stevebez

Question is what should I get?

I am pretty set on a P-Car... the contenders are...

997TT
996GT2
997GT2

another option could be an F430?

Money no object - I would go for 997GT2... but I can get 12kmiles 996GT2 for less than half the money. 997TT annoys me with small gas tank and ZERO luggage room.... but got 4 seats for family (3yr old and 8month old).

Anyone know if you can fit kiddies seats in rear of GT2?

GT2 more of an occasion than the 4wd version.... 996GT2 460HP, 997GT2 520HP... hmmm but a tweak and tune gets the 996GT2 to same power very quickly.

Was thinking along the lines of an AC replica too - but its just a bit too raw - also for UK weather not ideal but in terms of VFM... a great bet.

Any thots?

PLAY1NG4KE55PS

nooooooooooooooooo .....GT3-RS FTMFW!!!!!!!!!!!

The Godfather

If you have an infant and a baby, the P-car is not the one to get. The 211 55 you got is the one to keep.

OzE55

You can't get kids in and out of the back of a Porsche, unless you're a contortionist. A Porsche is a second car not an 'E' replacement for a man with a family. I had a CLK (bigger and 4 real seats) and sold it after 18months because getting kids in and out was a PITA.

Fikse

F430 over the Porsche, might not be the best performer of the choices, but no comparison otherwise.....

Yacht Master

stevebez

Got the family wagon in the Disco HSE, so dont really need the 4 seater...

Also I am bit concerned using a performance car allot with kids - dont like the recipe, but would like to take the kids to the shops in dads sports car occasionally...

So really only need the third car for me and missus when I go to track or we go out. The other car is a 4 door 330i runaround...

So I think I am down to 430 / 996GT2 ... the GT2 over the reg TT simply because of its exclusivity. The 997GT2 is just too much of a premium over the regular 997TT to justify the cost.

So maybe brings me full circle to the regular 997TT? Maybe the Cab? But would have the GT2 over the Cab methinks - Cab in UK weather is also a little optomistic.

So ... 997TT / 996GT2 / 430, and if I hit the lotto hard 997GT2.

The RS is nice - but I want F/I as I can mod the cr*p into it if I want to.

stevebez

I hear ya... so one kid at a time for the occasional trip to shops it will be...

DFW01E55

I talked with a 997 GT2 owner (350 miles) on Saturday, he had just driven a CLK Black Series. He was shocked by the performance and commented, "I just got that one (GT2) and now I feel like I've gotta' have this one too."

I had one drive in the Black Series and it definitely felt more responsive coming into corners than my 996TT. I wouldn't overlook the CLK Black, you'll be shocked that it's made by MB.

cte430

Well, all good choices there and you can't really go wrong with any of them. Have fun with your decision!!

ima55r2

To replace my E55, I decided on the GL for the room and have a Cayman S with a turbo kit coming soon for zipping around. I really miss the AMG but I’ve got more space, better handling, and should be quicker.

stevebez

Hmm... funny I did not consider it - but mbe I should ... thanks!

SleeperX

Welcome to the club...
I think your decision on which to get really depends on what you plan to do with the car...,.

Do you plan on tracking the car?
F430 or GT2

Will you tune it?
997TT or 996GT2 ( I would get a little queasy about someone putting a wrench to my $200K sports car and voiding the warranty so the 997 GT2 is out of the picture)

Do you plan or racing the car in the streets and the 1/4 mile?
Hands down 996GT2 (tuned that is)

Are you looking for exclusivity and eye catching appeal?
997GT2 and F430

Is reliability important to you?
Avoid F430

How often do you plan to drive the car?
If often (997 TT). More comfortable and better interior IMHO..


Hopefully this helps... Bast of luck...

stevebez

Thats the thing today ... the previously luxury focused marques are now heading into serious performance car territory. Lambo, Ferrari, Porsche are no longer in their own world. BMW, Merc, Bentley (although Bentley still a cruiser) are right there in the mix in terms of performance... although don't quite have the presence of a marque like Ferrari, or the shock factor of a Lambo. But P-car vs CLK Black .. ? Really pretty close overall.

P-car can be made to go balistically fast - so you have this option on a blown P-car whereas the CLK Black you would need to start from scratch and on a new car to make it quicker.

And in terms of handling - I think I would bet on the CLK perhaps being better without the rear end lump the P-car has...

Its a difficult decision - I guess the main reason I want to jump is the handling on the E55 is cr*p and not a track compatible car in stock chassis trim. A Quaife will help but still won't get you past the air suspension setup, a coil over will help and you would need the GT brake upgrade, I just dont see this 4 door saloon at home on a track as it is no the highway?

Hmmm... maybe I need to drive the CLKB and the GT2 back to back and see... the Ferris is an awesome car and will probably hold its value well... but you would not be able to touch it in any way.

stevebez

Thanks - it does - GT2 is kind of where I am at and a second hand unit would be where I would look. Oddly in UK thereare around 50+ 997TT's for sale second hand - and there are 3 996 GT2's in total... not much to choose from!

SleeperX

There are quite a few for sale here in the states.. If you search on autotrader.com you will find a bunch. Prices have been coming down as well. Most are not noted as GT2s, but if the price is around $95-100K it is most likely a GT2..

ChicagoX

With the UK weather, you might get more use out of an AWD platform.

Not a fan of the GTR?

stevebez

I did consider this. Untill, when I brought it up with my wife, her words were:

"Are you mad?!! You're not getting a Nissan!" I then offered some explanation and stats but she was unmoved. Enough said.

On the other hand she would be thrilled to bits if I got a P-Car or a Ferris.... Did I mention I love her to bits ??!!!

The Ferris is a lovely car but its got such an image that its a bit OTT for me. A touch too much hairy chest and medalion for me.

Although with some Italian blood in me and an Italian wife - thinking beyond a Ferrris could be considered blasphemy...

DFW01E55

What a woman!

A few years back when I was extolling the virtues of the then new Z06, my wife responded, "I'd rather spend $100,000 on a Porsche than $50,000 on a Corvette."

Man, I love my wife.

OzE55

you could park a porsche at the shops and it'd probably stay unharmed, a F is another matter. Tracking the F might be fun but the P would be a no contest. No much you could mod on the F without destroying any future re-sale value. A modded P at least will have a secondary market.

SLK55R

right? Why not look at the new Audi RS6 Avant? Twin turbo V10!

vrus

Steve.. Get one of these...

AMGfan

Blacksport350

I am a P-car guy and recently sold my 996GT3 to replace it with an '03 or '04 996GT2. It is just hard to beat the deals on these cars and they are VERY though so warranty is not much of a concern. The GT2 will have rear seat delete but it is possible to fit rear "seats" into the GT2 using the parts from a regular 996.

The 997TT is a great car but not quite as wild a ride. The 997GT2 is an awesome machine but like the 997TT, it will depreciate greatly if you base predictions on the 996TT.

I would love a 997GT2 over the 996GT2 but while I can afford the car, I can't afford the depreciation so that decision will have to be based on pain threshold.

BTW, There are many low mile 996GTs out there and IMHO, they are great daily drivers. Heck, I daily drove my GT3 in everything but snow.

Good luck and go to rennlist!

Dragoncoach

CLK Black Series only fits 2. There's no back seat.....