st4
Banned
The SL will be good for what it is, but not in the Porka's league. However its more luxurious. What about a V12 SL? IMHO a better bet than a 55. Or save your money and get a 500 or 350.
SL55 or should i jump ship and get a 996 turbo
The SL will be good for what it is, but not in the Porka's league. However its more luxurious. What about a V12 SL? IMHO a better bet than a 55. Or save your money and get a 500 or 350.
Well it depends on what type of person you are to be honest. I've been in a 911 turbo on a track day (and it was completely stock) and it reminded me of a jap car, its a stiff ride, and quite rattly.
Now on that same track day, there was an E55 (i know its not an SL but it has the same engine) that was paired up on the run way with the porsche and the e55 actually beat the porsche, they both got around 11.9ish seconds on the 1/4 mile. Ok i dont know what its like to drive the SL55, but the E55 felt slightly more torqier and ready to jump than the porsche, also felt more refined and safer.
I'd personally get the SL cuz its most probably going to be more comfortable and more bearable in the long run. But for the more enthusiastic and daring driver, i think the porsche might suit better, (They do look damn good, and sound really mean too!).
My two pence worth EDIT: I'd go for the SL, because if i wanted to relax, i'm so sure it would accomodate to the same level of an S-Class.
Now on that same track day, there was an E55 (i know its not an SL but it has the same engine) that was paired up on the run way with the porsche and the e55 actually beat the porsche, they both got around 11.9ish seconds on the 1/4 mile. Ok i dont know what its like to drive the SL55, but the E55 felt slightly more torqier and ready to jump than the porsche, also felt more refined and safer.
I'd personally get the SL cuz its most probably going to be more comfortable and more bearable in the long run. But for the more enthusiastic and daring driver, i think the porsche might suit better, (They do look damn good, and sound really mean too!).
My two pence worth EDIT: I'd go for the SL, because if i wanted to relax, i'm so sure it would accomodate to the same level of an S-Class.
As a sports car maybe, but on the flipside the 996 TT isn't in the AMGs league when it comes to everyday driving and luxury.
Owning a modern Porsche attracts the wrong kind of attention in my experience.
The V12 just isn't as sporty as the 55 - would take the V8 everytime.
Owning a modern Porsche attracts the wrong kind of attention in my experience.
The V12 just isn't as sporty as the 55 - would take the V8 everytime.
i had a look at the v12 but its not all the AMG gubbins like suspension, brakes exhaust that the 55 does....now the 65...hmmm 
I have heard of serious performance being got from tweking the v12.
Is the porka really in a different league if so in what way?
I have heard of serious performance being got from tweking the v12.Is the porka really in a different league if so in what way?
st4
Banned
Is the Sl a sporty car? Or is it more of a boulevard cruiser which can cut on a back road? The 600 bar spark plugs will be cheaper to service, nicer sound (IMHO but I am in a massive minority) and perform just as well and fuel wise a turbo'd 12 and an SC'd 8 will both be abysmal.
I'd also recommend a 2WD drive 911 be it a GT3 or C2S. Play to the cars strengths, a SL is comfy, a porka 911 sporty so go for a lighter more involving 911 which a RWD not 4WD.
gIzzE
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The SL55 is a very fast but also comfy 2 seater, it handles nicely and will gobble the miles as well as just about anything out there.
The 996 Turbo is an insanely fast and brutal sports car, it is more of an experience, everytime you go out in it there will be a sense of occasion.
Most turbos will get to 60 seconds in well under 4 seconds, most SL55's will do it in about 4.7 seconds, but it is also the way they deliver that power that is so different, the SL does it effortlessly where as the Porsche smashes you like hammer in the back of the head as you work your way through the gears.
Two completely different cars designed for completely different customers, you need to drive them both.
Mate sold his 911 C4S and bought his SL55 and thought it was a much better all round car than the Porker, for about 2 months, by month 3 he was a little bored of it, well not bored of it as such but said it didn't make much sense, when wanting to go out for a 'drive' he missed the 911, and when he appreciated the SL55 he started thinking "but a CLS320cdi would be better for this situation".
He kept it for just over 4 months and then bought a 996 Turbo, he still has that Turbo now, nearly 2 years later, and he is still the first one to offer to go and collect the take away, or go and get the milk when the fridge is empty, anything to get out in the car if only for 10 minutes.
I think it was Jeremy Clarkson who said "As much as I hate to say it, this is the best car you can buy, full stop."
Personally I would buy a 997 C2S, as much as I love the Turbo, it is too fast for UK roads and you just end up going round the corner squirting the throttle and doing it over and over again, you never really have to learn how to drive it, you will go fast.
Where as with the C2S you get more of a sense of achievement, it really is almost the perfect car, and a couple of sold for just over £30k without silly mileage on them. It will also be as comfy as the SL but destroy it on the back roads having fun.
