Is the new Mercedes-Benz CLK320 worth twice as much as the new Honda Accord Coupe?
The answer will surprise you
Here’s what Motor Trend’s answer was to that question…
Excerpt from the December 2002 issue
You can buy 6530 Ib worth of Accord coupe for just a bit more than one 3515-lb CLK.
Which raises the question: Is one Mercedes worth two Hondas? Well, yes. Fifty large is major cash for a C-Class-based coupe. But the CLK acquits itself as well as anything wearing a three-pointed star. This coupe is fast, comfortable, elegant, entertaining, and built to last. And no: $50,000 is a lot of money, even for most luxury-car intenders. For most of us, the Accord V-6 is the better machine. While Hondas are known also for their longevity, the affordable price makes a lot of sense given the ephemeral nature of sporty two-doors. The new Accord is easily Honda's best and its most stylish since the '86-'89 models.The 240-hpV-6 is spirited enough to put the accent on "sport" in sport coupe, and the handling is good enough to entertain above-average drivers.
In the final analysis, the Mercedes CLK faithfully follows the rule of "you get what you pay for." Spring for an autobahn-ready, rock-steady sport coupe offering considerable flair and comfort, and the CLK delivers. Conversely, Honda's Accord coupe happily breaks that rule by giving the buyer much more car for the dollar. With its quick, powerful engine, excellent build quality, apart-from-the-crowd styling, and sticker price about half of the CLK's, the Accord Coupe is by far a better value. What coupe buyers do value, however, lies at the hard-to-define intersection of sizzle and sumptuousness. Most people just know it when they see it.
Auto Spies perspective: Sorry to say this but…what a bunch of ASS KISSERS! What’s the matter? Afraid you won’t get invited to the next FREE trip to Germany! Why don’t you guys ever come out and TELL THE TRUTH! Anyone who has driven these two cars (and we have) will tell you that although the CLK320 is a fine automobile, it is underpowered for it’s size (that’s why you’ll see a CLK350 soon) and the quality of materials in the new car certainly don’t rival the quality of the early 90’s generation MB’s. If it was finished inside at those quality levels, we wouldn’t be debating this question. Finally, go drive the new Honda, it’s a damn fine car for the money and eerily similar in look to the new CLK, especially in the back.
So the answer is: No way, the CLK320 is not worth twice the price of the new Honda. But I guess we’re the only media outlet on earth that will answer this truthfully…cause MB…READ OUR LIPS: WE DON’T NEED YOUR AD DOLLARS!
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