2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class - Reviews - Buying Guide
2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Buying Resources:
2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Review:
The CL-Class is the largest of all the coupes Mercedes-Benz
offers. It is fast, responsive, advanced, stylish and safe.
Teamed with the S-Class sedan, the duo effectively serves
as the epitome of what it means to be a Mercedes.
With a standard features list that reads like a novel, there
can be no questioning Mercedes’ commitment to comfort. Heated
front seats, leather upholstery air conditioning with dual-zone
automatic climate controls, a navigation system and steering-wheel
radio and climate controls are really just the beginning of
what you get. And that’s the base model.
There are quite a few upgrades to the CL-Class for 2004.
All models are now factory prewired to accept a newly optional
dealer-installed satellite radio. In addition, Mercedes' Keyless
Go option, which allows the driver to start the car by pressing
a shift-knob button, now takes its signal from the keyfob
instead of a pass-card.
Under the Hood
On the driving side of things, Mercedes introduces a revolutionary
new transaxle this year. 2004 CL500 models use an industry-first
7-speed automatic transmission. The system can skip gears
during upshifts and downshifts for increased efficiency. Plus,
it features a manual-shift mode as well.
Now get ready for the engines that pump life into the rear-wheel
drive CL-Class. The base CL500 model features a 5.0-liter
V8 with 302 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 339 lb-ft of torque
at 2700 rpm. That’s right—you can’t buy a slower CL-Class
than that.
CL55 AMGs have a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 with an amazing
493 horsepower at 6100 rpm and 516 lb-ft of torque at 2650
rpm. Top-line CL600 models? They use a 5.5-liter supercharged
V12 engine with 493 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 590 lb-ft of
torque at 1800 rpm. WOW.
All models include antiskid/traction control. Plus, they
have antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, front/rear torso side airbags
and head-protecting curtain side airbags.
Standard Features, Options Packages and Style
AMG models have 18-inch wheels, aero body addenda, and upgraded
brakes; other models offer a Sport Package option with similar
looks and tires. Mercedes' Active Body Control, designed to
minimize cornering lean, is also standard.
Mercedes' TeleAid assistance system and COMAND video control
for audio, navigation and phone are standard.
In another 2004 update, the navigation system is based on
DVD instead of CD software. Furthermore, the audio system
can now read MP3-encoded CDs.
|
