WDRiley

I know this has been posted a thousand times, but it will be my first on this topic.
I am in the process of making a final decision on whether to purchase a 2006 Boxster S (6 speed, nav, PSM, high end leather) or the SLK 55 with the same equipment.
I currently own a 2003 SLK 32 and love the speed, and straight line performance. I even like the looks of the car (Designo silver edition).

I have driven both cars a number of times, and while the SLK 55 drives a lot like mine, the porsche is a different experience all together. I feel much more connected to the road in the Boxster than the Merc.

I like the sound of both when you pour on the coals

There are also things I love about the Mercedes. Hard top, raw power, great service, built like a vault.

I need some honest opinions, understanding that the bias will be toward the Mercedes.

Thanks in advance for the assist. I have always found this forum to be an excellent place for information.

NeilC123

Hi,

In the end it depends what you want. The 2006 Boxster is a great car - almost makes the bottom range 911 obsolete...The 2006 SLK is also a great car a very modern improvement to a great base model...

The thing that would sell an SLK over a boxster would be the hard top convertible...why pay so much money just for a canvas roof. I have to be honest though - if porsche made a hard top convertible I would be there quicker than you can say SLK....

Hope that helps

NeilC123

Also another reason why I went with Merc is they offered 3 year Unlimited mileage warranty...whereas I think porsche only offer 2 or if it is 3 i think there is a mileage limit to it....and i do a lot of miles... Also Mercedes do a rather cool think - I think it is called MobiloLife...you just ring a number and someone will come and sort out any problems...a bit like AA over here...but can be very useful...I'm sure sure if Porsche do the same?

jcanabal

Well.....I don't have the car yet......but will let you know my experience in 3-4 days!!!! The new beast should arrive by then!!!

clkcadet

if your a real driver and you head to the track and can really tell the difference then a boxster is for you, speed is nothing if it cant handle well in the twisties

IdriveFast

SLK55 > 987 Boxster(s) for the following reasons:

- Boxster(s) looks wack (subjective, but i think most people would agree)
- SLK55 has much better straightline acceleration than either Boxster
- SLK55 handles great (i had a test drive), maybe not as brilliantly as the boxster but its probably more than enough
- The straightline advantage of the SLK55 over the Boxster(s) much greater, imo, than the handling advantage of the boxster
- Boxster(s) probably deliver faster track times, but honestly....who cares....when you line up at the redlight (or freeway), straightline is all that matters

RSBSLK55

The Boxster S will not deliver faster track times. Go to www.track-challenge.com for comparison. Granted the S is an old one. But the present results would still put the 55 in front. As far as being a "real driver", I am. I race. I enjoy the 55 more.

northbenz

Only with the Porshe can you use that effected word, " Poor-sha." When you say Mercedes it is still Mercedes.

AMG&AMG

can you get a 997S conv?

IdriveFast

lol i think the price of a 997s is way different than a boxster

Shinigami

Since you already drove both, you oughta be able to make the decision on your own, dont'cha think

Maybe you want to look at other things too when considering the purchase, such as insurance, how much gas will cost you, how much a service and/or oil changes will cost you, how much for new tires, new brakes, etc...

Those could tip the scale in favor of one, or the other. I don't know how much the above cost on the Boxster, so I really can't help you there, but SLK all the way for me. I think it looks so much better, and I can't get enough of the hard top roof (very hard for me to go back to a soft top).

SLK55AMG

Oh contrare old chap...... the new Boxster S (the one WDRiley is considering) is a very different beast to the old Boxster..... it may look the same but Porsche have done a great job improving an already superb package.

So far I have seen times for three tracks Nurburgring, Hockenheim and the Bedford Autodrome...... on every one the Boxster S was faster than the SLK55 so the handling would seem to outweight the AMGs superior straight line advantage.

SLK55 did a 8.24min lap of the NB Ring...... compared to 8.18min for the new Boxster S.

