chiphomme

These are the cars I currently have in my sights as a replacement, next year, for my CLK63 Black. I'm leaning toward the Porsche. It appears the GT2 will be more difficult to aquire but the resale will be better. Any thoughts?
BTW, I've never owned a 911.

Schiznick

I have quite a bit of seat time in the 996 GT2 and have driven the 997 GT2. It is without a doubt an incredible car. It is also a very difficult car to drive anywhere near the limits for a normal driver. The platform is incredible, the power is fantasic but it is a wild animal when pushed.

I assume that the SL Black will be a monster performance wise if our CLK Black Series give us any indication. It will be much easier to drive fast as well.

You, my friend have a difficult choice.

Don't bet on the resale value of the GT2, it has been historically the worst of any of the GT cars as the market for this one is very small.

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

GT2, no question.

alroumi

GT2 no doubt about, much more driver involving and is fun to drive as a weekend car.

mbny

I have to give it to the GT2 as well

150shot

GT2

Carl Lassiter

GT2. Just remember though, it's a lot of car.

terrence

GT2 for sure. Way lighter and therefore much more agile. Probably brakes way better too, not to mention will handle better. Did I mention it will be way lighter? (Probably at least 800 pounds?)

DFW01E55

I'm gonna' take the SL65 Black, because with all you guys driving GT2's, I want to stand out from the crowd.

Jim Brady

Porsche has allegedly tamed the 997 GT2 with electronics but there is no denying the physics of 63% of the weight out back. If you haven't owned a 911 turbo, it might be time for a change. Personally, I'm burned out on the porsche mistique. If your not going to track the car then I'd get the SL65 black.
Jimmy

phonetics

i know it's not relevant... but i would take a ferrari for sure...

absent

It is funny to see so many firm opinions here ,what are you guys base them on?
Not one of you have ever seen or drive or even read any reviews of the SL Black yet???
The original question is silly to begin with,wait for the actual car to be introduced,tested and then make the choice....

Soon2bMB

I like the GT2, after walking videos of it and driving the turbo hands down, but that might change when the black comes out.

WSH

Agree....

So much of these high-perf cars depends upon subjective, qualitative, personal preferences re: dynamics/linearity/tech, etc etc....and whether one ever visits a track...or even an interesting public road....and, obviously, one's driving skills....

That said, 997GT2 has already been accused of having more turbo lag than 997TT; a similarly effeminate exhaust note; and Luddite gearbox....but an awfully impressive NBR time

And many capable drivers seem to view CLK63BS as a rather interesting, GT3/GT2-rivaling track car, despite weighing nearly 4000lbs and having an autobox....great ex. that shows that specs on paper can be awfully misleading.....and conventional wisdom re: wt and gearboxes vs driving precision/fun is being challenged.....great stuff from AMG these days....

2MANYCARS

Why not both?

I'm going to vote for SL Black Series, it's just a more "user friendly" for daily use. Having the engine mounted behind the rear axles will give you some handful moments when cornering, especially on a RWD GT2, I would start out with a 997 TT with AWD just to feel how that is and if you think you can tame the beast, then get an GT2. Personally, I had my name down for a Black Series, so this post is quite subjective.

thebenzbar

I'm curious... is the CLK63 BS not enough for you? Why the thoughts of contemplating to replace that soon within next year? I thought that was a monster of a track/weekend car to begin with. In any case, you really can't go wrong with the GT2 or the upcoming SL65, but they're arguably different types of beasts though.

terrence

Had an SL65. Getting an SL63 in 4 weeks with 030 package. Getting my GT2 in 2 weeks.

Totally different car. SL is great for for cruising and enjoying top down with all the luxuries. Didn't particularly liked my SL55's exhaust sound. Too Nascar like. Hope the 63 is better in that regard.

GT3RS and GT2 are totally different animals compared to any Mercedes, including the CLK63BS. Yes, the BS is a great car on the track for its weight, but that's like saying MY ML63 handles great for a truck. In the end its still a truck weighing 5000 lbs and will get nowhere near my GT2 or even my SL on a track.

All depends on what the buyer's priorities are.

thebenzbar

Good "first hand" comparison Terrence! Now how about some pics of your toys for some eye candy? That e92 M3 must be a beast on its own too...

terrence

Here you go. Behind that is my ML63.

chiphomme

It's not silly. As you should know cars of this type have to be ordered way in advance of their release or you stand little or no chance of buying them. The GT2 is a prime example. I would like that vehicle but it appears they're all spoken for (hopefully not-my dealer is aggressively checking).

chiphomme

The CLK63 Black is too much car for me (as have the previous 3 vehicles I've owned). I'm just going through a silly car phase in my life.

absent

Order both,by the time you have to really commit and spec the car you will already have some idea how both cars compare.
With hot cars like these no dealer is going to give you hard time when you ask for your deposit back.

LZH

Couldn't agree more - so over porsches and their build quality. And if you have never owned a 911, you will have a HUGE learning curve with a GT2...there's a good reason they are referred to as the "Widowmaker".

Before I jump to conclusions about your statement regarding the CLK BS being "too much car for you"...what do you mean by that ?? Becasue if you mean what I think you mean then you will kill youself in a GT2

terrence

Really? To me it has always been Porsche or Ferrari when I want a "real" sports car. I love my MBZ (ML63, SL55, SL63, etc), but they are more like luxury transportation, whereas driving a Porsche or a Ferrari is more like an occasion and an experience. There is no substitute with the mid-engine V8 snarl in a Ferrari spider or the exhaust from a GT3RS running thru canyon roads to put a smile on my face. The steering, the feel of the road, the agility, etc is just not comparable.

WSH

To each his own....but know many jaded guys who, 5+yrs ago, had difficulty figuring out which they enjoyed driving more on an interesting rd....SL55 or 360...(FNA was well aware back then of how many repeat F buyers seemed enamored w/their SL55s; would argue 599's relative daily-useability was inspired by the iconic SL55)...

P's repeat buyer base is notably weaker economically than repeat buyers of AMG CL/SL/S and F, esp in SF/Greenwich/BH....and P's lack of innovation/execution in past 5+ yrs is simply laughable; still suffers from glaring turbo lag; still has RMS failures even on the allegedly bulletproof 997GT3 motors; lack of any modern gearboxes; but some of most effeminate exhaust notes on planet.....highly unlikely any smart engineers are left at P....many have prob retired in shame....

12mos ago, many of these same jaded guys (who did the SL55/360 back-to-backs in '02) viewed their CL63 030s as more interesting/addictive than their 599s, even in mtn twisties....

Reality is, many rather affluent guys have zero interest in risk/reward of visiting tracks in Podunk somewhere...and have no aspirations to ever claim to be anything more than casual wkend amateur drivers, w/no intent to ever become "pros"....so dynamic appeal (and daily-useability for routine SiliconValley/BH commuting) of a car on an interesting mtn rd within 45mins of Woodside/BH is all that matters....and I suspect appeal is largely defined by such elements as steering precision/chassis balance/tq/high-speed stability/brake pedal feel/exhaust note/overall active&passive safety/comfort features, esp on public, sometimes bumpy/wet, roads.....NBR times are interesting, but more amusing than anything else to many repeat buyers....