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I was looking around on eBay today and noticed how many brand new S class style cars (and other high-end Mercedes cars) are still unsold going back to as far as 2017. S63s, S65s, cabriolets, standard variety S550s and 560s, AMGs, etc, etc. Even though they are 2 and 3 years old, their internet prices are still at the MSRPs as they were the day they came out. If you were to buy one of the cabriolet S63s that I found for nearly $190K, I guarantee you they wouldn't give you $100K for it 15 minutes after you drove of the lot. With the W222 about to leave the new car scene and with the coronavirus shutdown, these cars should be marked off at least 35% to get them off the lot. Just think of the insurance bill on these cars for the past 3 years. Think of the internal parts of the cars as they need to be driven to keep lubrication in check, batteries up, and tires drying out. Hmmm, something will have to give eventually.
Yeah I don't understand them advertising the MSRP. I would be kind-of fun to see what they would take for a brand new 2017. As you suggest you would think that it would need to be heavily discounted.
Every now and then Jalopnik talks about new, unsold cars from the past, like the Lexus LFA. There are still a handful of new LFAs from the 2011-12 model years still in dealer showrooms. The stagnant serviceable items you mention are really no big deal. The unsold Mercs you mention will have good value well into the future considering they will be the last of the dying breed of V8 and V12 engines. There will be a handful of people that will resist the move to electrification and small displacement 4-cylinder engines in their big luxury sedans. You can even see people on this board talking about the difference between the 4.7 L V8 in the first W222s compared to the new 4.4 L V8s, right?
I wouldn't bank on the W222's not depreciating like every other S class has historically. Maybe in 30 years they will regain their luster like a beautiful 72 280 SEL 4.5 that somebody is asking $25K for.
I wouldn't bank on the W222's not depreciating like every other S class has historically. Maybe in 30 years they will regain their luster like a beautiful 72 280 SEL 4.5 that somebody is asking $25K for.
I was not saying used W222s would hold value, only that the unsold new ones will keep theirs. There will be folks willing to pay MSRP for a new example.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
I’m quite sure that all of these unsold, previous model year cars can be had with gigantic discounts today and even deeper discounts tomorrow. No dealer is going to hang onto these cars one second longer than they have to. I believe the advertising of MSRP only is dictated by MBUSA. It’s a bit different with a very limited production car like the LFA. Most Lexus dealers only got one—if any—and some decided to just keep it. Makes a nice display item for their otherwise boring showrooms, full of horrendously ugly cars.
2016 S550 sport, 2018 GLC300, M3, Zo7, 2021 Sierra Denali
The discount we would all be looking for is way below what the dealers owe on that car. The discounts will need to subsidized from MB. I agree with Silbergrau57, many like myself love the 4.7 motor . I would like to upgrade for applecarplay, the new steering wheel, and ride quality some say is more refined but will never want a new design electric anything. I have a known perfect car, colored and optioned perfectly for me, the loss and discount difference is still too much to get pretty much the same car. I am sitting tight on this S.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
I just took a look online as well. Boy! Tons of brand new S Class Cabriolets out there and I’m pretty sure I know why.
When the S Class Cabriolets first came out, I was very excited and planned on ordering one. I test drove the first one my dealer got and was SO disappointed in the way the car drove. It felt all mushy and bloated. It did not drive anything like my S550 sedan I had at the time. In addition, the rear seat leg room was not, IMO, really suitable for anyone but kids. The car was nice enough looking, but compared to something like the SL, to me, it just didn’t cut it.
So, I made some detours, with a used SL550, sold that and in late 2018, was again looking for a new convertible. I decided to drive the S560 Cab and again, I vas very disappointed in the ride and handling. Instead, I ordered a new 2019 SL450 and to my way of thinking, it is a better car in most every way, except for the fact that it still has the earlier style infotainment and the audio system sucks. The car was WAY less expensive and with ABC, it drives and rides amazingly better than the Cab. In addition, the retractable hardtop is to die for. I believe that all these S Cabs we see out there will languish on dealer lots if they are not heavily discounted.
Last edited by Streamliner; Mar 28, 2020 at 12:29 PM.
