Porsche 911 to E350 CDI Coupe?
Discussion
I currently own a 996 C4S but have been considering an E350 CDI Coupe on the basis it is newer, better on fuel, better equipped, bit bigger inside (I'm 6 foot 6 and now have 2 children) and probably nearly as quick in real world driving (on a 25 miles each way daily commute on fast country roads plus a bit of motorway).
Give or take a few quid I can change mine to an 09/10 Mercedes for the same cost.
Anyone done the same/similar change in car?
Will I be bored to death driving this after a couple of weeks after owning 911's for most of the last 6 years?
Give or take a few quid I can change mine to an 09/10 Mercedes for the same cost.
Anyone done the same/similar change in car?
Will I be bored to death driving this after a couple of weeks after owning 911's for most of the last 6 years?
I would say yes. I love Mercedes cars, but I've owned few 911 as well. The last one was Carrera 4 and after that I went for 2002 W210 E430... first week was OK, I was back to my beloved Mercedes but the "love" faded away as soon as I went on a fast B road. The Mercedes is a Grant Tourer, the Porsche is the scalpel in surgeon hands. The same road (9.2 miles) the difference between the two cars was close to 2 minutes.
However considering the two kids...it will be miles better. Comfort wise you can't compare them. The Merc is far superior, but from adrenalin point of view Porsche all the way.
However considering the two kids...it will be miles better. Comfort wise you can't compare them. The Merc is far superior, but from adrenalin point of view Porsche all the way.
If you can afford the fuel and want a bit more drama, the 5.5 V8 E500 petrol could be worth considering, for the 388bhp. It's a very modern engine so shouldn't be that bad on fuel. And may be cheaper to buy than a 350cdi, although a lot rarer to find. Still wont be 996 quick though, I'm sure. Any thoughts on that?
Thanks for the replies.
A big petrol engined Merc doesn't really appeal as I would rather just keep my 996. The 350 diesel seemed a potential good mix of performance and economy, whilst still being a newer car.
I've been using a CLK 270CDI for the last few days - I know this isn't comparable to a newer E coupe, but after using the 996 again for the commute today it made me realise how much I like it, so much more alert and focused - so think I would probably get bored quickly with a diesel Merc Coupe.
A big petrol engined Merc doesn't really appeal as I would rather just keep my 996. The 350 diesel seemed a potential good mix of performance and economy, whilst still being a newer car.
I've been using a CLK 270CDI for the last few days - I know this isn't comparable to a newer E coupe, but after using the 996 again for the commute today it made me realise how much I like it, so much more alert and focused - so think I would probably get bored quickly with a diesel Merc Coupe.
I ran a 996 C4 for a while back in early 2003 and I loved it. But... I remember driving it back up from Leeds on a dark and wet night after a long day and cursing the bloody thing for being the very opposite of effortless. The E350 CDI coupé is very different to your Porsche. It is an excellent machine, but a different machine. It offers much reward, but different rewards. I suspect it will be best summed up by the old Car magazine phrase, "good to drive, better to own".
It should also be a thousand times better than a CLK270 CDI.
It should also be a thousand times better than a CLK270 CDI.
river_rat said:
Thanks for the replies.
A big petrol engined Merc doesn't really appeal as I would rather just keep my 996. The 350 diesel seemed a potential good mix of performance and economy, whilst still being a newer car.
I've been using a CLK 270CDI for the last few days - I know this isn't comparable to a newer E coupe, but after using the 996 again for the commute today it made me realise how much I like it, so much more alert and focused - so think I would probably get bored quickly with a diesel Merc Coupe.
Precisely my point. A big petrol engined Merc doesn't really appeal as I would rather just keep my 996. The 350 diesel seemed a potential good mix of performance and economy, whilst still being a newer car.
I've been using a CLK 270CDI for the last few days - I know this isn't comparable to a newer E coupe, but after using the 996 again for the commute today it made me realise how much I like it, so much more alert and focused - so think I would probably get bored quickly with a diesel Merc Coupe.
The Mercedes is a great car but after you have lived for 6 years with the Porsche everything else is just not up to the driving experience.Erm, 996 to E class? That's a bit of a change. The E Class is more of a cruiser, it really depends on what you really want. I've only test driven an E Class and decided (that for me), the C was a better dynamic bet. 350 is a great diesel engine but no match for any Porsche flat 6. That said, the 350 suits the more laid back drive of the E Class.
Did you try the C350 AMG?
Did you try the C350 AMG?
I came from a 996 C4s coupe then a ragtop to my current Merc cars..... I have a ML63 and SL Brabus.... The ML is far far quicker than the 911 and also handles pretty well.... The SL is slower but so much better to drive than the 911....
