vonbeeler

OK guys bad news I sold my 2007 S600 sport.

I know its crazy to sell this car. Its the best in the world next the 65.
It started last fall when I bought an 05 Range Rover with lux interior pkg for surfing as I was tired of using my wifes QX-56 which in turn she would drive the S600. This is our second RR. My wife had one prior to the QX.

So I've really been enjoying the RR and surfing 3 times a week in the summer.
I also drive my Corvette once or twice a week which was leaving the S mostly in the garage or just a commuter 2-3 times a week. We usually use my wifes truck (car seats installed) on weekends.

I thought I would put it on Ebay just to test the market. Well I got a call from a person right away from OC. He drove down and bought it on the spot.
I really wasn't thinking I would sell it as I was asking a little higher than market. But he came down negotiated a little and before I knew what happened I sold it. Had Sellers remorse at first but now excited because I get to search out the next buy.

I've never been able to keep a car for too long. I thought I would keep this for the long term as its the best, but that didn't happen. The RR fits the luxury role and the Corvette fits the sport role. So I'm now looking for something fun to use as commuter car.
Thinking M3 cab d/c or there is a sweet silver S65 on Ebay in Phoenix for $92k.

My goal is to trade a corvette for 06 F430 sometime next year as dedicated sports car and keep a RR for dedicated luxury surf ride. Just need another fun commuter and don't want to tie up too much $ as need to save for the F car.

Hopefully its OK if I can still hang around the S forums.

MMM430

Nice! By the sounds of it you made out well. The remorse will fade. Where are you in N. Co.
Im orig. from RSF

WSH

Sorry to hear about the 600, von; hope you still hang around the forum

True test of any car is how much one misses it

I did a 2 yr sabbatical away from driving MB a few yrs back; drove a lot of new Porsches/Ferraris; only upon coming back to MB/AMG did I realize how damn well-engineered are new MB/AMGs

May want to consider new AMG SLS Gullwing arriving in early '10; <$200K; 3700lbs; rumors of NBR times in range of 997GT2 (i.e., faster than Scud or 599 or 65Blk); supposedly being engineered to be both a daily-useable commuter car and a wkend twisties car

As much as I'm intrigued by SLS, doubt I'll give up my CL65 addiction; MB/AMG V12 tq is a unique pleasure that I've never found to be as elegantly delivered by 63 or GT2 or 599

hayden

Get a M3 through European Delivery... save 7%, take a nice vacation with the wife, and drive it on the autobahn and take a few laps on the nürburgring before it comes back to the states.

You can get one in as few as a 3 week lead time. I'll be picking up my 750Li in Munich in August.

vonbeeler

Adjacent to Fairbanks Ranch in Santuluz

Funny you mentioned the SLS. I was invited by AMG to preview a "new secret vehicle" about 2-3 years ago that was under development. It was a half day survey of shapes,textures, price range etc. They had a mock up prelim body and interior of the SLS (no name then). It was a lot a fun. The shape didn't do much for me and I expressed my opinions. I was probably picked as I had an 08 S63 on order that I eventually didn't get because I liked the 600.

You are right I Know I will be back to MB. In fact trading my wifes truck next spring for most likely diesel GL and for myself??? Most likely would be a lightly used S65 if I'm missing the 600 too much. I think for now I want to try something smaller/fun like an M3, plus love cab option. Although I know how you feel about the safety factor.

I will be hanging around the S forums if non owners are allowed!

This seems like a great idea!! Especially in light as no dealers down here have any M3 CAB with D/C in stock. So Saturday I was at the BMW dealer and I told the salesman exactly what I wanted and told him to look around to see if he could find me one. He called me today to ask me if I had any questions about my visit to the Dealership?????????? HE has a lay down buyer!! ready. and he wants to know if I had any questions.
unbelievable. Oh well I'm not in any hurry to make decision. I'm going to enjoy the search and maybe take your idea. I'm going to look into it.

hayden

Check out pricing here:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/pdf/pricin...M3-pricing.pdf

Not sure if you are familiar with BMW ED, but you would be paying "Wholesale Euro Delivery" price of $61,180 + invoice on all other options. There are plenty of dealers willing to do the deal at $1000 over that calculation. You can find plenty of "Client Advisors" as BMW calls them on the bimmerfest forum that are very experienced in Euro Delivery to order from and then you simply take a "Courtesy Delivery" from one of your local BMW dealers when the car returns to the states.

