llcd

What's a good price for this car?

http://www.platinummotors.us/detail-...g-3837022.html


Or should I wait longer?

regor60

low 40s

46woodie

Buying a CLS55 is like buying oats. If you want nice clean oats, you will have to pay a fair price, however, if you will be happy with oats that have already been through the horse, well, those come a little cheaper ! In other words, you will get what you pay for! What are they selling for? Depends on condition, miles, warranty. Good luck with your hunt.

A Robinson

I think you should source a Broker in your area. Who will either take you to the auction, or acquire the vehicle for you at a fair commission. All these used high line cars come from the same place. These cars sell for mid to low 30's straight from Mercedes at Manheim auto auctions.


Best,

llcd

Thanks guys. The vehicle was sold right after I posted my question.
What recession? I guess I will just wait for now. I am still a bit undecided whether a CLS63 would be better than a CLS55 or maybe even an E63 would be best.

Improviz

*Some* do, with high mileage and in not-so-hot condition; these are nationwide results from the past few auctions for CLS55s:
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged PNW F $44,000 21,718 High
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged CA F $43,000 13,759 High
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged CA F $41,500 35,235
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged TX D $40,000 36,318
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL F $39,600 33,374
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged OH F $39,250 34,155
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL F $38,250 49,881
02/02/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL F $37,000 31,360
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL F $37,000 39,901
02/02/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged SE F $35,600 42,959
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged CA F $35,000 46,195
02/02/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged PA D $33,500 58,651
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged E F $32,500 56,386 Low
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged CA F $32,000 50,107 Low
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged CA F $32,000 52,686 Low

Prices tend to drop off in direct proportion to mileage. If you want one at auction in the mid to low $30K range, you'll be getting a fleet car with high mileage.

Improviz

Exactly. It's impossible to judge a price based upon low-res photos; this car was, at least, a one-owner, non-fleet example and had been well-maintained (per carfax), but since carfax by no means has all accidents in its database, there's no telling whether it had/hadn't been in an accident, had paintwork, other sorts of damage, whether or not it needed brakes, tires, etc., was owned by a smoker, did/didn't have door dings, road rash, chips/etc, and so on...

Best way to determine the worth of a vehicle is to check the online sites like edmunds.com, then cross-check them against actual asking prices. That should get you a ballpark average, then price up or down accordingly based upon condition. Auction info is useful, but cars that are run through auctions are typically not pristine, but rather are in average or below condition; typically, the Benz dealers will keep the cherry examples as they bring a premium.

This particular example had mileage a bit on the high side, but not excessively, for a CLS55, so it really depended upon its condition. Autotrader.com lists 19 CLS55s for sale within 300 miles of LA with mileage below 45000, and here are the stats:
Highest Price: $55,993
Lowest Price: $43,900
Average Price: $50,549

So, it was priced right around average. Dealers are usually pretty good about setting their price points, so typically if a dealer has a car on a lot that's priced substantially below a particular market's average, there IS a reason for it.

A Robinson

There is a combination of both.

Best,

A Robinson

The car linked has 40,000 miles on it. I guess we will differ on our opinions regarding the condition of auction vehicles. I do know that the inventory at Manheim PA is a lot better than other Manheim outlets around the country. You cant use the MMR primarily to gauge the quality of inventory. Simply because the MMR only shows whats been sold, not whats been offered for sale. Above average low mile example are always in inventory at Manheim, they just dont always sell.


Best,

isellpower

I'll take the one for 37k with 31K miles. If there's nothing wrong with it that would be a smoking deal no matter what the color.

Improviz

Considering that, on the same day, at the same auction, one with 18,000 more miles sold for $1250 more than this one and another with 9,000 more miles sold for the same price, it's a pretty safe bet that something was wrong with it.

A Robinson

Depends on who is selling the car. Mercedes will always have lower prices than a random dealer selling inventory at auction. It also depends on if a dealer is bidding with a retail customer on site, and how badly each bidder wants a specific car.


Best,

Improviz

All three of the examples (including isellpower's) were Fleet cars, not random dealer cars. Dealer cars are designated with a "D", fleet with an "F".:

As to price: auctions are bid-based, so the price is determined by what bidders are willing to pay. Clearly, bidders at that auction, on that day, were willing to pay more for a car with 18,500 more miles, and the same for a car with 8,600 more miles, as the car that isellpower mentioned (last of the three cars in the portion of the list quoted above), which would seem to indicate that the dealers who purchased the other two cars thought they were worth more for some mysterious reason.

Lastly, note that all three of these were sold in Florida, one of the most economically depressed areas in the US right now, which will have a detrimental pricing effect.

If you're looking for a honkin' deal, I'd try doing an autotrader search of cars in that area...I'd bet there are some good deals to be had there. Just go over them with a fine-tooth comb and make sure it didn't get any rain/flood damage from the "inclimate weather" they get down there from time to time.

m_berman

I doubt that these AMGs are typical fleet cars or rentals for a company. Please explain 'fleet' in the sense that it is used at auctions.

A Robinson

Exactly

Fleet= lease vehicle sold by Mercedes Benz. Here are a few pics from inside manheim. All dealers buy their cars at auctions. Its not just high mile junk in questionable condition.


















Best,

Improviz

Here are their definitions:
So, this includes lease vehicles. The vehicles were probably lease returns.

The code for vehicles sold by a manufacturer is "M", which does not apply to the vehicles we discussed here.

Improviz

The data I'm showing includes data not only from Manheim, but also from other sources as well such as ServNet-affiliated indepentent auctions, etc. And they have different codes, M, D, and F, for manufacturer-sold and Fleet/lease vehicles:

None of the three vehicles I discussed are "M" cars, all are "F". And there are independent leasing agencies, such as Autoflex, which are not Mercedes Benz owned or operated, so you cannot determine by looking at this *who* the lessor was. So while it's a good bet that most of them were Benz dealer-leased vehicles, there are also lots of leasing agencies other than MBUSA. For example:

As to its condition: this vehicle was sold in Florida. If we look at the past four weeks' sales for CLS55s in that state, we have:
01/26/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL F $41,000 39,125 High
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL F $39,600 33,374
01/26/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL D $39,000 41,907
02/16/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL D $38,400 31,406
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL F $38,250 49,881
01/26/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL F $37,000 35,628
02/02/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL F $37,000 31,360
02/09/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL F $37,000 39,901
01/26/09 Sedan 4D CLS55 AMG 5.5L V8 Supercharged FL D $36,000 47,911 Low

Average price: $38,138
Average Mileage: 38,943

So the particular example being discussed went for a below-average price, even though it had below-average miles on it.

To me, this indicates that it was probably either lightly optioned, in need of some work, or not in as good of condition as the others.

Anyway, tough to say without more info, but it does seem like a low price for such low miles, so I'd think it wasn't in immaculate condition or else it surely would have been bid up higher.

A Robinson

Now i see why our views differ. I only buy at Manheim and only use their system.

I use MMR data in conjunction with what i see each week at the auction and on the block. Its really hard to say whats what if you are not there.

The Manheim Presale inventory report tells you if the vehicle is being sold by MBUSA. NE prices for 2006 CLS55's seem to be a few grand lower on average also.

Best,

emelhairus9

i agree..CLS55, combines stunning good looks and brutal performance.. but the price depends on the exterior and condition of what you are buying..

denice25

I think low 50's....

LSM777

I have an 07 CLS63 obsidian black/black w/15400 miles Nav, integrated i-pod, integrated k40 radar/laser..heated cooled seats xenons sat radio..orig list price 100,780 clean car for sale in classiied section for $55k

Lou