ibanez

I have a 2001 CLK 55 Black/Charcoal with 8,500 miles on it for sale in the San Francisco Bay Area. The value on the car is all over the place. Blue book is mid 60s (supposedly), private lots have them for $61-$62k and I have seen cars (only Silver or white ones) from Porsche and Mercedes dealers (Starmark ones!) from the mid to low 50s!

What is going on with these cars? Please don't give me any of the usual dot com bull****, but please do give me some feedback on what you are seeing. I don't have to sell the car, but I have too many cars and this was one that I was trying to sell since it is leased and has a year left on the lease. Any thoughts?

dtclk320

One factor might be that the w209 is out now.

ibanez

That was one thing that I definitely think was affecting sales for a while. However, I saw the new CLK500 parked on the street yesterday and think that it will actually help sales of the old body style given its looks (I apologize to anyone that likes it, but I think it is extremely ugly and looks like the ugly stepbrother of the c class; it lost all of its character). I think there may be a big backlash to the new body style, kind of like when the new Porsche body style came out in 1999.

However, I don't want to turn this thread into a discussion about the new 209 body style. I am still trying to figure out where the market is on the 208 CLK 55 body style today given that the new body style is out.

w208amg

Saw ad in todays NYTimes for one with 12,000 miles for $67 thou. That's almost the new price in 01!

RJC

I'm not sure what's up with all 208 prices lately. But I do think those 55 pilots that are looking to purchase a 209 55 now having seen the 209 500 and liking it may be thinking now is the time to unload theirs before the new one is out next year,perhaps this could explain the sudden drop in 55 value

RJC

Chappy

The entire car market has changed.

Many brands are now pushing their product out the door with 0.0% financing, even up to 5 years. That's tough to beat vs. buying pre-owned.

clkfrk

209 came out. Happens every time a new model comes out -- people rush to buy it - and the old style gets left behind. 208 is timeless though -- you'll still get a good price, just not as good as you would have 8 months ago.

karl k

All indications are, that the new CLK55 AMG is going to be slower than the rare 208 CLK55 AMG Coupes.

Once this new reality sets in after the CLK55 AMG's USA introduction next year, the desirability of the 208 will rise.

MercBezerk

I agree...a new body style appears, better or worse looking/performing, and the value of the last body style either jumps around, or drops considerably. Given time, they will level out, and more than likely on the higher side of the margain. I know it sounds slightly wacky, but I have a 1992 Toyota PIckUp with every option except leather and automatic. I bought it used, shortly after the Tacoma came out. The value dropped considerably, now, 7 years later, I'm getting offers that are exactly what I paid for it due to it's condition compared to other SR-5s, and Tacomas. Another example is the Mustang. While the 5.0 body (1987-1993) was very popular, the next body came out (1994-present) and the 5.0 fell through the floor. However, there was a breif period that they rose, nearly matching the cost of used 1994-present bodies. Currently, the 5.0s are less, but not by much. I think the same will happen with the CLK.

Fuzzo

yup I think this has a lot to do with it.. there really isn't much incentive to go used when u can get new at a lower int rate etc...

good luck with selling your car... i sold mine to car max
if you have one in your area.. go there and get it appraised, you might get a good price.....