bfung

i currently drive a e36 328is...10 yr-old....prolly haf ta get a new ride this summer....and i kinda wanna get a vert...never got one b4 coz i dun like soft tops...but really into retractable hardtops

my choices now are:
1. mazda miata PRHT
2. bmw 335i cab
3. mb slk 350 w/ AMG sports pak
4. pre-owned Porsche Carrera (i'll prolly go w/ a coupe for this one coz the verts r soft top)

comments?

machz963

my choices now are:
1. mazda miata PRHT - Junk

2. bmw 335i cab - Solid

3. mb slk 350 w/ AMG sports pak - Currently Own an '05, no problems so far, still turns heads, decent in the snow w/new tires

4. pre-owned Porsche Carrera (i'll prolly go w/ a coupe for this one coz the verts r soft top) - Porsche is always a good option, but would rather buy #2 or #3 new before a used Porsche.


comments?[/QUOTE]

Duo-Art

The Mazda won't turn any heads and I'm not sure about the BMW. I have owned my SLK 350 since late 2004 and people stop to look at it whenever I park it in a public place. My recommendation is the SLK but I am prejudice since I own one.

bmwnomore

I just saw the BMW at the Philadelphia auto show in the flesh and I really liked the exterior. The interior underwhelmed me a little, looked a little cheap compared with the older generation. But, I would seriously look at it. It is really quick and smooth and it has a back seat. If that's important to you, it's a big plus.

Like Duo-art said, my two year old SLK still turns heads wherever I go and it is more of a classic roadster vs. a cabriolet. If you wait until next year, you'll get 296 hp with the SLK350, I think.

With the Porsche, you'll give up top down driving, which is a big sacrifice.

The Miata, MX-5 is a great roadster and probably the best value of the bunch. A hard top convertible for 25 grand. That's great. But, having seen it in the flesh at the show, it won't turn heads. The styling is a little bland for my taste.

bfung

thx guys...

#3: i've been very into the slk since it came out 2 yrs ago...but guess it's not a good time to get it this summer...knowing that the 08's will be face-lifted

#4: it's kinda fishy ta get a pre-owned carrera if the previous owner isn't a friend of mine...even if it's certified by the dealer...things could've been fixed and covered up nicely...plus even the 997 interior doesn't look any better than the new miata's

#1: miata seems to be a good deal....test drove the new one and the handling just kept me smiling all the time...and i can save some $ for investment and/or mortgages in the future...yet the wait now is more than a yr coz i was told the german hardtop manufacturer has to prioritze the volvo c70 production 1st...and u know how few allocations we get in canada

#2: 335 looks to be the most reasonable deal then...yet the excitment of switching from an old 3 to a new 3 would def be less than all the other choices

man...tough call

hekeke

335i for sure man

Vodil

335 is the best compromise car:
You can put the top down, but ragtops suck up
You have a back seat, but don't try to do too much with it
You have something that looks OK, but its been Bangled
You have an ultimate driving machine, but not a sports car

However, I gave up a 330Ci for my SLK350 because I had no use for the back seat, I wanted both a hardtop and a convertible, I wanted something that looked and drove fine and, of course, had the luxury of a Benz.

Your mix may be different.

bfung

Vodil, the e93 335 vert coming this march is equipped w/ the retractable hard top...bmw finally got rid of the ragtops...and that's wat appealed to me most abt dat car...like how the slk was to me couple yrs ago...

slk55 is one of the sexiest cars....2 me the AMG kit (the one for 350 as well) makes the car less feminine to me...

regarding bak seats...i guess at this moment it's a plus not a must 2 me....even tho this will be me only car, i live w/ my bro and he has a 5 series so i guess we can switch when i need to take more ppl

big SLK

dont forget the LEXUS IS covertible hardtop
or the IS-F

bfung

my view on lexus cars is that they're nearly perfect quality-wise...but they seem to lack souls/character...engine's 2 quiet and sterring and pedals r 2 light...good cars to drive after goin to gym tho...

btw is it confirmed that the IS will get a retractable hardtop as well?

nappy

i feel like I'm driving ontop of cottonballs when in a lexus, can't feel anything, even in an IS 350

Maverick

Am I missing something? I thought the only convertible Lexus was the SC convertible hardtop. On the lexus website, they do not mention any kind of convertible IS model.

