You’ve got to wonder what the future holds for V12 waft-mobiles on the used market. Already there are precious few to choose from even if you’re willing to take the financial hit on a brand new luxury-grade limo and, barring a miraculous breakthrough in synthetic fuels, they will surely all go the way of the dodo in the not-too-distant future. Boo. Conversely, while you can bag a 12-cylinder barge for what could comfortably be called peanuts these days, there's always the chance they might gain in popularity (and therefore value) once the glory days of oversized combustion engines are well and truly behind us.
For now, though, the bargain barge is still alive and kicking. That’s partly because the cost of running an old brute can be astronomical - something that buyers will perhaps be more willing to overlook if (or when) they achieve modern classic status - but it could also be down to the nature of these 12-cylinder continental cruise missiles, which is to devour many miles very quickly and very quietly. So if you prefer your V12 to go about its business without making a song a dance about it (and you’re a master at budgeting for the unexpected), then kindly draw your attention to this marvellous Mercedes CL65 AMG.
The CL65 was all about excess. If a buyer wanted a CL65 new back in 2008, by definition they assumed the 6.2-litre, 525hp twin-turbo V8 in the £111,000 CL63 simply wouldn’t fulfil their wafty needs and instead opted to fork out an additional £50,000 for four extra cylinders. That, of course, did bring a substantial leap in power to 612hp and, notably, a near-60 per cent increase in torque to 738lb ft. So torquey was the CL65 that it required Merc’s bullet-proof five-speed automatic gearbox because the newer seven-speed auto fitted to the CL63 couldn’t handle such monumental levels of twist.
Naturally, the straight-line performance was devastating. The CL65 could gallop to 62mph from a standstill in 4.4 seconds, and though it’s limited to a cruising speed of just 155mph, it’s said the gearing is good for 212mph if the limiter were removed. And you know it’d be about as frenetic as a library at those speeds. What’s more impressive is that it’s capable of delivering such an outrageous level of performance while hauling along 2.2 tonnes worth of leather, wood and cutting-edge automotive technology - by late '00s standards, anyway.
To AMG’s credit, it did try to work around the CL’s monumental weight by fitting the ’65 with marginally stiffer springs and tweaking the Active Body Control system to keep the car as close to level as possible. Obviously, it was never going to work as a Ring Taxi, but reviewers at the time were seemingly impressed with how the CL65 was able to remain composed under hard braking and cornering while retaining the CL’s pillowy ride. Said Active Body Control can be an issue on the C216 CLs, so it’s probably worth setting some pocket money aside just in case, but the M275 6.0-litre V12 shouldn’t cause you many headaches - just lots of trips to the grown-up pump.
Believe it or not, Mercedes didn’t shift many CL65s in the UK. I couldn’t get hold of an official number for right-hand drive cars, but HowManyLeft puts it at more than 20, fewer than 30. A rare beast, then, and one that’s yet to command serious collector-level money. This 2008 car has 41,000 miles on the clock (low for a mile muncher) and, as crazy as it sounds, is ULEZ compliant. The perfect London runabout? Probably not, but there’s no denying that, at £36,995, there’s an almighty amount of V12 performance on offer for the price of a well-specced Golf. Grab it while you can.
SPECIFICATION | MERCEDES CL65 AMG (C216)
Engine: 5,980cc V12, twin-turbo
Transmission: five-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 612@4,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 738@2,000-4,000rpm
MPG: 19
CO2: 355g/km
Year registered: 2008
Recorded mileage: 41,000
Price new: £160,000
Yours for: £36,995
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