The things I hate about the Boxster is the limited access to the engine for maintenance and a pain in the ass to bleed the cooling system. The Z3 is so much easier and cheaper to maintain.
I was cross-shopping a boxster and a Z3 and found a small problem with the boxster: I can't fit in it. I'm 6' 3" with a bias towards my legs, and I can't get my legs under the steering wheel without hitting it. Not a problem in the Z3, and I ended up with the Z as a result. It's been a couple months since and it's been a fantastic car, absolutely no regrets.
@@tyler9703 Love my Boxster but having the same problem, Im 6'4'' and look like Magilla Gorilla in that one. SLK is much more comfortable if you are tall.
I ran an import repair center where these cars haunted us frequently in more recent years as they became older and more problematic. The Z3’s disintegrated around the solid engine, the SLK’s faired well aside from leaking top cylinders that were expensive to replace, and the Boxsters were surprisingly good and routine. We always warned people of IMS bearing trouble potential, but none of our customers ever experienced that issue.
@@aleksbalazic both cars were featured in james bond movies. Z8 is nice but I'm not a millionaire and probably will never even sit in one. Z3 has nice roadster proportions and clean styling imo. If you wanna see truly ugly, look at the new 4 series :)
Back then the Germans were innovating with these small roadsters. Now their new models are ugly 4 door SUV coupes. Ugh. I really like the Kompressor engine in the SLK and the styling of the Z3 is so timeless.
Owned a R170 SLK manual and sold it 10 years ago. Just purchased a 99' Boxster. They are both great cars and have been very very cheap in the UK. All three cars are now rising in value the SLK and Z3 could have been bought for as low as £800 a year or so ago for a fully working and MOT'd car. The Boxster had dropped to £1500 but is on the rise. I picked up my Porsche for £2000 and is in great condition and just renewed its MOT without issue
My '01 SLK230 is fantastic, when it works. It's rock solid, quick, and amazingly practical for such a car. The interior is roomy enough for 2 people to stretch out in, the seats and suspension are easily comfortable enough for long road trips, and I can fit a week's worth of luggage in the trunk even with the top down. I wouldn't exactly call it "all-season" though, as that sophisticated traction control system bogs it down in snow to the point that it won't even move... and turning it off just makes the wheels spin. I just wish I didn't have so many electrical issues with the thing (I'd need a separate post to go through that Pandora's box...). All in all, I would still pick my car over the Boxster and the Z3, owing to the retractable hardtop and because it's more of a mini-GT than a true sports car.
+Dan McCarthy My wife has an '01 SLK320. We have now retired it from winter use after treating it to a nice new paint job, but for many years it was her year-round transportation. 4 quality snow tires and it always got through a proper Canadian winter with very little fuss. It remains a wonderful car for long trips. You can drive it all day with the top down and arrive at the end of the day with very little fatigue and a sunburn if you neglected the sun screen. That big(ish) V6 under the hood does drink a fair bit of premium along the way, though.
I thought about maybe waiting on a decent V6 SLK when I was shopping for my car but decided I didn't really need it when I test drove the car I ended up buying. The 4 cylinder in my car is plenty quick enough, and it pretty much runs like a 6 anyway. The engine note isn't what you'd call "satisfying", but it's quiet and easily drowned out when you have the top down and the stereo up like you're supposed to in this type of car. :) Thanks for the tip about the snow tires, though. I didn't know they really make that much of a difference. Maybe I should invest in a set before winter comes back again. :)
Dan McCarthy Well then if I may be so bold as to offer some advice: get the same size front and rear as opposed to the summer tires that are wider in the rear. I favour 225/55R16s at both ends.
I've got a 2000 slk 200k, I was looking for the smallest engine due to insurance and lack of RWD driving experience. I have to say it's enough power for me, especially due to it being so fast in the corners. The slk never slipped in a corner in the dry, no matter how hard i tried. The reason I got the merc over the z3, z4 and the boxster is because of the boot, I can fit my BMX bike in there for long trips and STILL put the roof down.
