M6/SL 55AMG/911 Turbo what would you have c.£25k
M6/SL 55AMG/911 Turbo what would you have c.£25k
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dave9

Original Poster:

579 posts

178 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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I'd personally go for an M6 as they are the newest there - you can get a reasonable mileage 06 plater for £25k and it's contemporary and about as quick. I would have guessed wildly that it would also be cheaper to run due to it's 'newness'.

The SL55 seems a bit long in the tooth now as you can get an 03 model which is an older design for that money.

911 turbos seem to be great but you are looking at a bottom end example for that money.

factors that don't need to be considered:
1. fuel economy
2. Insurance

Factors that do need to be considered
1. Other running costs
2. daily driver practicality
3. what has the most 'fun' factor.

The money needs to be capped around £25k because otherwise if it starts creeping up to £30k then you start getting into another league of cars (Bentley GT for not much more etc)

It's for my bro - he wants the SL55 I think but i'm trying to persuade him to get an M6.

So over to the mighty PH.

Cheers

PLamborghini

3,888 posts

181 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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996 or 997?

Andrew Coates

272 posts

215 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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For all three cars at that price you'll be looking at pretty high mileage (for these type of cars anyway). A few examples I found:

M6: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2068373.htm

SL55: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2173847.htm

911 Turbo: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1917092.htm

soad

33,995 posts

192 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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I'd have a M6 myself as it appeals to me, no idea how much it would cost to run one (servicing M-power car).

But if it's for your brother - only he can decide it for himself end of the day. Best you can do is suggest a few choices and perhaps be there when he test-drives them

bigweb

832 posts

244 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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I think at that price point if fuel consumption is not an issue I would go for an M6. One of the big disadvantages to the M6 is its 10mpg consumption if this is not an issue they are an epic car. Unbelievably quick with the motor above 5500rpm.

bull996

1,442 posts

225 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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Above is correct. Whilst I would have a 996TT, thats just me and I would probably recommend the M6-BUt its the fuel issue that has killed that car. Not even so much the 10mpg, but that the tank is so small that people end up having to stop every 180-200 miles, sometimes even more often, and that gets on your tits.

Dog Star

16,999 posts

184 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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SL for me (but I'm biased).

However as soon as you start factoring servicing then I think you'll be looking at the 6. The SLs running costs can be utterly mental.

My SL500 (not an AMG) has cost about 8K in maintainance alone this year (not including fuel, depreciation, insurance etc).

2 Wycked

2,335 posts

247 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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Tell him to stop being such a dullard and buy one of these:



He can save the rest for properly maintaining it.

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

229 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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DB7 Vantage, you'll get a good one for £25k.

Daniel1

2,931 posts

214 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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dave9 said:
Factors that do need to be considered
1. Other running costs
2.
3.
I think the running costs are going to be pretty much similar. On all these cars if something goes wrong theyre expensive.

dave9 said:
Factors that do need to be considered
1.
2. daily driver practicality
3.
depends how practical. If more then 2 seats are required that eliminates the SL. If 2 decent sized rear seats are needed then that eliminates the 911. The SL has a proper automatic gearbox (i think they all did?) so that makes it more useable everyday.

dave9 said:
Factors that do need to be considered
1.
2.
3. what has the most 'fun' factor.
The 911 is probably the most fun, there was a thread on here with endless arguing about it being the most practical and fastest car you'd ever need. The M6 does have a peach of a V10 though. I dont think the SL has a limited slip diff, but will this make a difference to his interpretation of 'fun'? He may never know unless he's the new stig.

This is all from memory BTW. From a personal choice i like the SL if the car is truly everday. Its prettier then the 911 and M6 and has a proper automatic gearbox. If i wanted it for sunday morning blasts as well, it would be the 911. I dont like the M6 personally as i cant get on with the looks. Good luck and its a nice decision to have to make!




vinnie83

3,367 posts

209 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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This really comes down to the reason he wants the car, as all 3 are very different cars, which do very well at different things (although none of them are really bad at anything).

The M6 is the only one of the above that I haven't driven, but I have driven the M5.

The M6 (judging by the M5) will be an awesomely fast car - and from experience when me in my 997 turbo tip, and my cousin in his M5 lined up from about 30mph ++, I pulled a few car lengths at a very slow rate!

The noise is nice, but quite muted. The SMG gearbox can at times be a (in my opinion) a little jerky.


The 996 turbo will be the fastest car here, it may lose out at a higher speed to the M6, but in 99% of conditions, the 996 turbo will only be beaten by the 997 turbo. It is THAT good. (although to add, the SL wouldn't be too far off the pace in dry conditions)

I am of course assuming you are talking about the manual. I would hazard a guess that the tip would make the car lose out in most drag races with the other 2 cars.

