Bittersweet News
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'14 E63S & '14 Audi SQ5
Bittersweet News
I am getting rid of my 2005 CL65 for a CTS-V. Before I catch flack, this was an extremely tough decision. Ultimately, the plan is to give my wife the CTS-V next spring and get something more exotic for myself. I guess the two things pushing me to do it now was the depreciation and maintenance. I was closing in fast on 50K miles and it seems that once this car hits the magic 50K mark, it becomes a lot less desirable. I learned my lesson with other cars and knew that I should strike while the iron was still relatively hot.
I have a number of things lying around that I am willing to part with:
Akebono ceramic rear brake pads (NIB)
24 NGK IFR6Q-G spark plugs (NIB)
2006 S/CL/SL65 front wheel 19X8.5J, A220 400 1502 (44mm offset) bought it reconditioned and is in excellent shape, only on the car for less than 200 miles as the 2006 wheel color is a darker titanium color.
OEM Mufflers without tips
Tom
I have a number of things lying around that I am willing to part with:
Akebono ceramic rear brake pads (NIB)
24 NGK IFR6Q-G spark plugs (NIB)
2006 S/CL/SL65 front wheel 19X8.5J, A220 400 1502 (44mm offset) bought it reconditioned and is in excellent shape, only on the car for less than 200 miles as the 2006 wheel color is a darker titanium color.
OEM Mufflers without tips
Tom
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if depreciation is your major driving force and not getting the different car itch- may i suggest a cheaper solution?
buy good extended warranty and enjoy your car another 20k miles.
50k miles is not the true magic number.. your warranty expiring is.
so if your warranty has expired already- you will take a far bigger hit than if it has not- not to mention that the cl65 is not exactly a hot seller so it will take some time to sell. i can provide you with realistic pricing numbers, but trust me- you dont want to hear them...
just a few thoughts
alex
buy good extended warranty and enjoy your car another 20k miles.
50k miles is not the true magic number.. your warranty expiring is.
so if your warranty has expired already- you will take a far bigger hit than if it has not- not to mention that the cl65 is not exactly a hot seller so it will take some time to sell. i can provide you with realistic pricing numbers, but trust me- you dont want to hear them...
just a few thoughts
alex
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 410
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From: Northern VA
CL55, SL500, E350
Tom,
Get the warranty and keep it.
To me, say, the car is now worth in the neighborhood of $40K. If you keep it for 5 years (judging you still love the car), you are looking at losing/depreciating an average of $5K/year ($6K/year if you throw in the warranty). At 2015, you should be able to sell it for $15K, no?
Even $10K a year seems to be a good deal for driving a CL65!
Get the warranty and keep it.
To me, say, the car is now worth in the neighborhood of $40K. If you keep it for 5 years (judging you still love the car), you are looking at losing/depreciating an average of $5K/year ($6K/year if you throw in the warranty). At 2015, you should be able to sell it for $15K, no?
Even $10K a year seems to be a good deal for driving a CL65!
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I had an extended warranty for another 16 months. I guess it was a culmination of reasons. The trade-in was pretty generous given recent pricing (there are similar CL65's mileage wise on internet being sold by dealers for considerably less money than the trade-in value I received). The thought of doing a whole bunch of maintenance items in the very near future wasn't helping the CL65's case. I am a getting a "cheaper" car with features that match or exceed the CL65. This isn't a knock on the CL65, but a fact of life in automotive industry's evolution. The CTS-V handling feels much tighter and sporty, something that I was missing a bit. Like I said, it was a culmination of a number of things. I just feel this is the best time for me to move on under favorable terms.
Tom
Tom
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 410
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From: Northern VA
CL55, SL500, E350
What a traitor! ... just kidding 
I understand what you mean. I remember losing $23K just for 8 months!
So are you gonna hang out in the "Elvis" 's forum now?
Enjoy your new car Tom.
I understand what you mean. I remember losing $23K just for 8 months!So are you gonna hang out in the "Elvis" 's forum now?
Enjoy your new car Tom.
Thread Starter
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'14 E63S & '14 Audi SQ5
Tom
Last edited by TMC M5; Apr 27, 2010 at 03:28 PM.
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From: South Florida
2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S
I understand but I'm keeping mine.
Hey Tom. I totally understand the itch for a newer car. The CTS-V is an excellent choice actually. You may just want to keep it after all. I personally still love my CL65. I have thought about dumping it many times but when I test drive other cars and then get back in mine, I just love it still. Steve's CL65 is putting down crazy numbers!! I'm sure I'll love my CL65 even more if I do some mods to it (I'm still stock believe it or not). Going through a divorce now so money is tight!! When it is all over I plan on doing most of the similar mods Steve has. Anyway, I saw a 2010 CTS-V last sunday and it looks amazing in person IMO. Get the Lingenfelter upgrade for like 3K and you have a 650 HP beast!! Any car that can do a 60mph run in less then 4 seconds is amazing IMO. Don't forget us little people when you get the Caddy and definitely post Pics ASAP. Good luck
.
Larry
.Larry
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Thread Starter
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From: Maryland
'14 E63S & '14 Audi SQ5
Thanks Larry! The deal is done. I know that you have done some very nice tech. upgrades to keep your CL65 fresh. I wasn't too keen on messing around with my car's finicky electronics.
I thought about doing some more dramatic mods for the CL65. But in the end, my car is a daily driver. I couldn't justify spending that kind of money on a car that I use everyday (although if you ask Jason...he thinks I have all the money!). I put a decent amount of mileage on my CL65. In 25 months of ownership I put a little over 31K miles. That may not seem like a lot...but my daily commute to work is under 20 miles round trip. The higher mileage seriously impacts the pace of depreciation on this car, like all other "exotics". It is funny, I won't feel so bad putting mileage on a non-"exotic" car such as the CTS-V.
I loved my CL65...but I also loved my E39 M5 as well. The CTS-V's driving experience is very reminiscent of the M5...except with an automatic, 50% more torque and better seats. To me the CTS-V is a pretty good combination of the CL65 and E39 M5, very healthy torque, sharp... crisp handling and an aggressive attitude.
Good luck with the D... I hope it goes as smooth and painless as possible. All the best!!
Tom
I thought about doing some more dramatic mods for the CL65. But in the end, my car is a daily driver. I couldn't justify spending that kind of money on a car that I use everyday (although if you ask Jason...he thinks I have all the money!
). I put a decent amount of mileage on my CL65. In 25 months of ownership I put a little over 31K miles. That may not seem like a lot...but my daily commute to work is under 20 miles round trip. The higher mileage seriously impacts the pace of depreciation on this car, like all other "exotics". It is funny, I won't feel so bad putting mileage on a non-"exotic" car such as the CTS-V. I loved my CL65...but I also loved my E39 M5 as well. The CTS-V's driving experience is very reminiscent of the M5...except with an automatic, 50% more torque and better seats. To me the CTS-V is a pretty good combination of the CL65 and E39 M5, very healthy torque, sharp... crisp handling and an aggressive attitude.
Good luck with the D... I hope it goes as smooth and painless as possible. All the best!!
Tom
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