smjc_99

I know this is a MErc forum but want to get some unbiased opinions on the handling / performance capabilities between Z4 M and the SLK 55 AMG

I am not worried about comfort but looking more for driving pleasure

I know SLk only comes in AUTO

I ruled out the Porsche Boster S, dont like the look of it . I like how the Z4 M and SLK 55 look ( more so SLK 55 becoz of hardtop )



Any advice/opinions will be appreciated

slk55lvr

If you are looking for a car that will spend 90% of its time driving on highways, with an occasional canyon romp, the slk 55 is the better choice. It is faster down low and has a much more composed ride quality.

If you find yourself craving a true sports car ride, and will spend some time hurling your car around the track, there is no question the z4m is the better choice for this. driving an automatic at 9/10 or 10/10ths is like kissing your sister, and the brakes and steering on the z4m are a lot better than the slk. I believe it's 300 lbs lighter as well, which makes a huge difference in hard cornering.

In the looks department, I think the slk55 wins hands down, and it has a much better interior.

Deuce

Once again,,, another thread about MB SLK 55 AMG vs BMW Z4 M.

BMW Z4 M sucks,,, it is slower...not as nice of a design as the SLK 55 AMG... it a soft top...and if you get the hard top version...it can't be a covertible... the interior is dual...and it is not a hand built engine like the AMG... come on if you want raw power and style,,, AMG knows there shît.

Bob Smith BMW (the Best BMW dealership cause they sell the most) can't even sell the new BMW Z4s. One of the sales rep told me they sent a few back (where?, I dunno, hopefully the junk yard)

And think about it....NOBODY EVEN CARES ABOUT BMW Z4 M. Car Magazines don't even compare the two cars with each other. And everytime there is a war about MB and BMW...it is the SLK 55 AMG vs the BMW M3,,,and that is a better car than the Z4 M. BMW people know that the Z4 M is nothing compared to the SLK 55 AMG,,,so they go with their next best thing,,,M3,,,which always loses.... come on man

Do you want to drive or do you want to be a driver? SLK 55 AMG!!!

MercedesFTW

Maybe when driven by someone who can't shift (me lol!) the Z4M is slower...otherwise, it is on par with the SLK. Plus that motor has won many awards...it's the M3 motor shoved into the Z4. Who cares if it isn't hand built?

Honestly, I would choose the SLK55 only for the hardtop goodness. IF the Z4 M had a power hard top, and still weighed about the same, I would choose that instead.

SLK55R

It really comes down to what you like ... just go test drive and buy what you liked better.

I think its so funny that BMW fans are always saying ... the handling is so much better. The reality is that most of us don't track these cars often and you can't really tell any handling difference. Most people that really care about that stuff modify thier cars anyways.

Now if I had to make a purchase today, would I look at the MZ4? Yes.
I think I would still easily pick the SLK55 though for the following reasons :

The power difference is significant
Hard Top
Better exterior looks (personal opinion)
Airscarf (you have to experience this to understand why I think this is a must now on every convertible)
V8 (I love the sound of the SLK55)


The only negatives I can see for the SLK55 are :
7 speed tranny (if your a manual freak, I love stick shifts but I really hate them during traffic)
price difference(SLK55 is going to be significantly more expensive)


My suggestion for you is to go test a 030 SLK55. The handling will be better than a normal SLK55 and might make a difference for you.

07SLK55

SLK55R,
I think you said it best... SLK is hands down much sexier than the z4m, my 030 SLK handle just fine... cut corners like a knife

transferred

Simple - want a manual conv- get the Z4M

If you want an auto, it's hard to beat the little SLK.

Having said that, overall, i think i prefer the 55. Styling on the Z3M breadvan was nicer than the new bangleized ones.

AdamG@NorCal

Get the SLK 55 030!!

Shinigami

I always wondered why the M3 engine won so many awards. It had notoriously bad reliability. Busted engines left, right and center =\

BUT, I know they've sorted that out and the newest cars to use the engine are proving rock solid.

Anyway, the Z4 M is quite a different car from an SLK 55 AMG. I own the SLK and I've driven the Z4 M, and it really is a question of taste. IMO, the SLK is better in every aspect except a few things.