The noise in the 996 turbo - crap. There's no other way to put it. There just isn't anywhere near enough of it. I was genuinely embaressed when a couple of kids asked me to rev the engine, and looked so disappointed in the noise!

The interior in the 996 will also be the worst and most dated. I would also dare say that the car itself is also starting to look quite dated in it's styling.


The SL55 AMG is the most brutal car here. The noise it makes is like nothing else. I almost swapped my E55 for one just on that alone!

The accelleration is also like nothing else - it may not be as fast as the M6, but will feel it. I still feel that my E55 had more impressive power delivery than my 997 turbo does. Friends have also commented that the E55 felt faster too. Not true of course, but it just goes to show how good the big, torquey supercharged engine is.

The SL55 will be the most expensive car to run. It will in fact probably bankrupt him unless he gets a good warranty. My E55 spent a fair while back with MB for warranty repairs. At £25k he may well be buying a money pit.

In my opinion the SL is also the best looking car here too, with the bonus of being a convertable too.



If I could choose the best example of any of those 3, I would certainly get the SL55.

For £25k however, I would probably get the M6.

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

229 months

Monday 27th December 2010
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The 2002 onwards SL really has aged quite badly, well it looked old in 2005.

Complex

520 posts

191 months

Monday 27th December 2010
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sparks_E39 said:
The 2002 onwards SL really has aged quite badly, well it looked old in 2005.
Hmm, I find that interesting. I think that era of SL still looks absolutely fantastic, I'm not saying it looks like a newly released car, but I really disagree that it's aged badly. This is coming from someone that despises most designs than aren't somewhat comtemporary; I think a Diablo looks horribly dated, as does the Murciélago, as does the Vanquish, as does the Mac F1, and don't even get me started on 993 and prior 911s... but I still think the SL55 looks great for its age.

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

229 months

Monday 27th December 2010
quotequote all
Complex said:
sparks_E39 said:
The 2002 onwards SL really has aged quite badly, well it looked old in 2005.
Hmm, I find that interesting. I think that era of SL still looks absolutely fantastic, I'm not saying it looks like a newly released car, but I really disagree that it's aged badly. This is coming from someone that despises most designs than aren't somewhat comtemporary; I think a Diablo looks horribly dated, as does the Murciélago, as does the Vanquish, as does the Mac F1, and don't even get me started on 993 and prior 911s... but I still think the SL55 looks great for its age.
I really dislike the headlights, they scream "1990s" to me...

al1991

4,552 posts

196 months

Monday 27th December 2010
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996TT.

TotalControl

8,263 posts

214 months

Monday 27th December 2010
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Instead of the SL55, would a CL55 not be better. They can be had for much less.

dave9

Original Poster:

579 posts

178 months

Monday 27th December 2010
quotequote all
very interesting reading chaps thanks.

reason for fuel not being an issue is that he only does a 20 mile commute each way each day and doesn't really use a car much other than that. the 180 miles from a tank in the M6 may be an issue though but not too much of a 'biggie'.

insurance will be on a multi car policy so not much of a big deal.

no kids etc so only a 2 seater is needed.


very good points that have been taken onboard - so it sounds like the 996 turbo is quickest but what worries him/me is they are older and higher mileage. The SL's I agree to me look dated which is why I say the M6 but i've never been in an M6 but have been in a 996TT and SL55.

I don't think depreciation is going to be much of an issue on either as it's not as if it's being bought new - all should be ok from now on in my opinion (within reason!) probably the 996 being the best.



dave9

Original Poster:

579 posts

178 months

Monday 27th December 2010
quotequote all
2 Wycked said:
Tell him to stop being such a dullard and buy one of these:



He can save the rest for properly maintaining it.
we both love the maser but its just got too much of a reputation for being unreliable and I've experienced that for myself first hand. He's a contractor so getting to work every day is worth £££

mercfunder

8,535 posts

189 months

Monday 27th December 2010
quotequote all
soad said:
I'd have a M6 myself as it appeals to me, no idea how much it would cost to run one (servicing M-power car).

But if it's for your brother - only he can decide it for himself end of the day. Best you can do is suggest a few choices and perhaps be there when he test-drives them
My mate has chopped his in, 65,000 miles,the gearbox was not changing smoothly and BMW estimated £4,000 to fix it.
These ain't cheap cars to buy or run.

dave9

Original Poster:

579 posts

178 months

Monday 27th December 2010
quotequote all
mercfunder said:
soad said:
I'd have a M6 myself as it appeals to me, no idea how much it would cost to run one (servicing M-power car).

But if it's for your brother - only he can decide it for himself end of the day. Best you can do is suggest a few choices and perhaps be there when he test-drives them
My mate has chopped his in, 65,000 miles,the gearbox was not changing smoothly and BMW estimated £4,000 to fix it.
These ain't cheap cars to buy or run.
interesting, thanks. so this is something that needs to be double checked!