Mercedes-benz CLS63 AMG

0-100 km/h: 4,82 seconds Top speed: 250 km/h (limited) Power: 386 kw Torque: 700 N.m CO2: 231 g/km Fuel consumption: 11,88 L/100 km (fuel index)

The original 2005 CLS may be the car that started the four-door coupé trend but the second and third generations of the CLS have failed to capture the hearts of style-conscious buyers to the same degree. Still, the second generation highlighted here remains a classy machine and, with a CLS63 badge on the back, a fast one, too.

The shapely Amg-fettled CLS added a menacing body kit, furthering its sinister styling. Underneath the bonnet was the most significant difference, with a wonderful hand-built 5,5-litre twin-turbo V8 separating this Affalterbach athlete from any common or garden CLS.

Of course, a car of this calibre packs plenty of luxury features, with electrically adjustable seats and voice control the tip of the iceberg. While R600 000 for a super four-door coupé may seem like a veritable bargain, however, it is important to remember any maintenance plan has likely long expired and you will have to budget for maintenance and servicing. For example, front brake discs will currently set you back R25 110. Mercedes-benz does offer what it calls Servicedrive, which covers vehicles up to eight years old or 200 000 kilometres. While it may not be as extensive as a maintenance plan, it covers the cost of selected wear and tear parts: brake pads, windscreen wipers and other items. The extent of coverage and cost of the plan is model dependent, so check with a Benz dealer before purchasing your performance four-door coupé.