Mercedes-Benz CLK63 Reviews

The theory is that by then all the bugs and problems will have been fixed.The downside, of course, is that being at the end of its life your new car will soon be yesterday's news; replaced by something brighter and better.For example, take Mercedes-Benz's now ageing CLK coupe, an evergreen which has been around in various forms since 1998 and will be replaced in August by a brand spanking new E-Class coupe; the fresh metal needed by Benz to take on the likes of Audi's A5 and BMW's 3-Series.But for many CLK fans the day it finishes its showroom run will be a sad one. The CLK has won many hearts and loyal owners.There's a simple reason: Benz has perfected the CLK's recipe to produce something oh so desirable.The version I've been driving, the AMG 63 coupe, marries a heady mix of luxury and refinement with a smallish body and an over-the-top powerplant.OK, it's expensive at $208,000 and it's not the greenest car in the showroom, but just for once, this is about driving a car which stirs the heart not the brain.The AMG's firecracker performance comes from a thumping naturally aspirated all-alloy V8 with a 6.2-litre capacity (Benz says its 6.3 but its true capacity is 62088cc which in my book is closer to 6.2l). The AMG engine is unusual because it combines high revs with big displacement - something you don't see nowadays. The advantages are terrific flexibility and even better bottom-end acceleration.But the raw numbers of 354kW and an awesome 630Nm of torque don't really tell the full story. This is a coupe you want to drive all day _ and then turn around and drive it more.The CLK itself is also not the most stylish car on the street; it's modest lines reflect more middle age than youthful appeal and it lacks the muscular and curvaceous body which seems to be mandatory nowadays. But the AMG body kit, from the mesh grille to the dual exhaust pipes, saves the day, adding the necessary hint that there's something special behind the conservative lines.Inside, the cockpit, drapped in black leather and alloy, fits like the cliched glove and you can adjust the front seats to hug your body - but sorry Mr Benz but the layout is confusing and messy. A case in point - the flat-bottomed steering wheel is corralled by control stalks. There are paddles for the up and down shifting of the sequential six-speed gearbox and stalks for the cruise control, lights and wipers and one to power adjust the steering column. Add buttons on the wheel to control the radio and onboard computer and its just too much.Top marks however for the stylish layout of the dashboard instruments, including an old fashioned analogue clock.I have never been a fan of foot operated park brakes but the CLK makes up for with some high-tech fun bits like remote starting. You can fire the engine up by pushing a button on top of the gearshifter if you can't be bothered using the key.When you unlock the car, the windows drop slightly, breaking the door seal while a seatbelt holder silently glides forward so there's no fishing for the belt which can be a problem with two-door coupes.The CLK is unashamedly designed for two _ oh there is a back seat but there's not a lot of room back there so its suitable for short trips or for kids. The boot space, fitted with a spacesaver, is more than reasonable and the lid can be closed automatically with the push of a button. Nice if you have your hands full.Of course for a car which commands this sort of pricetag you expect your wheels to be comprehensively equipped. And here the AMG doesn't disappoint: there's a raft of safety and traction aids, navigation, park assistance, bi-xenon lights, 18-inch wheels, smart air conditioning, a quality audio system, TV and both seat warmers and coolers.On the road the CLK is a bit of a dark horse. Around town it is well behaved, the only hint of something sinister lurking under the bonnet is the sophisticated growl from the V8.Give it its head on an open road and Mr Hyde becomes Mr Jekyll. Plant your foot and thank god for traction control as the car tries to get power to the road. And the engine note should be bottled and.The car's grip, balance and poise is nothing short of superb. Oh there is a downside: I dislike the steering which can lack feel for what's happening on the road and the brakes feel a tad underdone even though AMG has applied its magic to them.There are plenty of luxury cars on the market all vying for a small slice of the upmarket pie. Does the CLK AMG have an ageless appeal. My word it does. Worth investing before they disappear.Price: From $208,767Engine: 6.2-litre V8, 354kW @6800rpm, 630Nm @5000rpmPerformance: 0- 100km/h 4.7 seconds, top speed governed to 250km/hTransmission: Six speed sequential auto, rear wheel drive.How thirsty: 14.2l/100km claimed. Under test: 16.8l/10km