At the Hockenheim track the SLK55 does a 1.17.1 lap while the 987S does a 1.15.7...... as a comparison the Ferrari 612 does a 1:16.2, Viper GTS 1:17.8, Elise 111R 1:16.5, SL55 1:16.9, EVO VIII 1:17.2 (all taken from Track-Challenge.com)

At the Bedford Autodrome EVO magazines test track times for the 3 cars are:
Boxster S 1:28.55
SLK55 1:29.30
SL55 1:30.05

Anyway my shortlist back in January was the SLK55 and 987S..... I had both on order but cancelled the AMG after testing both over several days.

SLK positives: great sound, good handling, roof, looks, exclusivity, straight line speed.
SLK negatives: too heavy, drinks fuel like a fish, traction control kicks in too early, 7G auto isn't great at downchanges and spoilt my fun half the time.

987S Positives: sounds great, amazing handling, razor sharp steering response, good 6 speed manual, looks much better than the old one, roof that can drop at upto 30mph, storage space, traction control that only cuts in when really needed.
987S Negatives: too common, expensive options, arrogant dealers

I went for the Box in the end due to several factors (in order of importance to me): I couldn't live with the AMG auto box and the 987 manual is a dream to heal toe..... this made the biggest difference to the driving experience for me, second was the superior handling of the Boxster (slalom speed faster than the Enzo before anyone says otherwise ), finally if you don't go mad with the options the Boxster S is cheaper than the SLK55 ($15k cheaper for me in the UK).

Either car is a great choice..... if you love a manual with amazing handling you'd be hard pressed to beat the Boxster S but if straight line poke is more your thing go for the AMG

RSBSLK55

SLK55AMG - Without getting into an argument, I am curious as to who was doing the driving on the tests you sight. Track Challenge, I believe, uses the same driver for all tests. If a better driver was used for the new 987S test, the results are inconclusive. As you know, the driver is every bit as important as the car.

RSBSLK55

Sorry - missed the part about Bedford being the same driver. You are correct.

Ynot

SLK all the way, it looks much better and the hardtop can't be beat. Majority of both owners will never track their cars anyway so all these track time are irrelevant, more for first grade arguments. (My car turn faster than yours, blah, blah, etc.)

Porshe Boxster is a dime a dozen, everytime I drive there's at least a couple on the road. SLK is still rare. (at least over here) The other day, while I was driving, a boxster owner literally stopped to stare at my car, then gave me the thumbs up and said, "nice car." I thought he was gonna rod me.

And I only own a 350 with AMG styling, I'm still too young to drive an auto. :p, 6sp manual on the 350 is not as fast but just as much fun.

RSBSLK55

Ynot - These are not "first grade" arguments. For some it is important. I agree the 55 is best. Where I live Porshe's are also a dime a dozen.

I prefer the dynamics of the 55. It is a scream to trail brake into a corner and get the car to rotate as you apply throttle. I do miss the manual though. I get my ya ya's with my wife's Mini or in open wheel Formula cars at the track.

Rob in Ct.

WDRiley

Thanks everyone. Your arguments are the same ones bouncing around in my head.
I will never take the car to the track, but do enjoy some nice so cal roads that put the car through its paces.
I do see a lot of boxsters on the road here, never seen a 55 in the wild...

Well, what the hell, it's good to have such things to worry about.

Thanks again

Ynot

, I know it is, but for most, it's not important, hence the scarcastic icon.

WDRiley

Not really. I priced them both out with options at around 72K

SLK55AMG

How? I assume you speced a base 997S against a massive spec Boxster S?

The base price of the 997S is $81k compared to the Boxster S $55k even a minimal spec 997S is around $85k?

AdaMBombC32G

997S is actually about 100k with some options/tax, etc... but anyway, 5.5 liters (forget about even mentioning AMG) in as small of a car as the SLK and a HARDTOP... i dont see what youre trying to compare over here?

AMG&AMG

Well, I really dont care for a conv... do you care if its a conv? how about the cayman S?
great car + great value and unfortunately will be better than the boxster s .. lo0o0oks are just great...

blackclk55amg

Jeremy Clarkson picked the SLK55 over the Boxster S.

AMG&AMG

because you get alot of stuff + the power is monsterous

WDRiley

I misread the reply. I don't care what a 997S costs, I was comparing the Boxster S with the SLK 55. I'm not sure how the 997 got into the conversation.