jj1400

Good afternoon guys!
I currently own a 2012 C300 4matic with multimedia package and heated seats. I happened to find a 2006 CLS500 with only 8k miles. The company selling the car is a one-man operationg company and he has 100% positive feedback on ebay.
The list price is 33500(not including tax) for this car. The car is fully loaded with everything possible back to that year. Babied during the break-in period.
Here is the deal. He will give me the cls and 2000cash, and I trade in my C300. I really love the CLS and I have some confidence in it since it is only driven 8k miles. And the company offered a legal contract saying the car has a 12 month unlimited mileage warrenty.
My friends, please please help me decide wether or not this is a good deal. since I have made an appointment with his tomorrow and it is a 3 hours drive.
Thank you very much!
Oh I forget to mention, the man just installed all new 4 tires. But I check online it seems that the 06 cls has some powertrain problem? Is it gonna be very expensive to maintain? But it only has 8k miles and is driven by one old man only used as a holiday car.

NOTACAR

2006 with only 8K..HMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!

jj1400

yes exactly! If not this 8k, I won't consider trade in my new C? please give me some advise.

NOTACAR

Do you have VIN?

jj1400

Yes! WDDDJ75X86A019093. if you can help me chack it out I will be very appreciate!

NOTACAR

Not sure if your seller has a carfax. If not, I suggest you follow this link and find out what these 13 records show.

http://www.carfax.com/cfm/check_orde...er=RON_5&flv=1

Let me tell you my story and why I asked for your VIN. I was looking to purchase an '09 CLS550 Diamond White/Cashmere Int/AMG Package before purchasing the Black w/Cashmere I own now. As you know, this color is popular and very rare especially with AMG and low miles. Well, one day I received an email (had google search engine (Trovitt) set to send me all available for sale 09 CLS550 daily) showing just the vehicle I was searching for with 26K miles for 38K. Absolutely Unbelievable!!! On top of that, the vehicle was here in my home town, approximately 8 miles from my house. Of course, the next day, I immediately went to the dealer (not mercedes dealer) on my way to the office. The vehicle looked pretty darn good especially for the price. And that was the problem, the price concerned me. Clean Car Fax and all. But still something didn't seem right. So, I proceeded on to my office, logged on to the dealers website, copied and pasted the VIN in the old trusty Google. Guess what?! The vehicle had been wrecked, and was actually listed on a Salvage website for sale. This website actually had a list of parts needed to repair the vehicle and an estimate of about 3K. DARN SHAME!!!!

When i Googled your VIN, nothing came up except our coorespondence with each other. I found that strange. However, when I searched your VIN through my AOL search browser, the result was the Car Fax showing 13 found records (link above), not sure what they are, but before I give up the '12, I would invest in the Car Fax. Just my opionion.

jj1400

NOTACAR thanks a lot for your help! There are 2 things I still don't understand(I havent bought the carfax yet, I will leave it for the dealer). One is that so you think if this car is just as he stated, then it will be a good deal? Second, when you said you search the VIN through google and nothing special came up, and you felt strange. Why do you feel strange?so is there anything that should come up?

Xeno

Man... I had the exact same experience. I set up a deal on a car and then did my due diligence... frame damage. Listed on a salvage site.

Ended up going certified pre-owned.

BenzCLS06

Dang NOTACAR. Good detective work! OP, did you meet up with the seller? Let us know what happened.

djrabbi

I wouldn't pay 33k for a CLS500...i rather get a CLS55 for under 30 with 60k-70k on it

BenzCLS06

@djrabbi - our rides are going for less than 30K now?

djrabbi

got mine for 25k with 70k on it...

BenzCLS06

WTF?!?!?! How on earth? I got a buddy looking at picking up a 550 but really wants the 55K power like mine. How did you get yours so cheap? Was it in an accident?

djrabbi

I waited 2 months to buy one after I sold my E500...Mine is clean as a whistle.

You can get this one for under 30k
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...22537441&Log=0

BenzCLS06

@djrabbi - did you go through Manheim prices? I keep hearing abiut Manheim from peeps.