1) Weight. The SLK with the stiff body and solid roof and heavy hydraulics to move it around, is a burden. With a few hundred lb's off, this car would be really quite special. When taking turns in both cars, the Z4 feels a bit easier to live with.

2) Price. Over here at least, the SLK will cost 10-15% more... Not a factor for all, but still worth a mention.

3) Gearbox. I really do like the automatic in the SLK, it does the trick for me and it's a very EASY car to live with due to this. But this is the SLK's biggest downfall, since many, MANY people will instantly dismiss the car due to it.

As such, the Z4 is a perfectly good alternative to the SLK if you absolutely must have a relatively well performing sporty car with a manual gearbox.

As far as looks go, well, that's purely objective.

LETO

2) Price. Over here at least, the SLK will cost 10-15% more... Not a factor for all, but still worth a mention.

The SLK55's looks match or superceed it's cost, the z4M is hardly justifiable in appearce unless you really want it......there is no other way to describe the z4's than they look and feel cheap (i used to have one before the slk55)

novabenz

After test driving each car, it will come down to which you prefer.

I have never liked the look of the BMW Z4, so it wasn't a contest.

Let us know which you choose.

Yellow R1

I just sucked the paint of one of those Saturday night when coming home from dinner with the wife. The guy comes up & starts pacing me...I speed up a little to shake him...he creeps up again. I slow down...he slows down. He sits next to me at like 6 million RPM...waiting. OK, time to uncork the Bismark .

I decided to floor it at ~ 65mph. The SLK loses traction then settles down @ ~ 80 mph (no blinking "!"). I hit about 110 mph & that guy just got blasted. He was like 5 cars back.

I slowed back down to 70 mph & he apparently had enough & tucked in behind me & stayed there. I gave him a thumbs up & exited....guess he just wanted to run to have some fun - nothing wrong with that. It was pretty fun - only my 2nd "race" with the SLK in 1.5 yrs of ownership.

-Matt

slk55lvr

You've made some excellent points here:

1. The slk55 wins EVERY beauty contest between the 2 cars
2. The airscarf and removable hardtop are two features the Z4m can't match, and should.
3. v8 torque in a great 7 speed manu-matic vs. I6 with manny. The slk wins every stoplight race.
4. Interiors a landslide win for the slk 55

I still wish it had a manual transmission option, but in so many ways it is clearly the better car.

Shinigami

How many ponies does your SLK have?

hybrid_girl

So, inquiring minds want to know...what car did you end up getting?

Here's another pic of my car from a e46fanatics meet:

IIIMBPIII

Dont hate them but im not crazy about them either i would still take my SLK55 over the MZ4 any day of the week.

hybrid_girl

I would too! If I could afford it. ehehe....

FishtailnZ

He's already posted about it

https://mbworld.org/forums/slk55-r171/185378-slk55-amg-1500-mile-impressions.html

IIIMBPIII

Don’t get me wrong the MZ4 is a cool car I was looking at them also I had to trade in two cars to be able to purchase the SLK55 but it was well worth it!!! …Another reason I decided to stray away from the BMW is the dealership would never give me the time of day. Every time I would walk in I would stand there in the show room for a good solid 20 minutes no one would help me, even when I would ask they would take their time getting to me. They weren’t really interested in you unless you were buying an M6.

chrislk55

I have never been able to forgive BMW for ruining an absolutely stunning car ! My 99 MZ3 got just as much if not more attention than my SLK55. She was very tail happy, but that made her even more fun to drive !

Tuskir

If you liked the SLK55 more, why didn't you get a used one? There are plenty of used 05 SLK55's in the high 40's and 06's in the low 50's. The MSRP of a new Z4M is around 50,000$... so the price difference is very minor.

alroumi

Chirs the MZ3 Roadster is very special indeed, I like it more than the MZ4 because its wider and very fun to drive.

chrislk55

It was soooooo much fun to drive. I always laughed at the reviews that always characterized its handling as unpredictable and tail happy. I always called that "FUN". You had to possess some driving skills not to get killed in that car ! Until I got my 55, it was my absolute favorite car, the 55 is just slightly more fun mostly because of the 120HP advantage ....

MHPHOCKEY

Hardtop convertible...enough said...

lontong

Mayb i should give u 3 : GO FOR SLK