Vehicle Type: Sports cabriolet (convertible)

Price Range: $47,200

Engine: 3.2- liter , 215- horsepower V6 Front Engine/ Rear Drive

Transmission: 5-speed automatic transmission

Fuel Economy: N/A

Safety Features: Driver and passenger side airbags and ABS anti-lock brakes are standard

Brindisi, Italy -- Here in the boot heel of the Roman state made famous by Joseph Heller, I am in torment. Iêve driven 200 miles along the conflux of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, cradle to much of our modern history. This has been a crucial point in major conflicts, from the Roman conquests, the Crusades, and lately WWII. Yet among the Crusader castles, the major features are craggy beaches leading into the azure sea, frequent unspoiled fishing harbors, and endless olive groves. I would be content to spend my remaining years traveling through such surroundings in one of these marvelous CLK convertibles. Unfortunately, I canêt figure out a way to support myself and pay for my open-air toy in the modest economy of southern Italy. Itês a real Catch 22!

The CLK represents the third of four vehicles that Mercedes is pinning its hopes on in the U.S. -- each seeking new buyers. First came the C-Class sedan , which grabbed new customers when introduced for less than $30,000. Then they surprised most cynics when the SLK sports car arrived and kept its price under $40,000, even with its slick retracting hard top. Then they bucked the soft sales trend affecting most sporty coupes with the CLK. Add to this Alabama-built M-Class sport utility with a low thirties price tag. See a trend?

Coupes have been among the most collectible of the Mercedes lineup, and there is a special place in our hearts for the convertibles. Wonderful movies from the fifties and sixties featured Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Clark Gable touring the Riviera, Italy or California coastline in these paragons of open-air enjoyment.

Mercedes is convinced that the mid-priced coupe market is on a rebound, and the Cabriolet is the logical extension of that design. The company surpassed the 100,000 sales barrier in the U.S. for the first time last year, and the CLK was a big help in reaching that goal.