It’s shorter and narrower than a Mini Countryman. In it, you look up at people in Honda Civics. That still surprises me because it drives like a bigger car. The CLK is small compared to modern cars. And there’s a pesky warning light telling me I have a burned-out lightbulb when I don’t. In addition to the battery drain, one of the valve covers leaks oil. Like any old car, my Mercedes-Benz CLK has issues. It has a slow drain on the battery, which hasn’t been a priority to fix. Since then, I’ve learned to drive the car every 2-3 days or put it on a battery tender. It was also two years out of warranty, so I replaced it with a new AGM battery from my local auto parts store. No amount of charging would bring it back. Jump-starting the car proved equally difficult. Instead, I had to open the hood, power the car’s electrical system using the positive terminal, and then open the trunk. The CLK’s battery is in the trunk, which I couldn’t access with my key. Jump starting a CLK is a convoluted process. I let the car sit for a week, and it drained the battery. Even when it was cold, a warm jacket, gloves, and heated seats made open-air motoring enjoyable. The CLK was out more often than not, always with the top down. A quick errand or a Sunday drive, it didn’t matter. I offered the dealer the same money I made selling my other car, and they accepted it.ĭuring the first two months, I put the top down anytime the temperature was above freezing. Best of all, the 4.3-liter version of the M113 makes effortless power with a satisfying rumble. It had 74,000 miles and a clean, well-documented service history. I sold my commuter car and looked at the CLK. By late October, my job became 100 percent remote.

All summer and into fall, the price dropped on it. Last year a local dealer listed a 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK 430 convertible with the AMG package. I also wanted room for four people and something with a V8 engine. My first two choices were the R107 or R129 SL Class, but prices for a good one were out of my reach. I’ve always wanted a Mercedes-Benz convertible. Optimistically, I believed I bought a good car for a good price but expected a few surprises. It’s a mix of eccentricities wrapped in Brilliant Silver Metallic paint. The CLK is an old Mercedes going on 23 years old. Like with all old cars, a few issues cropped up. But the time has been punctuated with opportunities to enjoy and appreciate the car, including a good road trip.Įven so, it hasn’t all been idyllic. It’s gone by fast, as life generally does when you’re busy. I’ve owned my 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK 430 convertible for just over nine months. Living with a 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK 430 convertible means living with a mix of eccentricities and looking forward to sunny days.

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