The 996 Turbo is an insanely fast and brutal sports car, it is more of an experience, everytime you go out in it there will be a sense of occasion.
Most turbos will get to 60 seconds in well under 4 seconds, most SL55's will do it in about 4.7 seconds, but it is also the way they deliver that power that is so different, the SL does it effortlessly where as the Porsche smashes you like hammer in the back of the head as you work your way through the gears.
Two completely different cars designed for completely different customers, you need to drive them both.
Mate sold his 911 C4S and bought his SL55 and thought it was a much better all round car than the Porker, for about 2 months, by month 3 he was a little bored of it, well not bored of it as such but said it didn't make much sense, when wanting to go out for a 'drive' he missed the 911, and when he appreciated the SL55 he started thinking "but a CLS320cdi would be better for this situation".
He kept it for just over 4 months and then bought a 996 Turbo, he still has that Turbo now, nearly 2 years later, and he is still the first one to offer to go and collect the take away, or go and get the milk when the fridge is empty, anything to get out in the car if only for 10 minutes.
I think it was Jeremy Clarkson who said "As much as I hate to say it, this is the best car you can buy, full stop."
Personally I would buy a 997 C2S, as much as I love the Turbo, it is too fast for UK roads and you just end up going round the corner squirting the throttle and doing it over and over again, you never really have to learn how to drive it, you will go fast.
Where as with the C2S you get more of a sense of achievement, it really is almost the perfect car, and a couple of sold for just over £30k without silly mileage on them. It will also be as comfy as the SL but destroy it on the back roads having fun.
st4
Banned
x2. If I were the OP I'd also look at the 335i BMW and the old shape M3. Both good practical cars that are fast and fun to drive if thats more of a priority. A Porka Boxster is also a good drive, and drop top too and with its mid engine an easier car to handle than an 911 and more than fast enough for UK driving.
gIzzE
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You can buy a new 57 plate M3 with Electronic Damper Control for £35k now!!
That will give you everything, a seriously comfy everyday car, but press the M button once you have set up for track damper settings, ultra quick steering rack, and razor sharp throttle and it becomes a lairy animal that is seriously quick. Turn it off and you have soft suspension, smooth throttle and dynamic steering and you have your nice comfy continental cruiser back again.
I have an SMG E46 M3 for when I want a fast car that makes me giggle, had a 335i before that, and I found that a bit dull, it was mapped to 365bhp and would get to 60mph in 4.6 seconds everytime, so faster than the M3, but it was dull, again you pressed the throttle and went, but it was not raw, you didn't even feel like you were going fast, in fact it was only looking at the speedo going up and looking in your mirror that made you realise that you were going at quite a pace. In fact that was the problem, to start enjoying it you need to be going 100+ and it therefore it makes no sense unless you are doing 50k miles a year on the autobahn.
That is what I love about the M3's and 911's, you can drive around the twisty lanes and road at 50-70mph and it is a scream, you don't need to be going silly speeds to enjoy them.
That will give you everything, a seriously comfy everyday car, but press the M button once you have set up for track damper settings, ultra quick steering rack, and razor sharp throttle and it becomes a lairy animal that is seriously quick. Turn it off and you have soft suspension, smooth throttle and dynamic steering and you have your nice comfy continental cruiser back again.
I have an SMG E46 M3 for when I want a fast car that makes me giggle, had a 335i before that, and I found that a bit dull, it was mapped to 365bhp and would get to 60mph in 4.6 seconds everytime, so faster than the M3, but it was dull, again you pressed the throttle and went, but it was not raw, you didn't even feel like you were going fast, in fact it was only looking at the speedo going up and looking in your mirror that made you realise that you were going at quite a pace. In fact that was the problem, to start enjoying it you need to be going 100+ and it therefore it makes no sense unless you are doing 50k miles a year on the autobahn.
That is what I love about the M3's and 911's, you can drive around the twisty lanes and road at 50-70mph and it is a scream, you don't need to be going silly speeds to enjoy them.
st4
Banned
What, the new V8 one can be had for £35k, thats cheap considering. Spells big depreciation for the C63 
jeremytaylor
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Having owned a 996, I think they are over-rated and tricky to get 100% confident with (unlike the Boxster S I had before the 996). I would go for the SL as an everyday car.
recycled
MB Enthusiast
not tricky for me and certainly not overated. i doubt if there is any better handling B-road car that can be used everyday apart from the cayman
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Blimey I hadn't realised the M3 V8 was that sort of value already.
New caravan-schmaravan. I think an M3 is required.
New caravan-schmaravan. I think an M3 is required.
gIzzE
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What, the new V8 one can be had for £35k, thats cheap considering. Spells big depreciation for the C63
Dealer bids of just over £30k for them!
That is a car with all the right options that would have cost £57k+
Other interesting closed auction prices......
2008 730d sport, 9k, £61k list sold for £17k
57 Plate S320cdi, 12k, with loads of toys, cost in excess of £70k new, sold for £24k.
57 plate ML280cdi, 5k, comand. £14k.
ML's and X5's are generally £8k behind book.
C2S 997's were £45K+ 3 months ago, there are loads now with an asking price of £35k.
There was a facelift 997 up for sale at a main dealer for £57k with no miles on it, that is a £75k car with nearly £20k off it, from a brand that 'is not affected by the economic market'.
If it were me buying an SL55 right now I would get one of the 2003 £26k cars, but make sure I didn't pay more than £24k for it, as they still have a long way to fall.
Same with the 996, people just don't want these sort of cars at the moment and more and more are being offloaded.
Dealer bids of just over £30k for them!
That is a car with all the right options that would have cost £57k+
Other interesting closed auction prices......
2008 730d sport, 9k, £61k list sold for £17k
57 Plate S320cdi, 12k, with loads of toys, cost in excess of £70k new, sold for £24k.
57 plate ML280cdi, 5k, comand. £14k.
ML's and X5's are generally £8k behind book.
C2S 997's were £45K+ 3 months ago, there are loads now with an asking price of £35k.
There was a facelift 997 up for sale at a main dealer for £57k with no miles on it, that is a £75k car with nearly £20k off it, from a brand that 'is not affected by the economic market'.
If it were me buying an SL55 right now I would get one of the 2003 £26k cars, but make sure I didn't pay more than £24k for it, as they still have a long way to fall.
Same with the 996, people just don't want these sort of cars at the moment and more and more are being offloaded.
Seriously? 14K for an ML280 cdi? and 24K for a split new Sclass? Where abouts?
gIzzE
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These are at closed auctions, so BMW retailers only at the BMW one and Mercedes reatilers only at the Mercedes one.
I had my doubts too, but someone else then mentioned the 730d on one of the BMW forums, and a customer of mine who sells Mercs mentioned the S Class prices too.
The ML was the only one I believed, a couple of people have paid sub £20k for one retail from Mercedes, and if you look on autotrader 2007 cars are only advertised at £22k, so £14k at an auction is not surprising at all really.
My dads neighbour has a 320cdi and he couldn't get a bid on it, Norwich or Kings Lynn Mercedes not sure which one he is dealing with, said they had called round over 60 dealers and no one wants it. They offer him £12k for it, that was a 56 plate and that was over a month ago, and things have got a lot worse since then.
I think he sold it privately though, he said he was going to stick it up for £20k and see what happens and it hasn't been on his drive all week.
I was only being offered £17k for my 3 series sport touring, cheapest on the net was £26k, I advertised it for £23k and sold it in 24 hours. I think the dealers are in trouble, they need to shift what they have but they can't afford to reduce them, it is better for the profit and loss sheets to have the metal over priced.
I had my doubts too, but someone else then mentioned the 730d on one of the BMW forums, and a customer of mine who sells Mercs mentioned the S Class prices too.
The ML was the only one I believed, a couple of people have paid sub £20k for one retail from Mercedes, and if you look on autotrader 2007 cars are only advertised at £22k, so £14k at an auction is not surprising at all really.
My dads neighbour has a 320cdi and he couldn't get a bid on it, Norwich or Kings Lynn Mercedes not sure which one he is dealing with, said they had called round over 60 dealers and no one wants it. They offer him £12k for it, that was a 56 plate and that was over a month ago, and things have got a lot worse since then.
I think he sold it privately though, he said he was going to stick it up for £20k and see what happens and it hasn't been on his drive all week.
I was only being offered £17k for my 3 series sport touring, cheapest on the net was £26k, I advertised it for £23k and sold it in 24 hours. I think the dealers are in trouble, they need to shift what they have but they can't afford to reduce them, it is better for the profit and loss sheets to have the metal over priced.
Why do you need that type of handling on a normal public road?
I'm sure the SL55 can handle well enough for any public road... of course i know the porsche would eat it on a track, but the public road isn't a track...
Seamster15
MB Enthusiast
st4
Banned
I heard a figure of £17K for a 730d from my pal. He told me it was on broadspeed but I went looking and couldn't find it. Are these closed auctions ex dealer cars that can't be sold? £14k for an ML280cdi, I really would have a 4x4 again at that price...
janner
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recycled
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Why do you need that type of handling on a normal public road?
I'm sure the SL55 can handle well enough for any public road... of course i know the porsche would eat it on a track, but the public road isn't a track...
no it will not, if the road is wet and greasy with leaves on it in the autumn you do need handling like that on the public road if you do not want to drive at 20mph all the time and please stop implying that i am driving recklessly on the public road
