911 cab vs Audi S4 Cab vs MB CLK 55 AMG Cab

[lenobleb]

Hello,

I'm looking for a sporty, fast convertible that can seat 4 (driver and 2 or 3 young kids).

My budget is around $25K

Vehicles I like are Porsche 911 (2002 or newer type 996)

Audi S4 (2005 or so)

Mercedes CLK55 AMG (2004 or 2005)

Note that I insist on a cabriolet.

I am a long time PCA member, and currently have a 944 turbo set up for club racing, so I don't need another race car.

The Porsche would be the fastest, oldest and would probably have the most miles.

The Audi would have quattro, which is good, and a manual trans (which is also good) but would be the heaviest, which is not good. The Audi is also the cheapest.

The MB might be the 'coolest' but the most expensive to operate? It also has an automatic trans, which I don't care for, but could live with.

This would be a daily driver. I do have other vehicles for when the weather is real bad, etc.

Which would you select and why?

This is cross posted on Porsche, Audi, and MB forums.

Thanks,

Barry

Barry Lenoble

lenoble@optonline.net

[JeTexas]

You might be able to find a 98-99 911 Cab for that price, but I think 2002 or newer will still be $30k plus.

[Hansii]

I have only driven the 911 and the S4, and they are both great cars, similar in power and both handle great (the Audi is a bit front heavy though), the thing that puts the 911 on top for me is the "exclusivity" of the brand. Having a Porsche is a lot cooler than just another Audi. I haven't driven the Benz, but to me it looks too anonymous and very few Mercedes cars have great handling, plus it's a more feminine car than the other two.

[ldrhoades]

Can't recall if the CLK55 is supercharged or not. If it is - go that way. I have a 2006 CLS55 in addition to my 2000 C2. Even though it is a dogamatic, it is brutally fast and loads of fun. The torque is incredible (500+ ft lbs). Both my 15 and 3 year olds love it.

[deckman]

"The MB might be the 'coolest' "

You're joking, right?

[lenobleb]

"The MB might be the 'coolest' "

You're joking, right?

No.

Have you looked at the interior of a last model (2004+) CLK?

Way cooler than a 996. The 996 is very plain. That's not a bad

thing, just a fact. The MB interior is beautiful; utilizing a nice blend

of wood, leather, etc. The dashboard is way cool, The seat controls

look to be easy to understand and operate, and the rear seat is much

nicer too (admittedly not a real major issue with a 911). The sound

system is light years ahead of the 996. It seems that many 911's

from 2002 still came with a cassette player!

With the top down, the CLK has a cool looking fairing behind the

passenger seats so the lines flow (much nicer than the Audi S4, where

the rear headrests stick up and spoil the lines).

The MB weighs close to 4000 lbs, which is pretty heavy. I am not that

familiar with the brand, so I don't know how expensive parts will be, etc.

I have spent years wrenching on my 944's, so for Porsche I know where

to get parts, advice, and that sort of thing.

I used to own an Audi A8. Tremendous vehicle that perfectly combined speed,

size, comfort, and handling. However, it was way over-engineered and exceedingly

complicated (it took me over an hour to install the rear license place because you

had to disassemble the truck lid to gain access to the mounting bolts.

It suffered from all the complexity because silly things like seat motors, cruise control

brains, HVAC drains, etc. started to fail. I'm worried that the MB may be the

same way. Of course, with the 911 I'm worried about rear main seals and

intermediate shaft problems.

Anyone have personal experience with either the Audi S4 or MB CLK series?

Thanks!

Barry

[Loren]

"The MB might be the 'coolest' "

You're joking, right?

No.

Have you looked at the interior of a last model (2004+) CLK?

Way cooler than a 996. The 996 is very plain. That's not a bad

thing, just a fact. The MB interior is beautiful; utilizing a nice blend

of wood, leather, etc. The dashboard is way cool, The seat controls

look to be easy to understand and operate, and the rear seat is much

nicer too (admittedly not a real major issue with a 911). The sound

system is light years ahead of the 996. It seems that many 911's

from 2002 still came with a cassette player!

With the top down, the CLK has a cool looking fairing behind the

passenger seats so the lines flow (much nicer than the Audi S4, where

the rear headrests stick up and spoil the lines).

The MB weighs close to 4000 lbs, which is pretty heavy. I am not that

familiar with the brand, so I don't know how expensive parts will be, etc.

I have spent years wrenching on my 944's, so for Porsche I know where

to get parts, advice, and that sort of thing.

I used to own an Audi A8. Tremendous vehicle that perfectly combined speed,

size, comfort, and handling. However, it was way over-engineered and exceedingly

complicated (it took me over an hour to install the rear license place because you

had to disassemble the truck lid to gain access to the mounting bolts.

It suffered from all the complexity because silly things like seat motors, cruise control

brains, HVAC drains, etc. started to fail. I'm worried that the MB may be the

same way. Of course, with the 911 I'm worried about rear main seals and

intermediate shaft problems.

Anyone have personal experience with either the Audi S4 or MB CLK series?

Thanks!

Barry

Please keep your posts here Porsche related (see the board rules that you agreed to when you registered).

If you are doing comparisons that is fine.