That kind of deal is hard to beat.

trumpet1

Not only is it OK, we demand you hang around with us. We want to hear about the new toy(s).

I'm breaking an all time 20 year record keeping my car as long as I have. I usually don't keep one 18 months but this one is nearing 36 months!

vonbeeler

Thanks Trumpet. Your all stuck with me then.

Online tonight. 2007 E63 low miles--high $40- to low $50k. Wow that seems to be a great deal and would be a fun car. I didn't know they were so low but I guess it makes sense considering where S prices are.

BTW speaking of toys, today I bought a Y/G Daytona with Paul Newman face with some of the equity that was in the S. This is fun! I'm a consumer!

vonbeeler

Thanks a lot Hayden! This is very helpful. Looks like almost 10%ish. I've got my calculator out. Looking for excuse to get back to Europe, this is a good one. I'll let you know if it proceeds. The only downside is I will have my wife with me. She hates to go fast. I will have to have a day at the Ring by myself!
Thanks

hayden

Indeed. She can make it a shopping day... that way you can drive guilt-free.

Let us know... whatever you decide!

PAYRENT23

I would suggest the 2010 e63 which is freakin sick or an m5 as your next "commuter car" I mean u did say u were willing to spend about 92 k for that s65 so i mean these would both run you a lil less. And in terms of that Ferrari i would definatly wait it out considering the f430's value is going to sink once the F458 Italia ( http://www.slashgear.com/ferrari-458...tscar-2850549/ ) debuts and replaces the f430. So by waiting you can either get a pretty sweet deal on a f430 or be the first baller on the block and pick up the 458

vonbeeler

Exactly my thoughts too. Thinking commuter smaller/lighter and a little less $.
Moving away from the 65 thought. That silver one sold in Phoenix. Kinda defeats the purpose of saving too. I was thinking for that if I missed the 600 too much. So right now tops are M3 cab and 07 E63. I was surprised that car is only $50k. I've always thought the front of the 07+ E63 was extremely attractive. MB just announced 1.9% on cert preowned. $50k for that car seems like a no brainer and fun. The new 10 E will just drop off a cliff in depreciation and the motor is the same and the rear is way bland imo. I love the M5 too but scratched that because I didn't want to shift a commuter and the SMG is no good. I can't believe they didn't put the d/c in the M5 yet. The 458 will def help a little pushing down the 430 but supply will be small at first so not much impact likely at least for the first 12 mos. 06 430 spyders are at $160-170k for red/tan no stories. Hoping maybe for below $150k to $140k mental spending threshold to pull the trigger springtime if they come down to it.

PAYRENT23

I like the way you think my man! A very sharp mind I can see

K-A

WTF? High $40's for a W221 S63 with low miles?? Jeez prices have dropped. Once the '10 F.L's hit the road and the '07's go on 3 model years old, they'll get even better.

Enjoy your current and future cars!

vonbeeler

No I was talking about E class 63 not S. I'm sure the 08 S63 are double that number.

Thanks

trumpet1

I was about to say.....

AustinGuy

Von - so when do you see you in your new 2010 S600/63/65?