I had a slk 230 with the amg package. Loved the look and feel of the car. It was like a go kart, so much fun. Unfortunately I had a accident with it and the car never felt solid again. I wouldn’t mind the z3 , always been a fan of bmw, now I own a 2012 e92 ///M3. The boxsters style looks too soft to me and didn’t age well
This was a really really good era for convertibles: Porsche Boxster BMW Z3 Merc SLK Honda S2000 Nissan 350Z Ford Mustang Convertible Toyota MRS Mitsubishi Eclipse Convertible Toyota Solara Mazda Miata NC
I bought a '98 2.8 z3 a few months back. Love it, and get compliments on it all the time. Looks like the new z4 will recall some retro styling cues from it, from the initial photos I've seen.
I like them all. I had to choose between the same cars when recently looked for a nice useable classic. The Boxter and the BMW were the cheapest. The Boxter probably because it has a horrendous reputation for poor reliability of its engines, especially the earlier versions. The fixes are horrendously expensive and essentially require a new engine. I have heard people mention a new engine can cost up to $22,000, double the price of the car. I ended up with the an SLK320. It has unbelievable power and torque and feels just right for me. Also the looks are very understated by extremely timeless.
Nowadays, I think the z3 has held up best in terms of styling and maintenance. You can buy a well-sorted one for 5k and do pretty standard work on it, no different from a 3 series. Though the interior is a bit flimsy, overall it is safer than the nightmare engine of the boxster or the many problems of the slk.
Main issue with the Boxster was the IMS bearing. If it hasn't gone out by this point then you probably won't have much trouble from it. I agree that maintenance for the BMW overall is a bit better than the other two though.
+Owlrich BMWs from that era are a total nightmare to maintain. They're generally alright with low milage, but if you drive them a lot, expect to spend a lot to keep them going.
My personal experience is different. The m52 engines are quite hardy and reliable. The v8s from that era, sure, but that's not the z3. Other than that, you have a relatively simple suspension and top. The only things to really worry about are the cooling system and the interior trim falling off. Compared to the other cars in the line-up, it's far more manageable. I've had several bmws of that vintage and they ran well into the 200k mile range with only routine maintenance.
Former Z3M Owner Here, I'll have to totally disagree with that. 40,000 Miles in 2 Years turned out to be sensible and never had a breakdown. Just regular maintenance and some o2 sensors.
I have owned a Z3 for a little over a year at the time of writing this, and I can say everything they say in this film is 100% true. It’s a beast with the top end torque hood for punching out of corners and the styling is to die for. But I have never expected the jump they are talking about. The closest I have come is a bit of hip swing due to the driver sitting almost on the rear wheels but that’s it
Got a 98' SLK 230K and a 02' Boxster 2.7, both manual, completely different cars but are a pleasure to drive and enjoy. Porsche cost double than MB and there are reasons for that. Probably will never get a 2.8 Z3, way too expensive now
that brown and tan interior on the z3, brand spanking new! dayum! If you think these Z's were incredible, check out the 3.0 from 2001, or even better, the M
Adjusting for inflation a 41K 1997 Boxster buys you 61K compared to the current one of 52K. A 38K SLK gets you 57K while the current one is 47K. A 36K Z3 would be 55K today while the current Z4 is 50K.
kind of partial to my 98 M Roadster (my wife thought the 2.8 was too wimpy, as all the Canadian ones seem to be autos) but i think people would be happy with any of these (as long as they stay away from that atrocious two tone interior)
+VLCC Taking the worst bearing used by porsche, 90% of the bearings survive 90k miles. Before those 90k miles accor you probably changed the clutch or something else that expose the bearing. What Porsche did wrong was the "non serviceable" bearing.
My fav is the Z3 by far. Looks the best and 6.3 to 60 is at least somewhat acceptable, whereas the 6.7 from the Porsche is too slow. The Benz is just a chopped off 2/3 car lol. I'd still prefer a convertible V6 hitting 60 in the mid 5s or a V8 doing the deed in the mid 4s.
