CLK500 vs. E46 M3 vs. Ford SVT Cobra

[dhruvp]

S'up guys,
I've been doing a lot of comparisons with cars lately and have narrowed it down to the three in the subject. I'm looking for a sport coupe and nothing higher than 60K please. I'm looking to modify it some (ie. bodykit, suspension, rims) and need a little direction. Can someone please help me out with these three cars to make a decision? I'm probably going to stick a set of Lowenhart BS5's on there (19's). I've done a lot of research work for the M3, but i've looked around and found that the SVT has very impressive engine stats and the CLK500 looks really nice with a new bodykit plus rims. Give me the low down please, this is going to be a pretty big investment. I wanna know how much these cars can be modified, whether they are worth the money you put into them. I don't want something that will break down every 3 months. Alright, that's it. Please no responses with just "get the m3" or "ford sucks". Thanks again guys.

MIDN 4/c Parashar, USN

[bmw325is]

i like clk's alot, are they only automatic transmission though, i know mercedes has a 5spd, but dont know which cars its available in. i havent ridden in an e46 m3 or clk500, but i had a girlfriend who's mustang gt would go in the shop for electrical problems,etc. . i'd test drive the bmw and mercedes and push them hard and figure out which one on my own. all 3 are neat cars, youre gonna have fun.

[Kosskhol]

E46 M3 is know to have problems when people start modding, so if you plan to mod, I wouldn't go for this choice. The car is set in my opinion right out of the box, just drop a set of H&R coilovers and maybe and exhaust and you're set.

CLK500 I couldn't say anything because I've never driven one or been in one, so I couldn't comment. But I doubt you can go wrong with Mercedes.

Ford SVT Cobra. Fast car. I love the torque aspect of American cars. The feeling of the car is incredible. However, there have been articles written about engine problems concerning overheating that I've read lately, and electrical crap not functioning properly.

All 3 cars are outstanding, personally, I would go with SVT. You can put a set of springs/shocks or coilvers and a few other suspension mods on it and you'll be set. The car is fast enough in my opinion, maybe just the bolt-ons but that's about it.

Good Luck bud.

[Shibumi]

out of all of those car i would get the Bimmer. its a sweet car with tones of room to mod and is really fun to drive. why you say the bimmer over all of the others? because the Benz only comes in Auto form. all of them are eather auto or push button shifting. the Benz i would get would be the SL55 with the push button shifting. here is an article on the SVT. http://www.bonforums.com/mustang/cob...pped102902.htm

As long as people keep buying Fords'...they send the message to the car maker that they don't care about low quality work. Ford will keep making terrible cars, and they will keep making loads of money off of it. Good job Ford owners...good job.

thats not the first article i have seen on the mustangs (Buttstains, Krustangs, etc).

[F360C]

Dhruv I have not talked to you in a while. Anyways you know what my pic would be.... M3. The CLK is nice but would be very expensive to mod. It would be hard to get a CLK 500 out the door for under $60,000 and also all you can get is an auto. The SVT Cobra is a fast car but will not handle as good as the M3. Ford is also having problems with the engines in the Cobra so they have stopped production for a least 3 months. IMO the M3 is the pick out of the three. It looks great and has awsome power. You also won't see as many M3's around as you would CLK's.

[bob(NJ)]

ok since the svt had production stopped b/c of engine problems and who knows what else that should make your decision between two cars. Plus have u ever looked at the ford interior? IMO get the m3. Mercedes would be expensive and to me its just more of an "older person" car. I dunno i feel as though the e46 m3 is a very hot car and can be modded very nicely. Just test drive them both and do what u think is right. To each his own...

[fuuukaiai]

If it came with a 5sp, id get the benz. but it doesnt. the svt has problems. go with the M3

[Want a M3]

It would be between the Clk500 and E46 M3. From the read ups I have done on the new Mustang and the recall, I would stay away from them. I personally would get the Clk500 for the V8. At the end of the day, the E46 only has a 6er in there. The MB V8s sound so good!

