1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Review

1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class

Dream coupe.

by: Dan Jedlicka

The latest dream drive from Mercedes-Benz is its posh 1999 CLK320 Cabriolet four-seat convertible.

Mercedes four-seat soft-top models always have been special, and a number of the old ones are expensive collector's items.

The new Cabriolet is the first Mercedes four-seat convertible since the 1995 E320 Cabriolet, which cost a hefty $79,000 despite its aged inline six-cylinder engine.

While far less costly, the $47,200 CLK320 Cabriolet still isn't affordable for the average working guy or gal. After all, it's derived from the fairly new CLK coupe, which costs $40,600 with a 215-horsepower V-6 and $47,900 with a new 275-horsepower V-8.

The Cabriolet has the V-6, which is the first production V-6 from Mercedes. The V-8 likely will be offered for the Cabriolet in a year; demand for the convertible is so high that Mercedes needn't spice it up with the V-8.

Some convertibles look ungainly with the top up, but the Cabriolet has the sleek, swept-back roof profile of the CLK coupe with its top up. That power top is a thick, three-layer affair with a too-small glass rear window. It works beautifully, quickly going down and up with the push of a button. But one first must awkwardly twist a central rotary handle to free the front top section from the windshield.

When lowered, the top is nicely concealed by a twin-domed steel cover reminiscent of an item on the legendary Mercedes 300SLR race car. One in a million remembers the 1950s 300SLR, but Mercedes is on a retro kick like other automakers and might remind folks of that racer in Cabriolet advertising.

The snug top allows the Cabriolet to be a quiet highway cruiser at legal speeds and a true all-season car. When lowered, front-seat wind buffeting is fairly low at 65 m.p.h. And a standard wind deflector that occupies the rear seat trims such buffeting.

The Cabriolet has a plush wood-and-leather interior that has big, highly supportive power front seats. Two medium-height adults fit comfortably in the rear. But the trunk is small, even with the top raised.

The rugged CLK structure was designed to accommodate coupe and convertible bodies, so the Cabriolet isn't just a coupe with its top chopped off.

While the Cabriolet shares much basic structure with the CLK coupe, its body is unique from the windshield pillars back. Cross members in the floor are reinforced to provide good body rigidity and the sturdy windshield pillars and frame increase protection during a rollover.

All that extra rigidity cancels out typical convertible squeaks, wiggles and steering wheel shake. It also contributes to a solid structure that allows the all-independent suspension to deliver a supple ride and responsive handling. A traction control system helps provide good grip on roads.

Steering is heavy but quick. And braking is enhanced by Mercedes' Brake Assist; it detects emergency stops by how quickly the brake pedal is applied--and then applies full braking force faster than a driver could.

The 130-m.p.h. Cabriolet is competing with Volvo's new C70 to be the world's safest convertible.

For instance, there are front air bags and door-mounted side airbags, and a rollbar system utilizing rear head restraints that deploys almost instantly if sensors detect a possible rollover.

The 3,655-pound Cabriolet is heavy, but its smooth 3.2-liter V-6 provides strong acceleration. The 0 to 60 m.p.h. run takes only 7.5 seconds, and 65-75 m.p.h. passing times are quick.

Performance is enhanced by a responsive, driver-adaptive five-speed automatic transmission, which allows highway fuel economy of about 26 m.p.g. Figure on 16-18 in the city.

Mercedes long has had a knack for offering new cars that are instantly desirable. The Cabriolet surely is one of them.

Dan Jedlicka

Dan Jedlicka joined the Chicago Sun-Times in February 1968 as a business news reporter and was named auto editor later that year. He has reviewed more than 4,000 new vehicles for the Sun-Times--far more than any newspaper auto writer in the country. Jedlicka also reviewed vehicles for Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Autos Internet site from January, 1996, to June, 2008.

Jedlicka remained auto editor at the Sun-Times until October, 2008, and continued writing for the newspaper's AutoTimes section, which he started in 1992, until February, 2009. While continuing his auto writings at the Sun-Times, he served as assistant financial editor of that newspaper from 1970 to 1973, when he began his automotive column.

He has appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including NBC's "Today," ABC's "20/20" and "The CBS Evening News." He was a host, consultant and writer for Fox-TV Channel 32's 1991 New Car Preview show and that Chicago-based station's 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 Chicago Auto Show Previews.

Jedlicka's auto articles have been printed in national magazines, including Esquire and Harper's. His auto columns have been reprinted in U.S. government publications and economic textbooks and he is profiled in the "World's Greatest Auto Show" history book about the Chicago Auto Show. In late 1975, Jedlicka was host and technical advisor for three one-hour television specials, "Auto Test 76," which aired nationally on PBS and were the first nationally televised auto road test shows.

In 1995, Jedlicka was the recipient of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois Inc.'s Consumer Education Award, given annually to a person who has gained distinction in the field of consumer education. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Media category and inducted into the Legends of Motorsports Guild at the Carquest World of wheels custom car show in Chicago in January, 2006.

Jedlicka was a member of the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury, composed of a select number of auto journalists from throughout the country, from 1995 until 2009. From 2010 to 2012, he was a member of Consumer Digest magazine's auto experts panel that gave Best Buy new vehicle recommendations.

He is a 1987 graduate of the Bob Bondurant Race Drivers School and later of the BMW "M" and Skip Barber Advanced Driving schools. He was a member of the U.S. team that participated in the 1987 1,000-mile Mille Miglia race/rally in Italy and has been a race winner at the Chicago area's Santa Fe Speedway.

Jedlicka has owned 25 classic cars, including 1950s and 1960s Ferraris and 1950s and 1960s Porsches, a 1965 Corvette, a 1967 Maserati and a 1957 Studebaker supercharged Golden Hawk. Jedlicka resides with his wife, Suzanne, in the Frank Lloyd Wright historic district of Oak Park. They have two children, James and Michele.

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