The exclusivity signified by the `Black' label is used by those outside the auto industry - Johnnie Walker and Penthouse magazine (so I'm told, of course) among them.Mercedes-Benz AMG powerhouse has produced some stunning machines in the past but none as ferocious as the CLK 63 AMG Black Series.It deserves the Black label, for its extra outputs and abilities definitely fall into the black magic category.It's twin brother is the F1 Safety Car and it has the carbon fibre spoilers and trim bits to prove it.Other trick bits include twin exhausts, an additional transmission oil cooler, a high-performance steering oil radiator, an active differential oil cooler.The AMG 6.2-litre V8 has had alterations made to the intake and exhaust system, with a new variable intake manifold among the changes - the numbers stack up for some serious pace - 373kW at an amusing and muscial 6800rpm, with 630Nm at 5250rpm.That's enough, says Benz, for 100km/h to arrive in 4.3 seconds, the needle swings by 200km/h in 13.8 seconds and is limited to a 300km/h top speed.Not that we're in a position to check the latter during the Thoroughbreed Tour of this year's Classic Adelaide, as the 130km/h limit applies during closed-road stages.But seat-of-pants feel suggests the numbers can be believed.The first stage attempted in the Black was Coromandel, a personal favourite when it comes to the state's roads.Starting on a curve in such a beast meant the stability control - much to the disgust of athe assembled officials - was staying on, a trend for the rest of the day.The little black Benz demolished straights and breached the event speed limited with over half the gearbox remaining untouched.Corners are met with gusto from the helm, pitching in with enthusiasm and accuracy, but the exit was tempered by a compulsory restriction on the right foot.Smoothness was a must, otherwise everything died as the stability control smothered the fun.Even a gentle return to full throttle met with blinking belligerence from the stability control light.Faster, open roads were easier to deal with - the biggest problem was staying under the stage speed limit.If the exterior and interior add-ons had anything to do with pace and poise then it is a rocket - AMG-emblazoned carbon-fibre pieces in the door and on the centre console, lip spoilers and splitter additions also from carbon-fibre, 19in alloy wheels, sports "tombstone" bucket seats that adjust only fore and aft were fitted as well.The seven-speed auto has aluminium paddleshifts - and thankfully it will hold gears in manual mode.The paddles are mounted behind the low-key AMG performance steering wheel, which was a little too subtle for the rest of the car.The gearbox is the only thing letting the Black down, it's still an automatic and can sometimes frustrate the driver's attempts - we're sampling the SL63 soon and if that transmission is as good as it is said to be, let's hope it makes an appearance in the CLK Black.Unfortunately our day in the CLK 63 AMG Black Series after an unscheduled excursion through beyond the outside of a right-hander on a Fleurieu Peninsula stage.The right-hander was approached with caution but the driver at the time - not the author - found problems on the exit, possibly from the radius, some gravel or dirt on the road.The man behind the wheel managed to avoid a large tree but couldn't avoid heading into the long grass on the roadside (by far the lesser of two evils) and flattened an old fence post and some wire.After the requisite notifications were hastily made amid a smoky smell, debris was collected and the Black was returned to the road for a slow completion of the stage.Skid, scorch and tyre marks made by the following field suggest we weren't the only ones to leave the tarmac on the same corner, with other competitors making a mess of the new fence and leaving behind a windscreen.Our car was removed from the event as a precaution and the driver may well still be apologising even now.Our event was over but the taste of the Black has left me wanting more.It's a purposeful beast that has a magnificent powerplant and challenges the driver - I think I'd need about a year to get to grips with it, but my chances are slim. CLK 63 AMG Black SeriesEngine: 6.2-litre aluminium 32-valve V8.Transmission: seven-speed paddleshift automatic, driving rear wheels with LSD.Power: 373kW at 6800rpm.Torque: 630Nm at 5250rpm.Performance: 0-100km/h 4.3 seconds. Top speed 300km/h (governed).Fuel consumption: claimed 15.3litres/100km, tank 62litres. 

