Chocofishez

I love my car... I use all of the comfort most of the time and I use as much of the performance as I can given traffic and the likelihood of running into a cop. I'm piling on the miles as you can take it anywhere and it is a good car in so many ways.

But I've spent pretty well my whole working life always lusting for that next car. I kind of feel like I've worked my way to the point where there isn't really a better 'do it all' vehicle than the one I have. Everything previous (M3s, C63) had some trade off... but the E63 doesn't.

Yet I'm still on autotrader all the time. I've always aspired to owning an exotic. There are lots of early Gallardos, 430s, R8s and SLS's that aren't crazy money. But while the performance on them is staggering they don't really blow an E63 away... so will I be disappointed? I'm after the sound, look, presence and of course the performance.. basically more 'get me off' factor. A Sunday driver with a sense of occasion. What would you guys do?

I have experience in the SLS and like it a lot.. but I already own two AMGs and an ML350. I've been in the R8 too but it's just not grabbing me... I've never experienced something Italian though.

Anyone own one of the above in addition to their E63? Comments?

sdg1871

My other car is a modded 2014 911 Turbo S (GIAC Stage 2 ECU flash, Europipe exhaust with 100 cell cats, IPD plenum, race diverter valves, BMC filter).

I am in love with that car. You can use it every day as it's ride is reasonably comfortable (unless you set it to hard) and it has 6 inches of ground clearance (a lot for a sports car) and it accelerates faster to 100 than just about anything below the $1 million and up Hypercar class.

If you don't want to spend 991 TTS money (mine stickered at $194k and I bought for $168k), the previous model Turbo S (the 997 TTS) is a good choice.

Both will destroy a 430 or Gallardo in the quarter mile. And be much more reliable.

Between Ferrari and Lambo I prefer Ferrari.

SilveRT8

Agree with the comments on the 911 Turbo S, but.....
I share your toughts about the E63S, and I could not be happier than with my second car wich is the latest Gen5 2013 Viper GTS with Track pack option, lowered suspension, Headers AR exhaust and Arrow Racing PCM. I,ve had Vipers since 2008 and the 2013+ are really a big improvement over previous Gens. Comfy enough to use as a DD car in the spring, summer and autumn, it's a real blast on the street but built to compete with the best supercars on a road course Track. At $100 to 120K for a well equipped new car and good used ones in the $75-85 range, the $ to fun ratio hits the roof !
Easy to maintain and service at the Chrysler dealer, these biggest N/A engines at 8.4L are built tough, widest rear tires 355-30-19 make a statement, so does the classic lines.
The E63s may be a Monster on the road, but the Viper is the Monster that scares other Monsters ! There's been so many scary stories about Vipers that you have to test drive one to appreciate the new version.

sdg1871

[QUOTE=SilveRT8;6415461]I share your toughts about the E63S, and I could not be happier than with my second car wich is the latest Gen5 2013 Viper GTS with Track pack option, lowered suspension, Headers AR exhaust and Arrow Racing PCM. I,ve had Vipers since 2008 and the 2013+ are really a big improvement over previous Gens. Comfy enough to use as a DD car in the spring, summer and autumn, it's a real blast on the street but built to compete with the best supercars on a road course Track. At $100 to 120K for a well equipped new car and good used ones in the $75-85 range, the $ to fun ratio hits the roof !
Easy to maintain and service at the Chrysler dealer, these biggest N/A engines at 8.4L are built tough, widest rear tires 355-30-19 make a statement, so does the classic lines.
The E63s may be a Monster on the road, but the Viper is the Monster that scares other Monsters ! There's been so many scary stories about Vipers that you have to test drive one to appreciate the new version.[/QUOTE
Vipers are great cars. Not super expensive but super fast and big attention getters

abcut973

Sorry for turbo guys but I would go GT3. Viper is nice as well but I like germans

