Compared with a saloon, a coupé gives you fewer doors, less space and a bigger price tag. But coupé owners know the decision to buy is about looks rather than logic. When Mercedes-Benz launched the CLK in June 1997 it proved this point beautifully.

For the first 12 months demand far outstripped supply and examples changed hands at hefty premiums. But eight years on you can buy a used CLK for as little as £7,500.

At launch buyers had a choice of three petrol engines: a 2 litre 136bhp unit, a 2.3 litre supercharged unit producing 193bhp, and a V6 3.2 litre with 218bhp on tap. If your budget is tight then it will be the smaller engines you consider.

Neither has the refinement to match the CLK’s smooth lines and the 2.3 can feel decidedly coarse under hard acceleration. By contrast, the V6 3.2 is a peach; smooth, torquey and surprisingly economical. The good news is that while the CLK 320 cost £9,000 more than the 2 litre when new, that gap has narrowed to £3,000, making it a bargain.

In May 1999 a 5.5 litre 342bhp AMG version was added. It was intended to rival the BMW M3 and its performance credentials are a match: 342bhp, 0-62mph in 5.1sec and a top speed limited to 155mph. But the car’s ageing chassis isn’t up to the car’s dynamic demands. A less powerful 275bhp CLK 430 became available the same year, still blisteringly quick and with a similar, wonderful V8 burble. It cost nearly £45,000 but 1999 cars now change hands for as little as £ 11,000.

Mercedes-Benz offered a choice of transmissions on the four-cylinder 2 and 2.3 litre versions. When buying second-hand the advice is simple: buy only an auto. The foot-operated handbrake makes hill starts in a manual a tricky affair.

In common with all Mercedes models there are a huge number of optional extras. The higher up the engine range you go the more you get as standard. Ideally, you need to be looking for leather upholstery, metallic paint, air-conditioning and a CD player as a minimum on any used car.

Whatever your height and build you should have no problem getting comfy. The curving roof line limits headroom but access is still good.

Replacing even small pieces of interior hard trim can be costly. Check the switchgear, electric mirrors, windows and seat adjustment.

On the road the CLK is more cruiser than racer, although the V8s are genuinely quick. The car rides firmly but is compliant and the handling is predictable rather than exhilarating. But owning a CLK is about grace rather than pace and in that regard the CLK does a fine job.

• Air-conditioning: Not standard on all models but an essential, the more expensive climate control system is most desirable
• Interior: Leather trim essential
• Boot space: 435-litre boot is a decent size but is limited by small loading aperture
• Music: CD player not standard on all models, ideally you want a multi-play CD stacker
• Alloys: Standard on all models, chunkier five-hole design looks good on Avantgarde models
• Gearbox: Avoid base model four-cylinder models with a manual gearbox
• Kompressor: Supercharger unit on 2.3 models adds power but dents fuel economy and can be harsh under hard acceleration
• Front fog lamps: Lenses prone to fogging up with condensation
• Colours: Light exteriors with dark interiors and dark exteriors with light interiors sell best. At all cost avoid non-metallic cars in red or white unless at least E1,450 less than a metallic equivalent
• Service history: Settle for nothing less than a complete history with original invoices to verify work carried out. Always run an HPI check on the car prior to buying
• Safety: Electronic stability program standard on all models since August 1999, ABS on all models since day one

• Mercedes-Benz CLK 320 Avantgarde Tiptronic auto
  2001 51-reg
  40,000 miles
  Pay £16,550 from a main dealer or £15,250 privately
  

 © Jason Dawe Productions Limited October 2004