I'm new here and am looking for some advice/thoughts. I'm planning to buy a 2008 CLS and have a few questions:
[1] AMG6.3 or CLS550? I've driven the AMG and love the power and feel, but looking at the numbers, the 550 probably has ample power IRL.
[2] Premium 1 package or Premium 2? The main difference is that P2 adds Keylessgo and Bi-Xenon headlights. The Keylessgo isn't a big turn on for me, but I like the idea of the Bi-Xenon headlights. Are the Bi-Xenon headlights worth taking the Keyless go?
[3] Is the Distronic cruise control worth it?
I'm interested in your thoughts.
__________________ Drive as fast as you can...but no faster.
If you have the dough get the AMG. I'm a baller on a budget so I had to settle for the 550 and it's pretty fast for me. P2 was a must...at least for me. Not for the keyless go but the bi-x headlights. Seems a shame you have to pay extra for this but I like the look not to mention the increased visibility on poorly lit roads.
Distronic, I guess it depends on where you drive. I had it in my Infiniti and daily navigating heavy traffic on the 605 freeway with it on was a pain in the ass so it wasn't a option I was interested in.
It really boils down to what you want. Hope this helps!
When my wife was choosing between the 63 or the 550 I pushed her toward the 550 because I thought the 63 would be to much car. . .I was wrong! As powerful as the 550 is, I've had a chance to drive a 63 and now wish I had pushed for it. But either way there's no losing choice. I'm just saying that it wouldn't hurt to have that extra power if you need it (or just want to play).
The Bi-Xenons are a must. I switch between the Fords halogens and the MB's Bi-Xenons and the difference is "night and day". It's my humble opinion that all cars should have Bi-Xenons (or some type of HID lights). They light up the road better and cause less strain on the eyes on those long night drives. And I think the only reason people complain about them being "blinding" when they're oncoming is that they are something different, not because they're actually blinding.
Don't know anything about Distronic. . .Sorry!
__________________ "Yes, as a matter of fact, I am that dumb Ford guy!"
'04 Ford F-350 Dually (Mine)
'07 CLS550 (Wifes)
Thanks Leejack. Do you ever feel that you miss the extra power you'd have with the AMG? I keep thinking that 507 bhp is very cool, but in the real world on U. S. roads, I'm not so sure there's a whole lot of difference between 5.4 and 4.3 second 0-60.
Good to meet you, Knucklehead, and thanks for the input. BTW, the CLS, whichever I get, is going to be sharing the driveway with my Ford Expedition and my wifes' Mercury Mountaineer, so we're a Ford family as well.
As far as "needing" the extra power, I've driven sporty cars for a bunch of years. I recently had to get rid of my Alfa 164S with 170,000 miles because parts were getting too hard to get.
So I'm pretty clear that it's more a matter of wanting the extra power than needing it. Now of course that doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with wanting it. It also doesn't mean that I don't WANT it.
Thanks Leejack. Do you ever feel that you miss the extra power you'd have with the AMG? I keep thinking that 507 bhp is very cool, but in the real world on U. S. roads, I'm not so sure there's a whole lot of difference between 5.4 and 4.3 second 0-60.
Honestly, I can't miss what I never had! At the dealer I did sit in the 6.3 and they were more than happy to go get the keys. I knew I would fall in love with the power so I quickly got out of that thing and moved over to the 550. While the extra power and prestige would be nice, the 550 is plenty of car for me. I didn't buy the car to race so the 4.3 seconds is not a motivator. So far I haven't had any trouble passing anybody on the road when needed. The other good thing is I didn't have to re-fi the house to get it.
I still say if you can afford it, the AMG is the way to go but the 550 is an excellent choice as well.
I'm finding it to be a very rough decision for some reason. My financial adviser has told me repeatedly that I can afford the AMG. And 10 years ago I would have without hesitation sprung for the top of the line.
Now that I'm retired, I'm overcome by this unfamiliar urge to be prudent. (Not that 382 hp, 0-60 in 5.4 seconds and 21 mpg would fit most folks' conception of "prudence." "Prudence" to the rest of the world is a Toyota Camry.)
My biggest fear when I looked at the CLS 500 2 years ago (mine's an 06) vs the AMG was the tire and rim package on the AMG. Here on the East Coast those rims and tires would have been trashed year one...As it is I have replaced one rim and straightened 2 so far on a standard CLS 500.
Power on the 550 is phenomenal, I'd go 550 if I was in the market again...
Don't forget that there are some minor practical problems with the CLS63 compared to the 550. If you get the AMG, your turning circle is slightly degraded from 11.2 to 11.5 meters.
Also you automatically lose cornering light functionality which is a great feature.
The comfort setting ride height clearance is a little lower than the 550 so when you are approacing a steep driveway speedhumps, or say getting towed or going up a service ramp ALWAYS remember to raise the ride height or things underneath will get scraped.
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