There is no better sports car than the roadster to provide everything you want with the comfort of affordability, and no two roadsters can deliver this like 2017 Mercedes-Benz SLC and the BMW Z4. From country roads, to cross-town commutes, to track day weekends, you can make yourself right at home in either of these roadsters. Both are lightweight, powerful, and affordable, but which is a better investment? Is it the V6 in the SLC or the inline-6 in the Z4?
On one hand, you have the classic twin turbo in the BMW. On the other, you have a biturbo V6 in the Mercedes-Benz AMG®. They provide a similar amount of power, pushed through similar exterior dimensions to the rear wheels and they their curb weight differs by less than ten pounds. To determine which is superior, you must delve deeper into the numbers because although the two roadsters are very much alike, even a small difference in power or weight can be night and day behind the wheel.
2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG® SLC 43 | VS | 2017 BMW Z4 sDrive35is |
$60,300 | MSRP | $66,350 |
3.0L Biturbo V6 | Engine | 3.0LBMW TwinPower Turbo I6 |
362 HP | Horsepower | 335 HP |
384 lb-ft | Torque | 332 lb-ft |
Although some may prefer the sound of a traditional twin-turbo I6, we prefer the thrill of the extra horsepower and torque in the biturbo V6. It is well balanced and agile, providing much more power at low RPMS and even more horsepower at high RPMS. The difference between a biturbo system and a twin turbo system is that biturbo engines have two identical turbochargers that work simultaneously together. In a twin turbo setup, the two turbos are typically different sizes, meant for low RPM and high RPM. Traditionally, twin turbo is the most popular means of forced induction, but lately, Mercedes-Benz AMG® biturbo-mania is sweeping the globe. After all, who can argue with more horsepower, more torque, and less weight?
When it comes time to invest in a roadster, you will be doing yourself a giant favor by sticking with the Mercedes-Benz SLC. Even with all of its performance advantages, it still costs more than $5,000 less from the factory than the BMW Z4. Think you're ready for a test drive? Come to Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead today to see what we have in stock!