Trying to figure out if I should buy a "commuter" car.

I imagine that I will sell the CL in about 2 years.

The car: 2008 CL63 - 010 package.
Current miles: 10,000

The dilemma:
I drive 19,000 miles/year to work. Another 4k on weekends/pleasure.

Option 1:
Use the CL63 as daily and weekend driver. In 2 years, the car will have will have 48,000 miles on it.

What will it be worth?

Options 2:
Use the CL63 as a weekend driver only. Buy a BMW 335 (or similar) for $800/month and use that as my daily driver.

In 2 years, the CL63 will have 18,000 miles on it. What will it be worth then?

The 335 will have 38,000 miles on it and I assume I could sell it for what's left on the loan (about half).

Does this formula justify buying a daily driver?

I imagine a 335 would also save me over $100/month in gas as well.

Option 2 for sure. You would get killed trying to sell a cl63 with 48,000 miles in two years. The 335 would definitly be worth it. Just my opinion

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2009/...hip/index.html

Check out estimated depreciation figures on an CL63

First year will be worse, moving forward, it somewhat better, although still takes a beating in depreciation.

or less......

No one knows what any car is worth in 2yrs; it'll be worth whatever mkt is willing to pay for a used, obsolete car

Need to decide for self what one's health is worth....if ever in a serious near-collision or actual collision, would much rather be in a new (not used) S/CL65 or 63 than any car on planet....cheap insurance IMO...can't ever buy back one's health after incurring post-collision surgeries/disabilities/lost income

Well, big benzes have such awful resale value, that I don't think the mileage will be a big issue between 25,000 and 50,000.

I think you should use the CL as much as possible, because the value is dropping like a stone.


Oh, and WSH, once you've driven the car off the dealer lot, its now used. Does that mean all the safety it had disappears as soon as you drive it? man...that sucks.

Buy a tank if you are so obsessed with "safety".....

Thats a huge difference in milage. The lower milage car will definitely sell for more not to mention will be in better shape.

the value won't be affected much by mileage when the car is going to be 5 years ('08 sold in '07 @ 2011); whether it's 60k miles or 25k miles, it will depreciate down a huge amount. i'm guessing low 30s on trade or auction, maybe high 30s retail. miles might give you a 5k delta. for that, who cares - screw getting the 335, buy and drive the heck out of the CL63. buy an extended warranty if you fall in love and don't want to part with the car in two years.

Yes, the lower mileage car will sell for more.

How much more? Probably not much. Certainly not worth the price of paying for the 335i.

Why buy a nice, expensive, yet fairly common car if you don't plan to drive it?

Its going to plummet in value anyway, and if you can afford a $150k vehicle, you probably aren't going to be too devastated over an additional $5-$6k worth of depreciation.

X2

Next go around, try my approach... I bought a used CL as my commuter, and drive my Hummer on the weekends, unless it's just too sunny i need to rip roar around. I like the two car option, but.....if you put the higher miles on it, i'll probably be the one buying it for bottom dollar when it's time for my upgrade. I live in a part of the country where nobody knows that my CL is an 05, they think it's brand new off the show room floor, if i run in to another one once in 3 months i'm going ot be doing alright.

ultimately a nice car is a nice car, do what makes you happy, and when you are spending this kind of money, how much does economics really play in to it? As they say, if you ahve to ask, you probably can't...

Good luck with the decision!

not true on mileage.

any luxury brand car resale (wholesale and retail) is affected significantly by mileage and condition.

said this - in two years with 25k miles a non-collectible mercedes in excellent condition will be at 50%.

alex