July 13, 2006
Porsche Boxster vs. Mercedes SLK.
Okay, car fans. Please compare the Porsche Boxster and the Mercedes SLK. I'm just sitting here waiting for my Audi TT Coupe to be serviced. I'm halfway through the lease on this car and browsing around the new car showrooms, wondering, if I'm not replacing my Audi TT Coupe with another Audi TT Coupe, what is my next car? I want a beautiful, exciting car, but I live in Wisconsin, and I need to deal with some ice and snow. The Audi TT Coupe is rock solid. I can't help feeling that there's nothing to compare to it. But the Boxster and the SLK are pretty nice. The Boxster is clearly more beautiful to me, but the SLK has a brilliantly retractable hard roof. The SLK tries awfully hard to get a racing car look to it, but the salesman was clear that it was meant to have less of a racing car feeling to it than the Boxster. So, obviously, the Boxster, right? No, he said that in response to my ice-and-snow question. I sat in the SLK, and I got the feeling it was designed for a much larger, taller person than me. (I'm 5'5".) So... advice?
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56 comments:
If you're concerned about snow and ice, but want a roadster, I would stay away from the rear-wheel drive Porsche and Mercedes (and BMW, while we're at it). You'd be wise to stick to a new TT Quattro, or go with a front-wheel drive convertible like the new Saabs, which are actually pretty sweet (and I never thought I would say that).
I just got new wheels and I ended up getting one that just stuck me as the right one.
So just go with your instincts and what you feel is cool. And you will be happy!
"Feeling a bit of "grass is greener," Ann?"
Just looking for excitement.
----
I saw the most boring car the other day and I looked to see what make it was. I was shocked to see BMW. What's going wrong there??
Brian: What would actually be easier for me would be to walk or call a cab whenever there was snow. I could live without a car, actually.
What I'd probably do, though, it just drive really carefully and pick my route carefully.
Ann Althouse said...
I saw the most boring car the other day and I looked to see what make it was. I was shocked to see BMW. What's going wrong there??
Well, the styling of my BMW Z4 has been called a lot of things, but never boring. Anyway, I like it, and it's definitely worth considering along with the Boxter and SLK. And forget about driving a roadster in the snow...just get yourself a winter car too.
Jack: It wasn't a Z4, just some ordinary car, a sedan or hatchbacky thing.
Abraham: Why people blow so much money on a few days of travel and not on a car, which is a daily pleasure, is beyond me. My idea of a vacation is to get in my car and drive it across the landscape!
My vote is:
1. TT
2. Boxster
3. SLK
You appear to like to drive, and the Boxster would be a lot more fun to drive than the SLK. The SLK seems a lot more show than go.
Of course, as you know from when you were comparing the TT to a Corvette, I am an Audi Quattro fan, having now driven my 5th one almost into the ground. I still have found nothing like a Quattro on snow and ice.
I drove the 4wd BMW sedan a couple of years ago, and it doesn't come close. Yes, it was so fast, it was scary - but the instruments were so badly placed that the driver couldn't see the speedometer very well, and the joke was that we always knew when we were going about 130 or so, because that was when it would upshift. But the 4wd was just not comparable. They seemed to have designed it for high speed driving, and not for snow and ice, like the Audi.
Porsche does have a 4wd 911 type, the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, for only $87,100 MSRP. It is fast, good looking, no doubt fun to drive, and probably a lot better than either the Boxster or the SLK on snow or ice.
I presume you are probably looking at the SLK350 roadster for a reasonable $47,725 MSRP, but if you really want a fast one, look at the 2007 SL65 AMG for a mere $186,775. It has a 604 hp twin turbo V-12, whereas the next one down, the 2007 SL55 AMG, for only $50,000 less, only has 510 hp. But this is a bit misleading, since the 911 Turbo for a comparable price has 20 fewer hp, but can accelerate from 0-60 mph in .5 seconds faster (2.9 v. 3.4 secs).
I should add that if you aren't stuck on a convertable, the 911 Carrera 4 might work, for about $10,000 less ($77,100).
I don't know Cadillac models, but a couple of years ago, we were trying to do a car swap at the Denver airport, and I had the wrong set of keys, and there was a blizzard that day. The only car I could rent was a Cadillac, and it was absolutely the worst car in snow I had driven in probably 30 years. I finally got it stuck a couple of blocks from the house (and I have now been driving for 40 years on snow and ice), and had to wait until the next day to have AAA tow it out.
