Merc SLK55 AMG vs BMW Z4m Coupe vs ...
Discussion
tranter5 said:
I prefer the looks of the SLK55 I just find the 500 BHP tempting. but then again I love N/A cars so will have to test drive both!
Two things put me off the SL55 - main thing is running costs, £100k car vs £50k, and some of the bills for the SL are pretty scary...Other thing is the SL is a big, 2-ton touring GT. SLK is smaller and a good chunk lighter.
its already sold being picked up Saturday 
will miss it sadly but wouldn't want to leave it just under a cover. I usually change cars every 3 months or so but kept the Tam for 7 months which is a long time for me! I will also be going back to uni in a few months now my work placement is almost over so want something more practical for the massive speed humps and multistorey car parks that lie around my uni. I am tempted to wait until Sept to get another car as will get a bit of student loan so could afford a 996 911 turbo by then.... decisions... All i keep thinking is I am young and should do it whilst I can there are so many cars I want to experience thats why I change so often
will miss it sadly but wouldn't want to leave it just under a cover. I usually change cars every 3 months or so but kept the Tam for 7 months which is a long time for me! I will also be going back to uni in a few months now my work placement is almost over so want something more practical for the massive speed humps and multistorey car parks that lie around my uni. I am tempted to wait until Sept to get another car as will get a bit of student loan so could afford a 996 911 turbo by then.... decisions... All i keep thinking is I am young and should do it whilst I can there are so many cars I want to experience thats why I change so oftenA question I have asked myself on numerous occasions even considering most of what has been suggested here - always find myself coming back to the Z4M in Coupe form (would love a convertible but think the Coupe would be that bit more practical and less likely to be vandalised in London ). Stick on some CSLs and it is a stunning car IMO 
). Stick on some CSLs and it is a stunning car IMO tranter5 said:
I prefer the looks of the SLK55 I just find the 500 BHP tempting. but then again I love N/A cars so will have to test drive both!
They aren't 500 BHP sadly, the 55 AMG's only got 500 when it was supercharged. I think the SLK is around 360 BHP, which is plenty in such a small car.My mate has had an SLK55 from new about 5yrs ago, awesome sound, plenty of power & look pretty good (his is black). Downsides for me would be, when did you last see a bloke driving one? Auto only & being a Merc the TC doesn't switch off. As already stated by somebody, some of the bills can be pretty high too!
I would say that's a very difficult decision. I'm a BMW man personally, but my father (who may pipe up on here at some point) has an SLK55. He came from a TVR Cerbera as wanted something equally as fast but with a little more reassurance that the engine can be used and abused. I've driven the car and it's fantastic, really well made, the engine is awesome but it is also very civilised. We went on a fairly spirited drive and it coped very well!
However the Z4M is a straight 6 so a completely different animal, I can't see it handling much better if at all! I've driven an M3 of the same era and would say the AMG engine is probably slightly better, but it really depends what you want from a car. All I can say is that 28mpg from a 5.5 litre is astonishing, why wouldn't you!!
However the Z4M is a straight 6 so a completely different animal, I can't see it handling much better if at all! I've driven an M3 of the same era and would say the AMG engine is probably slightly better, but it really depends what you want from a car. All I can say is that 28mpg from a 5.5 litre is astonishing, why wouldn't you!!
I have recently gone from a VX220 Turbo to a Z4 Alpina Roadster to a TVR Tamora and now an SLK55 AMG. I have also had a TVR Tuscan and Chimaera in the past and a Boxster S. Like you I change cars very regularly and the basic problem is that if you have driven a Tuscan or Tamora you will always want that raw mechanical driving experience, but will also know it comes at a price (impending engine termination, 15 min warm up time, overheating in traffic, leaks, rubbish heating system, wipers lift off screen, tries to kill you regularly, etc.)
