Mike in CA

It's not been a big issue since we usually take another car to accommodate the dog and luggage. On the few occasions when my wife and I have taken a 911 on a longer trip, the frunk accepts a large Porsche trolley case while smaller stuff like my camera, my wife's makeup, and other soft bags go in back. That said, aside from saving a few pounds, both my 996 and 997 had the rear seats removed mainly so I could fit a harness bar.

Since your frunk will be occupied, I'd suggest some nice quality soft duffle-style bags that can fit in the recessed area where the rear seat bottoms would be. You could stand them on end and shape them a bit to fit that area.

stout

A GT3 that looks like the 911-50 and has rear seats would be my ideal GT3 for the kinds of speeds we see here in the U.S. and real-world use. While I don't hate wings that actually serve a purpose, I'd personally prefer not to have them. Center-exit exhaust, a radiator top vent in the front bumper, ride height, and wheels/brakes would be enough visual differentiation for me.

Have always loved stealth cars like the Ruf CTR, M-B 500E/E500, BMW E34 M5, Audi ur-S8—cars that required you to know something about them in order to know you were looking at something special. I've always liked fast cars that passed through the world largely unnoticed.

pete

TRAKCAR

I'd have a 500E if I had garage room..

aussie jimmy

cl65 was pretty understated as well...

TRAKCAR

I only kept the fridge.
That's where the Kettle One and beer goes after all.
But I want them both back.

Tiny garage and tiny house unfortunately.

aussie jimmy

one of the best 2-car combos any discerning driver could ever ask for.

CAlexio

anyone how goes for a 65 over a 63 has a certain additional insane gearhead gene .. that engine is a work of art.

How is power delivery different from a 63?...

TRAKCAR

CL65 was a 5 speed up until the new one comes out next year. Than it will have 7. It needs 3.

880lb pounds of TQ de tuned to 734 to save the tranny. Essentially the same engine in the 2015 as in the 2005. I see no reason to mess with it. Sounds and feels awesome.

Power delivery? You see a gap and you are there. Think twice before flooring for a pass, it will spin tires at 80Mph.

I bet it's not that big a difference now that the 63 is a TT V8.

wanna911

Where is Rad anyways?

FastLaneTurbo

I had a 1993 500E built by Porsche. Worst MB I've ever owned. Supposedly used 500SL Brakes - They were terrible - even dangerous in normal street driving. MB Tech thought I was crazy to complain - until he drove it! Scared the hell out of him - replaced them 3X - Still awful - would lock wheels at random.
Rear wheels had 3.8 degrees of Negative camber. MB tried adjusting many times - NG! Tried swapping complete Rear ends - twice. Still 3.8 Degrees. Finally gave up telling me that 3.8 Degrees were within spec and 1,000 - 2,000 Miles of tire life was "normal" on a high performance car. And the fit of the body panels looked like the entire assembly crew was drunk and competing to see how large they could make the gaps. Those were just a few of my many complaints. MB gave up on it. I did too. Traded my $80K car after 3 years of grief for $35K on an MB C class which was great. Learned to let MB's make MB's, and Porsche's make Porsche's. It is just a very fast way of driving to the scene of your accident.

Z356

Sorry to hear of your troubles with the 500E. Never had one, but I saw them on a visit to Porsche in that time period (early 1990's) at their final assembly point in Zuffenhausen. For the MB project, Porsche was using the original Reutter brick buildings which are still in existence at Werk II (the brick-colored structure across from the main assembly plant, dead in the center of the attached photo). It was funny to see the MB 500E's leave the Porschestrasse gate (the latter now moved further East on that same street), along with 911s with protective bras for their joint test drives on public roads and the autobahn. In 1990, Porsche desperately needed the work & revenue of this MB project. That is why they eagerly signed up to do the work on the 500E from Mercedes. Those were tough years for Porsche and this deal with Mercedes helped keep them alive. This is the first time I have heard anything negative about the 500E. It is surprising you had such bad luck with this car.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/news/...edes-benz-e500

Saludos,
Eduardo

neanicu

Really OT,but the 500E is a great car. It sells at a premium if you can find one...

onefastdoc

The CL65 is quite a fast car from a roll. I race one several times (on a closed road) from 60-140 in my GT-R and I was surprised how well he stayed with me. He would end up about 5-8 car lengths behind me at the end of each run (and my GT-R has 700hp). If that is how fast a stock CL65 is, good lord that's a fast car.

FastLaneTurbo

From R&T article: After 18 days of being shuttled between parents like a kid in a custody battle, you might expect the 500E to be a little confused—all the more impressive then, this behemoth’s singularity of purpose.

Read more: http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/news/...#ixzz2lxf8uXsB

IMHO R&T nailed the essence of the problem. It was an orphan car with neither Porsche nor MB feeling it was "Their Car". With few made, most cars command
high premiums - regardless of reliability. It was certainly "a little confused"!!!

TRAKCAR

Took it to the drag strip one. Never done it before just to try it.
Slow reaction time, 2 people in the car, AC on, EPS on, stock Ps2 tires we did not mess with and it did 12.02 @ 1xx? Mph. I think they are 4800lbs, but due to ABC cornering you don't feel the weight. Bone stock.

I can tell you that from 80MPH+ no car ever left me.