I had the slk 230 with an amg package. The look of the deep dish rear wheels the amg rear bumper and classy but sporty front bumper, really made it look like something Ferrari had designed. I loved its kompressor engine making it feel like a go kart. If I had to choose today, I would love to have a z3 M Version, the slk I wouldn’t mind owning again. The Porsche looks like trash and I wouldn’t even bother. If I’m getting a Porsche, it definitely wouldn’t be a boxster.
people that have the money to waste on expensive toys don't actually work for it. the rich are laughing at the majority of you slobs being willing to work for slave wages. you are so confused at how capitalism screws you
I have exact same z3 but in boston green mettalic, that car is probably best what happened to me in recent years lol driving was never so desireble. Lower it on coilovers though.
In later years they did make a manual SLK though I'd still go for a Z3 2.8, 3.0, or a M Roadster. Too bad the US only got the 240 HP Z3 M and not the 321 HP one.
DaytonCarCare The US did get the M Roadster with 321HP but was only limited to the 2001-2002 models. Those made between 02/2001-05/2002 got the upgraded S54 Engine with 321HP.
Seems the slight consensus in the comments is towards the BMW, but I don’t get it. The Porsche is so much better imo, in not only looks (period and now), but performance, feel, and quality. I owned both this gen Z3 *and* Boxter; not only that, but both were coincidentally the exact same as featured here (same engines, manual transmissions, even identical colors with the exception of the Porsche’s interior which was grey. The year models were slightly different though). I also dated a girl w/ an slk. Never drove it, but did spend some time as a passenger. I would easily rate it as the lesser of this group overall. The overall quality of the driving experience, performance, and most importantly -perceived mechanical/engineering is what I personally noticed the most after several years of ownership. The Porsche felt like a 5k mile car @65k, whereas the BMW was the opposite. It rattled, had a rough suspension, loose handling (felt like really worn steering hardware), etc. Wasn’t an awful car or anything by any stretch, but the Porsche was on an entirely different level imo, and this difference only increased with time. That being said, I didn’t have any mechanical failures on either car. The Beemer simply felt cheaper.
I'm a huge Porsche fan, but the first gen boxster is wicked ugly, I would take the Z3 every time just based on looks. Its too bad it took them another 10 years to make the cayman
The Truth I'm a 1997 z3 1.9 owner and agree with you that pieces are falling apart, especially the door knobs and plastic frames also the door handles. There are more defects actually, but I still love it. It sticks to the road so well on sharp curves. Probably one of the best chassis ever built IMO.
Would anybody else rather have a 1997 Miata instead???? I know all 3 of these cars have a lot more power, but IMO the Miata has them all beat in terms of chassis, weight, build quality, reliability, ease/price of service, and aftermarket parts cost/availability. Kind of funny that the Miata was 1/2 to 2/3rds the price of these expensive German cars, but look back on it 20 years later it is the best car IMO. That being said, I do have a soft spot for the Z3 and have been looking at both that car and a bit newer(NB) Miata. Love that BMW inline six, sounds great, smooth, good power. Also love the rather vulgar styling, its really held up well over the years. Only thing scaring me away is that German cars don't age well, reliability is kind of sketch and when it does break its $$$$$.
The Miata is a good car but the Z3 is great. Even now, 20 years later the Z3 still holds its own against modern cars. The inline 6 engine is smooth and powerful and the build quality has held up extremely well. The 5 speed transmission is top notch as well. It also looks stunning with the short boot and long hood....it really stood the test of time.
A Merc 2.3 supercharged with only 185 hp ??? , that engine was capable of almost that na (clean) in 1997.I think he got it confused with the 1.8 KOMPRESSOR ! My buddys 96 Saab 9-3 , 2.3 inline 4 put out 150 hp.
@4:3 Gaming I think you are correct , and any supercharged engine will always have more torq low down at the expense of high end HP. Speaking of the 1.8 kompressor , I think it was only used in the 4 door C Class , or not untill 1998-99. In Europe , The E Class was available with 1.8 K , 2.3 , Diesel and so on.
in what universe will that 230k automatic hit 60 in 6.3? MB claimed a 8.4 or 8.2s, and yet, the brave souls at retro review managed to shave 2 sec off.
The Porsche Boxster and the Dodge Viper GTS are the best cars that arrived in 1996. The Mercedes front end is ugly and bland and the BMW is too tamed and gentrified.