This is probably not relevant, if you are going to rent and not buy, but if you intend to buy, you should also look into the cost of maintaining the cars. Parts and labor on both the Mercedes and the Porsche are through the roof. Audi is bad, but those cars are worse. The service guys at a Porsche/Audi dealership in Phoenix told of one guy in his 911 turbo blowing both turbos on his way down from Las Vegas. $30k to fix. At the dealership where three of my Audis were bought, last time I checked, they were charging about 25% more per hour for Porsche labor than for Audi work.
I'm really happy with the lease. All the service is covered. Even if I run out of gas out in the middle of nowhere, they come to my aid, free.
Nothing says mid-life crisis quite like a Porsche.
Buy American.
Embrace your inner Julie London.
You aren't driving anything but a Lincoln Town Car, baby.
Very evocative---Julie London-ish, suave, posh, glamorously gliding on by in your Town Car.
Isn't that how you'd like to be seen?
Peace, Maxine
Maxine: I hate hate hate big smushy cars.
'My idea of a vacation is to get in my car and drive it across the landscape!'
and,
'I could live without a car, actually.'
No contest then; go with the car that gives you a thrill each time you slide behind the wheel. I love driving and nothing gives me more pleasure than a fun car, an open road, and a good CD. Go for it.
Damn it! You old farts-
IT'S THE PORSCHE
That thing is the "stuff" of dreams.
Buy it! Get it! Do it!
The lines on that thing....
It's a C-A-R.
The friggin' Mercedes is a box on wheels.
I've seen the exterior design of the 2007-2008 Audi and Saabs..
They scream: A Spaceship Has Landed !!!!
Peace, Maxine
The Boxster doesn't strike me as a practical car - I'd go for a 911 Carrera. As Top Gear's Hammond put it, "the Boxster is for those who can't afford a 911." Unfortunately for me, I am not yet in a position to afford either...
momo: A sedan is not a sports car.
I recommend the BMW Z8. Sure, the price is in six figures, but it's low six figures. Or low-ish.
Failing that, get the Boxster. I've driven a light RWD car in a few Boston winters now, and you're fine if you just pay very, very close attention.
The Porsche 911's body these days is the cleanest, nicest design they've done since the 356, but, unlike the 356, it looks godawful as a convertible. You might pick up an old 550.
But if you're really serious about this, there are only three real choices: The D-Type (since the mad fools cancelled the F-Type), a chopped deuce coupe (if you can tolerate a hard-top), and the TVR Tamora.
Unless you're willing to go for the Atom.
Nobody mentioned the Lotus Elise? Hello?! Okay, they're ugly (I'm seeing them in the flesh around Boston now, and they'll peel paint), but they weigh under 2,000 pounds. No power steering, no power brakes.
And the GR-1. It's hard-top, though.
And a (reputedly) viable American option: Panoz.
Man, I wish I had your problems.
In general, I actually prefer Japanese to German.
Though, in Anne's matchup, I'd take the Porsche.
(And, as an aside, I'd never own a BMW again. Ever. Even though that 6 series convertible is damn good looking.)
miked0268's right, professor. Even with traction control, the Porsche and Merc, as gorgeous as they are, would be frights to drive with snow on the ground. You're only giving a little but up prestige-wise sticking with the Audi, and you get the bennies of front wheel drive in the muck.
Not that the Box or the SLK coulnd't go in the snow, don't get me wrong. It *does* snow in Germany too, after all. But there's only so much manufacturers can do to offset the advantages of having all that weight over the drive wheels when it's snowy.
Here's another thing no one else has mentioned: The SLK's a pretty tiny car inside. The Porsche is a bit bigger, but still no champ space-wise. I've got little experience with Audi's, so I can't comment on those. Which one feels the best to you when you're actually sitting in it?
And, re: BMW's, boring. I thought that at first too. Saw pics of the new 5 and 6 classes and yawned. Then I saw an M5 in person and thought, wow! I'd like to see an M6 up close too. I think the styling grows on a person after a while.
momo -
The industry term for things like the M3 is "sports coupe" or "luxury performance coupe" or some such thing. Borrr-inggg!
