Convertible 09 BMW M3 vs Mercedes SL 550

Bighead255 submitted on 07/28/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 5:26 PM
from: www.autospies.com

Tags: BMW M3 SL 550 convertible

BMW M3 SL 550 convertible

Convertible 09 BMW M3 vs Mercedes SL 550

With monthly lease rates both in the $1400 - $1900. Which one would you prefer. Both are hardtop convertibles, both are pretty fast, and both are prestigious. So I would love to know the opinions of the car connoisseurs who frequent this site.

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GTR35 - 7/28/2008 5:48:29 PMView My AgentSpace

+9 Boost

SL hands down.

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Kraut_god - 7/29/2008 9:36:54 AM

-9 Boost

kraut that breaks down as soon as you take it off the lot. who would ever buy such cheap crap.

Agent63 - 7/29/2008 8:31:17 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Kraut talking smack again.

Larry - 7/28/2008 5:54:12 PM

+7 Boost

Fewer M3 convertibles on the road , M3 is $25,000 cheaper and seats 4 vs. 2 seats. M3 definely over the CLK and maybe a SL 550.

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mattman953 - 7/28/2008 6:27:59 PM

+2 Boost

nsmatt - 7/28/2008 6:45:56 PM

-4 Boost

This is one of the most pathetic threads that i've ever seen on this site.

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mattman953 - 7/28/2008 6:57:26 PM

+2 Boost

Be nice! =P

HSCenterconsole - 7/29/2008 7:51:48 AM

+5 Boost

Are you serious? These are two awesome cars with similiar lease rates. Why can't we discuss?

ZBL1414 - 7/28/2008 7:29:57 PM

+1 Boost

$1,900 a month for a lease? If you can't write a check to cover the full MSRP (for either one of these cars) you shouldn't be driving it.

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enthusiastx11 - 7/29/2008 11:22:24 AM

+3 Boost

well that's stupid idea...buying a depreciating asset.

leases are tax-deductible business expenses. so chop 40% off the lease rate to being with.

furthermore, the cash value of the car should be kept liquid and invested.

ZBL1414 - 7/29/2008 7:39:51 PM

+3 Boost

enthusiastx11- sorry to ruin your day, but you cannot write off a $1,900 a month car lease as a tax deduction. Check with your accountant if you don't believe me.

As for leasing in general, 99% of the time your total cost of ownership will be less if you buy the car in question and take the depreciation hit instead of paying the lease payments.

The rule you're thinking of is that you should never finance a depreciating asset unless it is revenue producing or the interest rate charged is below the rate you can earn on your cash.

Basically, this means- if you don't have the cash to cover the full MSRP, you shouldn't be driving anything above very basic (i.e. safe and reliable) transportation. Good thing we Americans do that... oh wait, no we don't... we just blame the government we things go bad after we make asinine financial decisions.

xj13 - 7/28/2008 7:32:34 PM

+5 Boost

both beautiful and fast.

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Agent63 - 7/28/2008 8:46:39 PMView My AgentSpace

-3 Boost

For those who deboosted Staar for that comment is a moron. The SL is clearly much more expensive than an M3. It's far more luxurious than an M3. It's a totally different type of car. Why is an M3 even compared to an SL550.?

CLK is the proper comparo for this M3. I would take a CLK63 Black Series over this M3 but I would take a 335i over a CLK550 anyday.

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bmwdrvr - 7/28/2008 9:04:57 PM

+6 Boost

lol whats funny is that you went through that whole rediculous banter to say how stupid the comparison is just to compare a car that costs 75-85,000 to a 130,000+ CLK amg black series that ironically costs more than the SL550 in question......and thats not a rediculous comparison...????

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Agent63 - 7/29/2008 1:01:21 AMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

Ops. I meant the CLK 63 AMG. I got the black series in mind cause I was watching a video of the SL65 Black Series which by the way is a beast. Anyways where I live the Black Series isn't much more than an SL550. At least not what I can get one for.

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ym73 - 7/28/2008 7:55:15 PM

+1 Boost

Do these cars even compete against each other? If money is no object, the SL looks a lot better and would be my choice.

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HSCenterconsole - 7/28/2008 7:57:28 PM

+7 Boost

The SL550 is a beautiful car, but this particular model is for the wife (the SL600, 63 and 65 are definitely for the guys though). I'll take my M3 in white with the 19" wheels and 6MT.

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quizz - 7/28/2008 9:59:22 PM

+5 Boost

This is a terrible comparison between two vehicles with two distinctly different purposes.

The SL is a luxury convertible, more luxury less sporting, and that's the way it should be. The M3 is all about the "M", otherwise it would just be a standard 335 convertible. The "M" does not add luxury, just a more powerful engine and better handling. It doesn't exist to compete with the SL, and nor should it.

"Both are pretty fast and both are pretty prestigious." LOL what an understatment.

The SL is VERY prestigious with a long history behind it. The M3 convertible? Not prestigious, but desirable for sure.

