Mercedes-Benz CL-Class

Basically an S-class coupe, the Mercedes CL remains one of the most imperious ways of getting about. Superb ride and decent handling make it a proper old-school GT.

• Comfort

  Got kilometres to do? Need to get somewhere quickly? This is the car to do it in. Nigh-on silent running, no wind noise to speak of, an awesome interior; the CL really is a mile-cruncher from the old-school. Seats are huge and the interior is wonderfully cossetting. The rear seats lose a little to the S-class, but there's space enough for four.

  

• Performance

  Choose from ‘base' - and we use the word lightly for an $324,000 car - 500 V8, a 63 AMG V8, a 600 V12 or a 65 AMG V12. All are auto, all are quick. The baby 500 is perky enough, thanks to 285kW, but the 63 AMG and 600 V12 deliver bigger performance with differing characters (the V8 is rawer and more aggressive, the V12 smoother and inaudible). The 65 AMG is a bored 600 V12 with 450kW and an even 1,000Nm of torque. That means a huge Mercedes capable of 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds.

  

• Cool

  The gold sovereign ring of the car world. Worn with enough self-deprecating irony, one of the coolest cars out there...

  

• Quality

  Built from de-commissioned nuclear bunkers and re-inforced with enough sound-deadening to stifle a murderous rampage with a semi-automatic. One of the nicest, most reliable places to spend time anywhere. Though one has to question what will happen in 20 years time when one of the 2457 electric motors fail and you don't know which one it is...

  

• Handling

  The newest version of the CL gets air-suspension and plenty of ability, but you'll never lose sight of the fact that this is one big, big motor. Can feel initially a little firm, but at the outer reaches of ability understeer is computer-controlled and unlikely to ruffle your overstuffed wallet. Go for the bigger engines (CL63) and you'll be looking at on-demand oversteer. Actually your looking at oversteer pretty much everywhere; on-demand or off it.

  

• Practicality

  If you want practical then go for the more-door bigger brother S-class. Saying that, there's plenty of space for four in the CL, the boot's a respectable 450 litres and the petrol tank holds 99 litres. That means that although it'll cost several hundred thousand dollars to fill the bugger, it should have decent range.

  

• Running costs

  Hmmm. You're looking for a cheap laugh then? Then go watch Wedding Crashers.