Guys, I have a dilemma here. I currently own a 2002 clk 430 silver/black int. Ive put all the conservative mods in this car w/o an supercharger. Ive owned it for 1.5 years, have 25000 miles on it and dont drive in winter. Car is starmarked warranty til 2008. Not the performance i was expecting,but the look is very appealing to me. I have been inquiring here on the 1993 500E MB/Porsche collaboration car. For some reason, im very interested in an 11 year old car to replace my clk. I will not drive any prospectives in winter, i am an enthusiast whom enjoys and takes pride in keeping my cars PERFECT. Need your help guys on which car would bring me the most satisfaction in ownership. To me the clk is slightly better looking than the 500E. Im 30 now and have always respected the 500 E for many reasons.I consider it to be a bonified BEAST out of the box. Please weigh in even if you do not know these two cars that well. "Beauty" or the "Beast"? [8D]
Which one?? 1993 500E or 2002 CLK 430
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You can not compare the two.
In terms of driving dynamics, personality and the fact that one is a two door as opposed to a sedan there are two different animals. The 500E is a great car but its over a decade old and you will feel the difference immediately from your CLK. The CLK isnt a better car IMHO but its modern, the engine and especially the tranny is on another level, a cut above. There is also a lot to be said about OBDII compliance, its a godsend for the DIY'er even if you don't know what the hell its saying [
].
Don't go back go forward, get an E500 W211...or don't go that far back get an e55 W210. I still own a W124 so a 500E would be going forward for me, I wouldnt feel the difference except for POWER! []
Just my 2 cents...very easy to get caught up in the 500E hype. Its justified, but its old.
In terms of driving dynamics, personality and the fact that one is a two door as opposed to a sedan there are two different animals. The 500E is a great car but its over a decade old and you will feel the difference immediately from your CLK. The CLK isnt a better car IMHO but its modern, the engine and especially the tranny is on another level, a cut above. There is also a lot to be said about OBDII compliance, its a godsend for the DIY'er even if you don't know what the hell its saying [
]. Don't go back go forward, get an E500 W211...or don't go that far back get an e55 W210. I still own a W124 so a 500E would be going forward for me, I wouldnt feel the difference except for POWER! [
]Just my 2 cents...very easy to get caught up in the 500E hype. Its justified, but its old.
The CLK is very elegant, but it doesn't look as completed as the new one. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure, but I think the 500 E is a more macho and boss looking car. The CLK is more feminin, but it is regardlessly a beautiful and more modern car than the 500 E.
The 430 is a kind of in between engine but the effect is quite similiar to the 500-engine. What was very nice with the old 500's is that they had 326 hp and 32 valves while the newer 5-litres only have 306 hp and 24. The sound is actually much better in a new Mercedes V8 than an old one, and you feel the acceleration is better too. It doesn't necessarily mean it is but e.g. the old SL 500 feels more wild, strong and fast than the new SL 500. I don't think the 20 horsepowers explain the whole difference, it has to do with the technical setup, CO-limits when the goverments intervene and so on.
So, to sum up, I think the old one will give driving experiences without compromizing as much as the CLK does, but the CLK is newer in which implies you'll hav e lower costs keeping it in running order.
The 430 is a kind of in between engine but the effect is quite similiar to the 500-engine. What was very nice with the old 500's is that they had 326 hp and 32 valves while the newer 5-litres only have 306 hp and 24. The sound is actually much better in a new Mercedes V8 than an old one, and you feel the acceleration is better too. It doesn't necessarily mean it is but e.g. the old SL 500 feels more wild, strong and fast than the new SL 500. I don't think the 20 horsepowers explain the whole difference, it has to do with the technical setup, CO-limits when the goverments intervene and so on.
So, to sum up, I think the old one will give driving experiences without compromizing as much as the CLK does, but the CLK is newer in which implies you'll hav e lower costs keeping it in running order.
Operating costs will be more for the W124.
Late 80's and early 90's W124's represent a diiferent era and standard of the way MBZ manufactured motorcars. Factory reps. will tell you that that in a way 124 and 126's were really the end of an era. With the introduction of the W210's these were the "bean counter" cars made more efficiently and ultimately cheaper. Sure they looked nicer, but there is an unmistakeable substantial "bank vault" feel to early 90's 400E and 500E cars. These cars were made to last a lifetime even under severe service conditions.
M119 4-cam on the 400 and 500 is one of MBZ's best engines ever and that is per factory insiders. Its a matter of taste.
89'300e
92'400e
92'500e
Late 80's and early 90's W124's represent a diiferent era and standard of the way MBZ manufactured motorcars. Factory reps. will tell you that that in a way 124 and 126's were really the end of an era. With the introduction of the W210's these were the "bean counter" cars made more efficiently and ultimately cheaper. Sure they looked nicer, but there is an unmistakeable substantial "bank vault" feel to early 90's 400E and 500E cars. These cars were made to last a lifetime even under severe service conditions.
M119 4-cam on the 400 and 500 is one of MBZ's best engines ever and that is per factory insiders. Its a matter of taste.
