mine cost £100

What brought this on?

I wasn't comparing your car with mine, I was just posting MY thoughts. My 55 suits my style of driving and what an incredible sound.

 

[television]

What brought this on?

I wasn't comparing your car with mine, I was just posting MY thoughts. My 55 suits my style of driving and what an incredible sound.

I just thought that you were talking down to humble 500 owners,, thats all

 

[JEZ.S320L]

If you buy a 500 you will always wonder "what if?"

As in "What if - I'd bought an AMG. Would I need to shop at Netto/T-Max/Poundshopper, just to run the damn thing"?

Mind you - they ARE simply outstanding versions - but I'd rather it be you than me who pays for the running costs...........

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

As in "What if - I'd bought an AMG. Would I need to shop at Netto/T-Max/Poundshopper, just to run the damn thing"?

Mind you - they ARE simply outstanding versions - but I'd rather it be you than me who pays for the running costs...........

Are these names MB dealerships?:???:

 

[Speedmaster]

I am fine with tyres and fuel, as my current 645 likes a drink, as does the V8 Range Rover and the Cayenne I used to have went through tyres every 8k on 20" wheels.

What other running costs would set the AMG apart from a 500? I would get one from a main dealer with a warranty etc

 

[Speedmaster]

Test drove the CLS55 AMG and was smitten, an awesome car and so well put together. Great spec, addictive noise and very eye-catching. The only problem was the p/x value for the 645 Cabriolet - I know cars have droppped but it is enough to make you sick

 

[television]

They only way to get over these silly prices is to stick with what you have for the time being, though it is the same as with houses if you pay less when buying and get less when selling.

 

[Speedmaster]

The problem is the cars will not go up in value. The initial p/x price I was given yesterday meant I would lose £22750 in 13 months and 9000 miles - painful

 

[gizze]

Are these names MB dealerships?:???:

No but give it a couple of months and they may well be!! :mrgreen:

 

[gizze]

Asking if the 55 is worth it over the 500 is only ever going to be asked by someone who has not driven both.

They are two different cars, aimed at different customers.

The 500 is a nice, smooth, fairly quick, luxury mile muncher, it is an extremely nice place to be and will gobble the miles up like few others can.

The 55 is a lot more aggressive, it has a rawness that the 500 just doesn't have, the 1 second difference is irrelevant, it is the whole package that makes it an AMG.


It is the same with the guys who ask is the M3 is worth the extra over the 335i, they are both completely different cars.

20 miles behind the wheel of them will show you just how different they are. You need to test both and then decide.

 

[stumpy]

The problem is the cars will not go up in value. The initial p/x price I was given yesterday meant I would lose £22750 in 13 months and 9000 miles - painful

Ouch, and the cls wouldn't do any better

 

[Speedmaster]

Do you think a CLS55 AMG would lose a lot of money? Given it is already well below have price now

 

[st4]

Do you think a CLS55 AMG would lose a lot of money? Given it is already well below have price now

Yes. Lets say its a £30k car, it still has a lot to fall. If you're comfortable with that and the loss on the 645i then go for it.

Asking if the 55 is worth it over the 500 is only ever going to be asked by someone who has not driven both.

They are two different cars, aimed at different customers.

The 500 is a nice, smooth, fairly quick, luxury mile muncher, it is an extremely nice place to be and will gobble the miles up like few others can.

The 55 is a lot more aggressive, it has a rawness that the 500 just doesn't have, the 1 second difference is irrelevant, it is the whole package that makes it an AMG.


It is the same with the guys who ask is the M3 is worth the extra over the 335i, they are both completely different cars.

Yes and no. So many of these things come down to price.

I'll use the M3 vs 335i as an example as its a classic. The 335i is a fair bit cheaper and IMHO it was brought into bridge the gap between the 330i and M3. With the E46 range there were many 330i owners who wanted more power but couldn't afford the jump to the full fat M3 model. Many E46 330i's were specced very highly to compensate by the new owner that it wasn't an M3, but financially that jump was still to high. Now with the 335i its a definate jump from a 330i but still a notch below an m3 as its 2 cylinders and a LSD down, but still 2 turbo's and Msport suspension above a 330i.

The 335i bridges this gap. Yes the 335i is a bit more of a GT than a sports car and that is part of the difference between the 2 cars but how many people who are able to buy an M3 will buy a 335i for its supposed extra luxury, not many....They'll want the best of the 3 series range and thats the M3.

The same goes for the CLS500 and CLS55amg. When that car was bought new the original buyer probably chose not to afford the 55amg car as he felt with the 500 was enough, but what if money were no object, who wouldn't go for the AMG. Its faster and handles better. The difference in character of those 2 cars won't be that different, the AMGs seats a little more bolstered, it will be slightly noiser but ultimately both are comfortable luxury cars not track day weapons - I can't imagine the AMGs ability to see the miles pass by serenely will be any less than the 500's.

However fuel costs, insurance costs and service costs will be discernibly different and that may form the basis of the OP's choice.