Iwest

Hi all - I'm new to the forum and in the process of purchasing my next toy! I've narrowed down my options to 2 individual cars, both a substantial upgrade from what I currently drive, and am completely torn between the 2, looking for a bit of advice. FYI I have already test-driven both cars (as well as many other cars) and examined them in person, just looking to see if any of y'all have strong recommendations either way. I will attempt to list some pros and cons below of each car, as well as info and options and I'd be happy to upload pictures if they would help.
And yes, I know that these cars aren't particularly similar in really any way - I just landed on these two after test driving a bunch of cars and being particularly blown away by the MB and Porsche. As for what I want out of a car - a fun toy that I can both commute to work in and take to windy coastal roads and potentially even tracks during the weekend. I want the car to feel, look, and sound special, like a cut above what I'm used to. And more than anything I want it to simply be an exceptional driving experience. And just so we're clear, this car would be my daily driver for the next 3-4 years. Anyways, on to the cars!

Car 1: New 2017 MB C63S AMG Sedan -- Polar white/red and black
Pros: New car, AMG V8 engine, carbon fiber bits (interior console trim and lip spoiler), practicality with 4 doors, big trunk and comfortable seats
Add'l Options: performance exhaust, night package, panoramic roof, upgraded black AMG wheels, previously mentioned c/f bits
Cons: doesn't look nearly as fantastic as the Porsche, transmission isn't PDK (although not a slouch either), significantly higher insurance rates

Car 2: Used 2014 Carrera S Cabrio -- Guards red/black
Pros: looks (it's a red convertible Porsche), PDK trans, grip/handling, low seating position, can put the top down for weekend drives, surprising amount of storage space for road trips, brand familiarity (I currently own a 2013 Boxster)
Add'l Options: sports exhaust, upgraded sport seats, black SportTechno wheels, other small aesthetic bits (seatbelts, crests on headrest, black '911' model designation)
Cons: it's preowned (~27,000 miles with 1 owner), no (real) back seats so less practical, slightly more expensive sticker price, missing some of the tech offered in the MB (e.g. HUD, lane assistance, etc.)

Thanks so much for looking and I really appreciate any advice y'all could give me. Either way, as I progress through this buying process, I'll be sure to update with some more info. Cheers!

pghc63

tough call
I own both brands currently and in the past
me will go with MB , friendlier as a daily driver, brand new, and less potential headache than the carrera
my carrera s was somewhat noisy for DD and the sound system was ok
the gap between porsche and amg has shrunk significantly in the past few years as far as performance
bottom line both are great cars

alexasa

iTrader: (1)

porsche cabrio? No thanks.

rjpeaks

for me if 991, then clutch pedal. if going PDK, then I personally would go with the MBZ.

NOPDK

Drove a 911S 991.1 as daily driver for 2 years. Purchased new with all the go fast bits. Great car aside from many issues with interior rattles (much worse than in MB). If you have lots of twisty roads in your area car is a gem. If you ever track the Porsche is better. For around town use and daily driver status I prefer my C63S coupe. Torque rules around own. Great sounds and a pleasure on road. Much better highway missile. If you track car this is not your choice, way too heavy.

Not sure if that helped or not. If you are looking at 911 then what not the AMG coupe instead of the 4 door. I would have went for a 4 door except the C coupe flairs and stance makes the car stand out so much more.

Happy hunting.

rjpeaks

^love the name...

hahahahhahaha

NOPDK

No PDK on GT4 or 73 hotrod. Agate grey 991S had PDK. So I guess I'm agnostic.

rjpeaks

should rename to PDKagnostic

just sold my 981. 911 will wait until my kids go to college.

Iwest

Thank you all so much for the responses, they were honestly really helpful. After posting this yesterday and going in to test drive both vehicles again, I have decided to go with the MB and will hopefully be taking delivery of it tomorrow afternoon! Something about the car just feels so special to drive (admittedly, part of this might be that I'm 'used to' the layout and driving style of a Porsche while not at all with the MB). Putting your foot down in the C63 is just something else and the exhaust sounds GREAT. Absolutely love the thing and will post pictures of my new baby once I take delivery of it!

