hi all,

i am considering buying a clk 350, either new or used. i am in love with the car. however, i am concerned by reports from consumer reports magazine of the reliablility, which basically place it very low.

so here is my question. what is your actual experience, on either the 2006, or previous years?

i would like a car that is not always in the shop as i am a single woman who does not understand cars and cannot be shuttled to the shop, etc. ... mostly i love the ride, the looks. the visibility... everything else about the car. i was just concerned when i read this report and would so appreciate some real comments from owners of the car.

thanks in advance,
patti

 

HI Patti - I was wondering whether you went ahead and bought a CLK 350 ? How's it been doing so far ? I'm also thinking of getting one, and have the same question as you did.

 

Hi ladies,

My name is Charles and I have a 2000CLK, which I drive everywhere. I drive it work and college, and I'm on the road so often the tires never truly cool down.

I have recently crossed the 100k mile and six year mark on my car. So I have taken this car from new to old.
My first engine problem was this year just before 100k. It turned out to be a simple MAF sensor. I must report that while the sensor only took five minutes to replace, the dealer had a very difficult time diagnosing the problem. This may be why the consumer report is low. I think they made a big deal out of nothing. But the car runs like new now. This was my only engine problem. I had to replace some light bulbs, brake pads, and tires during the last six years. Nothing serious.

Most importantly, I like the way the car handles. Its sturdy, reliable, and doesn't bounce around on the road like the cheaper cars. It has NEVER left me stranded. I like the design of the car. I like the sporty 2 door shape. I wanted a car between the big sedans and the little 2seaters. The body and the interior have endured very well. The car looks nearly new.

Never miss an oil-change, never let kids work on your car, and don't let them sell you racing tires! Those soft tires might be great in Monte Carlo, but on the highway they last about three months.

My only regret was NOT knowing that I could have ordered the car in ANY custom color for only $1500 more. Next time, I'm going to get the pearl blue I really wanted.

Charles

 

My aunt has a CLK 430 with about 100k on it. It's never given her a problem.

 

I have had my 350 now for about two months and after taking care of a pesky door rattle and a wheel alignment, the car is doing great. The two initial quality problems were disappointing considering the brand and the price but given their past four years' battle with quality it is good to see that they have turned it around. Also, this is a proven chassis and the bugs seem to have all been worked out in the recent release. The car is a joy to drive and toss around and believe me, you will not miss the 500's V-8 very often. 0-60 the 350 is almost its equal.

 

i've had my 06 clk 350 for about 7 months now... and i have not had any trouble with it at all. the car is so much fun to drive, i wish my commute was longer.