That has to be a good starting point in anyone's books, because, while it's not intended to beat the open wheelers, the safety car has to be fast and agile enough to let the field keep everything warmed up while it's held in check.The CLK63 AMG Black Series is the second F1 minder derivative — following the SLK55 — to come from the new Performance Studio of Merc's in-house Affalterbach tuning arm, AMG, and marks that division's 40th anniversary.That means another desirability pinnacle over the top-shelf standing of the AMG badge. And that brings with it a whole new level of styling, with buffed arches housing staggered-width, 19-inch alloys, an aggressive front apron with its gaping mouthful of air vents that feed the engine and transmission radiators, carbon-fibre spoiler and rear diffusers cradling the quad exhaust tips.In true Merc tradition, the kit is subtle enough to escape the notice of the uninitiated in normal traffic. And from a distance it seems to have an almost podgy derriere that belies the menace beneath. That's because this is not just a prestige coupe with a catalogue of body kit bolted on.It's a street-legal racer.At the pointy end of the car there's what Mercedes calls a 6.3-litre V8 — actually 6208cc — with a plate bearing the name of the engineer who built it under AMG's “one man, one engine” policy — matched to a seven-speed sequential transmission from the “standard” CLK63 AMG with shortened final drive ratio to help acceleration. The V8 is from the same car, with intake and exhaust systems overhauled to develop 630Nm of torque at 5250rpm and 373kW at 6800rpm. That's only an extra 19kW over the original, but the Black Series doesn't depend on power alone. A lot of work has gone into the wider-tracked platform and chassis refinements.The showcase feature of which is a new adjustable suspension — and not the kind you can adjust by pushing a button from the comfort of the driver's seat. Like a true racing suspension, you set about it by hand; changing ride height, compression and rebound, front axle camber, and the track of both axles. When you have all of that to your liking, you can climb inside to enjoy the interior's blend of sport and luxury, with well-bolstered leather sport seats and a tactile flat-bottomed wheel with aluminium shift paddles that fall to the hand so readily, you'll rarely be reaching for the stubby shift lever.There's a surprising amount of people room — for two. Where there might have been back seats, there are back storage indents. That's a good thing, as proper storage spaces are sparse and the boot shallow. There's plenty of glass and great visibility, and the range of adjustments on the driver's seat and steering column make it easy to find the best position.And sprinkled among all the leather and soft surfaces, there's enough carbon fibre and metal accents to remind you of the job at hand. The CLK63 AMG is expected to arrive next month with a price tag of $299,900, but of the 50 earmarked, only four were still looking for owners when we tested the car in mid-January.Press the start button and the car responds with a bass growl that settles to a guttural grumble in the lower rev range. But thump the pedal and you provoke a menacing snarl as the car warps forward, the limited-slip differential allowing some spin from both rear wheels if you've switched the ESP off while playing with the controls. As we inadvertently did.There are no turbo or super-breathing aids to boost the effort, and you don't feel the lack of them. Merc says the car gets to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds, and the kick in the lumbar as we accelerated gives us no reason to doubt it.Nor were we likely to get near — or to doubt — the claimed 300km/h limited top speed. Planting the boot in a 20-second exploratory spurt got us from 110km/h up to 235km/h, with no sign that it would trail off above that. Transmission shifts are smooth, with a sense of the car “gathering itself” before it leapt forward on up and downshifts.Steering is sharp and responsive — although at first it felt a bit leaden at low speed — and once you start rolling there's a sense of direct and clear communication between hands and road.With the ESP back on, the rubber claws into the surface and the car goes where you point it.But what surprised us was how tractable the suspension set-up was. With its ability to glide flat and poised in corners, we assumed we'd be checking the floor for dental fillings. But it deals with everything quickly and smooths out the average surface nasties. This is refined enough to be an everyday drive — a fast one.  SnapshotMercedes-Benz CLK63 AMGPrice: $299,000 (Black Series)Engine: 6.3L/V8; 373kW/630NmTransmission: 7-speed sequential; rear-wheel-drive 