sdg1871

The decision between the 911 Turbo/ Turbo S and GT3 depends on what kind of car you are looking for as they are nothing alike. The GT3 is really a track car. It has little power or torque below about 6k RPMs so not a great choice for daily use or use other than tracking unless you like driving all the time with a screaming engine. Again, thrilling on track but less so around town. The GT3 also had much less ground clearance than the TT/TTS so not as practical for DD use or use in areas with bad roads. The GT3 is down a considerable amount of power to the TT/TTS and is a lot slower in a straight line. At meets, I find myself having to back off the throttle of my TTS when I am behind a GT3 to maintain adequate spacing. The GT3 has rearwheel drive as opposed to the turbo and Turbo S'a all-wheel-drive which is more fun on track but obvious not as good for blasting fast out of slow corners or winter traction. The GT3 comes with R compound tires like the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 which is awesome around the track but offers little to no wet traction so not very safe in rain or even worse, heavy rain with pooling of water. Also, the TTS, because it has forced injection is a lot more tuneable than the GT3. Throw a $3500 GiAC stage 2 tune and a $3-4k free flow exhaust on a TTS and you have about another 90 bhp which brings power up to 650 bhp and quarter mile times with race gas down to the 10.3 area -- times far beyond the reach of any GT3 which in 991 GT3 form has 475 bhp and in GT3RS form has 500 bhp.

On the other hand, the GT3 is a LOT more aggressively styled than the TTS with a massive wing and super low front splitter/lip. The GT3 has a much stiffer suspension and consequently handles better in the turns than the TT/TTS. Bottom line is in a track battle the TTS will pull away from the GT3 on the straights but the GT3 will be faster in the turns. Of course, if you put the GT3's r compound tires on a TTS a lot of its cornering advantage disappears.

The GT3 is rarer and much coveted/revered by Porsche enthusiasts and has a fanatically active owner community.

I love my TTS and it meets my needs perfectly. It is the ultimate go anywhere/do anything sports car. It is ridiculously fast and comfy at he same time. But if your desire is for an ultimate track car the GT3 is a better choice.

abcut973

I agree with most of the points you mentioned. I'm just not a FI engine fan.
One of the reasons I mentioned the GT3 is because OP has already a daily driver as he said he can use it everywhere. And that is what the E63 is made for. A luxurious comfortable sport sedan. OP wants a loud nice looking week end car that meets performance. Get a GT3 and you have exclusivity too

Chocofishez

Two GT3s live within 10 houses of me... including my next door neighbor with a 2015. Gorgeous cars but I'd be third in and would hear it for sure

SilveRT8

Get the Viper and see those GT3 in your rearview mirror !!! ;-)

VividRacing

This is just me but I'd personally love a Maserati GranTurismo. Italian sports car for not Ferrari price. And there's plenty of used out there.

Dodge Viper is an unadulterated muscle car in a track-car body, more beast than beauty but it is beautiful in its own way. The GranTurismo has the Ferrari V8 engine in a luxury body, so you get sports car but not give up the comfort you get in your Merc. And you can experience what Italian sports and luxury is like.

-RyanG

robl45

911 turbo s convertible if you have money to burn. Otherwise Nissan gtr. One of the quickest cars on the planet for relatively low cash as a toy. I'm looking into one soon to go with the e63.

Patric

The 2016 Jaguar F Type R has just hit the dealers and new is the AWD which is going to help get the power down (550 HP). Waiting to see what the road tests have to say over last year.

Chocofishez

Great feedback so far - thanks guys.

sdg - you like your turbo for a lot of the same reasons I like the E. How are they different to you as DDs? I drove a 997 turbo S and it hauled ***** in a straight line but sounded like a vacuum cleaner inside. I agree with your assessment of the GT3.

rT8 - A Viper.. I saw one at the Calgary auto show. It looks great and you can get a new car for like 120k and with a stick and that bigass motor it would be a lot of fun. Very appealing but I think the SLS is basically the German equivalent though and would be easier to get the wife onside as when I last got car ADD I made her buy a GLA45 and she likes it a lot and also likes the E. I do miss that 6.3l motor. I parked next to a 507 at sushi tonight. Could get one of those while the gettin is good but that would be like going back to an ex gf... Time to move on.

Who can tell me what I really want to know.... Does a Ferrari or Lamborghini pass muster as a weekend car when you have a 577hp starship Benz as an alternative?

robl45

You first need to decide what you are looking for. The E63 is a very fast car, but its also not super light. Its a great daily driver. You either want a sports car or you want something to show off to people. A Ferrari or Lamborghini would do that just fine, although I wouldn't buy the Gallardo. I also likely won't buy a Ferrari or Lamborghini even though I've wanted one forever as I can't actually drive it anywhere, I'd be too nervous someone was going to damage it as you can't park them anywhere without people hovering around.