It's too tall, it has too many seats, there's far too much space inside, it looks boring, it has a trunk large enough to be useful, and it's probably reasonably quiet inside at highway speeds. It's incurably boring.
Granted, it's RWD and no doubt it's quick and handles well, but that's not enough. It's not cool.
Let this be a lesson to me.
I concede, Momo. The words you use mean whatever you want them to, the subject of the conversation is whatever you say it is, and basset hounds got long ears.
Ernst, I'm with you on the WRX. What a bummer they made it look like that.
" My idea of a vacation is to get in my car and drive it across the landscape!"--Ann
Yes, exactly.
And, you need a larger car for that. You never know what you're going to encounter, who you're going to pick up (just kidding)....everything you'll accumulate on the drive.
Porsches, Audis, Saabs, are not "touring" cars.
Ann, you'd better rethink your aversion to the classic American big car.
At least test drive a Cadillac DeVille, or Town Car....before writing 'em off.
The Town Car is perfect for long drives cross-country, where you never know what you'll encounter: rain, sleet, snow, heavy winds. It has a huge trunk that fits the whole world inside. It's certainly more elegant and sleek than an SUV. It got a good write-up in Consumer Reports in terms of handling on curves and mountains.
Do test drive a Town Car.
American cars make for better leasing, I feel.
Peace, Maxine
Regardless which car you choose, you MUST conduct your next vlog with the camera attached to the hood of your car as you drive through the country side in beautiful, south central Wisconsin!
Strictly basing it on looks and cool factor the Porsche kills the Mercedes and the Audi.
But maybe you should wait for the new Camaro. I mean if you want a bad-ass exciting car the Camaro's rumble will beat the hell out of all 3 of those cars.
"Regardless which car you choose, you MUST conduct your next vlog with the camera attached to the hood of your car as you drive through the country side in beautiful, south central Wisconsin!"
No, actually, I think she should go with 2 webcams and a split-screen: One as a hood ornament, one on the dash focused on her as she drives.
I'll conveniently ignore how she's supposed to get a web connection while driving... EvDO? EDGE Network?? ;)
----
Word verif: xstxc. I'm trying to force "ecstasy" out of the letters somehow... :)
I prefer the TT m'self, for the AWD in winter.
There are actually some very good US-manufactured cars, but none that seems to suit you. The new Corvette is really a phenomenal car especially for that amount of money. They got nearly everything right on it.
The new Mustang is also a fantastic bargain, but that doesn't seem much like an "Ann" car.
You might want to check out the Chrysler Crossfire, which is basically a modified SLK. Don't know about the price equivalence though, but I really like the styling of the thing. See this review for example.
First, to answer the question, what the hell happened to BMW?
Answer, Chris Bangle, designer from hell (scroll down a ways on this post by Mickey Kaus and get the full glory of his Bangle-hatred)
2nd, there's one blogging law prof who already has a Carrera, so you don't want to be a copycat, do you? (and performance wise the Subaru WRX STi comes surprisingly close to the Porsche, but at $50k less, but it is a non-convertible which might be a deal killer)
For a fun small car (and its even made by BMW, but hasn't been Bangle-ized) that's still a convertible and has a back seat, you can't beat the Mini CooperS.
Just watch out, Silvio may start acting funny if he senses that you have eyes for another.
Forget the Mercedes. Forget the Porsche. Buy a PT Cruiser. Small, nimble, front wheel drive. fun. Cheap.
Take the moeny saved and do two things. Take flying lessons and buy an antique biplane -- a Waco or a Stearman would be good.
Live a little. Let the pantherine aviatrix in you out.
Another vote for the Chrysler Crossfire. One of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen, plus it has a cool spoiler that automatically raises up when the car passes a certain speed.
I got this email from Silvio today:
"Help. I was warned. Little Greenie told me she was a little fickle and I didn't believe it. I have put out from short jaunts to Lodi to long trips West and another mega-drive to Cornell. Only a year or so into my lease and her eye is wandering already. HELP!"
Ann:
Also consider the Audi A4 3.0 quattro cabriolet, or if you want more performance, the S4. They are both rock-solid and a blast to drive. Real all weather cars too. Both the Boxster and SLK are horrible in bad weather, as are most sport-tuned vehicles. (Full disclosure, I am an A4 cab owner, kept in upstate NY, which is comparable to your winters/)
Ann - My parents love their small Acura. In the past five years or so some of the Japanese luxury car lines have upgraded their smaller, sportier models to compete with the Europeans. They tend to get better gas mileage, too; I'm not sure how important that is for you, since you won't be driving it every day. I'd give the Lexus GS a close look.
