PRACTICAL CLASSIC? MERC CL

The CL is a generously proportioned classic; at five metres long and 2.1 metres wide (including door mirrors) you need a big garage to house it. The CL can achieve 20+mpg, it’s easy to drive, and it fits four with luggage. Maintenance can be costly; the later CL600 has a twin-spark engine so that’s 24 spark plugs to replace every 60,000 miles. CO2 emissions are at least 299g/km which means any CL registered after 1 March 2001 costs £315 per year to tax; any registered before costs £255 per year.