BestSL

Considering a 2005 CL65 at Fletcher Jones in Las Vegas. It has 8501 miles. I would be the 3rd owner. It's black on black and they have to put new tires on it before it is CPO'd. This fact makes me a bit nervous. 8501 miles on a set of tires indicates some aggressive/hard driving. Can this platform handle this type of driving and still be very solid? Should i be concerned? I'm looking for a low mileage CL65, as mint as can be. Price is $56,700. It has no options, stock wheels. http://fletcher-jones-imports.ebizautos.com/detail-2005-mercedes~benz-cl~class-cl65_amg-used-6611741.html

The pictures are a bit washed out. Tires haven't been replaced yet. There was some passenger door scrapes that have been repaired. New trim piece was needed. Looks like some issues with the center console driver side. Impact marks or impressions in the carpet padding. Is the headliner the proper color compared to the interior seat/carpet? I have just seen these photos and talked with the salesman. He says that it will look brand new after being detailed. Anyone know about this car or have any experience with Fletcher in Las Vegas? Any advice would be much appreciated as this is my first AMG purchase. Have owned previous MB but not AMG. Thanks.

alx

i would be more concerned about the 3 owners on a sub 10k miles non-exotic. the fact that the car has been abused is prolly given too.

lastly no 05 cl65 is a 50k car regardless of mileage and condition. the car i question is a 45k car at best.

good luck

alex

TMC M5

I would be just as concerned that the car has no options. Some people would never even look at this car with no Keyless Go or Parktronic. The price is Way over market.

I wouldn't be too concern about the tires. Sometimes with 738lbs-ft of torque it is too much fun to resist. Leaving some rubber on the asphalt isn't going to hurt the car....it is actually better to do that than to actually dead hook and apply all that torque through the driveline/rear differential.

Tom

bob55

The V8 option, (CL55 AMG) is a safer choice option if you are not in a hurry. MB lists the CL55 AMG at 493HP, (conservative in my opinion), and 516lbs ft/lbs of torque. I own one myself and I can tell you that the CL55 AMG offers plenty of performance and is less expensive to maintain compared to the V12 option assuming you plan to keep it awhile.

A model year 2006 CL55 CPO is of course the "ideal" choice but since only 182 CL55's were produced with US specs for that year, a 2006 can be hard to find. There were a few notable changes that year: 19" Twin Spoke AMG wheels with rivets were made standard for 2006 and the EPA mileage improved to 15 City and 22 Hwy. (Previous model year CL55's were 14/21).

That said, a 2005 or 2004 CL55 is still a very good choice if the condition and mileage is right. Keep in mind the older the model year, the less likely you can find a CPO, but you locate a CL55 at an authorized MB Dealer you may be able to convince them to Certify the car even if ithey aren't listing it that way when you find it. Well worth the effort to make it a CPO if you can!

Good luck in your search whatever model you choose!

AZBENZ-CTSV

X 2 no CL65 older body style(W215) is worth more than 45k even with under 10k on the dial. i would look for a car with a bit more miles that has been driven and not sitting most of it's life- esp with the (V12)
I would say 45k max on the one in question.

BestSL

The original owner sold it in Tennessee with a bit over 1000 miles, in 2005, just months after buying it. Then the next owner just traded it in at Fletcher.

Really not a 50K car with this low of miles?? It's hard to compare. I've been shopping for a CL65 for over a year now and I've never seen one with this low of mileage. It is under book at 56K. KBB has a private party value of 62,525 for excellent condition, 60,125 for good condition.
Retail is 66,825.
I know, the lack of options bugs me a bunch. But i thought i could live without them and own such a low mileage car. It also comes with a complete and extensive 1 year Mercedes warranty. I can get 2 more years. Maybe I can negotiate an awesome price on extended coverage. They are firm at the 56K price. Thanks for the help guys.

02cl55amg

last time i checked, an sl65 was an amg.....

C280 Sport

The price does seem a little high but its also a CPO car as well so keep that in mind. Is this your first CL65 your looking at? I would shop around a little more but its hard because the CPO SL65,CL65,S65 are becoming harder to find. Good luck.

BestSL

This is the 3rd one i've considered, I've test driven 2. I also considered and test drove a very very nice SL65 in Bellevue Washington, ParkPlace LTD. It's on AutoTrader now. They are firm at 71,500 on that one. All options with 8800 miles. They won't negotiate and I'm not ready to get rid of a back seat yet. My first choice is and always was the CL65.

TMC M5

I have no clue how KBB prices these cars. I think there might be a 1+ year lag in the data. When I bought my '05 CL65 back in 2/08, the KBB was literally $30K more than what I paid for the car. For a car like the CL65, all KBB/NADA values are irrelevant. Even the trade in values are no where near what a dealer will offer. They try to use the auction prices to gauge values.

