Yeah, I agree. Since the S exhaust was detuned you can get some nice additional juice from that upgrade alone.

 

very useful information ... definetly a 911 , SLK 55 AMG was on my list , but I think its overpowered for nothing ,,, no need for that power on the road and I heard the 55 is a damn gas guzzler, any experience with AMG cars?

 

I test drove the SLK55, and its not faster than a 911S. The interior felt very cheap, a lot of plastic. No special interior materials. Plus the SLK55 ages rapidly compared to Porsches. Well all Mercedes stuff ages rapidly.

 

I bought a new 05 E55 last year and loved the torque/HP. Very nose heavy but still FUN to drive. However, the honeymoon was very short lived.

The car was a mechanical nightmare. First warning, was when it stopped running as in complete engine shutdown while travelling down the 101 at 95 MPH. Car was towed to a local MB Dealership who provided very first rate customer service. Problem was a loose fuel control wiring harness that had not been properly tightened.

Two months later I smelled fuel when I stepped into my garage. Looked under the car and no fuel on the floor. Hmmm. Drove out the driveway and was overwhelmed with the smell of fuel. Promptly returned to the garage and shut it down. Called MB dealership and the arranged for yet another tow. Tow driver pushed the car out of the garage because he was afraid the car might explode if he started it. Techs from Germany were flown out and found improperly installed fuel pumps had leaked fuel into the insulation. Lovely. All leather and insulation were replaced but now the bloom was of the rose. The car had now become a 90K Yugo.

Braked constantly squeaked LOUDLY and never could be properly fixed. Car would settle as in bottom out over the left rear wheel if parked for more than 24 hours.

In short, I no longer own the 05 E55 and will never purchase another Mercedes product. I now woefully lament selling my 04 C4S Cab. I soon will be placing an order for a 07 C4S Cab and can't wait to be back in the Porsche Family.

Personally, I would avoid any MB product. Stay with Porsche.

 

if price is not an issue, why would you not go for a 997S?


it is 10 times better than the 3.6 and probably 15 times better than the CaymanS...

 

10x better and 15x better. Please explain.

 

I think he is just being sarcastic, what he means is the S is a lot better performance wise.

 

It's actually not that much better performance wise:

0-60 (Porsche)

5.1 - Cayman S
4.8 - 997
4.6 - 997S

Top Track Speed (Porsche)

171 - Cayman S
177 - 997
182 - 997S

Ring Times (stock)

8:20 - Cayman S
8:15 - 997
8:05 - 997S (.1 second, not even an eyeblink)

Those just aren't big differences and you are not going to notice them that much driving around town (or anywhere for that matter). I tracked behind a Cayman S recently and in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing, that is a tough car to catch. Unreal agility and traction. $10k worth of differences in the S (and even more against the Cayman S)? I've driven all three and the numbers (and the experience) just don't bear it out. In my opinion anyways.

If you're going to do some mod work (full exhaust upgrade, chip, airbox), the S is worth using as your base model but other than that, save yourself $10k and instead get a C4 and do the above upgrades ($6-7k) and you'll have a car that can hang with any 997S.

 

Love my 997S. I also loved my 2002 Mercedes e55. One of the best cars I have ever owned, although I have heard that the newer model has had a lot of problems (and a lot more power - but not N/A. I loved that N/A V-8 in my 2002). Anyway, too much is never enough in my book, obviously, since I am currently lowering, adding racing exhaust to (Fabspeed), and supercharging (EVO) my 2006 997S. But I vote you splurge and go with the 997S.

 

Mexico, wow. That is going to be insane when you're all set up. I'm green.

 

well, 8:05 is much quicker than 8:20... funny...its :15 quicker than the CaymanS and :10 quicker than the 3.6 ....


anyway, what i mean is, you need to drive the 997S then jump into a 997 and gather the differences... 997 v caymanS is a closer comparism... the 997S is basically as quick as a 360 *ferrari* - and for still just being an NA carrera, that is fairly decent... with little effort the 997S beats a street 996 GT3 (US spec at least.)

So, like i said.. If price is no issue, go for the best performer...if you get the power package, you get i think 380-385hp as opposed to the 355hp (talking about the S car.)

If money is an issue, do not bother looking at the S.... (the one my father had ended up close to 140k euro...just due to options - he was able to trade it in for a turboS Cayenne and pay very little difference.)
if money is an issue, go for a 3.6 and do some basic modding... you will never be as happy with a caymanS, despite how close it is. Or maybe you will..... I wouldn't.

my 2 pesos..

 

Get a GT3 and be done with it

 

Yeah, save up for a little and get the GT3 when it arrives.

 

less than one car length for the 997 vs. the S. not much more on the Cayman.

so small you aren't going to notice it.

 

Get a 997 C2 w/Bose/PASM. You will be thrilled. Use the rest of your cash for driving lessons.
If you are in Europe...get the S.