I was not saying used W222s would hold value, only that the unsold new ones will keep theirs. There will be folks willing to pay MSRP for a new example.
You aren't suggesting that someone would pay MSRP for a new 2017 S550 are you?
Every now and then Jalopnik talks about new, unsold cars from the past, like the Lexus LFA. There are still a handful of new LFAs from the 2011-12 model years still in dealer showrooms. The stagnant serviceable items you mention are really no big deal. The unsold Mercs you mention will have good value well into the future considering they will be the last of the dying breed of V8 and V12 engines. There will be a handful of people that will resist the move to electrification and small displacement 4-cylinder engines in their big luxury sedans. You can even see people on this board talking about the difference between the 4.7 L V8 in the first W222s compared to the new 4.4 L V8s, right?
Absolutely good points, many of which I didn't think of. I can't believe the LFA has been around 10 years already.
I just took a look online as well. Boy! Tons of brand new S Class Cabriolets out there and I’m pretty sure I know why.
When the S Class Cabriolets first came out, I was very excited and planned on ordering one. I test drove the first one my dealer got and was SO disappointed in the way the car drove. It felt all mushy and bloated. It did not drive anything like my S550 sedan I had at the time. In addition, the rear seat leg room was not, IMO, really suitable for anyone but kids. The car was nice enough looking, but compared to something like the SL, to me, it just didn’t cut it.
So, I made some detours, with a used SL550, sold that and in late 2018, was again looking for a new convertible. I decided to drive the S560 Cab and again, I vas very disappointed in the ride and handling. Instead, I ordered a new 2019 SL450 and to my way of thinking, it is a better car in most every way, except for the fact that it still has the earlier style infotainment and the audio system sucks. The car was WAY less expensive and with ABC, it drives and rides amazingly better than the Cab. In addition, the retractable hardtop is to die for. I believe that all these S Cabs we see out there will languish on dealer lots if they are not heavily discounted.
I hope the next SL looks great. When is it supposed to come out? or has it already? I don't keep up with the newest cars like I used to.
Low mileage W222s are attractively priced now on cargurus. Not new, but it demonstrates big depreciation.
I have seen AMG models for sale for a year or more. Dealers are able to hold on to models for extended time frames.
A new, unsold model will be sold as "special", coronavirus or no coronavirus. I don't see prices dropping on those examples.
Where I see downward price pressure is on lease returns, and vehicles with bank loans. If the economic situation worsens, 1-5 year old preowned models will come on the market faster than buyers are buying them. The relationship between price, supply and demand will prevail.
In summary, deals will be had on preowned vehicles. Specials and unicorns, such as a three model year old unsold W222, will hold value.
Low mileage W222s are attractively priced now on cargurus. Not new, but it demonstrates big depreciation.
I have seen AMG models for sale for a year or more. Dealers are able to hold on to models for extended time frames.
A new, unsold model will be sold as "special", coronavirus or no coronavirus. I don't see prices dropping on those examples.
Where I see downward price pressure is on lease returns, and vehicles with bank loans. If the economic situation worsens, 1-5 year old preowned models will come on the market faster than buyers are buying them. The relationship between price, supply and demand will prevail.
In summary, deals will be had on preowned vehicles. Specials and unicorns, such as a three model year old unsold W222, will hold value.
Why is that? Given that, the second they are driven off of the lot they will get a much larger hammering than a 2020 model. For example there is a 30K spread between a 17 and a 19 with 1000 miles.
Low mileage W222s are attractively priced now on cargurus. Not new, but it demonstrates big depreciation.
I have seen AMG models for sale for a year or more. Dealers are able to hold on to models for extended time frames.
A new, unsold model will be sold as "special", coronavirus or no coronavirus. I don't see prices dropping on those examples.
Where I see downward price pressure is on lease returns, and vehicles with bank loans. If the economic situation worsens, 1-5 year old preowned models will come on the market faster than buyers are buying them. The relationship between price, supply and demand will prevail.
In summary, deals will be had on preowned vehicles. Specials and unicorns, such as a three model year old unsold W222, will hold value.
This assumes that wold GDP in 2021 is comparable to world GDP in 2019.
