The 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet comes in several levels of performance and amenities, but all are designed to carry the driver and occupants in style with performance to match. Style seems to be the key work in the Mercedes-Benz lexicon these days.

No manufacturer is more intent upon identification with the beautiful people
than Mercedes-Benz. While Mercedes-Benz is pumping out more special
performance models than any other manufacturer at this time, the overriding
theme seems to be style and fashion. Mercedes is dumping millions into slick
advertising sections in upscale life-style magazines, much more than it¹s
placing in automotive publications. Witness the nine-page color spreads that
are currently appearing in such trend-setting publications as Vanity Fair
and Gourmet. The spreads feature ultra glamorous models in homage to haute
couture. The spreads are limited to fashion photos; there¹s not one word of
ad copy. It¹s all glam, all the time. And if these publications have a
strong appeal to the sophisticated female buyer, then all the better.

It appears that this high-concept strategy is working. For the first eight
months of 2003, Mercedes is enjoying its best sales ever for a comparable
period in the US. And the company has been active in the states for nearly
50 years. 

It should come as no surprise that one of the featured autos in the
company¹s glam campaign is the new CLK Cabriolet. The new vehicle is longer, sleeker and more stylish than its predecessor and certainly will 
appeal to upscale female professionals and the ladies that lunch. The V-8 powered CLK500 delivers ultra-smooth acceleration and a quiet refined ride. And lest one be late for a board meeting or an appointment at the day spa, the CLK500 will whisk its owner form zero to 60 miles in a mere six seconds. And that¹s fast enough to leave the hoi polloi eating your dust, never mind the cake.
But perhaps the most remarkable feature of the CLK500 is what is doesn¹t do.
The body structure is almost completely free of any vibration, shake and
shudder, the bane of open-top automobiles.

You've got to hand it to Mercedes-Benz. A couple of years ago, the company
changed course. From old and stodgy, Mercedes did a radical change and
became youthful and exciting. It now manufactures a broad line of compelling
automobiles. You can get into a new Mercedes for about $30,000 on the low
end. Or you can extend your wallet to more than 100 grand on the top. And
every model exudes a sense of precision and quality.

But moving past the fashion statement, the CLK Cabriolet is one of the best
things that Mercedes makes and is one of the most compelling open cars on
the planet. The CLK series of coupes and convertibles (cabriolets in Euro
talk) offers great design, solid mechanical components, excellent driving
characteristics, as well as a boatload of Mercedes-Benz' latest technology.

For example, Mercedes models come equipped with the company's Touch Shift gear selector for the five-speed automatic transmission. The shift
technology allows the driver to sequentially shift the transmission by
flicking the floor-mounted shift lever from side to side. A small window on
the dashboard signals which gear the driver has selected. The unit is
extremely quick, precise and very impressive. In fact, the Mercedes
transmission is at the top of my list right now, both in terms of its solid
mechanical components and its ease of operation.

I have driven many competitive systems that facilitate manual shifting of an
automatic transmission. But the sheer convenience and capability of the
Mercedes system has made me question my long-term commitment to the manual transmission. Like most automotive enthusiasts, I harbor a stubborn loyalty to the manual transmission, but the Mercedes system is so competent, that my resolve is wavering.

The CLK models are also very competent on the road, and the more challenging the better. Armed with a sporty suspension aided by wide and sticky 17-inch wheels and tires as well as rack and pinion steering, the Cabriolet is a very enjoyable car to drive on mountain and country roads. Drivers will find the CLK¹s handling quite inspirational. When negotiating curves, the car exhibits a well-defined turn-in and delivers good feedback to 
the driver.

On the other hand, few people who have had any experience with a European
automobile will complain about its ride quality. Mercedes has definitely
solved the problem of combining sportiness and ride comfort on the same
chassis. 

There's also no doubt that the CLK Cabriolet's spunky V-8 engine adds a lot
to its driving enjoyment. The 300-horsepower engine is amazingly smooth and
quiet. Where the engine really shines is in mid-range torque delivery, which
means that there's plenty of passing power up to any speed I'll ever care to
drive. 

The interior adheres to the current Mercedes design school.  The leather
interior is comfortable and impeccably constructed. The back seat in the
convertible is tight for adults, but still usable. 

 
Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz CLK500

Price as tested: $60,570

Engine:

         Type: -liter

         Horsepower: 302 @ 5,600 rpm

         Torque: 339-ft. lbs. @ 4,250 rpm

Fuel economy, automatic transmission

         City - 17 mpg

         Highway - 22 mpg

Curb Weight: Not available