Ok, I'll be looking for a non-daily driver about this time next year. Here are the cars on my list.

09 Corvette (coupe or Vert)
09 CTS V
09 AMG SLK55
09 AMG C63
09 Audi RS4
09 BMW M3
09 Lotus Exige S 240

I'm pretty much throwing out the last three due to bad joints and they only have manuals. Exige is extremely fast but reminds me of a kit car. M3 is nice but has torque numbers closer to my Impala SS.

The CTS V looks impressive but I'm sure the dealers will have some ADP on them for the first year or so. 550 hp is very impressive though.

AMGs are very impressive IMO. The C63 really sounds cool. SLK55 is a nice roadster. Both have excellent quality interiors. Pick up in Germany for a loaded SLK 55 is around $65k which is close to what a loaded C6 Vert is. Plus I get to drive around Germany/Swiss/Austria for a few days.

Then there is the Vette. I love its performance and if I wasn't waiting till next year it would easily be my choice. The 4LT interior looks nice. The 3LT interior on the 07 Vert at my dealer already looks like it is a few years older. Yeah I know I shouldnt' wait till next year but I'm taking care of more important things first.

I know maintenance will be a lot more expensive on the AMGs. Insurance is slightly more then the Vette but nothing to worry about.

My local dealer here only has that 07 Vert. I may have to see another dealer this spring and test drive an 08 Coupe and Vert. I plan on doing a bunch of test drives this summer since I'll be picking my car during winter next year. Kind of hard to test drive a sports car in the snow, plus the tires don't like the cold anyway.

I have been enjoying this site though. Members on the other sites seem stuck up. "If you have to ask the cost, then you can't afford it".

Dealer has no brocheres and Chevy sent me a 2 page one. Chevy's website generally stinks compared to AMGs.

Yes, I know the SLK55 is not as fast as the Vette. You can't really use full performance these days anyway. C63 will be very close though, along with the CTS V. With loaded Verts going for around $60-62 and coupes in the mid 50s the Vette is hard to beat though.

I will probably buy the Vette in the end since I have always wanted one. I believe in exploring all options though. Yeah, I left a few cars off that list but I don't like Asian cars too much and I'm not too crazy about Jaguars.

 

For the price of some of these cars why not just get the Z06?

That would be my choice!

Matt

 

I thought about the Z06 but it also has only a manual. Heck yeah it would be a blast but I already lost a bunch of money when I had to trade in my 05 CTS V when my hip problem developed. My V was a daily driver though. Even a 2LZ Z06 invoices at around $68k. If it had an auto then it would definitely be on my list and that list might have turned into a one deep list real quick. Great suggestion though and I guess I wouldn't rule out the Z06. Thanks

 

Have you checked out the Audi S6? It's very sweet and comes with a killer V10.

 

The Corvette is nice but IMO you can't go wrong with an SL550

 

Go with the vette ~ for many reasons ~ most importantly, fellow corvette owners are a hell of a lot more fun to hang-out with

 

That would be the deal-breaker for me. I've met a few folks who owned the other cars on your list and with rare exceptions (I'm sure you would be one, by the way ) they were not fun or nice people to be around. Most of them were way too impressed with themselves and their car - so of course, they had to be invited to the track for a lesson (which they all declined). Corvette owners (with the previously mentoned rare exceptions, but the other way) are not pretentious and have their priorities pretty straight. It goes like this: Live this best life you can. Work hard to achieve that. Then, enjoy it, and find other like-minded people to share it with.

When all the options, variables and questions are weighed in the balance, the outcome is easy to predict: Welcome to the wonderful world of Corvettes. By the way, who knows, an automatic Z06 may not be that far off.

 

Nice group of cars to choose from, good taste. I have driven or owned a few of the cars you are considering. You mentioned you need a automatic or auto-shifter. Put the M3 back on your short list.

I was shoppping the M3 Coupe and GT-R (not on your list but should be) the last few days. My BMW salesman suprised me with some info on the M3 Coupe. He showed me a internal BMW memo that said the M3 Coupe will have a new twin-disc SMG type transmission available when it is released in a few months. The M3 Sedan will get it next year for the 2009 model. M3 convertible might be out in 2009?

AMG SLK55 is a nice car but very tight interior, the only car tighter on your list is the Lotus. A nice feature is the convertible hard top. Excellent interior and fast shifting transmission. European delivery is great!