K-A

Ah, yeah that makes sense. I've seen some S550's going for that price too, which was what had me super shocked. That's an incredible price, and some INCREDIBLE bang for the buck for that E63.

trumpet1

What makes me mad is that I went by my dealership 9 months ago and they only wanted to give me $60K for my '07 S600 yet they have an 07 S550 (early build) sitting on the lot today for $63K! This is why the car market has stalled : because the stealerships don't want to play fair.
Did they think I was playing the "cash for clunkers" program the feds have launched? I really don't think my 600 is a clunker. They are extremely rare in my area and they could sell it for $85K if they had it on the lot.

vonbeeler

LOL I wish!
The objective that I'm telling myself is lighter/smaller/fun and less expensive for the apox 3 day/wk commuter. But after a couple weeks of intense (fun) shopping I'm coming up a little disappointed. What does that mean...? I think we all know that answer. But I'm ignoring that idea for a little bit longer to see how I feel.

K-A

That's ridiculous! I wonder what "play dumb" answer they gave you when you brought that up.

I know what you mean. My E is perfect for me and I do love it, but I always have a tendency to obsessively look at other cars and options, fact is through all my research, etc. NOTHING really comes close at the moment to me. The Jag XF and M-B W221 are the only players, and the former I'm not all tooo confident in (Jag needs to do some more proving for me), along with an interior that doesn't ring with the same quality as what I have now, and the latter, is just a bit too big for what I require amongst some other things. I was hoping the new W212 E-Class would sweep me off my feet, but I don't like it aesthetically at all, especially compared to the M-B models that have preceded it.

Basically, coming from an S600, it's gonna be tough to find something that knocks your sock off out there.

trumpet1

Yes, and the 2010 refresh solidifies that statement even though BMW has a completely new model out there.
Believe it or not, the new American retro cars now available make me turn my head more than the new luxury cars being offered. Examples include the new Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger. I've never really investigated those cars but they did a great job bringing these classic styles back to the highways. It's a shame the car industry in the states is in such a mess.

Back to benzes, the new E class to me looks very nice. The taillights though look too much like some Asian cars and that bothers me a bit. Doesn't have that MB style.
The features of the new E are tremendous and if I step down to an E eventually, it's nice to know I can still have distronic, pano roof, nav and many other current S class features.

vonbeeler

I have experience with all these recently, here is what I've concluded. As far as all the American muscle cars I agree especially the Challenger looks really great. I haven't driven it but that interior is just to much rubbermaid for me to handle. The new Mustang GT500 vert would be a lot of fun but don't think I could handle that daily. Its too...unrefined. Lastly I thought the new Camaro Convertible Would be kinda cool but I'm just fooling myself. I don't think I could really own it. I drove it and no big deal really although it was V6 (300hp).
So on to what I do know can satisfy:

I thought I would do the M3 cab D/C and was actually making offers on new one I found. I walked away as we were 2k apart, $6k off MSRP. I'm REALLY thankfull because the next day I drove that M3 and a 07 E63 back to back and I was very impressed with the 63's the fun factor, sound and huge thrust but the M3 left me disappointed. Not all that fast and a lot of cowl shake which would bother me I think. The stereo was weak and I couldn't get over the fact that I was considering spending $75k for a 3 series . So I'm glad I learned that lesson. For now I' considering E63 still although it would be a compromise especially in rear but that was my plan to go with something smaller and lighter. I'm waiting too to see if I can't compromise. In that case the 07 S65's are in the $90k range. I also drove the Maser Quattroport sp?(no torque, felt slow), and I'm going to see if I can drive the new 510hp XFR, but I already have preconceived negative thoughts. I looked at the Audi's and even the 550hp Cadillac. Everything seems strange to me. But when I sit or drive an MB it feels perfect. There really is no other car engineered like it. How do they always feel so solid and special? Over all these years they always feel the same?

vonbeeler

I also drove the new 10 E550. The interior is spectacular! I might say better than the S. I was really surprised. They really did and fantastic job. However the front looks good but overall the car just looks wimpy IMO.

trumpet1

Owning an S600 spoils us rotten and makes this kind of decision very difficult. I really thought hard after reading your reviews and the Audi A8 (v8 or w12) has been my favorite 2nd choice over the past 3 years. The interior quality and fit is superb and the timeless exterior design always makes me turn my head. It's reasonably priced and also doesn't get a lot of unwanted attention if you want discreet luxury.