So do you consider that you "drive" an SL65 by taking it out on a test drive??

Tom

BestSL

Not sure exactly what you mean asking if i consider test driving the SL65 driving it. I put about 12 miles on the odometer if that's what you mean. I'm not saying i got intimate with it or anything. Total, I have about 25 miles under my belt driving 65's.
Tell me, what is your opinion on the price of this car? I understand KBB is just rough guidance. I seem to formulate my opinion based on all of the listings around our country. I do not want to over pay, but then again, i don't want to miss out on a low mileage cream puff

AZBENZ-CTSV

I have 2 good friends (GM'S) at two different BENZ dealerships and neither will give strong money on W215 body CL65'S whether or not it's a "cream puff"
I'm in the market for one as a semi DD and would not pay anything over 40k.
Take it for what it's worth. IT's a rare car- no doubt but so are the buyers of them

BestSL

AZBENZ, you are looking in the 40,000 mile range and higher right? I just can't see this one with only 8500 miles priced below 50K. I would like that, but i don't think it's going to happen. Salesman says no to 55K, that he will have it sold no problem if i don't want it at 56K. I have a standing offer for a SL65 with 8800 miles for 69K. All options. They want 71.5K and won't even give me a follow up call. They didn't even counter offer my offer of 69K. 71.5K or nothing. So I walked. These people are just as firm with this CL65 at 56K. I know all the salesmanship gaming, my wife has been in the biz for years. They are firm and declined my 55K offer, let alone the 52K i really wanted to offer.
Question, is a CL65 in mint condition with no options a problem down the road with re-sale? I put very few miles on my 2nd drivers, so it stands to be one of the lowest milage 65's in the country in a few years.

TMC M5

Ok.... look at your screen name on the left of your posts. You will notice that under your screen name it gives your "Join Date: Jan 2011", "Posts: 5" and "Drives: SL65". I found it odd that you put "SL65" when you admit to only test driving one.

I think you would be paying a huge premium for a CPO car with low miles. They will be sitting on that car for quite some time. I would offer under $45K. Heck, I paid about $13K more than they are asking for my CL65 when it had 17K mile 3 years ago...when it still had almost a year of MB regular warranty left and had distronic and parktronic.

Tom

kenpho10

there's a 05' cl65 with 30k plus mile with all option where i live. they are asking $44k or obo and its been on the market for a good 2 months now and no buyer yet.

i would love to upgrade from my cl55 to cl65 with 8500k mile but not at $56k. i think the w215 cl65 should be under 50k.

BestSL

TMC...ok, ok. I made it quite clear that this is my first AMG purchase. You've read it. Chill. Is that a default when i did my screen name? Yes i'm new. This is my first AMG purchase, thanks for being the forum captain. So, you paid what 72K for yours? Really, under 45K for this car? Could there be a point where these hang around and level off at 50K-60K after they depreciate all to beat heck? I've been looking at every available 65 for the past year and sit and ponder each one. Rule it out or consider it more seriously. Based on everything I've seen, this price isn't that far off. You may have gotten a very great deal. Based on what you're saying, the SL65 on autotrader with 8K should be around 60K. It's at a place called Park Place in Washington. They are really firm at 71.5K. One thing I've noticed about this forum is that everyone is really low on price opinions about these cars. So low that it never makes sense compared to all of the current listings. I would love to get it at 45K, but was firmly turned down. They say they will sell it no problem in Vegas. Did you happen to see the SL65 they had last week on Ebay. On for one day then sold. 66K, fully loaded, perfect with 6.4K miles. It sold fast fast. That's the one i missed. Came home at 3, talked with wife, she was busy for less than an hour, fired up the computer at 4 thirty and it was sold. I really wanted it badly. Easy on me...felt like i lost a loved one. Black on black, with everything except TPMS.

TMC M5

I am not the "Forum Captain"....I just thought it was odd and questioned the discrepancy.

I don't think I got any great deal when I bought my CL65. I actually think I got a better deal on the trade-in value when I got rid of it, After trading it, the dealer held the car for about 5 months and eventually dropped the retail price to $2K below what they gave me (not even counting the sales tax credit of another $2.5K on the trade). They ended up having to send it to auction. They lost money on that deal.

I just don't think that you should pay a premium for the mileage. Think of it this way. The CPO warranty is basically for 1 year as you will never get to that 100K miles anytime soon...right? So if you bought another CPO car with 25K miles you would still be looking at that same 1 year warranty. The only thing the lower mileage helps is that the maintenance items probably don't need to be done. Then again, another car may have already done the brakes and the 8K mile CL65 probably has half the life left on the rear pads. The maintenance history is just as important as the mileage.