Ruth Anne,
Funny you should mention email from Silvio. I got cc'd on this email from the Porsche:
"Ach, "Silvio"... you German maskerade as unt Italiener. Mein Gott... no wunder sie ist wandering her eyes, you nicht can satisfy ze wunderbar fraulein wit your shuurt zaunts unt longen trips Westen. Your stylen is nicht masculenen unt nicht excitementen, aber du bitchen unt bitchen abut ze dame es "fickel". Ze truthen ist du are ze fickel one, going through ze motiens nicht wit excitementen or enthusiasen, kennot please yon owner like ze PORSCHE ken!"
Opinionated Porsche, wot?
I refuse to print the email from the Ferrari, it made me blush...
I would also suggest you check out the 3.0 A4 quattro Cabriolet, as my wife has had hers for about 2 years, and loves it so much I'm almost jealous. It's truly a 4 season car (we live in the Chicago area); great on ice and snow with all-season tires. It actually can hold 4 people, too. A cool practical point; with the top up, the well for the convertible top folds up to allow you to use all of the trunk. Try one, I think you'll have to put it on your list.
I would also suggest you check out the 3.0 A4 quattro Cabriolet, as my wife has had hers for about 2 years, and loves it so much I'm almost jealous. It's truly a 4 season car (we live in the Chicago area); great on ice and snow with all-season tires. It actually can hold 4 people, too. A cool practical point; with the top up, the well for the convertible top folds up to allow you to use all of the trunk. Try one, I think you'll have to put it on your list.
Joe,
Handling and acceleration matter quite a bit, well within the envelope where people drive day to day.
The fun edges of that envelope may be good for a night in jail if you get caught, but that's not your problem.
Tcd - of course it isn't as nice. Of course I don't know what the Professor is seeking in a car, but it might fit her better than the cars she mentioned in her post. Also, its better in the bad weather, and it costs less and doesn't break down as often. Even with the lease, these are things to consider. My parents started off looking at cars similar to those mentioned by Professor Althouse but ended up falling in love with the Acura, so you never know.
And the Lexus GS I mentioned at the end of my previous post IS in the same class as those other cars.
shake and bake, you really don't know what you're talking about. Look up the Crossfire and you'll find it is a German engineered sportscar.
As oopposed to the SLK, which is more of a touring car than a sports car. In fact, the Crossfire is basically an SLK but more sporty.
The Crossfire is also more beautiful, and smaller. So it will fit Ann better than the SLK.
Momo: The E46 M3 is not beautiful to my eye. Certainly, nothing like the Porsche. I don't even see it as a sportscar. It looks like a sportily style sedan.
Ann, by any chance, would you consider buying a rally car? Evo, Impreza, etc...
You'd lose some of styling, but you'd get the stiff suspension and crisp handling of the roadster, as well as the excellent bad weather handling and miles of grip.
If you like the Audi TT, you're already in rally car territory anyways.
Oh, and I definitely wouldn't get a Boxster if you anticipate driving in snow. It's so light, RWD, and even with a mid-mounted engine, that's just asking for trouble.
First of all, I admire you for your love of driving and appreciation of fine cars. My own biases are (1) Audis have never done it for me, they have never seemed to justify the hype; (2) I am a sucker for Italian cars, up to and including Ferraris; and (3) I don't like unnecessary complexity.
That said, some thoughts about cars for you (and what is more fun than spending other people's money):
* Boxter. Great car, great value. The Cayman - which you should consider - is so good that it may wind up cannibalizing sales of the base 911. Porsche options notoriously expensive. Seriously bad news in bad weather. Do you switch to snow tires up there? It should be considered mandatory on any lightweight car.
