anonymousmoose

Strange but not bad , actually quite good.

Over here in Australia, I hardly see a non-factory moded Mercedes/BMW/Audi unless its early 2000s or more common 1990s.

Perhaps thats because we pay so much for these vehicles here. I got a great deal on my C200K, but I bet if you guys who are in the USA knew what I paid, your jaws would drop.

A w203 C180k/C200K 2006 with average 60,000k would set you back between $35k-$40k depending on condition and model. How much do you guys pay retails for yours?

Silver C

I'm Indonesia, I pay around the same like you do. Maybe only slightly less..

Glyn M Ruck

Yes - In SA where our cars are similarly expensive. (I would be running an S600 in the US for the same price) - Any modifications kill the resale value of a vehicle.

W203E35

Damn, that expensive overseas? S600?

Glyn M Ruck

Karo - My old 2003 C240 will still fetch $26,000 on the used market in SA. A used C55 still gets $75,000. In fact to be precise - A nice used C55 (I was interested) sold for R571,000 last week at my dealership.

CanadianSteel

Thats insane, my 06 C230 set me back 16K on the road with extended warranty 18k miles on the odometer. I'm in Canada btw

W203E35

75k for a C55?? Wow around here you can get a CLK63 Black Series for that much. I'm guessing importing a car there is probably not worth it?

Glyn M Ruck

Yes - That's why the youth of North America can afford to drive a Merc. You don't know just how lucky you are. Our cars are better spec'ed but are still a hell of a price.

You would be driving a Toyota Corolla in SA.

Glyn M Ruck

Used cars may not be imported into SA unless they qualify as a "classic" or older & then there are ownership regulations.

We are RHD to make matters worse.

CanadianSteel

Na Glyn, even at 30 years old I'd be looking for an old 280/300Z. I would rather buy something like that then go buy a new cheap car. Point well taken though.

Glyn M Ruck

Understood - You must buy a Merc in a country like Finland. Then you will know what expensive is.

Anyway - you guys are lucky - enjoy!!!!

W203E35

I know in some countries the tax is soo high that it's not worth importing a car but to completely not allow it? No wonder cars are expensive there.

You know my friends dad use to ship cars to Armenia back in the days. Then taxes got soo expensive that it wasn't worth it. Now what they do is (briefly from what I heard) they kind of strip couple of the parts and cut the vehicle from the middle and send it in pieces "so it can be used for parts" and I guess they weld and assemble it there.

Have you heard of any such stories in SA?

tommy

If it makes you feel better, our standard of living has been dropping for years. So we can "afford" nicer cars, but we're fat, in debt to our eyeballs, and will die younger. Is that better?

anonymousmoose

Not allowed in Australia if its 1989 or older. Only way around is if you own the car over in another country you are a resident in for at lest 12 months, with proof of ownership and use of the vehicle. Not just buying for friends and sending it over. You gotta come over with the car and be a resident in Australia.

anonymousmoose

Uncle in the Czech republic loves BMWs. Buys the insurance written-off but still repairable ones from Western Euro countries like Germany for next to nothing, gets them fixed up and drives them cheap around in his country. The law are very relaxed there.

anonymousmoose

I've been watching documentaries based on the mess your government coupled with the US financial sector has created. Looks like the film makers are still driving there new Mercs and bankers in Phantoms.

I wont get political; I'll just say its a good time to invest if you DO have the cash. But then again, isn't that what your financial firms were planning all along? Crash it all and buy up the competition cheap.

LILBENZ230

I'm from America and all the mods seem strange to me, too - if that makes you feel better. These cars are perfect stock and I can totally understand modifications ruining their value.

W203E35

What looks better Matt

This



or this





Modded cars FTW!!!!

phister

Ill take either one

W203E35

I would take the modded one. Ya the 55 is a beast but it just looks whatever but this modded one is pure win!!

mskembo

I hate the overly stretched look on the modded one's tires. Those rims look like they are just begging a curb to mangle them.

tommy

I take it you'll be changing your rims back to stock now, then.

anonymousmoose

You guys heard of BRABUS? A company in Germany that mods cars? They are up there with AMG.

http://www.brabus.com/raster.php

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brabus

Getting your car modded there will most likely increase it's value :-)

W203E35

People who drive cars like that they don't park on the street
No Street no curbs!!

anonymousmoose

Dont shoot me for saying this; I actually prefer the standard one. But thats not to say I disagree or dont like the modded one. Just my personal taste.