@NOPDK: That's a really good question regarding the coupe. A couple of reasons. First and foremost, a new coupe with the options I wanted (c/f bits, performance exhaust, night pack, black cross-forged wheels) would have been out of my price range (I needed to stay under ~$80K). Used coupes are obviously few and far between so that wasn't really an option either. The dealer located the aforementioned sedan in my price range with all the bits and bobs I requested. Secondly, personal preference but I'm not extremely partial to the rear design of the coupe. And it's less practical for transporting other people in (although admittedly that's not really its primary goal).

vaelin

Good choice.

Then again.. couldn't have gone wrong either way.

MFahrer

What he/she said

tscales

I went from a 996 Turbo Cabrio to the C63S (with an SL65 in between).

I drove the 996 for 7 years and was reasonably happy with it. I know it isn't a 991, but the same concept.

My question is why are you considering the Sedan? If you like the idea of a convertible, go with the C63S convertible. The back seat is surprisingly roomy and it is an amazing beast.

Between your choices, I'd probably go 991. Between the 991 and C63S Cab, I'd go with the C63 every single time.

Iwest

Hey, thanks so much for the response! There's a couple reasons why I'm not considering the coupe or convertible but they basically boil down to pricing. I'm looking to buy a new C63S if at all possible (used coupes and convertibles at least are fairly hard to find anyways) and before I even started this search, I set myself a hard price cap at $80K for my next car. As I kind of mentioned above, a new coupe or convertible wouldn't have been an affordable choice for me with the options I wanted. Otherwise, I would have considered them more seriously. Unless I've been seriously misled, for my price range and with a new car, it's sedan C63S or bust. Which I'm honestly perfectly happy with!

Besides, I currently drive a convertible and so a hard top sedan might be a nice change of pace

VaserC63S

I looked at a C4S vs Range Rover for nearly identical price and the rover won out after couple test drives. Then I decided to upgrade my then BMW335 Coupe, looked at M3, Tesla Model S and M4. M4 won, but I started having second thoughts about justifying two new expensive vehicles and M4 was also not exactly doing it for me. I then considered buying my first Mercedes. It was a he C300 at first, but It didn't put much of a grin on me. Then the C450 AMG, I nearly pulled trigger on it. It wasn't bad but I felt something was lacking. Then was persuaded to take a test drive in a C63S I told the dealer was beyond what I was even willing to consider price wise. Did I ever know! One test drive in the way more expensive C63S and all those financial wisdom considerations went right out the window.

Now I see you have a Tesla. How do you feel about it? After owning a Tesla Would you buy an AMG over the Tesla?

vaelin

My C63S is the slowest car (even with the tune) in my garage.

Yet I choose to drive it every day over the Model X or the 911. There's way more fun, even in traffic, listening to the soundtrack of the V8.

It's funny because family hauling SUV is quicker than both the 911 and the AMG.

RDOCA

But only faster 0-60 as it does not go around corners well.

vaelin

That's relative though; the air suspension at lowest setting makes it handle better than any other SUV (or non-sport sedan) I've driven. Then again, if I'm canyon carving I think the 911 would be the best choice.

But 99% of the time, I'm dealing with day-to-day commuter traffic.

Harold1898

I haven't owned a W205 but I did trade my 2012 W204 in on a 991S and I loved them both.
The only thing the W204 did better than the Porsche was the exhaust noise.
The W205 may well be better than the Porsche but I would not know thus I could not comment.

hyperion667

Pcar! More fun! Better looking......however since you have one already, you might be ready for a new brand, I've had two Porsche's in my years......awesome, awesome cars!!! I can't wait to get another one someday.


Post up when it's done.