996 cab tip vs CLK430 MB

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]" />

I don't understand this,..this comparison of Mercedes vs. Porsche that I keep incessantly reading about in these forums. I almost bought a CLK 55 coupe before I bought my '01 911 c-2 coupe-( THANK GOD I DIDN'T,especially after I drove one at my P-car/Mercedes/Land Rover/Jag. dealer)I also drove a friend of mine's 2000 CLK 55 and he talked tirelessly about "how fast and fun it was, faster than a 911". -PURE CRAP!My biz. partner has a CLK 430 conv. -nice car, NOT fast, NOT fun to drive compared to 911 -I've driven many a (water cooled and air cooled) 911.I'm the biggest 0-60/horsepower junkie on these posts; no doubt you seen a few of them,and what these guys are saying is correct: There may be a few cars that can beat them off the line([not for long] and most certainly won't win in a top speed contest) but in the twisties a P-car will murder them.Good luck -Blustem

By the way, after much intensive research(no joke), and owning an '01 911, I think that Porshe is very conservative about it's performance #'s, ( I think many of you will agree), while many other companies inflate thier #'s. My brother has a 2001 C-5 'vette(stock)and if it is faster than my slightly modified 911 I can't tell and neither can he.I have beaten 2 'vettes at the stoplight in the last year(not by much -but I won)I've also been beat by a couple of 'vettes -I'm not a good shifter. When I was 14/15 my bro. and I had a street legal '74 Ford pickup w/heavily modified 460(I, of course, blew the engine) that would smoke most normally aspirated Benzes and P-cars today. How would it do on a track or on twisty roads? Not too well. Please excuse my lengthy ramblings -Blustem

Funny thing...I cannot offer any comparisions on the Mercs, however, I can offer this- I got out of my 928 for a 993 Cab, which incidently, I agree and don't care what the flat six population has to say because I am member in both catagories (Porsche V8 and F6), the 928 was a fabulous Porsche and a blast to drive. When I ditched the 928 to get into a 993 Cabriolet I went positively NUTS in the cabrio and could not wait to get back into a Porsche coupe. Your gonna give up some priviledges, like tracking it- if you do,(unless you are willing to cut up the back of your cab to put in a roll bar). The weight and power of a cab definately can be a distraction for a former 928 driver as it relates to acceleration and overall fun, in other words, you may have to get used to going a bit slower by comarision to the 928's torque and power (IMHO). Speaking of two differnet cars I don't think anybody has mentioned here the leap you are about to take between just those two Porsche models and then to add the weight of a cab to the equation. If some of the things that made you like the 928 are no issue I can assure you then the 911 Cab is still a blast to drive but the habits of the car are different and my be thrilling in the beginning (especially with the top down) but I suspect the thrill will erode after a few months (atleast it did for me and I could not wait to get out of my 993 Cab). Now, my 996 C4 coupe (with the extra weight included) is pure excitement and a closer all around to the thrill I got in my 928. just my .996 and .928 cents <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Funny thing...I cannot offer any comparisions on the Mercs, however, I can offer this- I got out of my 928 for a 993 Cab, which incidently, I agree and don't care what the flat six population has to say because I am member in both catagories (Porsche V8 and F6), the 928 was a fabulous Porsche and a blast to drive. When I ditched the 928 to get into a 993 Cabriolet I went positively NUTS in the cabrio and could not wait to get back into a Porsche coupe. Your gonna give up some priviledges, like tracking it- if you do,(unless you are willing to cut up the back of your cab to put in a roll bar). The weight and power of a cab definately can be a distraction for a former 928 driver as it relates to acceleration and overall fun, in other words, you may have to get used to going a bit slower by comarision to the 928's torque and power (IMHO). Speaking of two differnet cars I don't think anybody has mentioned here the leap you are about to take between just those two Porsche models and then to add the weight of a cab to the equation. If some of the things that made you like the 928 are no issue I can assure you then the 911 Cab is still lots of fun and as any Porsche is to drive but the habits of these two cars are so radiacally different. The cabriolet may be thrilling in the beginning (especially with the top down) but I suspect for a former 928 driver the thrill will erode after a few months (at least it did for me and I could not wait to get out of my 993 Cab). Now, my 996 C4 coupe (with the extra weight included) is pure excitement and a closer all around to the thrill I got in my 928. just my .996 and .928 cents <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

[quote]Originally posted by CarreraFour: <strong> snip Your gonna give up some priviledges, like tracking it- if you do,(unless you are willing to cut up the back of your cab to put in a roll bar). The weight and power of a cab definately can be a distraction for a former 928 driver as it relates to acceleration and overall fun, in other words, you may have to get used to going a bit slower by comarision to the 928's torque and power (IMHO). just my .996 and .928 cents <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote> I show the 996 cab at 2,900 lbs. The 928 was around 3,500, so I am losing approx 600 pounds (not trivial), and I also losing approx 35 hp and 70 lb/ft of torque from my modified 1988 S4. While I do agree the cars drive very differently I do not have any plans to track the car. To me, top down driving is what I crave the most. As a former motorcyclist who doesnt want that risk anymore with 2 young kids at home, a cab is the closest I will I come. I really enjoyed the 928, especially its torque (close to 330 lb/ft) but found myself wishing for a ragtop on those nice sunny days, especially since the P car is not my daily driver

[quote]Originally posted by Art_Z: <strong> I show the 996 cab at 2,900 lbs. The 928 was around 3,500...</strong><hr></blockquote> Hmmmm, somebody correct me if I am wrong (Loren are you out there) but I think the 996 Cab is closer to 3300 lbs. I am certain that the Cabriolet weights more than the C2. Does anybody have the actual vehicle weights of the 996 C2, Cabriolet and, C4?

[quote]Originally posted by CarreraFour: <strong> Hmmmm, somebody correct me if I am wrong (Loren are you out there) but I think the 996 Cab is closer to 3300 lbs. I am certain that the Cabriolet weights more than the C2. Does anybody have the actual vehicle weights of the 996 C2, Cabriolet and, C4?</strong><hr></blockquote> You are prob right. I got my #s from Edmunds.

I just would never compare a Porsche to Mercedes. Even an M3 is a bit of a stretch. I bought a Porsche 996 because I love the car, as much as one can love a car. I think the lines are classic, but still are modern. The sound of the engine is special, so that when you hear another Porsche go by, you automatically look up to see what it is. Every morning when I see my 996, I run my hand along the front fender, look down at those wheels, and know the car has one purpose--to go fast, very fast. When I bought the car, I knew that there were compromises. I did not expect that I would carry but one other passenger. I did not expect to carry a months worth of luggage to the airport. I did not expect to have the perfect stereo. I got what I wanted, a racing machine, made just civilized to commute to the office. All other cars just compromise. Any Merc, and I've owned a CL-class, is just too soft. It isolates you from the road, so it makes the drive comfortable, but not fun. A BMW does the best job of combining comfort and road feel. But an M3 is a coupe, with compromises to driving. The E39 M5, probably one of the greatest cars every designed and built, is a Sedan, though stealthy, not very seductive. So, when I see another 911 or 356, I lust for it, because I know it was built for one purpose. Speed. I do not bash BMW (I've happily owned many) or Merc (it has it's market). Just how many of you, after a drive in your Porsches, have huge dumb looking grins on your face? The passion is there, and it's rare in any other car. So Art. You chose wisely. Your dumb grin is probably growing already.