There is nothing on the map that cannot be crushed by the compact coupe in the Mercedes-Benz family, provided, of course, you have more than $200,000 to spend.The CLK 63 AMG must be described as a toy despite its serious brand, pace and price.It is great to play with and great to play in, but it can be hard to take seriously until you hit the "go" pedal. Then it's obvious the CLK 63 is not a toy but a car almost Ferrari-class quick . . . and loaded with luxury gear to make any trip fun.The 63 combines the latest AMG 6.2-litre V8 with a sports-tuned CLK chassis, giving a 4.7-second 0-100km/h sprint and an easy 250km/h top end, as well as cushy leather sports seats, great airconditioning and all the luxuries you expect for $200k.It's no surprise the CLK 63, and the slightly less awesome CLK 500, have been a sales success since the upgrade work on the mid-sized coupe was done last year."The new CLK is really moving out the door," Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says.The company is expecting a record year this year for the CLK. It sold 63 coupes and eight Cabriolets last year with AMG 63 badges, against the record result — when the car was still "only" a CLK 55 — of 46 Cabrios and 31 coupes in 2004.Looking at the numbers it is easy to see that most owners are more interested in style than all-out performance, but that could easily change in the era of the 63.It is a car that needs the stiffness of the coupe body, and the 500 should be more than good enough for anyone who wants a droptop.The 500 also picked up everything from a TV tuner and Logic7 surround sound to folding electric mirrors. But it is the work of the engineers at AMG, the fast-car division, that makes the difference to a car that is already very good.So the 63 has 18-inch alloys, upgraded brakes and lowered sports suspension, as well as a discreet body kit and bazooka-style exhaust pipes to let people know what has just come past.The real blast comes from the engine, which — despite a 6.2-litre capacity with 6.3 badges — produces 354kW with top torque of 630Nm. Respectable racing car figures.The 63 uses Benz's latest seven-speed automatic gearbox — there are no manuals in any AMG car, despite the sports focus — but there are lovely alloy shift paddles behind the steering wheel.The price is $199,100, but the reality of insurance and on-road costs and extra trinkets (there are AMG owners who order special wheels just so they can impress friends with the same car) means it will be seriously into the $200,000 range by the time it hits the road.ON THE ROADTHE CLK 63 is a contradictory car. In a lot of ways it is a good-looking, comfy luxury coupe and in a lot of ways a way-fast speed machine. It is an interesting, challenging mix.The challenge was always going to be to get the mix right, to do it for two types of customers — cruisers and blasters.The excellence of the CLK 500, particularly as a cabrio, will make the choice easier for a lot of people as the CLK 63 AMG is clearly the most extreme speed machine in the Mercedes family.The SLK is rorty but gets out of balance after an AMG makeover, while the CL is more at the luxury end of the business. So the 63 is for looking good and going quick. Really quick.It is the sort of car that makes any stoplight a fun run, can turn any set of corners into a point-and-squirt blast, and makes overtaking easy.But it is not perfect. In some ways that is good, because flaws give a car its character, but the flaws in the AMG package are not good for the price and the reputation of Mercedes.The fuel tank is too small, holding only 62 litres and, in a car that can slurp premium unleaded at better than 20 litres for each 100 km — though I averaged 14.8 on test — the range is far too short for Australia.More worrying, the suspension tuning in the 63 is soft and floppy, with vague steering.If you give the electronic safety systems a holiday — absolutely not recommended for all but expert drivers — you can see how the car flops and wallows and is over-powered.Mercedes-Benz has smart electronics to handle the problem, but they cut in early and hard if you mash the accelerator or turn hard on a slippery road. That is good in some ways, because it keeps the car safe, but I expected more and better.The good thing is that the car is soft and cushy for city work, despite its low-profile tyres, but I still think the 63 engine stretches the CLK to the limit.Just as the smaller SLK convertible is overpowered by an AMG upgrade, the new coupe is at the edge.Some people will like that. Some people will delight in the outrageousness. And yet . . .So, to rivals. The M6 from BMW is bigger and heavier and not as much fun, the M5 is not a coupe despite being a better car, and the Jaguar XK — I have yet to drive the R hottie — is also bigger and softer. Both BMWs are chunkier on the bottom line, too.The present hot luxury favourite is the Audi RS4, which competes with the CLK on size and driving enjoyment, but is still a four-door and a little smaller.In some ways the CLK is more likely to line up against the new BMW M3, which has just been previewed at the Geneva Motor Show.It promises to be an intriguing heavyweight contest, but until then there is nothing quite like the CLK 63.THE BOTTOM LINEBRILLIANT car, with a couple of flaws.