Damn these cars are real modern classics! All three of them still look fresh, especially the Bimmer.
crazy how modern that Z3 still looks
Cant argue that the car still looks great but speaking as a former BMW owner, expect to live with your auto mechanic.
The older BMWs were just about bulletproof. I have two around that year.
@@stevehunter291 you’re right for the 4 cylinder but the 6 is strong
@@stevehunter291 as a owner of 2 bmws for 15 years, you couldn't be more wrong.
The Z3 has a timeless design.
Never like it
@@montazownianr1 neither have I
so right
That's how I feel about the old slk they have alot of potential
Like every bmw made before 2005
The Z3 still looks good today!!
Mattyew yep I get all the looks on the road
Just picked up a 2.8 dual vanos and 5 speed manual. Great change from my Audi TT Quattro, much better handling and more top end power.
@@Veeveeskitchen Yup I drive a modified 02 330i and it’s still a nice driving and good looking car that gets plenty of looks
The Z3 looks the best here. But I think I'll have the Boxster.
The things I hate about the Boxster is the limited access to the engine for maintenance and a pain in the ass to bleed the cooling system. The Z3 is so much easier and cheaper to maintain.
@@DaytonCarCare and >10 quarts of mobil1
I was cross-shopping a boxster and a Z3 and found a small problem with the boxster: I can't fit in it. I'm 6' 3" with a bias towards my legs, and I can't get my legs under the steering wheel without hitting it. Not a problem in the Z3, and I ended up with the Z as a result. It's been a couple months since and it's been a fantastic car, absolutely no regrets.
@@tyler9703 Love my Boxster but having the same problem, Im 6'4'' and look like Magilla Gorilla in that one. SLK is much more comfortable if you are tall.
I ran an import repair center where these cars haunted us frequently in more recent years as they became older and more problematic. The Z3’s disintegrated around the solid engine, the SLK’s faired well aside from leaking top cylinders that were expensive to replace, and the Boxsters were surprisingly good and routine. We always warned people of IMS bearing trouble potential, but none of our customers ever experienced that issue.
James Bond drove the Z3, the styling is timeless and the car is overwhelmingly fun to drive. The true winner almost 20 years on is for sure the BMW.
James Bond drove the Z8, which is much prittier. Z3 is just ugly
@@aleksbalazic both cars were featured in james bond movies. Z8 is nice but I'm not a millionaire and probably will never even sit in one. Z3 has nice roadster proportions and clean styling imo. If you wanna see truly ugly, look at the new 4 series :)
@@aleksbalazic He drove a blue Z3 and the Z8.
The SLK is my favourite. It has a timeless design and in the SLK320 guise the quickest acceleration. I love mine.
Can't believe all these cars are pushing 20 years old.
I didn't even think of that until you said it.. good lord..
Mr. Hand buy them cheap
25...
Yep my z3 is soo much fun.
25 now
I'd go for the SLK
Back then the Germans were innovating with these small roadsters. Now their new models are ugly 4 door SUV coupes. Ugh. I really like the Kompressor engine in the SLK and the styling of the Z3 is so timeless.
4 years later it's even worse Haha... Blame the market though, they build cars that people buy
lol they still make an slk. you can even get a fairly recent model with a manual trans.
Z3 are bargain drop tops, small enough to keep in a garage, so many are well looked after, especially in the UK.
I chose the Z3
And so did... James Bond : )
SteamUP True, true
@@SkipW that was a z8.. a much nicer bigger roadster with the 4.9 v8 from the e39 m5 lol
professionalmuffdiving nomuff2tuff in golden eye he drove a z3 my friend
Owned a R170 SLK manual and sold it 10 years ago. Just purchased a 99' Boxster. They are both great cars and have been very very cheap in the UK. All three cars are now rising in value the SLK and Z3 could have been bought for as low as £800 a year or so ago for a fully working and MOT'd car. The Boxster had dropped to £1500 but is on the rise. I picked up my Porsche for £2000 and is in great condition and just renewed its MOT without issue
Z3 straight 6 little beastie, I'm addicted. Its uncomplicated and easy to work on.