The SLK55 comes very close to the TVR experience in many ways and is the best compromise I have found (and I have been trying hard with 12 cars in the last 3 years). My quick view on alternatives follows: -
VX220 Turbo: Very quick, great handling, One of the most fun cars I have driven, Over active ABS, Needs more Rubber, Not a winter car, Heating awful, nightmare getting In/Out.
Z4 Alpina Roadster: Good compromise/value, Low Running Cost, Very Hard Suspension (cracked alloys), Lacked Grunt.
Boxster S: Great handling but needs loads more BHP! Not much happened between half and full pedal!
TVR Tuscan: The car I miss the most. Biggest Smiles, Tries to kill you, leaks, rear screen falls out. Bonnet is bolted. 15 min warm up & worry of Speed 6 engine giving up.
TVR Tamora: Similar to Tuscan. I would say slightly less to worry about and only a few percent less fun. warm up time and engine worries remain.
SLK55 AMG: Very quick, Sounds Great, Handling pretty good, Bullet Proof (built quality on a different level), Great Roof and all the toys. Auto box has plus and minus, but with a bit of experience can be used quite well in manual mode.
If I wanted an occasional fun car I would probably still have a Tuscan, but as an only daily drive car the SLK55 pretty much does everything and for the first time I cant find a good replacement without increasing the budget significantly.
The SLK55 comes very close to the TVR experience in many ways and is the best compromise I have found (and I have been trying hard with 12 cars in the last 3 years). My quick view on alternatives follows: -
VX220 Turbo: Very quick, great handling, One of the most fun cars I have driven, Over active ABS, Needs more Rubber, Not a winter car, Heating awful, nightmare getting In/Out.
Z4 Alpina Roadster: Good compromise/value, Low Running Cost, Very Hard Suspension (cracked alloys), Lacked Grunt.
Boxster S: Great handling but needs loads more BHP! Not much happened between half and full pedal!
TVR Tuscan: The car I miss the most. Biggest Smiles, Tries to kill you, leaks, rear screen falls out. Bonnet is bolted. 15 min warm up & worry of Speed 6 engine giving up.
TVR Tamora: Similar to Tuscan. I would say slightly less to worry about and only a few percent less fun. warm up time and engine worries remain.
SLK55 AMG: Very quick, Sounds Great, Handling pretty good, Bullet Proof (built quality on a different level), Great Roof and all the toys. Auto box has plus and minus, but with a bit of experience can be used quite well in manual mode.
If I wanted an occasional fun car I would probably still have a Tuscan, but as an only daily drive car the SLK55 pretty much does everything and for the first time I cant find a good replacement without increasing the budget significantly.
Thanks for the response but I ended up getting a great deal on something I really lusted for and didnt think I could afford for another year or so a 996 Turbo.
I will get an slk55 at some point and I turned down 2 great offers on SLK's after I put a wanted advert up. They were right bargains but I could'nt resist the Porsche!
when the sun was out at the weekend I did miss the Tamora greatly and am sure I will own another one at somepoint maybe in a few years when there are more cars with TVR Power rebuilds on the market giving me greater engine confidence...
New car thread here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I will get an slk55 at some point and I turned down 2 great offers on SLK's after I put a wanted advert up. They were right bargains but I could'nt resist the Porsche!
when the sun was out at the weekend I did miss the Tamora greatly and am sure I will own another one at somepoint maybe in a few years when there are more cars with TVR Power rebuilds on the market giving me greater engine confidence...
New car thread here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
tranter5 said:
I will get an slk55 at some point and I turned down 2 great offers on SLK's after I put a wanted advert up. They were right bargains but I could'nt resist the Porsche!
Out of interest, what were you offered, and at what price if thats not a rude question?I'm still 50/50 on an Elise or an SLK55, so keeping an eye on the market, interested to see what the SLK's were actually selling for. I went to see one that was up at ExtremeUK for £23,995 and he wouldn't knock *anything* off the price, said they sold too well so he didn't need to. Sure enough, few weeks later it sold....seemed a great example too.
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