Mercedes-Benz CLK

Road test

There's a huge amount of impassioned argument and technical guff talked about cars these days, few places more so than in these pages. And chances are, if you've got your nose stuck in TG right now, that you talk about as much of that guff as the rest of us.

But imagine, if you will, a chap, well-to-do in an above average sort of way, blessed with some sense of style and taste, but who really doesn't give much of a damn about cars.

Sure, he wants a nice one, one that works well in a rewarding fashion and maybe even makes him look a tiny bit cool, but as for choosing one? Not a chance. He wouldn't know where to start.

He's what the Mercedes CLK 200 is all about. (Or she for that matter). Sod all that lunatic V8 AMG nonsense. That's a £65,000 car that'll wind you up in jail. Or on the slab.

You can get the 200 for well under half of what one of those will cost you, throw in some decent spec with all that change and have the perfect, understated, undemanding coupe.

It's not that fast, nor that flash, but is still beautifully made, perfectly comfortable, impressively quiet and blessed with one of the finest silhouettes on the road today.

This is the sort of car that gets overlooked by us enthusiasts, leaving those not in the know to submerge themselves in its well of qualities. The lucky bastards.

Matt Master