@OP. what was the outcome of the CLS?

djrabbi

Nope got it privately off a seller off auto trader.

apdesign

Sounds fishy to me.

BenzCLS06

Man so you got a pristine CLS55 for 25K? I need to tell my friend to bypass looking for a CLS550 for the same price and just get a CLS55. I keep telling him that once you drive a 55 AMG motor that you'll never go back. Was yoir CLS55 located on the east coast?

NOTACAR

jj, sorry for the delay in responding to your questions. : First of all, the CLS is NOTACAR. That's what I was told by the salesman at the dealership. Have to tell you about that one later. Great and funny story.

Now to try and answer your questions.

Answer to question 1:
No, I personally don't feel it's a good deal, mainly because it seems fishy. A 2006 with 8000 mile, that is a 6 year old automobile, averaging about 1,333 miles a year. Where in the heck has it been? As you know, these automobiles are very expensive to maintain, even at an independent shop. I read somewhere on this forum that the 06's had a host of problems, not sure if they were serious problems; but considering you want have much of a warranty, you don't need any problems. I know the 8000 miles is enticing, and I feel that is what has captured you. Remember my story about the Diamond White CLS, it caught my eye too, but I would have been shafted if I had fell for the looks (color/amg) and low miles. Another reason is simply because of the options the automobile is lacking vs what your 2012 I'm sure already has. Now if he were talking about a 2009 CLS with at least the Package 1 or later model CLS, I might consider the deal pending the history, condition and mileage on the automobile.

Answer to question 2:
The only reason I mentioned "strange" is I googled my VIN before I purchased and the automobile came up on different sites, listing the vehcle for sale at the MB dealership where I purchased it from. Each site told a little something different such as options, etc.... Some sites had more info about the automobile than the dealer"s website. I just thought since the automobile you are considering is a 2006 with 8000 miles, the automobile would have come up somewhere. But please don't take that as a negative about the automobile. Countless excellent automobile don't show up in a google search of the VIN. I didn't intend the use of the word "strange" to be a negative about the automobile. That could very well be a positive. At least it didn't show up linked to a salvage yard. On the other hand, it doesn't mean it hasn't been in a salvage yard.

One question I would ask the sales person:
Where has the automobile been all this time?

Location history is very-very important. With only 8000 miles on the automobile, there may not be much service history. Location then becomes an important factor meaning City, State etc..and the dates the automobile was in that area.

Make a list of questions to ask the salesman. Write the answers down. Take a day or so and analyze the answers, see if they make any sense. And whatever you do, please don't be rushed. This is a major decision that could cost you a lot of sleep if this 2006 turns about to be the CLS from hell. Make no mistake about it, the CLS is an awesome automobile, but not awesome enough to get shafted out of your 2012.

I would really be concerned about the automobile's history as you would with any used vehicle.

Hope that helps somehow. Please be courteous and let us know what happen after you speak with the salesperson. You asked for help, I think we have provided some help to get you started, so please be courteous and return the favor.

NOTACAR

Thanks Benz..the internet and google are a heck of a combination to contend with. Hard to beat.

djrabbi

It is a CA car that moved over to Boston for last 2 years.

NOTACAR

I agree..as they say, sumthin just aint rite!!!

djrabbi

a car with 8k isn't surprising at all. I seen a 2004 with 10k on it. People have daily drivers and weekend cars. No way I would pay 30k+ for a 500 engine.

NOTACAR

Good for you Xeno. Same here with the CPO. It always pay off to be nosey. Especially when you are preparing to spend major $$$$. The more $$$$ involved, the nosier I become.

NOTACAR

Im sorry, but to me a 2006 CLS with only 8000 miles is very surprising. I believe 2006 is the first year these automoblies were introduced. How could one not want to drive it more than 1333 per year? Heck, I just purchased my '09 in April. The darn automobile is intoxicating-it's like crack to crackhead. I can't stay out of the automobile, and find myself looking in the garage to make sure it's ok...LOL. Of course I am a Newbie to this board, so I maynot know crap about this subject.

Nevertheless dj, I respect your opinion. 25.6 miles per year driven on the weekend if my math is correct.