89'300e
92'400e
92'500e
Red... I enjoyed and thank all of you who posted today! I respect all points of view here which i hold valid. Red, i appreciated your post the most. The reason is that i agree whole heartedly on the quality of MB up until about 1995. I agree with all that the new e-500 or 55 would be great cars. To me though, these cars are more dime/dozen than a extremely rare mb/porsche inspired collaboration car for less than a new ford taurus. My clk by the way is a w208, the old body, not the new feminine w209 which is ugly exterior. Any other thoughts would be appreciated guys. I just feel that as time goes by, cars like the 500 e will become even harder to get, more rare, and more in demand. Plus, everyones got the new E body. I like a stick it where the sun dont shine muscle car that will still perform to new car standards or better but looks unassuming enough to be a real sleeper. Have a great weekend guys! BC
personally look at the 124's as the last of the MB's that I strive to own.. With that in mind, I'd stay far, far away from anything new from DC..
The 500E is a special, collectible MB And one that you don't need a $50,000 computer to find out what's wrong..
Just my 2!
Jonathan
The 500E is a special, collectible MB And one that you don't need a $50,000 computer to find out what's wrong..
Just my 2!
Jonathan
Another reason i would go with the 500E over a clk 430, aside from the the fact that its friggen sweet. if anything breaks on it or you have a mechanical problem it can be solved very easily. older car are much easier to work on which mean you dont have to pay top dollar and get ripped off by the dealers just b/c a stupid check engine light is on and the only way to turn it off is pay at least $100 for them to just diagnose it. And finally the more electronics you have running your car the more exspensive they become to fix. My brother has a 2000 C280, Ya its a fun car to drive, but when something happens to it he has to take it in, but with my 92 400E if something happens i can fix it in the garage or pull up to a gas station and get it fixed on the spot.
Think of it this way you can be driving a popular car(clk430), or you can be driving a ledgend(500E) that people will be fascinated by.
it all depends on whether you like all the new electronics or you like speed.
Think of it this way you can be driving a popular car(clk430), or you can be driving a ledgend(500E) that people will be fascinated by.
it all depends on whether you like all the new electronics or you like speed.
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4,069 Posts
Granted the 500E is a Legend,.. but you'll NEVER find a decent one now. And when I say decent I mean one with reasonable miles on it. stick with what you have now and instead of losing money on it and buying another car which will eventually lose more value, bite the bullet and get your CLK modified. With a HPS/kleeman/etc supercharger on it you'll easily smoke a 500E anyways.
Classics are great but they are old and you'll feel it BIG TIME coming out of a newer car.
I have a few E's and they literally feel generations appart.
Classics are great but they are old and you'll feel it BIG TIME coming out of a newer car.
I have a few E's and they literally feel generations appart.
Guys, Great posts!! Thank you to all. Red,Johnathon,Hareem, you guys seem to understand the importance of locking one of these gems down now. BTW, im not really on a budget at all when it comes to cars. More limited garage space is the issue. Thinking about a continental GT second hand @$120 k. Just think so much of the rarety of this 500E that i must get one now. p.s. To those of you favoring the clk, mine is in the shop MONTHLY for little quirky b.s electrical problems. Having $53,000 after sales tax and minor mods into my used clk starmarked, i feel like a fool who has misapproapreated his funds on a car that is a letdown in so many ways other than looks. Again, thanks to all who have applied & happy new year...BC
1994 W124 E320 1997W140 S320(RIP),1993W140300SE(RIP),2000W208CLK320(RIP) , 1993 W201 190E 2.6 (RIP),
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1,868 Posts
THANK GOODNESS! I was behind a W209 convertible last night. Took me awhile to even figure out what it was. HORRID, was my conclusion. BOY, did they ruin a great looking car. I can't wait for the W208 to depreciate like a rock so one day I can have a great looking MB coupe. BTW, throw me in with the 500E guys. You can't beat the 80's/089's Benzes, and I love that you seem to recognise that fact.
The MIGHTY ACKVIG in the house again! Ac... Dont plan on the 208 depreciating as i have found no other late model benz (other than amg cars) to have better "holding Power" than the w208 clk. This thing holds better than SL's on average! Ooh, im with you on that 209 body....Baaaaaad attempt at exterior styling. The 208 might be one of the last true more muscular MB cars. I kinda put it in the muscle class of the 560 sec like the one from the movie Roadhouse.
Ack...again, by the way, GREAT 140[] BC
Ack...again, by the way, GREAT 140[
] BCJust realized how almost blatently off topic my last post was. Yes Ack, that 500E is a rare find for less than a new ford taurus!! IMO, one of the finest cars available today for less than 20 k. That 140 body not bad either.
Could you guys explain the E500 to me. Is this a newer model than the 500E. I know the only year Porsche/MB did them collaboration car was 1993 and thats the only bird id consider for collectors sake...
I have seen E320 from 1994and 1995. Is this the E series in which you are referring? BC
I have seen E320 from 1994and 1995. Is this the E series in which you are referring? BC
hey cut the crap and listen to me cuz i know what i`m saing. ofcourse the money is always an important issue but let`s forget about the money for a moment, and try to listen to your hart. (from my experience,since i was a litle boy i remember the mercedes that my father bought for the first time(a white one).it was gourgeous i can`t get it out of my mind, and the years past and the car soled and bought another one same as beautiful as the first one.but the first one is still on my mind and it is there to stay. i`m dreaming to find the owner and buy back the car and restore it for my kids). in 10 years from now you won`t find an 500 E and belive me you will regrete that.
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