svir

I am faced with a dilemma. Recently I saw a 2007 CLK550 Coupe for sale that caught my eye. The car has the following options and only 13000 miles.

* Designo Graphite
* Black-Leather-Sport
* 17Inch AMg Wheels
* -Hands-Free Communication System Prewiring
* -Active Ventilated Front Seats
* -Driver Multi-Contour Seat
* -Power Tilt/Sliding Glass Sunroof
* -Includes 1-touch open/close.
* -Heated Headlamp Washers
* -Bi-Xenon Active Light System
* -Cornering Fog Lamps
* -harman/kardon LOGIC7 Premium Surround-Sound System
* -6-Disc CD Changer
* -Heated Windshield Washer System
* -Includes black with porcelain nappa leather interior.
* -Nappa Leather Upholstery
* -Black Designo Floor Mats w/Leather Trim
* -Wood/Leather Steering Wheel
* -Rear Side Airbags
* -Keyless Go

The dealer called me yesterday and offered to trade that CLK550 for my 2007 C230 base model with 37000 +12,000 cash. It looks like a pretty fair trade, but what do you guys think???

Is that color interior hard to keep clean? How are 550 engines on gas because over a year and a half, I averaged 23.8 MPG with the C230.
Which car has holds better resale value and other things I should be aware of...

Here are some pictures I took with my phone

Twenty4Play

Gonna need some more numbers to tell you if it's a good deal.

What are they offering you for the C230?
How much is the CLK?
Do you owe anything on the C230? If so, how much?
Are you paying the $12k in cash or loan?

CLK550 will get considerably less gas mileage than your C230, it'll get about 16mpg (mixed hwy/road).

svir

Both cars are clean titles with clean carfaxes. My car is paid and I am giving them cash. As far as the price on the CLK550, they want $35K. I mostly concerned with depreciation because the CLK550 2 years ago was $70K and has already lost 50% of its value. I am concerned about that. I don't want to buy this car and in a year time to be valued something like 20-21 thousand dollars.

samaritrey

they are giving you a 23k trade in!! take it your car in my area is selling for about the same money if not less.
but remember the clk is dead and the e coupe is born.
i would check to see if 35k is a good price for the clk though i have no clue what they sell for. i do like the one you found seems to be very nicely equipped which is a big + in my book.

LILBENZ230

The CLK has already taken its biggest depreciation hit. They're not giving you $23k on your C230.. they're discounting the CLK. They can put it on paper however they like, but that's where the money is coming from - off the CLK.

That said, cars are not assets, as you know. Depreciation is inevitable. If it will be yours free and clear, and you aren't planning to get rid of it in 1 year, I don't see why you should place a ton of emphasis on what the potential future market value will be. No one can really know what the market will be like in a year anyway.

HellsAngel

that CLK is gorgeous

Chris The Swede

I think it sounds like a GOOD deal..Love that CLK 550....

samaritrey

didn't think about it that way lol i really should stop posting when i am so tired.
and +1 on the second part. you buy a car to not to hold your life's savings.