You get what you pays for! U nderstand that you cannot just buy a Merc. You have to buy a Mercedes with all the bells and whistles otherwise you just can't make yourself noticed when you drive in to the golf courses littered with Mercs, Mercs and even more Mercs. And it is this catering to the social nuances which sees Mercedes-Benz India make a big killing for which it just cannot be faulted. But getting to the creature comforts, the CLK 320 does come with quite a few gizmos and one of the most innovative bits which had my kids working away was the button on the dash that lowered or raised the rear headrests. Sure this is OE in the Merc saloons but we have never seen such a detail in a convertible. The multi-function steering wheel, the Blaupunkt stereo system with CD-changer (delivers super performance but with the top up), the outstanding climate control system are similar to those found on the E-class and S-class saloons. Then there is the Parktronic system plus also the rain sensor which automatically senses the need to activate the wipers.

Then there is the space on offer: more than adequate for the driver and front passenger with a superb driving position. At the rear it is just as comfortable for two adults who can have their own controls for the rear window glasses when in top up mode.

Onto the most important bit on the car: the top-down experience. We went to Mahabaleshwar in early April with the CLK, eager to get away from Pune with the mercury nudging the 38-degree Celsius mark. Once out on the Bangalore highway, and it was top down and pedal to the metal. We kept the side windows up and the air con on, the stereo turned up and there was no drama, no tension, just a super feeling as the CLK made short work of the distance. After Wai we rolled down the windows and it was then that we found the wind whistling away but not too harshly. However it was sufficient enough to drown out the music system. As we began climbing the Wai ghat the mercury began falling until it was a heavenly 12 degrees with the sun gently dipping into the horizon. This was enough to get us to switch off the air con and driving through Panchgani and to our abode in Mahabaleshwar the CLK and by extension Aspi and yours truly were the cynosure of one and all.

If you think that a mere ragtop is useless for effective sound and heat insulation, you have another surprise coming your way. We put the fabric top in place when we started back from Mahabaleshwar and there was just no road or wind noise at all. The loud and shrill horn was muffled and the you could hear every strain of music belting our from the stereo system. The top up acoustics are something to be marvelled at for sure as is the climate control.

Gripes? Yes, there are two. The first concerns the boot capacity which can just about hold a camera bag if the rag top is folded into it. And the second one is the price. Do not get anywhere near the CLK320 unless you have parked a cool fifty lakh rupees to blow away on the car dreams are made of. Maybe even that wouldn't help for you'll need a few more lakhs for registration and insurance. But in no other Mercedes can you get to see so many appreciative - or is that envious? - looks coming your way. That is what MBIL has factored into the ex-showroom price, methinks!

Adil Jal Darukhanawala with inputs from Aspi Bhathena