My '01 SLK230 is fantastic, when it works. It's rock solid, quick, and amazingly practical for such a car. The interior is roomy enough for 2 people to stretch out in, the seats and suspension are easily comfortable enough for long road trips, and I can fit a week's worth of luggage in the trunk even with the top down. I wouldn't exactly call it "all-season" though, as that sophisticated traction control system bogs it down in snow to the point that it won't even move... and turning it off just makes the wheels spin. I just wish I didn't have so many electrical issues with the thing (I'd need a separate post to go through that Pandora's box...). All in all, I would still pick my car over the Boxster and the Z3, owing to the retractable hardtop and because it's more of a mini-GT than a true sports car.
+Dan McCarthy My wife has an '01 SLK320. We have now retired it from winter use after treating it to a nice new paint job, but for many years it was her year-round transportation. 4 quality snow tires and it always got through a proper Canadian winter with very little fuss. It remains a wonderful car for long trips. You can drive it all day with the top down and arrive at the end of the day with very little fatigue and a sunburn if you neglected the sun screen. That big(ish) V6 under the hood does drink a fair bit of premium along the way, though.
I thought about maybe waiting on a decent V6 SLK when I was shopping for my car but decided I didn't really need it when I test drove the car I ended up buying. The 4 cylinder in my car is plenty quick enough, and it pretty much runs like a 6 anyway. The engine note isn't what you'd call "satisfying", but it's quiet and easily drowned out when you have the top down and the stereo up like you're supposed to in this type of car. :) Thanks for the tip about the snow tires, though. I didn't know they really make that much of a difference. Maybe I should invest in a set before winter comes back again. :)
Dan McCarthy Well then if I may be so bold as to offer some advice: get the same size front and rear as opposed to the summer tires that are wider in the rear. I favour 225/55R16s at both ends.
I've got a 2000 slk 200k, I was looking for the smallest engine due to insurance and lack of RWD driving experience. I have to say it's enough power for me, especially due to it being so fast in the corners. The slk never slipped in a corner in the dry, no matter how hard i tried. The reason I got the merc over the z3, z4 and the boxster is because of the boot, I can fit my BMX bike in there for long trips and STILL put the roof down.
I had a slk 230 with the amg package. Loved the look and feel of the car. It was like a go kart, so much fun. Unfortunately I had a accident with it and the car never felt solid again. I wouldn’t mind the z3 , always been a fan of bmw, now I own a 2012 e92 ///M3. The boxsters style looks too soft to me and didn’t age well
The SLK has a chic two-tone interior? I think ya meant the Bimmer has a chic two-tone interior.
This was a really really good era for convertibles:
Porsche Boxster
BMW Z3
Merc SLK
Honda S2000
Nissan 350Z
Ford Mustang Convertible
Toyota MRS
Mitsubishi Eclipse Convertible
Toyota Solara
Mazda Miata NC
Dude several of those cars did not exist in 1997.
I have a 97 Z3 and still love it.
I bought a '98 2.8 z3 a few months back. Love it, and get compliments on it all the time. Looks like the new z4 will recall some retro styling cues from it, from the initial photos I've seen.
wow the z3 looks ahead of its time
the slk is classy and more usable every day!! love my 2nd gen r170 230k
I like them all. I had to choose between the same cars when recently looked for a nice useable classic. The Boxter and the BMW were the cheapest. The Boxter probably because it has a horrendous reputation for poor reliability of its engines, especially the earlier versions. The fixes are horrendously expensive and essentially require a new engine. I have heard people mention a new engine can cost up to $22,000, double the price of the car. I ended up with the an SLK320. It has unbelievable power and torque and feels just right for me. Also the looks are very understated by extremely timeless.
I used to love racing these things in need for speed but I would definitely take the Mercedes looks the most modern and that blue is electric!
The Z3 and the SLK in High Stakes, right? :D
Absolutely! High Stakes was the reason I purchased an SLK 230 though mine is the facelift model. :D
I have a blue slk 230 with rare 6 speed manual . Never selling
Nowadays, I think the z3 has held up best in terms of styling and maintenance. You can buy a well-sorted one for 5k and do pretty standard work on it, no different from a 3 series. Though the interior is a bit flimsy, overall it is safer than the nightmare engine of the boxster or the many problems of the slk.