Ahead of them, a Lamborghini. This little convoy through Adelaide suburbs is a moving concours du jour, a random sample of extravaganza that is this year's Classic Rally.Although our Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG has been separated from its badge-mates, it feels at home in this pack.The tenth Classic Adelaide rally last week attracted hundreds of enthusiasts and 350 exotic cars into the surrounding hills and vales. Like most of those here, we haven't come to race but for the rare chance to sample impressive machinery on closed roads and enjoy the motoring throng.Mercedes has brought six examples of three AMG models representing a new wave for its tuning specialist — away from large, supercharged V8s and towards naturally aspirated (even larger) V8s.The E63, CLS63 and CLK63 here all get AMG's new 6.2-litre V8, which replaces the previous supercharged 5.4-litre V8. The most expensive is the sleek four-door CLS63 at $252,300, followed by the E63 sedan at $227,600. By comparison, the CLK63 coupe looks almost affordable at $199,100. All three slot into a range of 17 models that get the AMG treatment, with prices starting at $160,490 for the junior executive C55.AMG notches up 40 years of tuning Mercedes next year and has already begun celebrating in a sense, with its first completely independent engine — an all-aluminium unit featuring a variable intake manifold and stiff valve train, among other high-tech wizardry.While power peaks are higher than in the previous V8, it revs higher too and delivers more kilowatts: an extra 28kW for 378kW in the E63 or CLS63, and a generous 84kW for 354kW in the CLK, making the coupe a remarkable 0.6 seconds quicker to 100km/h. Top speeds are electronically limited to 250km/h.In each case the torque figure is lower than before, but the capacity increase and ability to soar high into the rev range more than compensates. Most of the torque — 500Nm — is on tap from 2000rpm. Next year this engine will arrive in a higher, 386kW state of tune in the S63 and CL63 — the Mercedes flagship limousine and coupe.One advantage of the lower torque figure is the ability to employ the seven-speed automatic gearbox, ubiquitous elsewhere in its range. Paddle shifters replace steering wheel buttons for manual changes and three shift modes — comfort, sport and manual — progressively increase shift speeds.All three cars are visually distinguished by subtle AMG body-kitting and more lavish interiors. Adaptive dampers, more powerful brakes and light alloy wheels are standard.We drove the CLK63 on day one and then swapped into the E63. Both look big and heavy next to most of the rally runners, but amaze with their willingness to corner and ferocious acceleration. The engine delivers a soundtrack that ranges from low thunder to feral as it spins towards 7000rpm. The seven-speed auto is a highlight, changing smoothly and quickly whether in manual or auto mode. Only the over-interventionist nature of the electronic stability control hindered progress when it cut power prematurely in hairpins.When we did want to stop, the brakes were stronger than expected and complement the powerplant with the right sort of potency. In both cars, the steering was light, Mercedes style, but intuitively accurate.If we had to pick one car to repeat the trip, it would be the CLK63.It has less power, narrower rubber and almost as much mass as the E63, but its shorter wheelbase and better balance made it more agile, while its front wheels had an impressive willingness to turn into a corner and stay gripped when there. A proper thoroughbred among thoroughbreds, thanks to the Adelaide rally it's already a classic.