Norman is right in that there is more to the 500E than just a 320 HP engine and tuned suspension.

You can probably make a 400E-E420 handle as good as or better than a stock 500E if you want to put the money into it. I'd say for probably $3,000 with parts and labor, you have a better handling car.

But when you spend say $8-9K on a nice 400E/E420, and then start dumping $3K here, $2K there, for improvements, pretty soon you're up to the point where just having purchased a 500E in the first place, is probably a more attractive option.

I have found with cars (MB and non-MB) the following rule: one will spend LOTS of money trying to turn a car into something that it wasn't originally designed nor intended to be. It's certainly possible to do this, and the results can be satisfying if done correctly. However, it is ALWAYS better, if one wants to turn a non-sports car/sedan/roadster into a sports car/sedan/roadster, to just purchase a car that was purpose-built to be one in the first place.

Even decent 500Es are at the point now ($12-15K) that they are getting VERY accessible.

Cheers,
Gerry

Gerry, agree with you 100%.

With the cost of the car, I have an additional $25K into a C36 powered wagon done the RIGHT WAY.

Granted, none were offerred in the USA, but if an E55 AMG wagon was offerred, I would have been half-way-there, and much better resale.

Get a 500E!

:-) neil

PS: drop the proper 3.06 diff into a 400E/E420, and watch out 500E . . .
Ask Stu Ritter . . . (his has a limited-slip!)

Drive the latest super sedans here...

http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=98269

I agree with this, big time. I wish I had a nickel for every person that showed up on the Porsche forums and wrote "I just bought a - how do I add a turbo?" Invariably, the person gets pissed that everyone offers the same advice: sell your car and get a turbo model - it will be cheaper in the long run.

That said, there seems to be a pretty broad gap in price between nicer 400Es and nicer 500Es, and it seems there's money to be saved as long as you stick with upgrading the suspension and don't shoot for more horsepower (which seems to run $200/pony or more).


Emanuel

epbrown, I'll try to bring the topic back on track since I derailed this thread with my comment ;-)

If you are buying a car as an investment (collector's item), there is absolutely no comparison between the 400E and 500E. I imagine your needs are better aligned with buying a very nice low-mileage 500E than turning a 400E into a project car. I would certainly target the mid-$20k+ market, possibly $30k+ for a pristine or completely restored example.

It's well worth the wait to find the right 500E for your stable; a maintained example will depreciate much less than a 400E of the same vintage/mileage.

My personal projects with the E420 are simply that: Build a faster and stronger car within the original budget. Used cars are always a risk and return nothing but smiles or frowns after investment. When it becomes necessary to revise the original budget to keep the car functional, I start looking for another car.

Just another unsolicited twopence ;-)
-DM

__________________
1995 E420 SE black/black
2004 Volvo V70R AWD

You ought to be able to get a VG+ 500E, with low miles (say 50-60K) for the $22-25K range. This would include records and all that. I would say that $20K would be a minimum for a really good car, though there are bargains to be had. The best place to look for cars for sale is at www.500ecstasy.com as many owners advertise their cars there.

Cheers,
Gerry