shoe dog

Folks - I'd love your thoughts here. I'm currently driving a 993 and an Audi A4 Avant. I'm looking at upgrading either or both cars soon, and would like to commiserate with you guys. I've been beating myself up for about a month now.

I've looked at:
BMW 545 Sport - only OK - love the outside, can't warm up to the inside, and for $65k, my 5 year old Audi has a more luxurious interior. Love the engine and it gets 25mpg. Hate BMW attitude.

Lexus GS430 - way too insulated, I'm not old enough to drive it yet

Infinity M45 sport - I don't like the exterior, but a dam find peice of engineering as far as the guts goe. Lots of trouble with the 4.5 motor burining oil too - Noo much cash for a Nissan

I'm driving the Acura RL today, but can't get past the mental leap of no V8

I'm driving the CLS 500 on Monday - The care is flat out beautiful - inside and out. The interior is a touch feminie for me, but I'm in love with the car as a whole. For not much more $ than the BMW, seems to have great stats - 5.6 0-60mph, and 25 mpg. And not many people have them.

Here's the catch. If I step up to the CLS500 - I might have to get rid of the 993. Any of the above cheaper cars, I'd dump the A4. The CLS is also only RWD, and frankly if I'm getting rid of the 993, I should just go for the CLS55, as I wold miss the ***** out handling prowess of the 993. How is the CLS in the snow?

So if I do CLS55 at $90k, and get rid of my 993, why would I not just to a 997 Porsche? - I might do that, but I like the 4 doors and the automatice of the CLS. A 997 tiptronic you say? I can't see a Porsche with a slush-box tranny, but MB's are supposed to have automatics - Iknow its another mental thing.

I'm also a cheapskate. I buy all my cars used and let someone else take the depreciation hit.

What were some of the thought processes you guys went through before settling on your current ride? Help another car guy out.

Many thanks, Aaron

E55 RUSS

CLS55 AMG!!! 997 only manual!!!

theitalianjob

997 Carrera S Cabrio in manual!!

E500C70

Go for it!

MDCLS

CLS55. This car is much less common than many "super" cars. Have only spotted one here in town and it was on a delivery day while visiting the dealer.

Why not another Audi if replacing both?

BoBcanada

CLS55 with 030 nuderburg package option. + kleemann stage 2!

shoe dog

Why not another Audi if replacing both?

Hmmm. Great thought. I am an audi guy. My most favorite to date was an '95 S6 - loved it! But Audi is just not 'that' special.

One school of thought is keep the 993 and dump the A4 for a '03 S8. 360hp, AWD, killer seats, and sleeper looks - rare, and only about $45k with CPO warranty. This may be the best of both worlds. I wouldn't get rid of the 993 for any Audi.

But damn!!!, every time I look at the CLS, I'm really diggin' the body.

Drove the Acura RL today - hell of a value if it could get out of its own way - kind of a special Honda Accord - not for me.

Doctodd33

Sounds like you want the bling factor with the CLS55. Problem since you say you are a cheapskate is that you will be waiting awhile, cuz i dont see significant price drops on used CLS55's anytime this year. I think demand is actually INCREASING as more people see the car, but that's just my opinion.

T

shoe dog

Doctodd - I noitce that you have sold a CLS55 - how come? You also sold the SL55? Why - I've never owned an AMG Benz - your thoughts?

shoe dog

I think what I'm really looking for is the performance factor, and 4 doors. I'm concerned that the CLS500 may not have the performacen that I'm used to in the 993, thus I'm considering the CLS55. IMHO, the CLS55 is much more masculine and powerful looking (not to mentin real performance numbers) than the CLS500.

Doctodd33

You are right in thinking the CLS500 will feel SLOW. I sold both cars cuz it was time. I traded the SL55 for the CLS55 cuz i didnt want to take any more of a depreciation hit and have trouble selling it later. I sold the CLS55 cuz i had other priorities, and i wont give up my daily driver here in this crazy town. The X5 is one of the safest cars on the road, and my favorite quality is the airbag right by my head.

In the end, they are just cars. I enjoyed the SL55 the most and plan on buying the new body style when it comes out. Then ill flip it. Cars are usually not appreciating assets.

T

King320

Get one of those new Cayman S Porsches w/ a manual gearbox. that thing looks so mean! 5.1 sec 0-60, 295HP, top speed of 171mph, and $58K. I would also bet that RUF or Techart will be jumping on that thing with a turbo kit soon, and that would be hilariously fast. It might be a while if you want to get a used one though. Other than that i like the idea of either the CLS55 or the 997. You cant go wrong either way really, but if you have a 997, get a manual if you arent getting the turbo because its going to be way too slow to justify the money otherwise.

Hakk403

Go with the CLS55, 0-60 in 4.5, I was watching top gear of 5th gear and it was faster around the track than a porsche gt3 and only 0.1 behind the ferrari 575 GTC, that and I saw one on the road yesterday, way better looking on the road than in the showroom, the car is BEAUTIFUL.

20C4S

u must be kidding with the GT3...

jikjak

it had a faster time than the gt3 on that board they have. but if u look closely the gt3 time had a w beside it. so that was a gt3's time in the wet.

Redlinerobert

CLS55 Hands down. When I got my CLS, I literally stopped driving my Porsche. That car is that much fun to drive.

That is until I got the Lamborghini.

20C4S

now that make sense

Doctodd33

Yea, one of my anesthesiologists says the same thing. He loves driving his Lambo Murci...except he is usually driving it to the shop to get something fixed.

T

ndabunka

Your last lines pack the most punch. In short, your not going to get the benefit of ANY depreciation absorbtion by others with the CLS. Simply too new and onlly option is to by one new (and therefore must forego the savings). However, there is a way to get the same "kick in your pants effect" in a slightly different version that already has had depreciation hits. That is to piuck up a used 2004 E55. That $80K car has already experienced significant depreciation (the arrival of the CLS55 probably actually accelerated the E55's depreciation slide) and you can pick one up for nearly a song if your patient enough. I've seen a few go for between $58 and $65K with less than 20K miles. It's a direction I am considering myself in order to get into the "Beast" for the least...

Ray J

Why don't you just wait for the 997 Turbo and get the DSG transmission, you will get fast as hell car that handles and has 4 wheel drive with very nice tranny, supposed to be faster than shifting manually, you might have to wait a while to get one at a good price though..

Brav

WTF - anesthesiologist owns an MURCI?? HOW? I'm getting out of banking.

FIW, I would not go with a CLS500 - get the 55, or a different car. I would hold on to your 993 - its already becoming a clasic. Although the 997 is a big step up. Just have to ask yourself- how bad do you need 4 doors? I have always had a sports car and I miss it - will be getting something here shortly.

Stiggs

Why do you sound like you can't believe they make a lot of money? He didn't say a janitor!!!

Kev04C320

A good senior anesthesiologist easily earns in excess of 300K a year, so why not a Murci?

absent

Making 300k a year hardly makes a Murcie easy to buy.
After taxes ,wife,kids education and a decent vacation,there would be little left...
That income level is not Exotic car level,or even semi exotic (100k+)

AMGfan

...AND if they have an ex-wife and alimony, then that $300,000 gets smaller. Don't get me wrong it could probably be done, especially if early financial planning (portfolio/property/business ventures) were reaping financial benefits.

I'd personally get the CLS55. You just don't see them around as much. However, you would be hard pressed to find one at $90000, unless you order it with NO options. A moderately loaded CLS55 is approximately 97-99K and a fully loaded one (w/030 package) is probably closer to 110K MSRP. Getting it used in a year OR two might get you at $90K.

Good Luck...997S good second option or 997C4 (for snow).