* SLK. Too torquey in the wet, except for the base version, which is underpowered. Extremely comfortable over long distances. Decent fit and finish but not like the old days (my wife has a '76 450SL that puts the current cars to shame). Not bad in the twisties, but no Porsche. The other thing to consider is the SLK's well-earned reputation as the car of choice for trophy wives and mistresses. I don't know about your personal situation and I'm not asking, but you could have a lot of fun with this, especially if you are evasive about whether you bought it yourself. Or not. Your call.;)
* Lotus Elise. I drove one just the other day and I practically sprained my face from smiling. The best handling car available for less than $100k. It's mechanically simple (Toyota engine) so maintenance should be relatively inexpensive. Looks like the racer it is. Unfortunately, if you take it on the interstate for more than 10 minutes or so you will want to gouge your eyes out with a screwdriver. But you should at least drive one.
* BMW. I don't like the Bangle styling or the complexity of the systems so I haven't looked at a Bimmer in ages. The Z4 roadster looks OK and the M3 (if you want serious performance) seems to be for real. Not for me but you could do worse.
* Cadillac. XLR-V has decent handling, an upgraded interior for 2007 and a Corvette drivetrain. I haven't driven one myself, but it could be worth a look. With my Escalade I have found that Caddy service is surprisingly responsive but surprisingly expensive.
* Maserati. Don't laugh, but a low-miles '05 coupe will run in the low $80s. Much more reliable than Italian cars used to be, and you will have several years of warranty left. If you stay away from automatic mode the paddle shifter will be fine, even on the '05s (much better on the 2006). Unbelievable luxury and performance for the money. As with the Lotus, you should at least drive one.
Sorry about the length of this post, but you should know better than to get a car nut started.
Happy hunting!
Quick, everyone hit the PayPal button if you want Althouse to drive a Maserati! I promise to vlog it.
On the other hand, I was shocked at the low price on the Boxster!
Uh, oh. Ann's in trouble.
According to famous essayist, Guy Davenport--- Carlust is evil !!!
"A man on a horse has his blood shaken and his muscles pulled. A man in an automobile is as active as a sloth. "----Guy Davenport
It's all about blood flow!
Looks like Ann's gonna be hoofing it from now on.
Surrey with a fringe on top, maybe.
Peace, Maxine
Re the whole domestic-vs.-foreign car argument: Which car is more "American"--a Ford manufactured in Mexico, or a Honda made in Ohio? Discuss...
Maxine: The guy's named after a sofa!
if you are concerned about driving a sportscar on snow and ice, may I suggest that you look into taking a car control course at a performance driving school? Not only will you learn how to handle your car in various conditions and make you a better driver you'll also have plenty of fun.
I got about half way through the comments. I remember the choices when you chose the TT. I do remember the Mini being in the running. Many many many of your fellow Wisconsiners are driving the Mini in th esnow and loving it.
However, I do tend to agree on the "choose a great car and cab it in the winter" group. That said, buy an Elise. Lotus Elise. Awesomely fun car to drive and so rare you'll be the talk of the town.
Video of the 2008 TT:
http://www.automoblog.net/page/2/
Scroll Down. It looks good.
i found this blog late but i'm dying to kno: what did you settle on?
let's just say i'm in a similar dilemma. SLK vs Boxster and somewhere in the midwest too.
so i found this only because i typed "boxster in the snow" in my search field..i was actually looking for facts to support how i feel. I have the boxster, whcih i bought for summer fun, and i have an old c class mercedes that i used for work and winter..now i also got a new cr-v 4wd and still i feel safer in my boxster. i don't trust my feeling because it makes no sense but my porsche just feels so heavy and every other car and even the SUV feels so loosy goosy..
"i found this blog late but i'm dying to kno: what did you settle on?"
I am answering your question 14 years later, and the answer is I've kept the 2005 Audi TT all these years. I have never found another car I wanted to replace it, and I still love driving it after all these years. It also still looks great and the styling is superior to all the other cars. That's even more obvious now. Plus, who has a manual transmission anymore? I do!
"now i also got a new cr-v 4wd and still i feel safer in my boxster."
It's funny. I got a new CR-V in 2010 and another one in 2017, and now that one is gone too, replaced by a Ford F-150 with a slide-in camper. All those other cars were mostly for my husband, whom I got in 2009. I could drive those CR-Vs but I didn't really like driving something so big. I don't drive the truck at all. I like the feeling of the TT. It's much smaller, and it feels really securely "attached" to the road. I feel quite safe all winter long — here in Wisconsin, where I still live, even though I retired in 2017 and am free to relocate anywhere. Maybe I just like the things I already have, but these things are working for me and I feel grateful for them.
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