W209 CLK: Does weight = luxury?
There's a general feeling of weight and solidity to the W209 CLK— no doubt in part due to the fact it tips the scales at more than one and a half tonnes. And the coupe doors feel heavy - they are long and therefore require more steel and glass in their construction. Having experienced the incredibly light feeling doors of a modern Mercedes-Benz C-Class, it's not a given that you'll have this experience with all luxury cars. I'm reminded of the slimy lawyer in the movie Jurassic Park, admonishing the young lad for messing about with night vision goggles; "Is it heavy?" "Yeah." "Then put it back, it's expensive." Jurassic Park (1993) One argument might be that it's not a particularly luxurious experience, having to engage one's muscles and heave a heavy door open. But, it's that subtle underlying feeling of weight to the car that, rightly or wrongly, helps make you feel safe. The car feels planted on the road at higher speed...