The only 911 I'd come back to is a 993 or 997 Turbo....
The only 911 I'd come back to is a 993 or 997 Turbo....
river_rat said:
I currently own a 996 C4S but have been considering an E350 CDI Coupe on the basis it is newer, better on fuel, better equipped, bit bigger inside (I'm 6 foot 6 and now have 2 children) and probably nearly as quick in real world driving (on a 25 miles each way daily commute on fast country roads plus a bit of motorway).
Give or take a few quid I can change mine to an 09/10 Mercedes for the same cost.
Anyone done the same/similar change in car?
Will I be bored to death driving this after a couple of weeks after owning 911's for most of the last 6 years?
09/10 350 your looking at a 231hp car.... not remotely gonna be nearly as quick as a C4S on any road. The later 2011 cars with 265hp are noticeably quicker... but even then are 15s 0-100mph cars, v 11s for the C4s. The E coupe sport offers surprisingly decent handling that said and good steering feel. Its a cruiser compared to the 996 tho and whether you get bored of it is totally dependent on whether you accept it for what it is, or are just looking for a more economical 911 replacement, which it isn't. Give or take a few quid I can change mine to an 09/10 Mercedes for the same cost.
Anyone done the same/similar change in car?
Will I be bored to death driving this after a couple of weeks after owning 911's for most of the last 6 years?
Thanks for the further replies.
C Class Merc doesn't appeal - I prefer the look of the E coupe hence the consideration.
M135 looks a great car but not interested in leasing or paying £30K and taking a huge hit on depreciation (been there many times before!)
I think the 'cruiser' comments about the E class confirm what I already suspected - it will no doubt be a great car but I will get bored with it quickly (I got bored with an RS4 as it seemed too normal and went back to a 911 previously....)
C Class Merc doesn't appeal - I prefer the look of the E coupe hence the consideration.
M135 looks a great car but not interested in leasing or paying £30K and taking a huge hit on depreciation (been there many times before!)
I think the 'cruiser' comments about the E class confirm what I already suspected - it will no doubt be a great car but I will get bored with it quickly (I got bored with an RS4 as it seemed too normal and went back to a 911 previously....)
The best "real world" car I had - speed, comfort, involvement, mechanical integrity - was an E39 M5. You could pick up a very good one for 11K (or buy Palmball's when he picks up his new M6, see M Power forum).
Would be as quick as your 911 and even if fuel economy (I averaged 22.5 MPG over 5 years) may not be amazing, there will be little depreciation and it will deliver a big V8 induced grin.
Would be as quick as your 911 and even if fuel economy (I averaged 22.5 MPG over 5 years) may not be amazing, there will be little depreciation and it will deliver a big V8 induced grin.
river_rat said:
M135 looks a great car but not interested in leasing or paying £30K and taking a huge hit on depreciation (been there many times before!)
M135i will cost you less over 3 years than even a 3 year old e350 coupe will. E350 coupes are still holding good money, next month when the new one is out they will start to fall, in 12 months they will be at a different price points.
E350 CDI Coupe is a lovely thing , 911 is a different car ,you cant really compare the two really ,the E350 CDI Coupe will do everything better than your old 911 but not go as quickly .
I had a 09 plate E350 CDI Coupe with 100k on it a bit back , went really well and sold like hot cakes ,phone didn't stop ringing for it
I had a 09 plate E350 CDI Coupe with 100k on it a bit back , went really well and sold like hot cakes ,phone didn't stop ringing for it
E350 CDI Coupe is a lovely thing , 911 is a different car ,you cant really compare the two really ,the E350 CDI Coupe will do everything better than your old 911 but not go as quickly .
I had a 09 plate E350 CDI Coupe with 100k on it a bit back , went really well and sold like hot cakes ,phone didn't stop ringing for it
I had a 09 plate E350 CDI Coupe with 100k on it a bit back , went really well and sold like hot cakes ,phone didn't stop ringing for it
E350 CDI Coupe is a lovely thing , 911 is a different car ,you cant really compare the two really ,the E350 CDI Coupe will do everything better than your old 911 but not go as quickly .
I had a 09 plate E350 CDI Coupe with 100k on it a bit back , went really well and sold like hot cakes ,phone didn't stop ringing for it
I had a 09 plate E350 CDI Coupe with 100k on it a bit back , went really well and sold like hot cakes ,phone didn't stop ringing for it
I have a 2009 E350 CDi Coupe that has been chipped by DMS, it now supposedly has 290-300bhp and 500+ lbs of torque which for most of the time is more than fast enough, not to mention 35+ MPG. The handling is day and night better then a CLK and if you dont use the speed of the 911 a lot i would say it would be a nice change
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff