I like this, am i nuts?

Cyrus

If i decide to sell the m3, something like this clk55 could be an option:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/CLK-Class/CLK-55-A/200911192113166/advert

i reckon its priced too strongly at the moment but if it came down 10-15% i would seriously consider it

a different beast to the m3, but that v8 bellow is worth it,

would my heart be broken with running costs? fuel aside

ronnie3585

Yes you are nuts, keep the M3!

Top Dog

Yes you're nuts - but if you like it then who cares?

Personally I'd keep the M3 too, but thats just me.

eamon234

ronnie3585 wrote: »

Yes you are nuts, keep the M3!

Agreed - you'll look a right tit in that

maidhc

I'd rather an SL500!

Eoin

Cyrus, you of all people have to think resale!

Cyrus

eamon234 wrote: »

Agreed - you'll look a right tit in that

care to elaborate :rolleyes:

i know the m3 is a better sports car, but this is something different yet still as fast, had a go in a friends and i liked it

@eoin - resale? ill lose my shirt on the m3

Cyrus

maidhc wrote: »

I'd rather an SL500!

also in the melting pot

Eoin

Cyrus wrote: »

@eoin - resale? ill lose my shirt on the m3

Only if you sell it! Though you did well keeping a car this long. I wonder how long you'd want to hang onto the merc for before you decide to get that porsche.

unkel

Very, very nice

Too bad you're not female or 40 years older than you are. Apart from those minor details, the car would be perfect for you

bazz26

I think I would rather move from an M3 to something like this:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1326763

enviro

Personally I don't like the Merc, but I do see how they appeal to some.

What about something different?:D
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1282560

Or one of this? Old skool :cool:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1337620

Or something with similar power to what you have now? May be over budget with VRT:mad:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1347039

unkel

enviro wrote: »

Or one of this? Old skool :cool:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1337620

I take it you are joking?

€25,000.00 for an old Japanese car with 150BHP? :eek:

enviro

Classics are not about speed and tend to have a high price tag.
25K would be about right for a restored model. Not my choice by the way. Just giving OP some options. What would you recommend?

unkel wrote: »

I take it you are joking?

€25,000.00 for an old Japanese car with 150BHP? :eek:

it's savage.. but if i had that money, which i don't, i'd go for old skool SL.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/611712.htm

maybe i'm the one who's nuts tho..

Cyrus

bazz26 wrote: »

I think I would rather move from an M3 to something like this:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1326763

i love the 6s, im only 28 tho, would i look a bit sily

@ eoin, the only reason im contemplating selling, even tho ill lose on the m3, cost to change to something else interesting is also down

ideally id like a 911, might try get an idea of vrt off those robbin bar stewards on wednesday

inforfun

Great car but i can not see the point of a convertible in Ireland.
The only time your roof will be off is when some idiot decides to cut it open.

personally, the fact that it is a convertible would keep me away from the Merc*


* if i had the money for it in the first place

TwoShedsJackson

Personally I think you'd have to be insane to sell an M3 in order to buy that. Or to buy that in the first place.

But beauty is in the eye of the beholder etc etc

L-M

I think the reason everyone here is saying not to sell the M3 is because they haven't had one (so I assume), and it's the reason I'd tell you keep it as well. Although, since you have had one, and your looking for a change, I vote the 55. What ever about having to open the window to hear your engine, but to be able to take the whole roof off to hear it... Happy Days!:D

cantdecide

People won't appreciate what it is. They can't make the distinction between this an every other bottom-of-the-range CLK200 K that we're so used to. This is their mental block, not yours.

I think it's a stunner but would prefer the hardtop. But I would buy it if I fancied it enough.

stealthyspeeder

+1 on the merc, its fast, sounds amazing, looks sexy! (So what if it makes you look a little bit gay!?)

I'dkeep the M3 if I had one and didnt wanna go Jap (which is the way forward by the way!:D)

Cyrus

yep i suppose thats the thing

the m3 is a wonderful car, i love it, but there is life beyond it, and while i love the power and the noise, i generally use it in a straight line, so the rumbling v8 of the clk will suit me just as well as would something like a 645,

and as mentioned above this is no ordinary clk, same as an m3 isnt a 318ci

what jap would u get stealthy?

Bearcat

if you buy the merc it'll be sale proof there after. Your buying the engine, but you'll have the body scuttle of a convert and that bloody soft top will break your heart, gougers ripping it etc. Having said that if you want it just do it and screw the begrudgers, one life etc.

Eoin

inforfun wrote: »

Great car but i can not see the point of a convertible in Ireland.
The only time your roof will be off is when some idiot decides to cut it open.

People keep saying this, and I don't think it's true at all. Convertibles are not nice in hot weather. They will scald the head off you, and if you have leather seats, it's worse again. In fact, the muggy weather we get in Ireland is much more suitable.

rebel.ranter

eoin wrote: »

People keep saying this, and I don't think it's true at all. Convertibles are not nice in hot weather. They will scald the head off you, and if you have leather seats, it's worse again. In fact, the muggy weather we get in Ireland is much more suitable.

I agree, 17-23 degrees is about the range, below it is a bit cold without a coat, above it is just too hot, especially in traffic.

So that would make Ireland a fairly good climate to have a convertible. Although last summer didn't give too much opportunity.

As for the top getting ripped, I've had mine 8 years & (touch wood) with a bit of thoughtful parking no harm has come to it.

I have heard the Merc convertibles are not brilliant for the scuttle shake, but this was something I had read as a general sweeping statement.

The M3 will be a hard car to beat, drive on with investigating the VRT on the 911 I'd say.

Any of the cars you are looking at will be slow re-sellers, even the M3 you have right now. Things were different a year or less ago when you bought the M3. I think moving your M3 on might be one problem that will scupper your plans of changing.

Not a terrible car to be stuck with though!

L-M

I see you've added to the collect rebel.ranter! V. nice:D

rebel.ranter

Bought that just before Cyrus bought his 530i Sport ~3 years ago. I'm always too slow to change!

............Hey Cyrus, how much do you expect to get for the M3?

Top Dog

Limerick man wrote: »

I think the reason everyone here is saying to sell the M3 is because they haven't had one (so I assume),

I think you'll find that most people are saying NOT to sell the M3

L-M

Top Dog wrote: »

I think you'll find that most people are saying NOT to sell the M3

Sorry, LOl, that's what I meant so say.

david

You'd be nuts, What M3 do you have, E90 is it? (pardon my ignorance)

Cyrus

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Bought that just before Cyrus bought his 530i Sport ~3 years ago. I'm always too slow to change!

............Hey Cyrus, how much do you expect to get for the M3?

given its condition, low mileage and the fact it has genuine csl wheels im gonna ask a firm 22k, if it doesnt sell ill just hang on i think, any less is robbery

@ David its an e46

rebel.ranter

That's what I thought you'd say. Unfortunately you might be slightly optimistic in a slow, credit-starved, tax increases imminent market.

Hold out anyway.

inforfun

eoin wrote: »

People keep saying this, and I don't think it's true at all. Convertibles are not nice in hot weather. They will scald the head off you, and if you have leather seats, it's worse again. In fact, the muggy weather we get in Ireland is much more suitable.

There is something in between the irish weather and the bloody hot southern European weather :pac:

Imho a convertible is a car for posing/cruising in 20/25 degrees in the evening.
That is the moment when i like a convertible in any case.

And to OP.
What a horrible dilemma you have there :pac:. Having to choose between those 2.

Eoin

inforfun wrote: »

There is something in between the irish weather and the bloody hot southern European weather :pac:

Imho a convertible is a car for posing/cruising in 20/25 degrees in the evening.
That is the moment when i like a convertible in any case.

It wouldn't have too much much warmer than today for me.

maidhc

eoin wrote: »

It wouldn't have too much much warmer than today for me.

Indeed, I saw am MGF with the roof down today.

Gatster

I'd go for the Merc, change is as good as a rest...if things weren't so shaky at the moment I'd probably go for a look myself

I had a CLK320 for a week in 2004 and as I remember it, it was fantastic (helped by it being the summer), so can only imagine how the V8 would enhance it...

The cheapest SL55 on Carzone is €75k! There's a few SL350's for about €35k though.

x in the city

Any 20/30s guy in that would look a complete n0b imo.

a 'normal' sl55 amg coupe would be grand.

Cyrus

x in the city wrote: »

Any 20/30s guy in that would look a complete n0b imo.

a 'normal' sl55 amg coupe would be grand.

whats not 'normal' about the clk55 versus the sl55

and an sl55 will cost about 50k not 30k

stealthyspeeder

Cyrus wrote: »

what jap would u get stealthy?

Why the MPS of course! no joking! if you are in an E92, there is nothing Jap thats going to be quicker, but if its an E46 or E36, I'd go for the Skyline GTR R34 V-spec for performance, I dont think the Jap cars can compete on luxury or comfort with M3's but lots of gadgets to play with!

If you were thinking about convertable, I'd stick with BMW and go for the Z4 M roadster?

L-M

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

If you were thinking about convertable, I'd stick with BMW and go for the Z4 M coupe?

Fixed that for ya, Z4 roadsters are for girls. Where as Z4 coupes are for... Am..