MB SLK350 or AMG55

blue-coupe · 11-15-2008, 12:13 PM

What do you guys think of these cars. You can get the 350 with a 6 speed manual, or the AMG with a seven speed automatic.

Either way, they seem to be great bargains in the used market. Plus they offer all the benefits of the next Z4 (with the exception of being a MB, not a BMW) at significantly reduced costs.

You can get into a SLK350 for about $27k, I figure the next gen Z4 with a hard top will run about $45k. $18k extra is a lot to pay for a very comparable car.

The AMG55 Can be had for about $35k, alot less than an estimated $60k for the next gen Z4M.

MVF4Rrider · 11-15-2008, 12:32 PM

What next gen Z4 M? I bet BMW doesn't offer one. The current model's slow sales should be enough to completely discourage it.

Rick Hunter · 11-15-2008, 12:49 PM

$35K for an SLK55 AMG.... I'll take that.

jgorman13 · 11-15-2008, 01:32 PM

yea but how many miles on that car? those are relatively low figures for the corresponding cars. SLKs from a dealer with that price have to be higher mileage. And getting a non-CPO car is not the best idea

blue-coupe · 11-15-2008, 02:12 PM

Here are a couple of examples

MB SLK 350, 14k miles, $27k
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-...8#ht_25143wt_0

MB SLK AMG55, 47k Miles, $34k
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-...8#ht_20069wt_0

I wouldn't consider either of these especially 'high milage'. 47k may be a little higher than desired for a used car, but not like it's 85k.

Deda · 11-15-2008, 03:21 PM

amg!

jgorman13 · 11-15-2008, 03:26 PM

right. 47K is a bit high especially when you do not really know how well the person who owned it before took care of it. A lot of performance cars (like many E46 M3's) are not well maintained and beat up. The 350 looks great, but the sticker so low is because it is difficult to resell a 6 spd manual Mercedes given the demographic of buyers. Also has very few options. Still, the 350 is a great looking car, especially with the sport package and I would probably lean towards that IMHO.

blue-coupe · 11-17-2008, 09:52 AM

I think the 350 is probably the better vehicle here. It's no slouch on the road, plus the manual transmission is a huge plus.

all that said, the V8 growl & AMG look may tempt me.

I'm trying to get out of my lease (2008 Jeep Wrangler) without loosing my shirt, so it may be a while before I can make a move.

jgorman13 · 11-17-2008, 10:57 AM

I mean, you could always do an SLK 55 exhaust on the 350. Ive seen it done before. Even without the new exhaust, the 350 has a nice sound to it. And its pretty quick off the line (0-60 in like 5.7). There are always aftermarket exhausts if you want a comparable sound.

jgorman13 · 11-17-2008, 10:59 AM

also, youre 350 has the AMG look so the look of the two is not that far off.

Spartiati · 11-17-2008, 11:53 AM

Think the SLK in general is a sweat looking car, but for me at 6'-3" it was a tight fit.

ZStig · 11-17-2008, 01:10 PM

as much as I love manual, I'd take the AMG. THEN do a manual swap

)))

izzy · 11-17-2008, 01:35 PM

After driving both cars 55 and 350. I walked away from the 350 with a smile and after driving the 55 I had to remind myself to smile.

The 350 is lighter and feels more agile. The 55 was a bit too heavy/bulky making it feel bigger than it was. The big thick steering wheel did not also help.

Then again I loved the sound of the 55 and the way the AMG looks compared to the elegant 350.

BlackSapphireZ · 11-17-2008, 03:18 PM

buy the in house tuner model always

M, AMG, S/RS, always always always better. but probably spend more in maintenance lol

3002 tii · 11-21-2008, 08:49 AM

not to go off-topic but i agree with the value in used cars in this market. i'm looking at b6 s4, 4.2l v8 340hp these days. what used to msrp at 55 can be had for less than half... around 25k or less - certified. the s4 would be my beater =P

rc'Z · 11-21-2008, 12:09 PM

The problem with the two Mercs is that the top of the windhield pillars slant in towards the middle of the car so much that with the top down, the wind comes around the window and hits you in the side of the head, making top down driving less than enjoyable. The Z does not suffer from that problem.

Virginia Bill · 11-21-2008, 07:44 PM

For similar money you can also get a very nice current-gen Z4. Why are you excluding that direction?

albertoxx · 11-29-2008, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue-coupe

The AMG55 Can be had for about $35k, alot less than an estimated $60k for the next gen Z4M.

Go for it!

blue-coupe · 11-29-2008, 12:14 PM

This is a lot of really good input.

I have seriously considered the current Z4M (coupe & convertible), but I really like the idea of a hardtop convertible.

