The lovely thing about cars is that each has its own personality, quirks and impressions, and each leaves a unique impact on the driver that often is not shared with anything else on wheels.

That's why having so many varieties around to savor is so much fun.

They can prompt daydreams. They can make you think of a song, or a special time in your life. And they can represent the unique talents, tastes, idiosyncracies and personalities of those who design, engineer and produce them.

Take the Mercedes Benz CLK550 Convertible, for instance. It reeks of class -- and classic beauty. It puts you in the mind of shopping on Rodeo Drive, Michigan Avenue or some other urban oasis. Or pulling in front of a home in Shadyside, the Central West End in St. Louis or Buckhead in Atlanta.

And the CLK550 also happens to be one of the few remaining "classic" Mercedes models left in the current lineup. In the past couple of years, with its new S Class, CLS four-door "coupe" and C Class models, Mercedes has marched resolutely forward toward a more contemporary air in its products.

Our test car was a Mars Red CLK550 convertible with a base price of $62,900. Add to this an optional navigation system, a premium package that includes heated and ventilated front seats, a heated windshield-washer system, Harmon/Kardon sound, satellite radio and other niceties, and you end up with a final price of $73,325. It's no wonder Beverly Hills comes to mind with this car.

Power comes from a 5.5-liter, 382-horsepower V-8 that can hit 60 in 5.2 seconds. There also is a seven-speed automatic with "touch shift."

Gas mileage estimates are 15 city/21 highway, with an annual estimated fuel bill of $2,515. Given that low mileage rating, it should come as no surprise that if you want one of these cars, be ready to pay a $1,000 gas-guzzler tax.

The newer Mercedes products feature streamlined styling that is daring and edgy but still says "Mercedes" because of some familiar styling cues such as the grille, the full-wheel cutouts and horizontal taillights in the back.

The newer models also have a spare looking yet luxurious interior, with a dashboard that has a more horizontal orientation than you find in older Mercedes products.

For its part, the CLK550 stands in stark contrast to all that sleekness and streamlining. Where the newer models look much sleeker, sexier and more hunkered down, the CLK looks robust, voluptuous, sporty, muscular and altogether like an old-style Mercedes.

Inside, you'll find classic Mercedes elements such as plump leather seats with a delicious scent to them and a dashboard dominated by three simple gauges.

The colors, shapes, materials and feel are all reminiscent of older models. The only break from tradition inside the CLK -- and it is one that I love -- is a mechanical arm that literally hands you your seat belt as you get into the car. It's a nice trick Mercedes should use in all of its cars.

Turn on the CLK550's V-8, and a low, rich rumble -- accented by a touch of gurgling and bubbling -- comes forth. The dual exhaust system, incidentally, is finished off nicely by chrome tips.

As is the case with most Mercedes autos, there's not a lot of drama to the acceleration pattern -- you get much more of that with the company's AMG models or in BMW products. Instead, you get smooth, fluid acceleration that should have you watching your speed because excess is so imperceptible that you could see red lights flashing in your mirror in no time.

Handling is superb. There's no lean, no bouncing, just smooth, flat cornering all the way. And you're guided with a steering wheel and a shifter that have just the right feel.

My only areas of concern involve interior elements. The Comand system is as complex and confusing as ever until you get used to it; there's that nutty cruise control lever that you hit accidentally when you want the turn signal, and there are really tight accommodations in the back seat.

But, oh, the joy of it. If you're not careful, the CLK550 will spoil you for anything else on the road.

Don Hammonds can be reached at dhammonds@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1435.