[MOB]

(to replace my wifes TT - she would then have the BMW)

A silver CLS55 AMG - Nice spec including Harmon Kardon and massaging seats

476bhp and 516lbs from its 5.4 supercharged V8

Completely and utterly loved it - apart from a few creaky interior parts I couldnt fault it

Walked away though as the deal was about £1.5k from where I wanted to be - and now having some alternative thoughts;

RS4?
Cayman S? (had one before and shouldn't have sold it)

Any ther suggestions for £30k fast german cars? Tried an M5 and while its brilliant, I just didnt gel with it.

[peterg1965]

SL55

[jjbirch]

M6???

[beemerbird]

This 30k - are you talking trade in or buying cash?

[MOB]

SL55 tends to be a tad old at £30k - CLS much better value

M6 - great, but none for £30k and a bit too manic for me

[MOB]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

This 30k - are you talking trade in or buying cash?

£30k price from a dealer ignoring trade in

[mikem]

Take the M5 on a longer drive, it felt "indifferent" the first time I drove one but I can`t think of any other large saloon car that competes with it as an all rounder. There`s an AUC car with 22Kish miles for £28K before you start haggling

[jjbirch]

i dont know what they drive like or handle like, but they look very nice inside and out, maybe a test drive, and low bid them
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...icleRegLetter=

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by MOB

£30k price from a dealer ignoring trade in

Hang on ..........do you mean there is no trade in or that you're looking at cars on dealers forecourts with 30k price tag? All I'm thinking is obviously times are hard for car dealers and trading in means they still have to shift a car. You go with cash and haggle. Sure you already know that but wasn't certain what you meant tbh.

[beemerbird]

What about this one if you can live with the interior?

Lowish spec. hence the price but ...........

http://ucl.porsche.de/ucl/plsql/uk/c...nr_=1&caller_=

[Carrera RSR]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

What about this one if you can live with the interior?

Lowish spec. hence the price but ...........

http://ucl.porsche.de/ucl/plsql/uk/c...nr_=1&caller_=

Nothing wrong with that colour combo !!!!!

[MOB]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

Hang on ..........do you mean there is no trade in or that you're looking at cars on dealers forecourts with 30k price tag? All I'm thinking is obviously times are hard for car dealers and trading in means they still have to shift a car. You go with cash and haggle. Sure you already know that but wasn't certain what you meant tbh.

"you're looking at cars on dealers forecourts with 30k price tag" is correct - I have the TT to trade but most of the bids I've had on it are around the same amount.

The CLS is a decent price though, but I'm playing the waiting game as they've had it a few months now.

Maserati looks lovely - not something I'd considered

M5 - maybe you're right, I should try one again

Couldn't live with that interior on the Cayman (nice colour but too much of it!!) - I would get a silver or grey one with black leather

Its quite interesting that the CLS is £4k cheaper than in November when I first saw it for sale, and they offered £1.5k more for the TT than back in November!

Plus, the dealer sold the CLS new to the first owner 3 years ago for £76k

[beemerbird]

Right........with you now.

Agree on that colour interior lol.

There's this one but note only partial leather seats.

http://ucl.porsche.de/ucl/plsql/uk/c...nr_=6&caller_=

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by carrerarsr

Nothing wrong with that colour combo !!!!!

Yours is more reddish brown and less of it!!!

[E92 LeMans]

The place where I bought my car from offered me a M5 for less than 30 K and they always have a few porkers in too

They have a cayman drove past today

http://www.diavollo.co.uk/21257/index.htm

[-=TSL=-]

From reviews, I hear the CLS55 is a great Merc to own. In my opinion it has a great image on the road, compared to perhaps an E class or SL55. Much more understated, but yet you have that sound!!! Very ubercool

How much are old shape CL's going for? Their resale values tend to drop like a stone from new as well...

[NFS]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/dri...icle431278.ece

Good point on the CL's by the way, they are outrageously cheap.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...leRegLetter=55

[rogerxp]

MOB, if you're ever to seriously consider the Masser, check out the servicing & parts costs before you drive one; they'll make you wince. You'll fall in love with the Masser if you drive it even though it's far from perfect - you should be able to get £5k off the list price pretty easily; the dealers already allow for this margin!!!

[trixman]

I had a good look around when considering a bigger car that the other half would be driving also (i had a company car at the time).

The CLS was by far my favourite. Tested the 55 like yourself, although wasn't 'exciting' it had massive power and was reasonably comfortable. I love the way the look inside and out. Silly things like lack of bluetooth was annoying (make sure it has the extra adapter), but would definately be a choice for me in the future.

The Masser was lovely too, never tested one but was the second consideration until I looked at forums and the level of maintenance required. The early ones are a nightmare (as admitted to by a mechanic i know who works in a ferrari/masser dealership... although newer one's aren't bad) so expect problems and not to love the gearbox, again based on second-hand info though.

I, strangely, also looked at the Phaeton. Not really taking 'image' into consideration the W12 is a mahoosive bargain at the moment. Beautifully engineered, although not sure how many VW dealers can service them.

The M5 was, as you said, little too lairy for the mrs to use as well (although was very close to convincing her)... we ended up with the chaviest of chav cars, an RRS Supercharged. Have to say it wasn't too bad if you realise what it actually is and not try to drive it like a sportscar. The mrs absolutely fell in love with it, no bad back from bending down to put the little 'un in the babyseat, high visability, security. I couldn't stand it but we make sacrifices eh.

I'd go for the CLS, even earlier one's aren't reporting many problems and the engine's are fairly bomb proof... it's the electrics you have to be careful of. Just make sure all the buttons work.

[MOB]

Thanks for all the input guys!

Slight change of approach though........wife has decided she likes having a convertible so would like any replacement to be convertible.........bloody women. We have the 330d for everyday use so we dont need another 4-seater really.

So her requirements are;

- convertible
- german
- nice looking
- "prestige" badge lol

My requirements;

- great sound
- very quick in a straight line
- decent handling
- automatic (lazy git)

So I'm trying an SLK55 AMG at the weekend!

A Boxster will of course be better handling, but I've had one of those and I want something a bit more "epic" lol

[willhollin]

650i Convertible?

[MOB]

mmm......possibility, hadn't thought about those