11-15-2008, 12:13 PM	#1
blue-coupe Second Lieutenant 115 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 1999 Z3 Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0)	MB SLK350 or AMG55 What do you guys think of these cars. You can get the 350 with a 6 speed manual, or the AMG with a seven speed automatic. Either way, they seem to be great bargains in the used market. Plus they offer all the benefits of the next Z4 (with the exception of being a MB, not a BMW) at significantly reduced costs. You can get into a SLK350 for about $27k, I figure the next gen Z4 with a hard top will run about $45k. $18k extra is a lot to pay for a very comparable car. The AMG55 Can be had for about $35k, alot less than an estimated $60k for the next gen Z4M.
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11-15-2008, 12:32 PM	#2
MVF4Rrider PCA, BMWCCA 102 Rep 2,058 Posts Drives: 997S, MV Agusta F4, E46 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV iTrader: (0)	What next gen Z4 M? I bet BMW doesn't offer one. The current model's slow sales should be enough to completely discourage it. __________________ '08 Carrera S 6MT Guards Red/Black ext leather, Carbon fiber pkg, sport exh, sport chrono +, PASM, Nav, Bose, 19" forged turbos, red tranny tunnel '07 MV Agusta F4 1000 R 1+1, Corse Red/Silver, RG3 race pipes and factory race ECU
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11-15-2008, 12:49 PM	#3
Rick Hunter Skull Squadron Leader 307 Rep 2,031 Posts Drives: '07 M Coupé & '16 435xi GCoupé Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Emerald City iTrader: (20)	$35K for an SLK55 AMG.... I'll take that. __________________
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11-15-2008, 01:32 PM	#4
jgorman13 Lieutenant 25 Rep 528 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0i, 2008 C300 Sport Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	yea but how many miles on that car? those are relatively low figures for the corresponding cars. SLKs from a dealer with that price have to be higher mileage. And getting a non-CPO car is not the best idea
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11-15-2008, 02:12 PM	#5
blue-coupe Second Lieutenant 115 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 1999 Z3 Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0)	Here are a couple of examples MB SLK 350, 14k miles, $27k http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-...8#ht_25143wt_0 MB SLK AMG55, 47k Miles, $34k http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-...8#ht_20069wt_0 I wouldn't consider either of these especially 'high milage'. 47k may be a little higher than desired for a used car, but not like it's 85k.
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11-15-2008, 03:21 PM	#6
Deda Major General 564 Rep 7,034 Posts Drives: BMW M5 comp Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Croatia iTrader: (0)	amg!
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11-15-2008, 03:26 PM	#7
jgorman13 Lieutenant 25 Rep 528 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0i, 2008 C300 Sport Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	right. 47K is a bit high especially when you do not really know how well the person who owned it before took care of it. A lot of performance cars (like many E46 M3's) are not well maintained and beat up. The 350 looks great, but the sticker so low is because it is difficult to resell a 6 spd manual Mercedes given the demographic of buyers. Also has very few options. Still, the 350 is a great looking car, especially with the sport package and I would probably lean towards that IMHO.
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11-17-2008, 09:52 AM	#8
blue-coupe Second Lieutenant 115 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 1999 Z3 Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0)	I think the 350 is probably the better vehicle here. It's no slouch on the road, plus the manual transmission is a huge plus. all that said, the V8 growl & AMG look may tempt me. I'm trying to get out of my lease (2008 Jeep Wrangler) without loosing my shirt, so it may be a while before I can make a move.
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11-17-2008, 10:57 AM	#9
jgorman13 Lieutenant 25 Rep 528 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0i, 2008 C300 Sport Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	I mean, you could always do an SLK 55 exhaust on the 350. Ive seen it done before. Even without the new exhaust, the 350 has a nice sound to it. And its pretty quick off the line (0-60 in like 5.7). There are always aftermarket exhausts if you want a comparable sound.
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11-17-2008, 10:59 AM	#10
jgorman13 Lieutenant 25 Rep 528 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0i, 2008 C300 Sport Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	also, youre 350 has the AMG look so the look of the two is not that far off.
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11-17-2008, 11:53 AM	#11
Spartiati Private 3 Rep 72 Posts Drives: 2008 Z4 M Roadster Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Scotch Plains, NJ iTrader: (0)	Think the SLK in general is a sweat looking car, but for me at 6'-3" it was a tight fit.
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11-17-2008, 01:10 PM	#12
ZStig instagram 997turbotom 279 Rep 7,377 Posts Drives: Interlagos Z4MR Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Delray Beach, FL iTrader: (4)	as much as I love manual, I'd take the AMG. THEN do a manual swap ))) __________________
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11-17-2008, 01:35 PM	#13
izzy Private First Class 13 Rep 109 Posts Drives: ///M Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Johannesburg iTrader: (0)	After driving both cars 55 and 350. I walked away from the 350 with a smile and after driving the 55 I had to remind myself to smile. The 350 is lighter and feels more agile. The 55 was a bit too heavy/bulky making it feel bigger than it was. The big thick steering wheel did not also help. Then again I loved the sound of the 55 and the way the AMG looks compared to the elegant 350.
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11-17-2008, 03:18 PM	#14
BlackSapphireZ Major 97 Rep 1,191 Posts Drives: 22 GLE 53 Coupe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ladson, SC iTrader: (0)	buy the in house tuner model always M, AMG, S/RS, always always always better. but probably spend more in maintenance lol __________________ 2022 GLE 53 Coupe
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11-21-2008, 08:49 AM	#15
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2286 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.24]	not to go off-topic but i agree with the value in used cars in this market. i'm looking at b6 s4, 4.2l v8 340hp these days. what used to msrp at 55 can be had for less than half... around 25k or less - certified. the s4 would be my beater =P __________________ Follow for latest mods
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11-21-2008, 12:09 PM	#16
rc'Z Captain 13 Rep 821 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Convertible Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	The problem with the two Mercs is that the top of the windhield pillars slant in towards the middle of the car so much that with the top down, the wind comes around the window and hits you in the side of the head, making top down driving less than enjoyable. The Z does not suffer from that problem.
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11-21-2008, 07:44 PM	#17
Virginia Bill Enlisted Member 0 Rep 36 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 auto Maldive Blue Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fredericksburg, Va. iTrader: (0)	For similar money you can also get a very nice current-gen Z4. Why are you excluding that direction?
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11-29-2008, 12:14 PM	#19
blue-coupe Second Lieutenant 115 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 1999 Z3 Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0)	This is a lot of really good input. I have seriously considered the current Z4M (coupe & convertible), but I really like the idea of a hardtop convertible.
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