As to the Lexus SC, I have driven one, and I thought it felt like a comfortable smooth sedan, with the top cut off. It kind of looked like that too. It did not feel or look like a sports car. Cannot argue with the quality though; they make dependable cars. (Although I would never want to give up the Scarf Air in my SLK that lets me drive with the top down when it's below freezing outside.)

big SLK

That's the word peeps. 2009----expect it!
Lexus trying to rival bmw 3series hardtop convertible.

N4PWJ

335i , or the 350 slk.

personally id go fro the 335i as more room available in it.

topdaytrader

Definitely SLK350!!!

MHPHOCKEY

335 compares more to the CLK

Backseat
Price
etc.

bfung

MHPHOCKEY, ur rite that 335 cab is a more direct competitor of clk cab rather than slk in terms of interior space and #seats...yet 335 cab's price is speculated to be ard the range of slk280...function-wise it makes 335 a good deal compared to clk...yet clk is higher-end...plus i personally prefer slk over clk (style and hardtop)...

i've this thought after looking at the new 3 cab pics....3 cab, like the clk cab...doesn't look as natural as slk or z4 when top is down....most likely coz the style was designed w/ the top up for 4-seaters, whereas the style of roadsters accounts for its look regardless of top up/down...

just ordered a 335i cab...it looks better in some angles than others in the pics...slk seems to look nice in nearly all angles (esp w/ the AMG kit)....o well at least the deposit is refundable...i'll decide when it arrives...if it looks ugly i'll just haf my $ bak

Ynot

congrats on your new purchase, I haven't seen the 335i cab in reallife yet so no comment but if you don't like it,there's plenty of aftermarket parts for it to make it the way you want. I've seen the coupe a couple of days ago and he was driving behind me the whole time and checking out my ride. The couple looks pretty good so I assume the cab will only look better.

Here's a pic to convince you otherwise, just had my quad tip exhaust installed and the SLK350 w/ kit is the only option.

B4TM4N

Well, on the bright side you can fit more people, and also if you're into the modifying, it's turbo'd so that should help any of the things you do.

Congratz with your purchase! Most important is that you enjoy it!

bfung

thx 4 the feedbak guys...surprised to hear so many positive thoughts on bimmers from mb owners...ppl here sound quite civilized compared to other car forums~

anyhow, another thing is whether it worths to wait 4 the new m3 b4 i make my decision...heard the official release will be this summer...

hope i wun miss the slk 2 much if i happen to get the new 3...i really like it but just hard to convince myself to buy it b4 facelifting

B4TM4N

I went to the Toronto Autoshow today (well...yesterday now) and I sat in the new 3-series cabrio...

I have to admit it, but that thing is gorgeous. I can try to find as many pictures as I can to justify why I'm driving an SLK and tell everyone how weird it looks being that 4 seater convertibles are just too long. But as much as I try to search for horrid angled shots of the vehicle, I won't be able to run from what it actually looks like in person. It is gorgeous and I almost wet myself when I first saw and sat in it. If the next M3 Coupe comes cabrio, I will be in a major dilemma...


P.S. I still hug my SLK, I still love it!!

Ynot

Yep, MB owners are as civilized and unbiased as they get, I hear better responds about a porsche and bimmers on benz forums then I get on related forums. Bimmer forums are the worst, my M3 will kill everything, there's no better car, etc. The only thing wrong I think is the low volume of traffic, we are not as vocal as those guys.

Summer is only a season away, 400hp V8, handles like a dream, and carries four people, it's worth the wait.

If the facelift looks anything like what I saw, get it now, square exhaust tips, the front looks worst, not really an improvement IMO. I dont' think you can go wrong with either choice. good luck.

B4TM4N

Not trying to go off-topic or threadjack but since ynot mentioned it, does anyone have pics of the SLK facelift?? Thx!!

Ynot

This is the latest one, doens't seem much different. http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphoto...s-slk-facelift

I can't seem to find the link of the facelift that I didn't like.

bfung

Ynot, ya i guess if i'm gettng the AMG sports package, the exterior facelift wun matter much coz it's mainly on the bumpers...however i've heard facelift applies to interior and engine as well...can anyone confirm?

B4TM4N, does the 335i vert look much better in person than pics?...i've seen a pic from the detriot show...car looks weird in that pic...here's the link:

http://www.e90fanatics.com/images/BM...ble_fold_1.jpg

just wondering...does this accurately represent wat u saw in the toronto show?