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Originally Posted by DansSlk  I understand what your saying mate.
I think its just said because it makes financial sense to be at the top of the factory totem pole before paying a tuner.
But like you said everybody has reasons |
Dan, that is still somewhat subjective, but I understand what you mean. However, I do not think people consider every point of cost.
First off, what price do you put on driving a car with older, ineffecient technology that Mercedes-Benz and AMG have all but abondoned? 3-Valve engines are the past. Sure it's the top of the model line in price, and in performance, but it's older technology then the new 4-valve V6's and V8's.
Driving an SLK55, I barely averaged 11 MPG. An SLK350, 22 MPG is easy. Now, let's take it down for a supercharger, say to 20 MPG with a 6-speed.
At 15,000 miles a year, that's 750 gallons of fuel for a SLK350, and 1,364 gallons for an SLK55. That means, you gotta pump in 614 more gallons of premium into the 5.5L. Using a low price of US$3.35 for premium, that means the SLK55 costs US$2,057 a year more just in fuel.
Drive that car around for 5 years, and you've paid $10,000 more for the SLK55 then the SLK350 with a SuperCharger. Then, add in what you think you'll save in insurance costs, less tickets, and less likely to get stolen being the "lesser model".
Also, you can't put a price on blitzkreiging someone with a "lesser" model car.
All that doesn't matter, really, because it is what you want, and what you like.
It does get tiring hearing people beat the "just buy an SLK55" horse. We're asking for assistance on modifying or adjusting the car we wanted and we love. We don't tell SLK55 owners they would be better off to go buy a Corvette when they ask about modifying an SLK55 with Nitros.