Main issue with the Boxster was the IMS bearing. If it hasn't gone out by this point then you probably won't have much trouble from it. I agree that maintenance for the BMW overall is a bit better than the other two though.
+Owlrich BMWs from that era are a total nightmare to maintain. They're generally alright with low milage, but if you drive them a lot, expect to spend a lot to keep them going.
My personal experience is different. The m52 engines are quite hardy and reliable. The v8s from that era, sure, but that's not the z3. Other than that, you have a relatively simple suspension and top. The only things to really worry about are the cooling system and the interior trim falling off. Compared to the other cars in the line-up, it's far more manageable. I've had several bmws of that vintage and they ran well into the 200k mile range with only routine maintenance.
Former Z3M Owner Here, I'll have to totally disagree with that. 40,000 Miles in 2 Years turned out to be sensible and never had a breakdown. Just regular maintenance and some o2 sensors.
I have owned a Z3 for a little over a year at the time of writing this, and I can say everything they say in this film is 100% true. It’s a beast with the top end torque hood for punching out of corners and the styling is to die for. But I have never expected the jump they are talking about. The closest I have come is a bit of hip swing due to the driver sitting almost on the rear wheels but that’s it
Love Slk nice car ❤
Z3 2.8i for me please :)
That slk eventually became the Chrysler Crossfire
Lmao
The Z3 is the only timeless looking one . The front ends on the other two look so nineties .
Not so. They all have a timeless design . Imo
@@bobbysworldrox nope.
Got a 98' SLK 230K and a 02' Boxster 2.7, both manual, completely different cars but are a pleasure to drive and enjoy. Porsche cost double than MB and there are reasons for that. Probably will never get a 2.8 Z3, way too expensive now
Porsche Boxster!
that brown and tan interior on the z3, brand spanking new! dayum! If you think these Z's were incredible, check out the 3.0 from 2001, or even better, the M
Adjusting for inflation a 41K 1997 Boxster buys you 61K compared to the current one of 52K. A 38K SLK gets you 57K while the current one is 47K. A 36K Z3 would be 55K today while the current Z4 is 50K.
Good to know 👍
kind of partial to my 98 M Roadster (my wife thought the 2.8 was too wimpy, as all the Canadian ones seem to be autos) but i think people would be happy with any of these (as long as they stay away from that atrocious two tone interior)
And the reason for all three of the cars? Miata
I owner of slk. fantastic car. timeless
Z3 ftw!
High stakes for the win!
Driven all of them this past year, gotta stick with the Porsche boxster!
***** haha
I wonder if motorweek compared the BOXSTER S, Z3 M, & AMG SLK
Z3 is the best.
Porsche, there is no substitute.
+pelleper Volkswagen.
Naa...
Porsche is still kind of independent to VW and that's why they are make good quality cars compared to the VW crap.
+VLCC Taking the worst bearing used by porsche, 90% of the bearings survive 90k miles.
Before those 90k miles accor you probably changed the clutch or something else that expose the bearing.
What Porsche did wrong was the "non serviceable" bearing.
@@AE86ofMtAkina Not in that time... Cayenne and Touareg yes!
Had all three at some point. Id take the Boxster any day. The SLK was a nightmare the 2 months I had it.
You dump the clutch at 4000 in the BMW and I beat 5.0 mustangs in stop light to stop light runs. One of the most fun cars to drive
My fav is the Z3 by far. Looks the best and 6.3 to 60 is at least somewhat acceptable, whereas the 6.7 from the Porsche is too slow. The Benz is just a chopped off 2/3 car lol. I'd still prefer a convertible V6 hitting 60 in the mid 5s or a V8 doing the deed in the mid 4s.
I had the slk 230 with an amg package. The look of the deep dish rear wheels the amg rear bumper and classy but sporty front bumper, really made it look like something Ferrari had designed. I loved its kompressor engine making it feel like a go kart. If I had to choose today, I would love to have a z3 M Version, the slk I wouldn’t mind owning again. The Porsche looks like trash and I wouldn’t even bother. If I’m getting a Porsche, it definitely wouldn’t be a boxster.
The Boxster was always my choice since I'm a big fan of Porsche. But please don't hold that against me, I actually admire all three of them.😍
Z3 for Me !
Childhood Memories
"it delivered performance than any luxury rag top (um it has a retractable hardtop) has a right too!" the irony of this line.
In the comments Votes goes as follows as of today June 16 2020.
10 votes SLK
24 votes Z3
12 votes Boxer
So most vote the Z3 is the better choice.
2021 update
This generation SLK v6 was reused as the Chrysler Crossfire. I know this was the 2.3 tested, but seeing it reminded me of the Crossfire.
the SLK32 RULZ!
legend says that the new m3/m4 has the weird front end to make the z3 look older
Just got the slk 200 r170 kompressor, best buck for your dollar
Both then and today would have Z3
I have a used Z3 that I got cheap. I love telling people that someone was crazy enough to spend $37k on this ridiculous toy.
people that have the money to waste on expensive toys don't actually work for it. the rich are laughing at the majority of you slobs being willing to work for slave wages. you are so confused at how capitalism screws you
@@NoPrivateProperty Lol typical communist with the contempt for the workers he declares to champion. Ultimately communism is about jealousy
Slk is timeless
The new one looks so amazing it's insane!
The SLK did come in a 5 speed manual...
Yes it did theres multiple for sale on facebook market place currently
Mine is 6 speed 2002
My Z is pure excellence
mine too! I have a 98 M Roadster and love it
bmw
I have exact same z3 but in boston green mettalic, that car is probably best what happened to me in recent years lol driving was never so desireble. Lower it on coilovers though.
Z3 all the way, they just seem to get better and better as time goes on, while now every consumer buys a boring suv or electric milk float.
Porsche is the best...no more words.
European slk had a manual transmissions and 192 hp.
Black and dark grey, now in two-tone.
Porsche is the flagship!
+ULCC clever
there are plenty of manual slk230 r u kidding me?
In later years they did make a manual SLK though I'd still go for a Z3 2.8, 3.0, or a M Roadster. Too bad the US only got the 240 HP Z3 M and not the 321 HP one.
DaytonCarCare The US did get the M Roadster with 321HP but was only limited to the 2001-2002 models. Those made between 02/2001-05/2002 got the upgraded S54 Engine with 321HP.
@@ARGAMAWOO I believe the S54 in later US models was 315 HP not 321 like the ITB UK M3
If I am doing the maintenance, it has to be the SLK. If someone else is doing it, then the Boxster.
You're gonna have a hard time with that top and the electrics on the slk
Electrics are my thing. But I don't have a lift, so I cannot possibly maintain anything mid-engined
Black leather seats In a convertible is quite possibly the WORST idea any automotive designer or product planner ever dreamed up.
I like my z3
Seems the slight consensus in the comments is towards the BMW, but I don’t get it. The Porsche is so much better imo, in not only looks (period and now), but performance, feel, and quality.
I owned both this gen Z3 *and* Boxter; not only that, but both were coincidentally the exact same as featured here (same engines, manual transmissions, even identical colors with the exception of the Porsche’s interior which was grey. The year models were slightly different though). I also dated a girl w/ an slk. Never drove it, but did spend some time as a passenger. I would easily rate it as the lesser of this group overall.
The overall quality of the driving experience, performance, and most importantly -perceived mechanical/engineering is what I personally noticed the most after several years of ownership. The Porsche felt like a 5k mile car @65k, whereas the BMW was the opposite. It rattled, had a rough suspension, loose handling (felt like really worn steering hardware), etc. Wasn’t an awful car or anything by any stretch, but the Porsche was on an entirely different level imo, and this difference only increased with time.
That being said, I didn’t have any mechanical failures on either car. The Beemer simply felt cheaper.
I would choose a BMW.
ill take the mercedes benz slk
I'll take the Boxster.
Z3 Forever
These cars wouldn’t exist without the Miata’s sales numbers.
Cara esse carros esportivo agrada muito público amante automobilismo me faz dar paixão 👍😁
those porsche headlights looked good on the boxster and 911 GT1, but thats it.
alexander1485 :love the brand but never could accept those fried egg headlights
Great vid as always. Do you have any video about the Chevrolet El Camino?
