Especially those of you who bought it used. What the hell can you possibly find out there for around the same price/luxury/seating/looks/speed? The only 2 options I see are the E63 and the M5 (nobody should even bring up the Quatroporte) and I cant justify getting the 63 as I honestly like my car more (please dont turn this thread into a 63 vs 55 pissing contest) and I like my car more than the M5 (I hate the M5 in city traffic, though I am in love with it as a whole). Whats next?!?! I cant even think of a comfortable sportscar in that range thats as fast as our cars. The brand new Carrera S isnt as fast. We got the **** spoiled out of us, where do we go from here?

Why not wait a couple of years and get the E50 AMG Twin Turbo

I heard E55 TT, not E50?

If you don't mind w/ high maintenance cost, I'd suggest S65.

Otherwise, I guess you need to wait until the E55 TT or the new M5 w/ V10 TT or the new 5-series w/ V8 TT have come out for about a year or two and depreciated like crazy

I am waiting to see what the new CTS-V can do. I know it does not have the caliber of a Mercedes but it should be a beast none the less.

If I did not have a family I think the GT-R would be the replacement for the 55.

I'm going GTR. That thing is gonna be a blast.

I actually am on my 2nd E55, and tried out an RS6 for a while... after nightmarish problems with the DRC I hopped back into an '05, and honestly I've driven them all... E60 M5, Quattroporte, E63, whatever. Nothing does it for me like my E55, even less now that I've done some real choice little upgrades - the car is perfect. I'm extending my factory warranty and just going to ride it out. It will be tough, from my perspective, to better this car. The E50/55TT might be able to do it, we will have to see. That is a way out though, it seems.

-m

I read that it's going to be 5.0 liter, so I'm assuming it'll be called E50 unless they do what they did with the 65 engines and still call it 55 This is the quote I've read in an earlier thread:

"To eclipse the successful supercharged engine, AMG is now developing a twin-turbo 5.0-litre variant good for around 570bhp and 665lb ft of torque. AMG being AMG, there's also an even meatier 700bhp/885lb ft version of this motor to replace the 612bhp V12. The ESP systems of Germany are going to be troubled with alarming frequency..."

Here is the thread:

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/241517-amg-s-secret-war-chest-car-uk.html

rs6 avant if the dumbasses at audi pull their heads out and ship it over here. if not i may still import one.

if not, a low mileage cls55 and transfer my power mods.

and who are you to say i can't choose the maserati!!! if i grow up and get over this obsessive power addiction that will definitely be among my choices.

chiro:

Have you driven a MAS? Lack of power is one thing, the SMG is another. I heard it was refined in later models but the one I drove just sucked around town. I couldn't stand it. Jerky, unpredicatable, just not what you would want to put up with everyday, especially if you ever have guests in your car.

Otherwise it was a nice car...

-m

i wouldn't touch early editions but the newer model is suppose to have addressed those concerns and be much improved.

1. Specced 2008 997TT cab (meteor gray/carrera red/CF interior)
1a. 2006 or 2007 SL65 (black or blue exterior)

I'm actually going to a couple Porsche dealerships this weekend and check out the meteor gray color versus, GT Silver, and slate...This might be the tipping point in that I've been leaning towards the 997TTcab because:

a. It's a good contrast to my E55
b. It's a sexy MF'er

We'll see...I might wake up tomorrow and have a stiffy for the SL65 again...

Same ballpark price as a used E55? 996TT

Saw your post on 6speed this morning - good luck with your choice

A used GTR or 997 TT.

This one is easy, the CLK63 BS.

I had the same dilemma... very much the same. Had a 997 spec'd out @ $141k. It just required too much extra $$$ to look how I wanted it to. I'd have to do wheels, coilovers, front lip, etc. A turbo was on the floor by a bunch of 997s and I'm telling you, now with turbo wheels appearing on the C4S... sometimes you have to do a double take to see which one is the turbo and which one is the C4S. The SL shares some of that problem with other SLs, but it does something the 997 can't - look good with the top UP and the top DOWN. The 911 cab (regardless of generation) I'm sorry to say, looks hideous with the top up. I don't like ragtops.

There were other reasons too (facelift coming), and it was a close call, but in the end the SL won out. The one thing I now hate not having though, is a manual car. Hopefully I'll get that solved soon somehow.

-m

Marcus...you are right about the SL65 top and that is a big asset. You know I'm 42 and when I was 22 a Porsche Turbo was like the pinnacle for me (I know there are supercars out there but something about a Turbo just gets me...can't explain it...wouldn't do it justice...).

If there was a practical choice (that's a laugh) the SL65 would win hands down...especially in Florida where a hardtop is easier to live with. $$$ would also be needed on some performance mods, too.

With the TTCab, you are right that extra $$$ above the cost of the specced car would be needed to make it more special to me (I'd probably keep it on the down low on performance mods at first - AWE tune possibly, but the exterior mods would have to be Champion Motorsports WERKS CF spoiler lip, CF rear diffuser, CF rear wing, and some aftermarket lightweight wheels).

Whew...my wallet is getting sore ! F___ it you can't take your money to the grave...it's discretionary money anyway !

Likely keep the 55K as a toy and pick up the new body E.

Mustang






1944 P-51 low hours

This man for president!

Don't spread the word, you'll slow the depreciation for future buyers like me!

Downsize to the new SL63. Looked at one of the last SL55's but decided to wait for the 63. I may also look for a good used S55 or S63. Local Carmax has a nice 08 ML63 on their lot with 7K miles for $68K. I think that might be reasonably priced.

The 55 was parked next to a new McLearen convertible that sold for $535K. I may be missing something but I wasn't impressed with it.

I can relate, while we aren't the same age I've been a huge fan of the 911 since the 964... but the reality is, the market today is not what the market was when there was a 964. This is going off topic, so maybe it's something best kept to email. I'm not saying don't buy what you want, it's your money, I just found it funny that I wasn't the only one who went through almost the exact same scenario. I was REALLY close on the 997, but the SL won, and not by mistake.

To get back on topic - I don't understand those who are suggesting 2 door coupes to replace the E55. The E55 is a midsize luxury sedan, or are people forgetting that because it can run 11s off the showroom floor? Suggesting a 2 seater or some otherwise much sportier car as a replacement would mean that either a lot of people bought the E55 without any care for it's utility or people really don't think any of the other sedans out there are a worthy replacement and you have to move into real sportscar territory to find that...

-m

Would anyone on here replace the 55 with the new CTS-V?

My lease is up 7/20/08. I am going to cry. If I could f&%$k the quad tailpipes I would. I love the car and will be truly sad to let it go

This is now my wifes turn (the last 3 cars we got have been "my choice"). We are getting a new 2008 LS460 standard wheelbase (white/eccru) and am putting on the 19" Lexus Touring wheels so it will look nice.

Not a bad ride but no AMG. I will be back, though with a CL6x or SL6x destine for modville...

T