sl350, sl500, z4 3.0 coupe, z4m coupe?
Discussion
I am torn
all seem very good car and all good vaule for money
I like the sl500/sl350's and they seem to be really good value for money (test driving a sl350 with amg wheels/kit/satnav etc tomorrow thats up for £20k(05 plate with 50,000)) but look a bit old man and i am slightly concerned about parts/servicing costs
and the z4 3.0 and z4m coupe are lovely cars but a bit small? im 6'6
any other suggestions?
Thanks
all seem very good car and all good vaule for money
I like the sl500/sl350's and they seem to be really good value for money (test driving a sl350 with amg wheels/kit/satnav etc tomorrow thats up for £20k(05 plate with 50,000)) but look a bit old man and i am slightly concerned about parts/servicing costs
and the z4 3.0 and z4m coupe are lovely cars but a bit small? im 6'6
any other suggestions?
Thanks
Without meaning to sound offensive to Z4M owners....
Driving an SL feels, to me at any rate, "special" - do you want to be seen driving a 40K car or an 80K car? OK -someone says the SL is a bit "old man" - but what's the BM? "Mr Thrusting Junior Exec"? It's all a bit "red braces". I know which image I'm happier with
(I am happy to acknowledge that the Z is going to be heaps faster in every way and handle better.)
Driving an SL feels, to me at any rate, "special" - do you want to be seen driving a 40K car or an 80K car? OK -someone says the SL is a bit "old man" - but what's the BM? "Mr Thrusting Junior Exec"? It's all a bit "red braces". I know which image I'm happier with
(I am happy to acknowledge that the Z is going to be heaps faster in every way and handle better.)
m4tt said:
Will be watching this with interest being a fellow gent of freakish proportions.
Current shape SLK's are quite nice, and you'll fit in one.(I couldn't fit in the Z4 comfortably, at 6'8".)
Depends how sporty you want it to be I guess, but you might find an SLK 350 on an AMG body kit for your budget.
sidekickdmr said:
I am torn
all seem very good car and all good vaule for money
I like the sl500/sl350's and they seem to be really good value for money (test driving a sl350 with amg wheels/kit/satnav etc tomorrow thats up for £20k(05 plate with 50,000)) but look a bit old man and i am slightly concerned about parts/servicing costs
and the z4 3.0 and z4m coupe are lovely cars but a bit small? im 6'6
any other suggestions?
Thanks
to stick with expectations (and as no one else has suggested them):all seem very good car and all good vaule for money
I like the sl500/sl350's and they seem to be really good value for money (test driving a sl350 with amg wheels/kit/satnav etc tomorrow thats up for £20k(05 plate with 50,000)) but look a bit old man and i am slightly concerned about parts/servicing costs
and the z4 3.0 and z4m coupe are lovely cars but a bit small? im 6'6
any other suggestions?
Thanks
I sold my SL500 in the summer and replaced it with a Lotus Elise and more recently a Z4M so here was my experience.
The mercs look stunning and i always wanted one. I test drove both a 350 and a 500 back to back. The 350 is marginally more than adequate on the performance front and did nothing to inspire at all. The 500 was much better and would need to be the minimum to consider if you like driving at all so this is what i purchased.
The Sl500 was lovely but and for me it's a big but.....
I only do 7kish miles a year and the Sl has 2 batteries (one extra in the boot to power all the electric and there is a lot) if you are doing lots of shortish trips and use heated seats,command etc then over a period of 2-3 months these can run out very quickly (even more so if left standing for 2 weeks or more) Really annoying as it also cuts all power to the central locking etc which when you use the keyless entry/go becomes a real pain when you dont have a key and cannot get in to the thing!
The performance was very good but mostly unusable as a big V8 and an auto box meant most time was spent at just above tickover etc (soon as you boot it you are over the limit and resort to cruising again (not a bad thing if you do lots of motorway miles and this is what you are looking for but I wasn't)
The running costs especially for electrics going wrong are massive as is the air suspension at circa £1500 per corner. It's not a car that can be run on the cheap at all. I spent a lot during my ownership and mine was a decent one so please bear this in mind.
I loved it but it was too expensive and i felt I was 10-15 years too "young" for the car.
The Z4M however is absolutely perfect for me - great performance, hardish ride (which I love), quick roof, lots of toys and it's a manual. Just come back from a Weekend in Cornwall in it and i had a smile all the way.
I know my circumstances are different from people with a long daily commute but I wouldn't really put these together as potential purchases as they really are completely different.
Go test drive a couple of each and see what you like as that is what is important not anyone else on here but please bear in mind running costs.
good luck
Andy
The mercs look stunning and i always wanted one. I test drove both a 350 and a 500 back to back. The 350 is marginally more than adequate on the performance front and did nothing to inspire at all. The 500 was much better and would need to be the minimum to consider if you like driving at all so this is what i purchased.
The Sl500 was lovely but and for me it's a big but.....
I only do 7kish miles a year and the Sl has 2 batteries (one extra in the boot to power all the electric and there is a lot) if you are doing lots of shortish trips and use heated seats,command etc then over a period of 2-3 months these can run out very quickly (even more so if left standing for 2 weeks or more) Really annoying as it also cuts all power to the central locking etc which when you use the keyless entry/go becomes a real pain when you dont have a key and cannot get in to the thing!
The performance was very good but mostly unusable as a big V8 and an auto box meant most time was spent at just above tickover etc (soon as you boot it you are over the limit and resort to cruising again (not a bad thing if you do lots of motorway miles and this is what you are looking for but I wasn't)
The running costs especially for electrics going wrong are massive as is the air suspension at circa £1500 per corner. It's not a car that can be run on the cheap at all. I spent a lot during my ownership and mine was a decent one so please bear this in mind.
I loved it but it was too expensive and i felt I was 10-15 years too "young" for the car.
The Z4M however is absolutely perfect for me - great performance, hardish ride (which I love), quick roof, lots of toys and it's a manual. Just come back from a Weekend in Cornwall in it and i had a smile all the way.
I know my circumstances are different from people with a long daily commute but I wouldn't really put these together as potential purchases as they really are completely different.
Go test drive a couple of each and see what you like as that is what is important not anyone else on here but please bear in mind running costs.
good luck
Andy
Cheers for that andy
I do not really drive my car in the week as I walk to work only time I move it is the asda trip
However, on the weekends I drive a lot of motorway miles (cardiff to reading/london/mk) so I want something comfy!
I am driving the 350 at 5.30 tonight (amg kit and wheels etc) if it feels too sluggish then I am only left with the sl500, z4 3.0 and z4m
Any people got any thoughts on the 645 bimmer?
I do not really drive my car in the week as I walk to work only time I move it is the asda trip
However, on the weekends I drive a lot of motorway miles (cardiff to reading/london/mk) so I want something comfy!
I am driving the 350 at 5.30 tonight (amg kit and wheels etc) if it feels too sluggish then I am only left with the sl500, z4 3.0 and z4m
Any people got any thoughts on the 645 bimmer?
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