I have one like new SLK230 automatic, 6.3 seconds 0-100km/h is not possible. It's manual says it's 7.3 seconds.
Team boxster
Well, here we are again with the Germans in 1997... how about a luxo-barge comparison. You reportedly got the 1997 A8 Quattro to 60 in 6.4...
And how about Audi RS2 - a wagon that went 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in 4.8 s, in 1994...
I'd hands down pick the z3. Easier maintenance. Looks prettier in 2024. The Boxster looks like an empty canvas.
RETRO REVIEW THE 1999 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA !!!
Now years later the Mercs on the road the bimmers on the side of the road and the Porsche is in some guys garage 😂😂😂
I'm a huge Porsche fan, but the first gen boxster is wicked ugly, I would take the Z3 every time just based on looks. Its too bad it took them another 10 years to make the cayman
Idiot....
The Z3 and 986 are classics now. The SLK... well, it's just crap😂
the z3 with the 3.0 engine is my answer to global warming.
The BMW. Slks are trash and aren't the 2.5l boxters plagued with problems?
+Kevin Garbaccio not plagued. And the 2.5l doesn't have the IMS problem
The Truth I'm a 1997 z3 1.9 owner and agree with you that pieces are falling apart, especially the door knobs and plastic frames also the door handles. There are more defects actually, but I still love it. It sticks to the road so well on sharp curves. Probably one of the best chassis ever built IMO.
Besides, I've never driven a boxster nor a SLK yet
Kevin Garbaccio Lol he is a ignorant shithead, didnt have to do shit to a slk320 the v6 in that is reliable as fuck!
Give me the Boxster....
Would anybody else rather have a 1997 Miata instead???? I know all 3 of these cars have a lot more power, but IMO the Miata has them all beat in terms of chassis, weight, build quality, reliability, ease/price of service, and aftermarket parts cost/availability. Kind of funny that the Miata was 1/2 to 2/3rds the price of these expensive German cars, but look back on it 20 years later it is the best car IMO.
That being said, I do have a soft spot for the Z3 and have been looking at both that car and a bit newer(NB) Miata. Love that BMW inline six, sounds great, smooth, good power. Also love the rather vulgar styling, its really held up well over the years. Only thing scaring me away is that German cars don't age well, reliability is kind of sketch and when it does break its $$$$$.
The Miata is a good car but the Z3 is great. Even now, 20 years later the Z3 still holds its own against modern cars. The inline 6 engine is smooth and powerful and the build quality has held up extremely well. The 5 speed transmission is top notch as well. It also looks stunning with the short boot and long hood....it really stood the test of time.
A Merc 2.3 supercharged with only 185 hp ??? , that engine was capable of almost that na (clean) in 1997.I think he got it confused with the 1.8 KOMPRESSOR ! My buddys 96 Saab 9-3 , 2.3 inline 4 put out 150 hp.
@4:3 Gaming I think you are correct , and any supercharged engine will always have more torq low down
at the expense of high end HP. Speaking of the 1.8 kompressor , I think it was only used in the 4 door C Class ,
or not untill 1998-99. In Europe , The E Class was available with 1.8 K , 2.3 , Diesel and so on.
in what universe will that 230k automatic hit 60 in 6.3? MB claimed a 8.4 or 8.2s, and yet, the brave souls at retro review managed to shave 2 sec off.
i was wondering the same myself. Maybe its with the traction control turned off. I have the SLK320 and it does 0-100k/h in the low 6s.
Most ratings I see have it doing 0-60 in 6.9 or 7.0.
@@gregghorner9107 for the manual, yes.
Oh lawd... Ill be 50 this year.
SLK32 AMG 349HP
The Porsche Boxster and the Dodge Viper GTS are the best cars that arrived in 1996.
The Mercedes front end is ugly and bland and the BMW is too tamed and gentrified.
The 2.8 z3 isn’t exactly tame. Especially if there’s the slightest bit of rain.
💯👍👍👍👍👍👍🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷 ual amigão só carrão da hora
👍👍👍👍👍🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