As for the top, it opens and closes with the help on a floor console-mounted switch. However, you'll have to wait for over 20 seconds to perform the operation, and the car must be immobilized. A wind deflector can be installed over the rear seats, but I didn't find the cockpit any less turbulent on the highway with this thing in place.

Top goes down in more than 20 seconds, which is not impressive.

Competition
Let's dream for a moment and imagine that we've got enough dough to buy ourselves a powerful and luxurious convertible for blow-drying our hair on sunny weekends. Here's a few dames we could check out:

BMW M6 Cabriolet, 500 hp, $140,500
Cadillac XLR-v, 443 hp, $113,670
Chevrolet Corvette Z51 Convertible, fully-loaded, 400 hp (430 for 2008), $89,470
Dodge Viper SRT10, 500 hp (600 in 2008), $98,400
Jaguar XKR Convertible, 420 hp, $127,000
Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG, 355 hp, $87,500
Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 355 hp, $128,900

So, there's a nice variety for people with deep pockets. At $115,000, the CLK63 AMG is no bargain, but it doesn't have an overpriced sticker either. I sincerely think that you get your money's worth, obviously if we compare it to the small group of cars mentioned above.

Conclusion
You'll probably call me an idiot, but I was glad to send the CLK63 AMG home after a week in my sweaty hands. It's not that I didn't like the car; I adored it.

It's just that 50 km/h on city streets and 100 clicks on the highway cruelly underexploits these 475 horses; one will never be able to push this AMG to the limits of its potential, at least legally. I was constantly checking the speedo as well as police hideouts that have a radar gun turned on, and that becomes irritating and frustrating.

However, if your neighbour keeps taunting his new BMW or Porsche, the CLK63 AMG would be a weapon of choice to shut him up. It's one of the quickest cars on the Canadian market, for the asked price, and it is quite beautiful with its additional aero trickery.

And if a convertible isn't your cup of tea, know that the addictive 6.3 V8 is also available in almost every other Mercedes Class, including the all-new C-Class.


Diabolically-powerful, rip-snorting engine
Surprising ride comfort
Very comfortable seats


Prehistoric CD changer
Ever-present exhaust rumble
Slow-operating top



Dashboard needs a redesign


Photo Credit : Olivier Delorme