[squeezebm]

Right then boys and girls,arranged a day of ME time today well actually took along 'er indoors aswell

I have always fancied an SLK i know i know hairdresser and all that,but ever since i hired one of the old ones a few years back whilst on holiday i just like 'em in fact i nearly bought a 320 model last year,but was dragged out of the showroom by wifey being told i would look a twat in one and got the 335d instead

Going from an SLK straight into a 335d within 1/2 hr really did make me realise that Mercedes were still way behind in the driveability of their cars compared with BMers

Until today, new/revised 350 SLK really does answer all the suspect driving things that bothered me before they have an absolutely cracking little baby there and the roof and front end still make me smile

Overall 9.5/10

X6 in 35d form

WHAT a monster LOOKS fantastic in a brash up your arse sort of way but drives really well,just like an X5 as you would exspect,but 2 things really bothered me,we drove over the same set of speed humps and the bloody wheels sounded and felt like they were coming in,absolutely crap poise and comfort in anything less than a smooth road,salesman blamed it on the Dynamic pack and 20" wheels but for me it still was pretty bad.In fact the M was twice as comfortable with the EDC in comfort

but the worst was the hesitantcy from the Off,i'm sure my 335d was never as bad to make a sharp take from an island was not good i know that driving a manual now is just so much better for me

What really put me off tho' was the amount of barely used X5's on the pitch all at good money compared to new which would just tempt me too much

Overall 8/10


And finally an M3 Convertable with DCT

oh but what a piece of engineering that gearbox is,almost very almost as good as an Auto when required and the manual mode makes the old SMG feel like a John Deere

Roof looked cool,both up and down although i think the SLK has it in detail the M wins for me...................for now


same as inside obviously

All in all 3 nice cars but still the M for me (JUST)

oh and apparently my arse looks big in an SLK

[Porscha!]

Nice to hear reports on three very, very different cars!

Do Mercedes still do the SLK55AMG? I've always liked the look of them, "hairdressers" cars are cool especially when you are a little girly that no one expects you to know how to DRIVE That came out a bit wrong, I mean from my point of view of course!

Was the X6 the same sort of size as the X5? I have seen one outside Derby BMW it looked rather huge, lots of presence, not my type of car but heyho! And I can't imagine it ever satisfying someone who drives an M but what do I know?!

M3 Convertible is just I'd love one, have you driven an SMG car? I have, an M3 CSL (what a car, now that for me is the ultimate BMW would have one tomorrow if I had a spare £30-oddK) You would pitch the DCT above SMG? Would be interested to know how it differs and in what way it is better? Though I thought SMG was an awesome tool, especially for track I'd really really miss perfecting my gear changes myself with a conventional clutch, something to certainly consider if you are looking into a DCT car as your only motor.

Have you also considered the Z4M? A Lotus Exige? A Cayman S? Or last but certainly not least a 911 (997) C2S? Caterham R500? That is of course presuming you would only look at new cars and I have no idea of your budget so have included a wide spectrum of cars.

Other cars to consider on the used market TVR Cerbera? Porsche 911 (996) GT3(RS)? Porsche 911 (993) Turbo? Porsche 911 RUF Flatnose? BMW E30 M3 Sport Evo? Sooooooo many cars, too little time

[dxb335d]

Cool write up squeeze.

I really want a DCT M3. Must be the bollox to drive.

[CrimsonRedE93]

Nice write up sqeezy, I really liked the SLK I spent most of the time driving in the kerb over drains and finding all the pot holes, it really is a good drive but has a problem with seating

M3 Vert Roof down foot on floor in a tunnel

[booforty]

Glad you had fun Squeeze

Would love to try the DCT but I'm a big fan of manual's. Can you blip the V8 on dowshifts in the DCT? I doubt it...

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by booforty

Glad you had fun Squeeze

Would love to try the DCT but I'm a big fan of manual's. Can you blip the V8 on dowshifts in the DCT? I doubt it...

It does it for you just like SMG did on the old one.

[Big Windy]

GOod write up...damn that is a lot of smileys

[booforty]

Originally Posted by Big Windy

GOod write up...damn that is a lot of smileys

Squeeze is a heavy user of smilies... Its a filthy habitbut he's doing his best to give up...

[squeezebm]

I do find that i use a lot more now i have an M

[Porscha!]

So did these Test Drives actually come to anything?! Or was it a purely educational experience?

[squeezebm]

Leaving order down for a new 997S for march 09,and keeping the M untill then.....................i think

[Porscha!]

Oh your going Porsche?!

C2S or C4S? What options are you going for? I would recommend Short Shift, PASM (not sure if that is still an option or standard on a Carrera S), Sports Chrono Pack and Sports Exhaust (sounds sublime).

PCM - Only bother if you really do need it.

Lots of great colours to choose though if you really want you can go custom colour

Have you owned a Porsche before? If so it'll be old hat but if not you do know you can pick a new one up from the factory, a fantastic experience, if I ever decided to go new and Porsche (or had the money to go new and Porsche) I would certainly make the trip, makes it that little more special!

If you'll be using OPC Nottingham - Jasons' a great bloke in Sales but I believe he only deals with Used Cars, don't know anyone in New, also a long way off but when you do take it for service don't fall for the discs and pads scam, deal with Jim in Service, he's a good bloke!

[squeezebm]

Originally Posted by Porscha!

Oh your going Porsche?!

C2S or C4S? What options are you going for? I would recommend Short Shift, PASM (not sure if that is still an option or standard on a Carrera S), Sports Chrono Pack and Sports Exhaust (sounds sublime).

PCM - Only bother if you really do need it.

Lots of great colours to choose though if you really want you can go custom colour

Have you owned a Porsche before? If so it'll be old hat but if not you do know you can pick a new one up from the factory, a fantastic experience, if I ever decided to go new and Porsche (or had the money to go new and Porsche) I would certainly make the trip, makes it that little more special!

If you'll be using OPC Nottingham - Jasons' a great bloke in Sales but I believe he only deals with Used Cars, don't know anyone in New, also a long way off but when you do take it for service don't fall for the discs and pads scam, deal with Jim in Service, he's a good bloke!

Hey,thanks for all the great tips on buying a Car (really!! a factory pick up )

[Oli]

You can do factory collection with Mercedes and BMW as well - Not a lot of people know that!!

[Porscha!]

Originally Posted by squeezebm

Hey,thanks for all the great tips on buying a Car (really!! a factory pick up )

Always happy to help

LOL I know abit about Porsche and the OPC for that matter!!

I never knew that you could pick a new BMW or Mercedes up from the factory learn something new everyday

[squeezebm]

is it just me or does no one else know when i'm taking the piss

[Porscha!]

So you have not seen the light and decided to go Porsche then?

[mikem]

LOL.

[booforty]

+1 lol!

[Snooky]

Squeezy - I knew buddy - nearly spilled my nice glass of red!!!

[squeezebm]

Originally Posted by Snooky

Squeezy - I knew buddy - nearly spilled my nice glass of red!!!

factory pick up indeed

[Porscha!]

I am not even going to ask what is so hilariously funny about a factory pick up.

Proof you can pick up a new Porsche from the factory - http://www.porsche.com/uk/accessorie...orycollection/

I tried to help and be nice like the angel I am and find out that the whole thing is some sort of joke, which I still don't get at all!

Oh well, I'm staying out of these test drive threads in future,