28 Aug 07
3. Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class (1998-2003)
For proper tennis-club clout, you need a Mercedes CLK cabriolet, once selling for upwards for £50,000 but now down below £10,000. If you're brave, just £8,000 is needed to net an early 1999 230K with 100,000-plus miles on the clock, but a more sedately-driven version is yours for £10,000.
Stay away from the rather gutless 163bhp 200K added in 2000 if you want power with your pose, despite its supercharger (the K stands for 'Kompressor', which essentially describes what a supercharger does). The supercharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder 230K is punchy enough at 193bhp, but the 3.2-litre V6 320 with 218bhp isn't too far away on price: below £11,000. The eight-cylinder CLK 430 really was once over £50,000, but its depreciation was unexpectedly savage and this is now probably the biggest bargain in this list.
All CLKs are automatic-transmission and most will have been specced-up beyond their rather mean standard trim levels. Top-drawer Elegance is the one you want, especially as this soft-riding car is more about cossetting the owner than delivering sports thrills. Based on the old-model C-Class, the CLK cabriolet was solidly built and ultra-desirable at launch in 1998 - and it still is.
Road Test: Mercedes-Benz CLK Coupe (1998-2003)
