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Would you recommend I buy a Mercedes-Benz SLK or a Porsche 911?

I am looking to buy a fun car within a budget of about £20,000. It will be a second car and will not cover many miles. It needs to be a convertible, with an auto/semi auto box. I have narrowed it down to either a Mercedes-Benz SLK AMG, as I have been very pleased in the past with SLKs, or a Porsche 911 C4S, wide-bodied. The back seats of the 911 would be useful with our small grandchildren. I am not bothered about the soft top as it will be garaged. I have never had a Porsche so have a leaning in that direction, but your views on both cars would be appreciated

Asked on 5 October 2013 by JA, via email

Answered by Honest John
These are wildly different cars. The SLK has quite a lot of power, but fairly unresolved suspension. I find them a bit dangerous to drive quickly. The 911 is pure sportscar, but £20,000 doesn't get you a very good one. For a start, if you want automatic, this will be the old torque converter Tiptronic slushbox. And if you want a convertible 4S it's going to be the older 996. The 3.6 was a lot more reliable than the 3.4, but great care needs to be taken buying one of these and a proper warranty is essential, otherwise you could get hit with £12,000 for an engine rebuild. More in www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar
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