Buy Mercedes Convertible
In the early 1990s, Mercedes decided to take its popular mid-range executive sedan, chop the roof off and get rid of two of its doors. The result was the E-Class Cabriolet, available with three 4-cylinder and three 6-cylinder engine options. The Cabriolet also came standard with a 4-speed automatic transmission, adding to the luxury of a large convertible.
buy mercedes convertible
Mercedes-Benz has had a long history of producing spectacular open-top cars. Towards the beginning of their company's history, when fixed roofs were a rare feature, Mercedes-Benz automobiles still managed to stand out from the rest of the drop top crowd thanks to their incredible designs and engineering prowess. Gradually, the automaker would move towards standardizing their lineup of automobiles to include sedans and coupes, but they would continue to ensure that convertible editions of their vehicles were always available to the discerning driver.
In the 1950s, Mercedes-Benz began to head down a new path in terms of convertible development with the sale of the successful 300 SL roadster. Based upon the drop-dead gorgeous 300 SL gull-wing coupe, the roadster signaled the beginning of Mercedes-Benz's move away from traditional coupe-based four-passenger rag tops. While these vehicles were still built from time to time, particularly the CLK-Class cabriolet, the German car company became increasingly focused on small two-seat roadsters that offered not only the standard soft top but also a removable hard top.
The SL-Class would become an extremely popular seller, and Mercedes-Benz would step up production of the vehicle throughout the 1970s and 1980s. At the beginning of the 1990s, however, the decision was made to morph the SL-Class from small roadster into a two-passenger grand touring car. This new model was equally elegant and graceful in terms of design, and certainly quicker, but it also possessed a greater heft that made it much less of a sports car than before. Towards the end of the decade, Mercedes-Benz moved to plug the hole in their small car lineup that had been created when the SL-Class blossomed into its modern incarnation, creating the SLK-Class. This new vehicle was not only built on a new short and sweet platform, but it also incorporated a retractable hardtop, bucking industry trends and adding an extra layer of exclusivity to the vehicle. The SLK-Class was priced below the SL, but it was still regarded as a premium convertible when compared to other compact roadsters on the market.
This article discusses the 3 best used convertibles available from Mercedes-Benz, the SL-Class, the SLK-Class and the larger CLK-Class. While each of these automobiles target a very specific segment of drop top buyers, they are all are fine examples of the power, luxury and driving enjoyment that are built into every vehicle that leaves the Mercedes-Benz factory.
The 2005 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is somewhat larger than the vehicle it replaces, although it is hard to see that difference in the roadster's interior. The SLK-Class is tight inside by design, but it does pass the comfort test thanks to wonderfully supportive leather seats and excellent quality in the interior materials. Perhaps the most intriguing feature found in the SLK-Class is the 'airscarf', which blows warm air on the necks of occupants when the vehicle's top is down in order to allow for the use of the convertible once the weather has turned chilly.
The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class received yet another size boost when the new generation debuted in 2003. While certainly not a large car, the SL-Class' width and long hood help to give it a road presence not often seen in a convertible. Measuring at just under what could be considered full-size, the SL-Class offers a dignified and semi-exotic convertible ride to drivers who expect to be pampered as soon as they push the button to retract the vehicle's steel hard top.
Power is certainly not an issue with the 2003 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. In North America, only 8 and 12-cylinder examples were ever sold, meaning that secondhand buyers have an attractive range of engines to choose from. In the first year of production, drivers could choose from either a 5.0-liter, 302 horsepower V-8 or a supercharged 5.4-liter 8-cylinder engine that produced 493 horsepower. The latter engine is found in the sport-oriented SL55 AMG edition of the convertible. The V-12 SL600 was added the following year, and it offered the same power as the SL55 thanks to twin-turbo charging. As if close to 500 ponies weren't enough to satisfy even the heaviest of right foots, in 2005 the SL65 hit the streets with 604 horsepower from an even larger V-12 mill. The first year of production saw 5-speed automatic transmissions all around, while later models benefited from two extra forward gears.
Recognizing that occasionally convertible drivers enjoy the company of more than just one passenger, Mercedes-Benz released the 2003 - 2007 CLK-Class Cabriolet as their premium 4-seat convertible. Aimed at the cross section of the market interested in the BMW 3 Series drop top but dreaming of the BMW 6-Series, the CLK is a nice combination of style and grace wrapped up in a close to mid-size body style. The CLK-Class coupe's fine flowing lines translate well to a topless state, and the vehicle is a favorite amongst those looking for understated luxury.
The 2003 - 2007 CLK-Class convertible makes use of a much improved platform that helps the vehicle feel might tighter during harsh maneuvers and on bumpy roads when compared to older editions of the car. This level of refinement extends to the engine bay, where buyers are treated to a solid selection of power plants. From 2003 to 2005, the base CLK-Class was outfitted with a 215 horsepower 3.2-liter V-6. The 2006 model year saw the introduction of an updated to 3.5-liter, 268 horsepower unit. V-8 convertibles start out with the 302 horsepower CLK500, which was also bumped up later in the cabriolet's lifecycle to the much more powerful, 382 horsepower CLK550. Fire-breathing CLK55 and CLK63 AMG editions of the car are available for drivers who cannot be satisfied with anything less than 500 horsepower. Each CLK-Class convertible uses either a 5-speed or 7-speed automatic transmission.
While even large convertibles are usually two-person affairs, the 2003 - 2007 CLK-Class Cabriolet is not all that unpleasant for rear adult passengers on short trips. It is possible to have a conversation fore-to-aft without being too distracted by wind noise, and the vehicle's supportive seats absorb any road harshness that might be translated through the vehicle's suspension. The automobile's interior trim is to the high standard expected from Mercedes-Benz, and only the pickiest buyers will find fault with the arrangement of the controls and the level of standard equipment provided.
The 2003 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Cabriolet is a used convertible very much in the spirit of the powerful Mercedes-Benz drop tops of their glory years, one which combines class and agility with an effortless driving experience.
The R107 was released during a time in which American vehicle safety regulations were becoming increasingly strict. During that time, convertibles were thought to be death traps making such models increasingly difficult to sell. The marketing team at Mercedes understood that in order for the vehicle to be successful it needed to sell well in the US. Therefore, they did everything they could to ensure that this was perhaps the safest convertible the world had ever seen. Aside from the crumple zones that Mercedes was experimenting with during that time period, the R107 also featured a roll bar in the windshield frame. It was said that this structure could take several times the weight of the vehicle in the event of a rollover. The most impressive part of this roll bar was that it was integrated without diminishing the elegant looks Mercs were famous for. We would bet that an R107 from the 1980s is safer than a Mazda MX5 or even a Honda S2000 of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
One of the most sought-after badges on the market, and the wind in your hair. No wonder Mercedes-Benz convertibles are popular. We have a wide range of used Mercedes-Benz convertibles for sale that are available to buy or finance.
The C-Class has been sold new since 2015, the E-Class has been sold since 2010, and the S-Class was sold from 2016 to 2021. The C-Class and E-Class are great cars with a premium look and feel, but the S-Class is a true luxury car that has a sumptuous interior packed with just about every feature Mercedes can provide. Both the C-Class and E-Class convertibles will be replaced in late 2022 by the new CLE.
There are many Mercedes convertibles that can be considered high-performance cars, but the really fast ones are made by AMG, a specialist performance division within Mercedes. Such cars are branded Mercedes-AMG and there is at least one AMG version of every Mercedes convertible. Your fastest choice is the C63 S, a version of the C-Class Cabriolet that has a raucous 502bhp engine and can accelerate from standstill to 62mph in just four seconds. 041b061a72