[porkyzilla]

there are some real ignorant posts in here, i mean jesus how stupid can you get modding and E46 causing problems, ok well only problem ive heard about is the hamann air box, now there arent much mods out for it since its such a highly tuned motor, you dont need to mod the engine, maybe exhaust, headers, and your done, now as for looks and shit do what ever you want, i think its the smartest move for an E46 M3, for example mercedes has the worst resale value, you will loose alot of money on that car guranteed plus its not a real head turner, ok svt cobra fast but is it really motor??? its a v8 thats forced induction running upto 12lbs of boost thats alot, now i would say that no way they are pigs, handle like shit, and have whats called wheel hop where the weel jumps off of the ground, and its only a straight line car, not to mention every year cobra has had problems, recalls, blown up motors, now yes the E46 M3 has had its problems but its been fixed, and its all been coverd under warranty, your not gonna loose a dime, great looking, and its just pure motorsport, put some H&R springs and coil covers, some nice wheels, few acs interior and your set, i would say go for E46 M3, **** mercedes bad resale under enginered pieces of junk, same with ford.

[porkyzilla]

Originally posted by Want a M3
It would be between the Clk500 and E46 M3. From the read ups I have done on the new Mustang and the recall, I would stay away from them. I personally would get the Clk500 for the V8. At the end of the day, the E46 only has a 6er in there. The MB V8s sound so good!

are you ignorant the number of cylinders has nothing to do with performance, if you want to play that game, how can an inline 6 beat a piece of shit ford mustang gt wtih 8 cylinders and 4.8 litres, tell me? and tell me how bimmers beat the **** out of alot of cars with "more cylinders"

[Vitolo]

Well, youre comparing apples to oranges. If you are a close minded snob, youll side with Shibumi. You want to talk quality? A Ford will never be as nice as a BMW, that is why it is a Ford. Where else can you get a brand new 12sec car that handles well and has a warranty? The interior is actually quite nice with alcantara and leather. Im willing to assume you havent driven one, in which case you would get your nose out of the air and admit that it IS a respectable car. And btw, even if the mustangs are overheating, their being recalled...just like the 11/01 build E46 M3's that were BLOWING UP.

[Estoril Blue]

i think the mbz would cost more than 60k? especially with dealer markups and what not

of those 3, id prolly get the clk 500 or m3, to me they seem like better choices, when i think of mustangs i think of cheap quality and shitty reputations, but who knows, maybe the svt is dif?

[dhruvp]

Well... it seems that everyone seems to be favoring the m3 over the others based on price, quality and performance... i was leaning that way but was looking at other options. the previous CLK model was actually quite nice and i wouldn't mind investing in a CLK430 if they were still in production. however, they are auto... how about the AMG SLK320??? its about the same range and price as the M3 and performance wise too...

any color suggestions for the rims I want to get?

[JRK]

the E46 m3 is a crazy car. and the CLK500 is crazy too. but why the hell is an american car in this comparison?

im disgusted. no american car should be compared with anything german.

[Shibumi]

Originally posted by J Vitolo
Well, youre comparing apples to oranges. If you are a close minded snob, youll side with Shibumi. You want to talk quality? A Ford will never be as nice as a BMW, that is why it is a Ford. Where else can you get a brand new 12sec car that handles well and has a warranty? The interior is actually quite nice with alcantara and leather. Im willing to assume you havent driven one, in which case you would get your nose out of the air and admit that it IS a respectable car. And btw, even if the mustangs are overheating, their being recalled...just like the 11/01 build E46 M3's that were BLOWING UP.

hey thanks for calling me a closed minded snob. i really appricate that.

well i could get a new E39 BMW m5 that does teh 1/4 in 13.75@105.69. i can't find any other BMW specs right now. everyone knows that its pretty easy to make a car go in a straight line. any bmw will kick its A$$ on the track. actually i have driven a Mustang. now it wasn't the SVT but it was the GT. it was crappy and why are you just assuming everything. you have no hard evidence to back up anything you say. please state some evidence to back up your arguements befor you go shooting off you mouth.