If you have the money to burn, the 911 turbo S will smoke pretty much anything on the road and handle like a race car and you can do it with the top down. You can also park it at the grocery store without 50 people hovering around it.

SilveRT8

Also keep in mind that the 577 hp rating for the E is on the very low side, reality is well over 600.
Mine on the Dyno gave 629 hp and calculating HP numbers to get my 4640 lbs car to do 11,48 @ 123.1 quarter stock needs 639 hp !

Chocofishez

The AMG driving academy guys were saying the E is under reported too. I believe it. It really is a great car. I have thought about tuning it, exhaust & pipes etc but how am I going to feel about a ~700hp car on my way to work in the snow and cold? Best to keep it stock I think. Why mess up a good thing.

Tough call

homeofstone

Nissan GTR

sdg1871

The 991 Turbo S is on a completely different performance planet than my Renntech tuned E63. My E63 is very fast for sure but my tuned 991 TTS is much faster -- scary fast with a 10.3
Sec quarter mile capability (vs 10.9-11 for my tuned E63). The acceleration of my 991 TTS from 0 to about 120 is just unmatched by anything under $1 million. The fastest 0 to 60 time of a stock 991 TTS measurednby a car mag is 2.5 seconds (Car and Driver). That is as fast as a Veyron or 918. Mine with the extra 90 bhp from my mods would be even faster. By contrast an Alpha 7 E63 S (tune, DPs and exhaust) does the deed in about 2.85 seconds) -- still super fast but not close to the TTS).

The 991 TTS just obliterates anything on the road up to about 120 save $1 million plus Hypercars. Also my E63 S feels sloppy handling and poise wise compared to my TTS. My TTS handles like a race car and is just such a weapon. The quality of the drive is just on another planet from the E63 S. My TTS feels made to go super fast while my E63 feels much sloppier and less poised under hard acceleration and in the turns.

As for exhaust noise there is no question that a TTS does not have the quality of sound of a Ferrari or Lambo. But throw an aftermarket free flow exhaust on it (a requirement for the GIAC stage 2 tune) and it sounds pretty darn good. With my Europipe on I hear the turbos come on and off and hear lacks of crackling and popping when letting off the gas. And from outside the car it is loud. During car meets, fellow sports/exotic car drivers have remarked that my TTS with the Europipe exhaust sounds very aggressive with huge turbo noise under power.

My advice is go to the Porsche dealer and test drive the TTS. Most people
who do want the car had after that. I sure did.

hyperion667

Porsche

Quadcammer

call me a bit odd, but I don't see the point of getting another fairly new car.

911 turbo...well, yeah, i clearly like them, but a 997+ turbo is really a daily driver. You already have a stupid fast daily driver, so why not get something more involving.

930 turbo, standard 911 from the 80s, s2000, lotus, etc.

In an entirely different vein, I get a longing for a comfy older cruiser...something great for a sunday morning drive. Something as simple as a 1995 E320 cabriolet or more exotically, an 60s 280sl.

If you see the theme, its not for a new modern sports car but rather something engaging and interesting.

kart125

I already stretched the budget with the E so for sure I can't have a GT3 at the same time (my dream and probably the next car after the E) but I'm looking into a small RWD sports car (as previously mentionned Lotus/S2000 etc... even a miata would be a good cheap fun car...) I even saw a nice P 944 that was a bargain but was I was not fast enough and it is sold... Then again the E is so much fun to drive that I may cancel the project of a second "sports car" and financially plan for the replacement right away...

sdg1871

What about a GT500? Stupid fast and not boring or super expensive.

robl45

But the op wants an expensive car. Gt500 not going to fit that. Gtr a much better choice anyway if you staying in the reasonable range.

sdg1871

Actually in his last post OP was considering a Miata, S2000 or used 944. Given the lower dollar range I suggested a GT500. But It looks like OP wants a GT3 and will replace his E63 with one in the future

robl45

That's not the op.