2006 Mercedes CLK cabriolet or 2005 BMW M3 Coupe

**brain** · 08-01-2005, 05:56 PM

Two options...

2006 Mercedes CLK350 cabriolet pretty loaded

or

2005 BMW M3 coupe pretty loaded

The payments are comparable even though the Mercedes is a more expensive car. The residual value is lower (higher depreciation) and the interest is higher on the BMW.

I would have to buy new wheels for the mercedes because they are pretty damn ugly.

**bachviet** · 08-01-2005, 05:57 PM

I'm in favor of the M3.

**civicdidex** · 08-01-2005, 06:01 PM

unless its sunny all year round...M3

**brain** · 08-01-2005, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by civicdidex

unless its sunny all year round...M3

I do live in Los Angeles so it is pretty sunny most of the time.

**djsusm** · 08-01-2005, 06:50 PM

M3 all the way! (Personally, I'll be going for the M3 cabrio)

**brain** · 08-01-2005, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by djsusm

M3 all the way! (Personally, I'll be going for the M3 cabrio)

I would go for the M3 cabrio, but a comparably priced M3 convertible is about $200 more per month.

**djsusm** · 08-01-2005, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by brain

I would go for the M3 cabrio, but a comparably priced M3 convertible is about $200 more per month.

Comparably priced or comparably optioned? hehe...

**InfiniteNothing** · 08-01-2005, 08:14 PM

Is there an option 3?

**AlpineJay** · 08-01-2005, 08:28 PM

I'll vote for the underdog. I drove one at the LoveMercedes tour and it was a honey. I think with the sunny weather the hardtop gets my vote too because it can be versatile both ways. I know M3 is hugely favored over enthusiasts because it is, well, a BMW, but the SLK's one honey of a car. Not that the M3 isn't. But the convertible part seems just cool - if you're gonna shell out that kind of money and have the weather to do so, why not?

**ufcrusher** · 08-01-2005, 10:40 PM

Where's the option for a CLK55 AMG? You have to compare apples to apples, not an orange!

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/models/CLK55A.jsp

Personally, I love convertibles. Then again, I also love performance and speed. When we bought our 323cic I was pushing for the M3 at the time. Unfortunately my wife had test driven the M3 and loved it until she realized she was going over 100mph in a blink of an eye. I think it scared her away during the deal although she did admit that she wished we had gone with the M3 later as she didnt care for the convertible we had. Of course, we ended up with a 330 this time as it was more reasonable.

**Houdini** · 08-01-2005, 11:23 PM

I'd go with the BMW. While I haven't driven that Mercedes, I have driven a new convertible M3. The M3 is probably one of the best-driving cars on the road. It is incredibly fast and very fun.

**kimchicowboy** · 08-01-2005, 11:54 PM

tan those arms, man. hehehe MB for me.

plus, you don't drive stick, do you?

**Jane83** · 08-02-2005, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by kimchicowboy

tan those arms, man. hehehe MB for me.

plus, you don't drive stick, do you?

finally a smart comment
m3 hah ji mah nuh
i say mb too...
and you already know why

**attgig** · 08-02-2005, 06:50 AM

m3's have the clutchless sticks, as well as the paddles. they're nice drives, but i say mb as well. when you're rollin in cali, gotta go with the convertible.

**LegendKiller** · 08-02-2005, 06:57 AM

Hasn't mb quality been in the crapper lately? I don't like their styling either. M3 uber alles.

**brain** · 08-02-2005, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by ufcrusher

Where's the option for a CLK55 AMG? You have to compare apples to apples, not an orange!

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/models/CLK55A.jsp

Personally, I love convertibles. Then again, I also love performance and speed. When we bought our 323cic I was pushing for the M3 at the time. Unfortunately my wife had test driven the M3 and loved it until she realized she was going over 100mph in a blink of an eye. I think it scared her away during the deal although she did admit that she wished we had gone with the M3 later as she didnt care for the convertible we had. Of course, we ended up with a 330 this time as it was more reasonable.

I'm comparing dollars for dollars. If I compared the cars by performance, then it would be a CLK55 coupe vs M3 coupe. I must admit the M3 is a screamer, but I think I'll get sick of the SMG. It does not want to be driven in the "auto" mode. It's always begging to be shifted at 5000 rpm.

**Burzhui** · 08-02-2005, 09:35 AM

MB quality is on the rise now, MB got ****ed in the past 3-4 years so they said they will be producing less cars with more quality control. The convertible seems really cool, if you're looking for speed and superior handling go with the m3. If you are looking for pimp points go with MB

**modena** · 08-02-2005, 12:14 PM

I plan on trading in my Z3 on an M3 at some point....so M3.

**ufcrusher** · 08-02-2005, 05:12 PM

I had 3 dealers tell me that the SMG isnt all its cracked up to be. I was told point blank not to waste my money on the SMG option. They said that although on the M3 it was actually a bit faster than either the automatic or the manual, many owners became quite bored with it and rarely used it outside of automatic mode.

I was looking at for our 330, but we ended up just getting the automatic as a result of the comments.

**modena** · 08-02-2005, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by ufcrusher

I had 3 dealers tell me that the SMG isnt all its cracked up to be. I was told point blank not to waste my money on the SMG option. They said that although on the M3 it was actually a bit faster than either the automatic or the manual, many owners became quite bored with it and rarely used it outside of automatic mode.

I was looking at for our 330, but we ended up just getting the automatic as a result of the comments.

My brother is getting a 2006 330xi in September, he was told pretty much the same thing. He was told by the dealer, if you want fun, just go manual becuase some younger people that get the SMG are saying that it isnt all its cracked up to be.