21/9!

"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse) 09/21/2015 at 15:59 • Filed to: Mercedes, W219

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Today, we’re going with the letter W. The Mercedes W219 to be exact, aka the first gen CLS. (Yes, we could have had a plain 219 which was something else altogether).

The CLS was designed by a Mr Fink and was intended as a kind of posh, Jaaaag type variation of the E class. More money, less practicality, more style. It’s a four door coupé then, a concept that makes some enter a state of instantaneous apoplexy. Interestingly, the path from concept to production version was subcontracted to an outside company, IVM Automotive.

CLSs in my part of the world are almost exclusively 3.0 diesels, others buy all sorts of V6 and V8 petrol ones up to 6.2 litre with really quite a lot of bhp. None of them come with a clutch pedal.

No, I don’t know if Merc were playing silly buggers with the diesel’s emissions.

Here’s a US spec one showing a number plate that seems just a little lost in a space intended also for a wider one.

Milky > Cé hé sin 09/21/2015 at 16:09

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Good ‘ol Mr. Fink

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Cé hé sin 09/21/2015 at 16:09

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Still a sexy car after ten years

Cé hé sin > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 09/21/2015 at 16:13

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Indeed, more so than its successor (oddly called the W218) if you ask me.

Cé hé sin > Milky 09/21/2015 at 16:13

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Yes, he did the Maybach too....

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Cé hé sin 09/21/2015 at 16:15

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Imo the current CLS tries too hard

Milky > Cé hé sin 09/21/2015 at 16:34

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And was at least part of the team on the CLK and one of the gens of the SLK (can’t remember which). Guy has talent. Had him as a teacher, pretty cool guy too.

Steve in Manhattan > Cé hé sin 09/22/2015 at 08:22

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First gen looks awful. Second gen is a bit more acceptable in AMG tri, (see Ray Donovan). I recall seeing my first one in 2006 (?) - thought something had fallen on it and squashed it.