Ok, here is my dilemma. I am currently searching for a 3rd car. I love Porsches, and just sold my 88 928 S4 which was a blast, to get a convertible. Would appreciate thoughts from people have owned or driven both (i havent yet) to give me some feedback. Here are some of my initial thoughs

1. it has to be slushbox. My wife does not drive stick, and in order for this purchase to be "approved" she has to be able to drive it

2. it has to be able to seat my 2 kids (2 and 5) in the rear. I think the 996 can do so, but it will be tight. I am 6' 3"

other than that here are some pluses and minuses

1. the porsche is a sports car, the MB is not, though i presume its 276hp V8 in the benz can easily be tuned to pump out more ponies and the suspension modified. I prefer a true sports car

2. The plastic rear window in the Porsche bugs me to no end. My 1990 Saab Turbo convertible had a glass window, why did Porsche wait till 2003 to do so?

3. i like the optional hard top for the 996. the benz does not offer that

4. a tip 996 will probably be harder to resell in the future. My plan is to lease for 3 years and then buy it out (i see money factors that are around 5.5% interest). i would like to have this car for many years

5. I have no plans for autocross or other such hard uses for the car. strictly pleasure drives, mostly solo, sometimes with the whole family. approx mileage prob not to exceed 10k a year.

I can get a 2002 clk430 (or even a clk55amg) for about what I pay for for a 99 996. $60k is about as far as i am willing to go, prefer mid to low 50s. What are the long term prospects for a the first year watercooler both maintenance and resale value?

Thanks in advance

Art

 

Art, you're talking about the difference between night and day. I think you have to decide about the "look and feel" that you want to achieve and go from there. If you have 2 other cars you can probably afford to be bold. Lease the 02/03 996 Cab (they have glass rear windows) for 3 years then decide. I have an 02 Cab and have 2 grandkids 7 and 9, and they fit ok.

You really don't want to give up having a Pcar!!

 

[quote]Originally posted by doncapecod:
<strong>Art, you're talking about the difference between night and day. I think you have to decide about the "look and feel" that you want to achieve and go from there. If you have 2 other cars you can probably afford to be bold. Lease the 02/03 996 Cab (they have glass rear windows) for 3 years then decide. I have an 02 Cab and have 2 grandkids 7 and 9, and they fit ok.

You really don't want to give up having a Pcar!!

</strong><hr></blockquote>

So the 02 has glass as well? interesting ... i will have to keep that in mind. You are right, there is a world of difference in the approach of these 2 cars, luxo cruiser vs sport car I guess is need to find which one is "me" and try to put as many practical matters aside.

thanks

Art

 

For $60K you can get a brand new 2003 CLK500 out-the-door.

I had a 1999 CLK430 and it's not very sporty at all. Felt too heavy. Took it to Thunderhill once and it was terrible, kept having brake problems whenever I drove hard (brake indicator would come on, whole car would shudder and shake hard when ABS came on under full braking).

Good highway cruiser though.

 

This must be a prank by Art! There is no comparison between these two cars at all! I don't even know that I would go so far as to call the CLK a "luxo" vehicle. Sorry, I'm just not a Mercedes fan at all! <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />

 

no prank, just want to make sure i make the right decision ... from what i have read, the clk is losing quick (to be fair though, i did post on the mbworld.org site too)

Art

 

I'll chime in about your comment on Tiptronic resale. I was told by my salesperson that Tiptronic was not a negative factor on resale. Only a small percentage of cars get built with Tiptronic and thus are desireable by dealers. I had no problem trading in my 01 Cab with Tip.

 

P O R S C H E There Is No Substitute

 

if tip is wut u gettin for the 996, i suggest you go for CLK55... beautiful car and very fast.. tip 996 are slow.. and there's still a big difference in tip and standard.. you wont be able to enjoy wut a porsche engine can offer you..

 

I think I would still take a tip 996 over a mercedes.

Honestly, a tip allows a relatively new performance driver to learn lines, braking points etc than a manual box would....all with that wonderful chassis and PSM to keep you out of trouble. Thus the car would still, in my opinion be far better than a mercedes.

once you've tried the porsche, you'll never go back!

Harold

993 C2
964 C4 (ex car)
911 3.2 (ex car)

 

art_z, thowing another well worn option into the ring - why not a m3 cab - has sequential gearbox that can be driven as full automatic or with paddle gearshift. far more sporting than the clk

 

[quote] art_z, thowing another well worn option into the ring - why not a m3 cab - has sequential gearbox that can be driven as full automatic or with paddle gearshift. far more sporting than the clk <hr></blockquote>

Well, having tried the two, I still find the M3 soft. Not only did it feel softer and less responsive than the Porsche, its build quality isn't up to par either. Add that with its reputation to blow engines, and, well, you have a pretty raw deal.

Certainly the M3 can accomodate more than the 996, with its own unique cachet, but, the 996 is the better car to keep, in my opinion.

Engine Failure Archive: <a href="http://members.roadfly.org/jason/m3engines.htm" target="_blank">http://members.roadfly.org/jason/m3engines.htm</a>

 

[quote] Art, you're talking about the difference between night and day. <hr></blockquote>

Not so much night and day. More like the difference between the blue blue sunlit sky of Monte Carlo and a wet and windy cloudburst in Stoke-on-Trent.

 

i think 996 its gonna be. The M3 was actually on my list early on, but the motor issues they are having took it off the list. thanks for all of your feedback

Art

 

Art,
Wise Choice! <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> Let us know what you end up with and how it goes!
<img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />