Tuskir

I thought I would bring this to your attention guys... was browsing an ebay and saw a 2005 CL65 w/ 30k miles, clear title, for $85,000 buy it now and the seller claims that the reserve is a lot lower. The car looks clean and I think its a steal at this price, what do you guys think? Isnt the MSRP like 170k+ on these cars? Someone should totally jump on this...

JLP

Why? They are selling at auction for $70-80K. $85,000 is a decent deal but you can get a lower mileage one for less, just a FYI.

Tuskir

Really? I had no idea... still thought they were selling for ~115,000$, I guess now is a good time to buy one then. You think it will go even lower since the new body just came out?

JLP

I couldn't believe it either but a buddy is a wholesaler and goes to Riverside and other auctions every month.

Even Manheim is showing $70-80 and that was a few months ago.

I think they are an incredible bargain (the engine alone cost's $65K retail) and should be in the $60's by August.
It might be time to dump my 55 and get a 65.

bfnnrgn

The 65s are tanking like you wouldn't believe. I was going to trade my E55 in for an SL65. Dealer sold one to a guy who bought one middle part of last year, an 06 blk/blk with 5000 miles who wanted to sell it. They were going to sell it to me for $114,000. That was until the owner found out what it was worth for trade in and he was 70K upside down in it. Sticker on it was $189k. Owner said forget it, I'll be having this thing for a long time. I changed my mind on the SL65 thing after that and bought a red '05 SLK55 they got in the other day with 6k miles on it. The E55 and SLK55 has proven to be a fantastic combo. The characteristics of the two are so different that it keeps things intereting and fun. Though neither is as fast as a 65. I think a blower on the SLK could fix that though.

Tuskir

Yeah the 65's are truly incredible values. However, it seems that only S65 and Cl65 are dipping below the 100k mark. The lowest SL65's are still in the 110-120k range. As far as the SLK55, I'm thinking of getting one soon for around 50k and then adding a kleemann blower for 12k, bringing the total cost to 62k. I think the result will be one amazing little roadster... there is even a video of a kleemann SLK55 running neck to neck with the new Z06 and beginning to overtake slightly at 160mph! But anyhow... low 60's is all I could spend at this time so 65's are still out of my league

eddietr

It definitely sounds like they are some of the best values in cars right now. Very interesting.

bfnnrgn

I paid 50k for my SLK55. Loaded '05 with 6k miles. Couldn't pass that one up. It's firemist red which is a hot color for the SLK. At first I thought, 'Red mercedes, ewww' until I saw it.

Vic55

You are a little off ...

only one sold in the 70's. The 65's do tank but they all have pretty much washed up (sold once over) so the hits are sunken. I personally would not pay 80k for a V12 65 with 30k miles. Here are the latest sales, no much action on the CL65's at this point.

/07/07 ATLANTA Lease $77,750 30,220 Above BLK OPL 12G A No
02/01/07 RIVRSIDE Lease $94,750 12,638 Above ALB WHT 12G A Yes
01/31/07 ST LOUIS Regular $92,250 8,393 Above BRI SIL 12G A Yes
01/04/07 RIVRSIDE Lease $89,500 13,505 Above BLACK 12G A Yes
12/14/06 MANHEIM Regular $85,500 20,713 Above 0 12G Yes
12/06/06 ST LOUIS Lease $91,500 12,532 Above BRI SIL 12G A Yes

Tuskir

Very nice car, I want the same thing but in black. You should definitely kleemanize it

Vic55

Actually if you are lucky you can find an 05 SL65 for a reasonable price, these are auction numbers so dealer prices will vary with recon:

10/12/06 RIVRSIDE Lease $108,000 12,530 Above BLACK 12G A Yes
10/24/06 RIVRSIDE Factory $99,000 13,560 Above BLACK 12G A Yes
12/20/06 W PALM Lease $102,800 5,075 Above AGNBLU 12G A Yes
12/20/06 W PALM Lease $94,600 23,163 Above BLACK 12G A No
01/04/07 RIVRSIDE Lease $88,000 21,960 Above BLACK 12G A No
01/10/07 SEATTLE Lease $98,500 3,266 Above SILVER 12G A Yes

Tuskir

Vic55, could you tell me where you are getting those listings from if you don't mind me asking? I check ebay and autotrader pretty regularly and never seen SL65's under 100k.

bfnnrgn

That's from Manhiem market report. Those are what they're selling at auto auctions. Individuals can't buy from there, only dealers.

Tuskir

I see, so since individuals can't buy from there, it doesn't really indicate the real market price of the car. Dealers will probably mark them up at least 10,000$ from what I've seen...

bfnnrgn

No, you can't buy them for that. It does give you a place to start negotiating from though.

Vic55

10k would be the max IMO, I work in the industry here in California and it really depends on how long a dealer wants to hold the car. Most pay higher rates on their B line flooring or cash so they may move them quicker and the lesser quality cars usually go to high line used car lots. I would estimate that after about 1k in recon they usually mark them up circa 5k, they may ask for more on the internet but those are all packed prices. Yes, the auction prices are not indicative but they lay the baseline for comparisons.

JLP

Vic since you work in the industry I'm sure your buyers also mention the fact that whoever wins the bid at an auction usually pays too much.

Alot of cars that get sold at the auction are being wholesaled at a profit already, CL65's are being hit by most dealers in the mid $70's.

Vic55

Dealers will always give unreasonable ACV numbers on trades like the CL65's or for any car in general. Dealers are the ones who bought the CL's (with the auction numbers posted earlier) so they are willing to pay more money but not usually on a trade in because that involves a new transaction with the purchase of another vehicle.

I would say yes if a customer walked into a store with a high miler 65 and wanted to trade it in, the dealer would hit them hard since it will sit on their used car lot for a while and they need to be in the car good while it sucks up interest. But since the average buyer on a 65 is still paying more than 70k some dealers, like the ones that paid high 80's and 90k for the 65's will roll the dice and look for the "one off" customer where they can make a big gross. If they are selling like that at the auction then there are still buyers willing to pay.

The values continue to drop- I stole mine and now I am probably right at break even. I dont care since I bought the car for V12 power, 215 looks, and plan on keeping it but others who paid more are stuck for the long haul.

jamie140

Uhhhh... no. That price range would reflect the higher end of MY05 and MY06 transaction prices.

BenzBoy12

So how much will they be worth in about 1 year? possibly into the 50s?

MercedesFTW

That'd be wishful thinking.

ScottCLS55

At Atlanta's Highline sale this week an 06 S65 26k sold for $84.5k.

It was White with black interior (very good color)and looked great. No previous paintwork or other stories.
These cars are dropping fast.

mosesgolf

CL65's & CL600's are going to be one heck of a bang for the buck deals going in about a year. Talk about a precipitous drop.

StealthAuto

WOW!! I had no idea they're going for that much off retail already.. The 65's are one of my favorites..

ItalianStallion

I'm really excited about this. My lease is up in a year and an '05 or '06 CL65 looks sooooo damn good.

Of course, I'd give it an ECU upgrade and have the thing running low 11's. I am hoping that one year from now I can pick one up for 70k the most.

Where else can you get classy styling, Z06 speed, luxurious interior, and comfortable suspension for every day driving for that kind of money? Granted, it is used...

But I can't wait! Its gonna be between this, the new M3, a used CLS55, a Corvette, a Shelby GT500, Nissan GTR (if its out and not overpriced). I think the CL65 looks like the best out of the whole group.