2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK Elegance Conv. review from UK and Ireland

The electronic roof stopped half way down on one occasion, fortunately at my house - my friend who works for mercedes came round later and reset the roof in the closed position, and it has worked fine since!

Apart from this the car has been bomb-proof!

This car looks fantasitc - mine is in green black metallic with 19 inch AMG alloys, however, it is no drivers car, the lack of a solid roof compromises the cars handling quite heavily and it becomes quickly unsettled over difficult roads, while the steering is remote. Mine was one if the very last to be fitted with a five speed manual 'box - this being replaced with a much improved 6 speeder in 2001, the 5 speed is a stong, but horribly mushy creation.

In terms of performance, the car is brisk rather than fast - it will shame normal cars, but I'm wary of getting involved in motorway slip road dashes with other top end material - but then again the 230 is frugal if you keep it away from the rev. limiter (if you don't, watch the fuel gauge drop..)

The brakes are great, but the hand-brake works much better with an auto-box, the ESP system is restrained, but floor the throttle in 1st and you will provoke it, and also in 2nd in the wet.

All this aside, i'll forgive it the above because with the roof down and wind deflector up (no room in the back!) this car is a great place to be!

If your going to buy one, and now is great time as its residuals are shaken with more and more of the new model coming onto the market, make sure it's a dark colour with decent wheels, a black roof, cream leather, and probably an auto box... (or the 6 speeder)