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Bighead255 - 7/28/2008 10:17:09 PM

+1 Boost

In my opinion they are in comparison because the number poeple who can afford either one is very limited. And as far as hardtop convertibles the selection for people who actually love to drive the choices of cars to chose from come down to these two. And by drivers and I dont mean people who just make the point A to point B but people who actually love to drive these are the only 2 choices in the hardtop convertible true driving machine catagory

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TauronB2G - 7/28/2008 11:41:22 PM

-3 Boost

Poor comparison. But for my money it would be the SL all day. The M3 doesn't compare to any car in the MB line up. Not even the CLK. The upmarket or performance version of a CLK would easily be the 6.3 AMG and that car has waaaaaay more horsepower than the M3. Beyond that the M3 is a hardtop convertible like the SL.
Even better the M3 is a specialized performance car whereas the SL550 is more of a naturally aspirated GT. But if you compare the SL63 AMG to the M3 once again its not a fair fight. The Benz will win easily.
T

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TauronB2G - 7/29/2008 11:11:02 AM

-1 Boost

Truth hurts don't it...I got deboosted twice!!!

HSCenterconsole - 7/29/2008 11:19:12 AM

+4 Boost

The CLK63 is a beast of a car and has more horesepower than the M3, but the M3 is by far a more involving and better driver's car Tauron. I know you have the CLK550 and are happy with it, but you can't deny the M3 would be far more engaging behind the wheel compared to the AMG.

MPowerDK - 7/29/2008 2:02:42 AM

+1 Boost

M3 here the sl looks weird i dont like it. Also i think the sl is i girls car or maybee a hairdressers ;)

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DaHarder - 7/29/2008 2:12:50 AM

+3 Boost

The M3 is a nicely executed, high-performance, compact 2-door sedan, whereas the SL is a true near-exotic sports car/roadster... Hmmm?

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senorgato - 7/29/2008 2:13:56 AM

-1 Boost

Easily. The Benz. Just a superior car. Actually, I'd pick the AMG SLK over the M3, for a fairer price comparison.

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PrancingHorse - 7/29/2008 3:35:37 AM

0 Boost

Was thinking of buying the vert when i got my 08 DCT coupe and i am glad i didnt get the vert,to much body flex and with BMWs electics gremlins i imagined myself driving home with the top stuck half way.
These comparison is stupid anybody who is shopping and has the funds for a SL is not cross shopping the lowly Vert M3,theyre cross shopping Porsche Vert,M6 vert,Jaguar vert.
If i had the funds definitely the SL.Lease rates are the reason why so many people are upside down on their cars and houses,stupid people dont think about service costs,insurance,gas costs and other miscellanous costs that go with a $100,000 car.

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Lexurious - 7/29/2008 6:08:09 AM

-4 Boost

SL550 for luxury, superior quality, and more appeal. The older crowds love the SL. It's one of the best luxury coupes/roadsters in the world. M3 is awesome too but its no SL in luxury but performance is there but nothing compared to the SL65 we all know that.

And we know that the LF-A will smoke the living crap out of this M3 when it comes out. LF-A and SL will reign superior to the 6-series and XK anyday!

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HSCenterconsole - 7/29/2008 7:49:43 AM

+5 Boost

Didn't reports say the LF-A would be priced at around $180k? For $100,000+ more, it should smoke the M3.

markanthony0419 - 7/29/2008 9:32:17 AM

+1 Boost

question wasnt which car is a better performer or which is faster or more horse power. the question was at basically the same lease price which would you prefer.
Answer SL550

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JRobUSC - 7/29/2008 10:47:59 AM

+5 Boost

except using the payments quoted the SL550 lease isn't "basically the same", it's 36% higher. Would someone who is paying $300/mo think $408/mo is "basically the same"? What about if your mortgage company suddenly raised your payments 36% (hello ARM loan-holders), would you consider those "basically the same"? I know I wouldn't.

diesotto - 7/29/2008 11:10:37 AM

+4 Boost

I'm biased towards the sl550. while the m3 is the best performer in it's class and it carries in the best attributes of the terrific "M" division, the sl brings almost 60 years of heritage, class, and iconic presence. Besides, the 650 convertible is the better comparo to the sl550.

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IS3andME - 7/29/2008 11:11:24 AM

+3 Boost

A guy in the parking lot just got a M3 convert, in grey, he was taking pictures of it. And from what I have seen with the new SL550 front, the M3 wins hands down in the looks dept. This dude has a hooked up M5, and had a e46 46, that he sold.

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supermoto - 7/29/2008 2:01:14 PM

+1 Boost

I just think the M3 is too over-designed looking. The 335i looks better... but ultimately if you have the cash and need two seats only, get the SL. If you want to save some bucks and get back seats, M3.

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Agent63 - 7/29/2008 8:33:34 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

You obviously don't know what you're talking about. The SC430 is the worse Lexus out today. The interior is shabby and the car itself is just simply, UGLY!. It was never an SL competitor and never will.

You obviously haven't been inside an SL. It's beautiful, fit and finish is superb, and a marquee model for luxury.

You're still a troll.

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irie77 - 7/29/2008 10:05:39 PM

+3 Boost

^^Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. - Abe Lincoln

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MBKing - 7/29/2008 7:32:21 PM

+3 Boost

I see more 3 series everyday than I do my parents...to be fair I see a lot of sl's as well, however if I were to choose one based on what they were the new sl is literally perfection, the new interior is soo bomb, and that front end is damn near heavenly. SL please

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iBimmer - 7/30/2008 9:22:24 AM

+2 Boost

I'd take the SL550, with AMG kit and rims.

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ubercool - 7/30/2008 3:35:44 PM

+1 Boost

Neither of these do it for me. My choice would be a Jaguar XKR every time!

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