I'd daily the shit out of a last-Gen CLS550

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg) 03/02/2018 at 10:47 • Filed to: None

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It’s got a fantastic-looking exterior and an interior that is not only comfortable and stylish, but also quite unique. Also, for a 10 year-old non-AMG, the fact that it makes just shy of 400 horsepower and gets to 60 in around 5 seconds makes it pretty darn quick. Okay, so they’re a bit of a maintenance nightmare, but you can find clean, low-mileage examples for between $15-20k.

Yes, I’m aware most people think these cars have aged horribly, but I couldn’t disagree more. Sure, the ones which have been abused and neglected look like garbage, but a well-kept one is a beautiful thing.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 10:57

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“gets to 60 in around 50 seconds makes it pretty darn quick.”

How the living breathing hell is a 50 sec 0-60 time quick

SaabStutz > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 10:58

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Definitely agree. Part of it for sure is I think those are wheels from a more recent E class. Maybe the standard e350s?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 03/02/2018 at 10:58

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Whoops

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 10:59

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Lol

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 03/02/2018 at 11:02

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compared to walking, it is

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 11:03

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Bonus points for Barolo Red as shown over black or brown

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 03/02/2018 at 11:03

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Unless you’re me who walks at godspeed #longlegsfordays

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 11:06

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And it will dog, also trunk accommodates bodies fairly well.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 03/02/2018 at 11:08

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I have attained decent acceleration with my legs, just seem to run out of steam before I hit 60mph, I’ll keep trying.

fintail > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 11:08

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I think these are a more cohesive design than the 2011+ cars. Can be claustrophobic for taller people though - I have been in a couple, and visibility irritated me. But for better or worse, it is something of a landmark design for a modern car - many people loved it, and it was emulated.

Car in the lead pic must be a 2009-10 model with those wheels, similar design to W212 wheels.

djmt1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 11:11

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Man, the Mercedes 5.5 NA V8 is a dangerous rabbit hole to go down.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 03/02/2018 at 11:15

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Bro who uses steam anymore that’s that industrial revolution shit. We on that gas now, but some people are also sparking. It’s called mixed shit, aka hybrids.

Milky > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 11:18

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I had a teacher who was the lead designer on this. I really like it, very simple and nice.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 11:32

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Absolutely agree. These are beautiful cars, more so than the ones that came afterwards and SIGNIFICANTLY more so than the weird angular lighted thing that is the upcoming model.

Anybody have an idea of actual specific maintenance issues to watch out for (and potential expense) with these things? Or is it more a general “ooh a 10 year old German car, beware!” type deal?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > SaabStutz 03/02/2018 at 11:46

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If not the same, certainly similar.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 03/02/2018 at 11:47

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Over brown, yes. I don’t like all-black interiors.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > fintail 03/02/2018 at 11:49

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Fortunately I top out at 5'6" so headroom has never really been an issue. And yeah, it’s an ‘09, I’d go for a ‘09 or a ‘10 if I was buying.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > djmt1 03/02/2018 at 11:54

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Apparently the ‘07 models with the 5.5 are trouble, but the problems were fixed for ‘08 on.

Textured Soy Protein > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 11:55

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I like the first gen CLS but the non-AMG front bumper has always kinda bugged me. It sweeps upward toward the front and kinda looks derpy. It probably helps avoid scraping on driveways and bugs me less when viewed from the side. But still.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 03/02/2018 at 11:56

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The 5.5 could be a problem child, particularly in the ‘07 models. The Airmatic can be troublesome as well, and so can the electronics.

Milky > Milky 03/02/2018 at 12:05

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Found his sketch online, Maybach logo is kind of funny on it.

Vicente Esteve > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 12:16

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That first gen CLS is such a great looking, unique car. One of the best styled cars by Mercedes for sure.

63s are getting CHEAP.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 03/02/2018 at 12:28

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It’s how I play video games, haha.

But I shall look into a hybrid system for my leggo’s.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 03/02/2018 at 12:55

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This dude

bob and john > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 13:37

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Remember our talk about what you think is a reliable, under stressed machine?

Amoore100 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 13:59

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I hope you work from home.

Kidding aside, I do love the design of these but everything about a Daimler-era Merc makes me scared. It was such a rare flight-of-fancy from a German marque when it first came out, though; I remember its lines seeming so exotic and sensual despite my mother always calling it “the fishy Mercedes”—I mean, she had a point.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > bob and john 03/02/2018 at 14:04

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I’m well aware this isn’t it. Purely browsing. I don’t intend to replace my car until I graduate.

fintail > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/02/2018 at 14:21

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I am 6'1", not insanely tall, but I felt boxed in - maybe because I have driven relatively formal roofed E-class for a long time.

The newest nicest one is always the best bet.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > fintail 03/02/2018 at 15:25

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Still better visibility than a CLA or GLA!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 03/02/2018 at 15:28

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08 or newer should be fine. Before that, timing chain idler sprocket (basically same issue as balance shafts on the M272, Google it if you’re not familiar). Maybe airmatic. Maybe need a valve body at some point. That’s by far the worst of it though.

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 03/02/2018 at 18:03

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Also neither of which I particularly want.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > fintail 03/02/2018 at 18:42

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For sure!

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/04/2018 at 11:39

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Until I experienced one of these, I was very cynical of the “4-door coupe” moniker. I thought they were just bending over backwards to market a slightly swoopier sedan. But after spending time in one, I’m convinced that’s the proper term. The side windows start almost at shoulder’height and are very small. The rear doors do make it easier to get in the back compared to crawling behind the seat in a 2-door coupe, but they are tiny. You really have to bend down to get underneath the gigantic C-pillar. I’m 6' tall, and my head is hitting the roof in the back, and again, the windows are tiny. Up front is a great place to be though. So, in my book the term “4-door coupe” is well-deserved by the CLS.