Markus
SHO Member
Absolutely nothing wrong with that at all :sun:
SHO vs. Mercedes S550
- Thread starter PonySHO
- Start date
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Absolutely nothing wrong with that at all :sun:
Markus
SHO Member
There are exceptions to every rule, of course. Regardless, I think RonPorter's statement mostly stands, especially for those who have the $120K and have never owned a Ford product as good as the GT.
As for being "stupid like that", I'm a member of that very club. Purchased my 911 C4S and then threw $30K in mods at it. I just couldn't stop myself - the sane part of me, the part that kept insisting I keep my wallet closed, fought a losing battle with the idiot part of me, the part that wanted to make the car just that little bit better.
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Markus
SHO Member
But I would guess that if some time was spent in an S550, you would see and feel where some of the extra 69K went.
That's generally true of most luxury cars. When comparing my XJ6 to my SHO (both cars of similar vintage) in terms of features and capability the SHO gives up very little to the XJ6. The real difference between the two is refinement - Jag has lots, SHO has none. Whether this refinement is worth the substantially more $ it takes to acquire the luxury car is very subjective.
The most notable difference between the two cars is the powertrain. The Jag's longitudinally mounted in-line 6 driving the rear wheels displays none of the on/off throttle jerkiness of a FWD car with a transversely mounted engine.
Non-quantifyable refinement, that's a great way to describe it!
SHO is still a bargain and at the top of my list for a new vehicle. At some point, regardless of your economic situation, the dollar amount you are willing to pay for additional refinement reaches its maximum. Some people's dollar amount is higher than others - so cars like the S550 and 7-series have their market. The SHO is definitely not for only those who cannot afford more. It is for people who like value too.
SHO is still a bargain and at the top of my list for a new vehicle. At some point, regardless of your economic situation, the dollar amount you are willing to pay for additional refinement reaches its maximum. Some people's dollar amount is higher than others - so cars like the S550 and 7-series have their market. The SHO is definitely not for only those who cannot afford more. It is for people who like value too.
RonPorter
SHO Club of America
Here's a long story I've told for years......
After 10 years with my '89 SHO (and the 911 as the toy car), I sold it and bought a new '99 SHO. About a week after getting it, I drove back to Louisville for a wedding. After the ceremony, I swapped cars with my buddy for the drive to the reception, who had an '89 535i with 135K on it (it was also an auto). Getting in the BMW I immediately notice that the seats are better than the '99 SHO. The engine can be heard and felt, but "just enough". The exhaust can be heard, but "just enough". The 4-speed auto tranny had nice, crisp shifts, and done at the right time, unlike the SHO ATX. Sure, the new SHO could probably nail it in a drag race, but this was a 10-year-old BMW that was still more refined than a new SHO. The Germans sweat this small stuff. And to me, makes them worth the price.
There is "the best", and then there is "the best for the money". It is good to learn the difference. Same with my collection of Swiss automatic watches, but that's another topic.
Remember, the Germans couldn't understand why Americans wanted cup holders! Who drinks while driving!
It will always be an argument. After having driven quite a few of the mentioned vehicles, I can say that the '10 show can give the lower and quite a few of the middle rung BMWs a run for their money. It's really rather well done...
It will always be an argument. After having driven quite a few of the mentioned vehicles, I can say that the '10 show can give the lower and quite a few of the middle rung BMWs a run for their money. It's really rather well done...
RonPorter
SHO Club of America
I'm glad I'm not in the market for a new car, as the 3-series turbo with a 6-speed, which, with a careful watch on the options list, would cost the same as a new SHO. It would be a tough choice.
If you are okay with it being a smaller car, sure. I wanted the larger size sedan, which makes it necessary to compare to the 5-series...and it was a tough choice. I was at the BMW dealer a few times before picking up the SHO. One of the things that actually kept me toward the Ford was the Nav unit...iDrive in the BMW is still just really annoying to use. lol.
I wanted the larger size sedan, which makes it necessary to compare to the 5-series...and it was a tough choice. I was at the BMW dealer a few times before picking up the SHO. One of the things that actually kept me toward the Ford was the Nav unit...iDrive in the BMW is still just really annoying to use. lol.
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I'm not crazy about price comparisons between a loaded X and a stripped Y. Either you want the extra features, or you don't.
Ran the 335i and SHO through my site's price comparison tool, which equips the cars similarly and adjusts for remaining feature differences, and the difference is about $10,000.
Car price comparisons
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thebigjimsho
LSA = YUM
Ah yes, TrueDelta. That looks familiar...:swing:
As does "thebigjimsho." Never realized that the sho was for SHO, though. Pre-CTS?
thebigjimsho
LSA = YUM
Indeed. I like hanging out with these guise still. Dems good people...
NebraskaSHO
Harumph!
It's actually The Big Jims **.
Don't let him fool you.
Don't let him fool you.
YZF-Ford
SHO Member
If I were considering the Mercedes I'd be looking at the MKS, not the SHO.
stephen newberg
SHO Member
I find myself considering it again also, Ron. Any years/models you are specifically targeting? I am thinking about a late '60s E, but might be talked into a much more recent one with AWD. No rush, thankfully.
pax, smn
RonPorter
SHO Club of America
Yeah, but if you've spent time with BMW's option list, it's far more extensive than Ford's. Plus, the car is more than adequate without ladling on all that other stuff.
For only a $10K delta with whatever options you used, I'll still take the 335i. Although in my quick run through the option list a fdew months back, the difference was not that great.
And yeah, after having the LGT, which fits my 6' 208# frame just fine, the 3-series also fits me, and we don't need the 5-series (nor the SHO's) size.
RonPorter
SHO Club of America
I liked the '84, but I wouldn't get another cab (got that out of my system). I would consider an '89, don't much care for the 964, then I would look at '95 - '98 993s, with a preference toward the '95. If I was gonna daily-drive one, a newer water pumper in AWD would be nice, but this would be a summer/play/track car for me.
And actually, a used Boxster S or even a used Cayman woiuld also be nice. Yeah, water pumpers, but the Boxster is pretty useful for two people taking a trip. It just needs more power.
stephen newberg
SHO Member
That was why I put aside the thought of a Boxster.
Interesting other choices. For me also it would be a play vehicle. The SHO now is no longer a daily driver, as in our retired situation, we end up using the truck most of the time but really do not have a daily driver at all.
I will have to take a look at the 993. Good chatting with you again. Glad to see you here at this forum more often these days.
pax, smn
Interesting other choices. For me also it would be a play vehicle. The SHO now is no longer a daily driver, as in our retired situation, we end up using the truck most of the time but really do not have a daily driver at all.
I will have to take a look at the 993. Good chatting with you again. Glad to see you here at this forum more often these days.
pax, smn
prostreetcav
New Member
one small lil thing in favor of mercedes no matter what the model. dealer treatment of the customer. i have a benz.. love it. love the treatment and i know i paid for it. but thats ok. any problem is no problem at benz- here take a loaner for anything including an oil change or car wash. just went to ford the other day with a lil question about my brand new SHO. and the dick says i dont think thats even one of our cars, it had their dealer plate on it!! so basically a dealership thats nice, or one where i want to break someones nose?????????????