RS4 is a great all purpose car. It feels much lighter and smaller than it is. Excellent interior but no auto. It is a 4 door 911C4.

Lotus Exige S is by FAR the most fun on a track. Super tight interior and not street friendly. No auto.

A C6 Corvette is closes to the AMG CLK55 in terms of configuration. You can get auto and convertible with either of these cars. A open top car has a lot to do with the driving sensation and experiance. I would decide if a open top is a priority and then go from there. You can rule out a few off your list if you want a open top. Do you need more than 2 seats if it is a weekend toy?

Your Corvette dealer only has a 2007 Vert. The 2007 and 2008 Vettes have slightly different interiors. The 2008 have minor but significant changes that, in my opnion, make the interior much nicer. 2008 models also have other improvment over the 2007 you have seen. Engine and steering feel are the major ones. You can search on this forum about the changes. The 2009 C6 will probably have more minor improvments.
I would try other Corvette dealers if I were you? Get into and see as many cars as you can. There are a few forum dealers that are very helpful. I can recommend EVS in Wisconsin, ask for Rick. Their email response time can be a little slow. I would call and have him paged if you need to talk to him right away. Bought a 2007 from them and have a 2008 on order. Great dealer.

Audi and BMW pay for all of the service for the first 3 or 4 years. Mercedes used to , not sure if they do today?

Good luck you can't go wrong with that list.

 

It's a way of life, man.

 

You're comparing apples to oranges, get the AMG.

 

Hold out for the CTS-V.
Corvette performance with sedan versatility.

 

I have a Mercedes ML500 and a CL500.

I have gone to Mercedes AMG Challenge at Pocono Raceway and driven all the AMG cars.

Last month I bought a 2008 Corvette Coupe.

I could not be happier.

After considering price and performance, the Corvette was the only logical decision.

Go for it, you will not be disappointed!

 

Ok, my list just got 3 cars longer.

Z06 Unlikely though since it doesn't have a manual. I think having no open air ability would drive me nuts.

S6 I thought it was more expensive but it may just be out what I'm willing to spend.

M3 Coupe I heard about them coming in with a V-8. I didn't know about the DSG though. BMWs are fine cars but I'm usually not the type of person that likes to rev the crap out of car to keep it in its power band.

I know I would love the Vette. I'm just exploring other possiblities right now. I would had to put down $60-70k on a car and realize I like something else better. I must drive a C6 Coupe and Vert once it gets warmer around here. I may drop in on a dealer today since I'm heading out to look at a SLK55 and Audi also.

I pretty much threw Porshe out since the 911 is too expensive and the Boxter/Cayman is too slow when you put an auto behind the flat (or should I say in front of) a flat 6.

This forum is the best that I have been to. I'm starting to lose interest in the MB forum. If anything after we look at these cars the wife will probably love the Vette a lot more since it is the least expensive car of the bunch I'm looking at.

Credit GM though. People, especially import owners, love to criticize American engines for being inefficient and underpowered. Here is the 6.2 from AMG with 457HP and the C6's motor with only 21hp less. Two things that I'm concerned with about the vette are the steering and cornering on bumpy roads.

I'm leaning towards a 2 seater but is hard to rule out some sedans just because they carry 4-5 people. I haven't decided on open air or a coupe/sedan either.

 

Those cars are all nice, I have had several of them in earlier than 2009 configurations (a bevy of BMWs from 3-5-ms, Porsches, SL55AMG, S8, RS6, Viper and a Ferrari or three). They are all fantastic. Somehow I always get rid of them and end up with a Corvette (7 times). The C6 is hard to beat even with money not considered.

 

Last September, I went to California Speedway to an Audi event.

I drove the TT, S4, RS4, S6, S5 and the R8.

The only one I would consider is the S5 - what an amazing car.

But, IMHO, not as exciting as the Corvette.

 

S5's are backordered for the next few months. Audi has a shortage on V8 engines.

 

What about a BMW M5 or M6 coupe?

If it was me I'd be looking at the new CTS-V.

 

But the tie breaker for you sounds like it might be the open roof of the C6 coupe or the open air of the convertible......the rare times that you might need to take someone with you, sometimes back seats are nice. Would you be satisfied with a sunroof?

 

From your list of cars I really doubt that you'll be happy with a Corvette.

Tom

 

AMG all the way.