Tom

02cl55amg

few ??'s
1. where do you live?
2. paying cash?
3. color preference?

i waited for a year looking for a cl65. i came very close to pulling the trigger on a few throughout the country- i am sooooo glad i didnt. in nov of 2009, i found a blk/blk 05 cl65 w/23kmiles on it here in las vegas-private party. i paid $47k for it. i figured with only 190 made, the chances of me finding a blk/blk, low mileage, warrantied, built in radar, stage1 ecu tuned cl65 10 miles away would not be smart to pass up. i ask where you live because private party auto sales in nevada pay NO SALES TAX! i saved $3800(which helped pay for the $2000 reg fee). im not sure about warranties anymore on these things. i got a 5yr/60kmile DC extended warranty on mine for about $3500, but i believe no one sells them anymore(maybe fidelity) $57k + tax and fees is to much in my opinion. keep lookin, you'll find one

02cl55amg

here is one private party in cali, 400 miles from vegas. looks clean and well maintained- offer $40k
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

BestSL

Few miles meaning.....lets see, bought a CLK in 07 with 53K on the odo, sold it in 2010 with 64K miles. Had it a full 3 years, put 11K on it. Color preference is black on black, putting about 25K down and live in the Washington, Seattle area. The one posted on Autotrader IS nice looking. Wanted to get lower on the mileage than that. I would like to be the first one to wear out the rotors. He has new motor mounts on that one and new brakes rotors/pads on the front, 3K miles on the rear tires. I've been in contact with him.

BestSL

Oh, yea, the warranty thing. This one at Fletcher comes with the one year warranty. The fact that it's CPO is a rare thing being an '05. The one year is included, but i can turn that into 3 yrs. don't know what the price is yet. Not aftermarket warranty either, true Mercedes. Benefits of buying from Fletcher, the fact that i have the opportunity to even get a Mercedes warranty still for a car this old. Thanks so much for everyones input. Love these forums!!3

Another question....if I do end up buying this CL65, CPO with the 12 months of warranty, what is a fair/good price for an additional 2 years? I plan on buying the 2 more if I buy the car. I've bought many warranties for different vehicles, but not for any car like this.

02cl55amg

that sucks, so you will be paying sales tax. fletcher jones i know offers the Fidelity warr- for a kidney and they dont budge on their prices neither does Park Place i've delt with them both. keep looking. like i said, $57k+warr+tax=too much. hope the car comes with a shovel-cuz you'll be buried in it!

here is a deal i posted a month ago:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=260698702106

02cl55amg

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-...item43a4b670e4

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-...item45f800c4d2

Becks Imports

Hi guys. I'm not a sponsor yet, so can't offer any services, but here's my take:

1. Mint low mile 2005 CL65's still auction in the low/mid $40Ks. So if a Benz dealer gets one, CPO's it, and marks it up, no way are you going to buy it from them at mid $40K's. If they ever consider letting it rip at that price because it's been sitting with no interest, they'll bring it to the auction with zero prep or liability.

2. I agree with some others here that you have to be in love with the idea of getting a super low mile car to pay the kind of premium most people ask for them. The value proposition is not there, the things that will break and need repair (and routine maintenance) haven't happened yet and are going to happen to YOU, and every mile you put on it depreciates it quite a bit more than an average or even low/average mile car.

3. Benz dealers pay Benz about $2200 for the CPO warranty. They mark it up into the price for about $1K over that. I would be looking long and hard at Fidelity Platinum for that or any other 55/65/600 series Benz for a few reasons. First, Fidelity Platinum is exclusionary so it covers more than CPO. Second, CPO will only last a couple years at most. You can buy Fidelity Platinum to last 4, 5, or even 6 years which you will want if you plan on keeping the car. Finally, with a super low mile car, you won't pay much more for the Platinum warranty than you will for CPO baked into the price of the car.

Good luck!

Bruce

BestSL

Thanks Bruce! So your take is to forget the additional 2 years Mercedes warranty and go for the Fidelity product? Sound advice, I'll look into that for sure. Thanks again.

02cl55amg.....The price for the car, including the warranty is $56,718. And, I don't think it matters where I buy a car as far as taxes are concerned. It depends on where you register it. That controls the taxing situation. When I register it here in Washington, I will pay tax on it then, regardless of location of purchase. I just went through a similar scenario.....Bought a Subaru in San Diego, paid the going rate for CA taxes, then had to make up the difference here in Washington because our tax rate is higher than CA. They get you at the DMV. AND, they tax you on KBB values. Even if you bought way lower. You need a real sales write up to prove otherwise, or, if from a private party, you need a notarized bill of sale and an affidavit to prove you paid less than KBB. I went thru this with a CLK430 that I picked up for very cheap. Had to have the private party fax all this crap from HongKong, she sold car and left for a new job. It was a substantial difference. So, i can't hide from the taxes on this purchase. So, out the door it will be $62,162, including taxes, including warranty, brand new tires, fresh oil service, and a new passenger door trim piece, some new paint in that door area and maybe even a little bondo!!