I, for one, do not see this happening. Maybe by 2024 we will be back to 2019 level of world GDP.
A downturn in the economy will naturally put pressure on car sales and used car values. Not saying that any of this will happen now but this is how it has been historically. The W221 was hammered that way.
March sales are shaping to be down 30%+
At this point however, MB dealers don't have to be in a rush to sell their new cars. It appears that MBFS has given the dealers a 90 day financial reprieve on their current inventories (per Vic). So they not under great financial pressure to move metal. Moreover with manufacturing offline just about anywhere there may not be a huge pipeline of cars putting on additional pressure.
So at least on the new car side you won't see huge blow-outs from Mercedes.
Theres a very large difference in the price between a 2017 S550 and 2018 S560. I know because I researched the heck out of it when I bought my used 2017 S550 a few months ago. I coulda got a used S450 2018 for not too much more but I really did not want to give up the V8 and to me it was trading off some better tech with the 2018 model for less tech but the great 4.7 liter V8. I did manage after a real lot of work getting a lot of the tech in my 2017 working that a lot of people said did not work right or at all. So I'm happy with that. But ya, the whole world has really changed over the past month and will continue to change and who knows what's gonna happen with the value of cars, the currency and the equity markets and even more so people surviving this thing. I can imagine there is gonna be a very large used market eventually as cars get sold that are not being used anymore in estate sales etc. At this point though I really don't care what my 2017 is worth as I really like the car a lot and it's very low mileage and should last me many more years. No matter how you look at it most cars are really bad investments.
Last edited by 2012 merc amg; Mar 28, 2020 at 08:46 PM.
I just seen this sitting at Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach...2019 BEAST...showing MSRP...but I'm pretty confident that if FJ has had that unit sitting
since sometime last year, I believe they will be pretty motivated to move it. They may not drop their pants for the deal given the demographics in
Newport Beach...nonetheless someone will leave the dealership feeling like he/she won that day....just my thoughts!!
Side note: I'm sure locals know but the lineup of spec'd cars (Amg/Lorinser, ETC) is unlike any other dealer lot I've ever encountered. Simply amazing
the stock they have....and service bays are always loaded up with eye candy!
I just seen this sitting at Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach...2019 BEAST...showing MSRP...but I'm pretty confident that if FJ has had that unit sitting
since sometime last year, I believe they will be pretty motivated to move it. They may not drop their pants for the deal given the demographics in
Newport Beach...nonetheless someone will leave the dealership feeling like he/she won that day....just my thoughts!!
Side note: I'm sure locals know but the lineup of spec'd cars (Amg/Lorinser, ETC) is unlike any other dealer lot I've ever encountered. Simply amazing
the stock they have....and service bays are always loaded up with eye candy!
Stay safe everyone!
Ya, something like that is probably worth at least 100 grand less than sticker at this point I'd think.
I hope the next SL looks great. When is it supposed to come out? or has it already? I don't keep up with the newest cars like I used to.
I agree about the S Class Cabriolets. I test drove one and checked it out, it was a nice looking car and all, no back seat space and very little trunk space. The driving dynamics of the car were not good either. I liked my 2019 E450 Cabriolet much better with the way it drove and rode. I actually hated to part with the E450 Cab but it was just too low for me and getting in and out of the car was taking a toll on my old body. Ended up doing a practically even trade in for my 2017 S550 with similar miles on it to the 2019 E cab and could not be more happy.
S Class sales will be impacted significantly in the coming years by the events of late--COVID 19. I remember when I bought my 2008 S550 4matic in March of 2008. I remember speaking to my dealer when I bought the 2008 car that S Class inventory was building up at the ports. Then later in 2008 and into 2009 and 2010 huge amounts of S Class inventory built up at the ports since Germany continued to send cars to the US but people in the US slowed the buying of S class cars in late 2008 into 2009 and 2010. Below are the sales numbers for the S class from 2005 forward. Interesting information.
Wow interesting, sales really Jumped in 2014 when the 222's came out. They probably woulda done the same when the 223's come out later this year but at this point all bets are off the tables.
S Class sales will be impacted significantly in the coming years by the events of late--COVID 19. I remember when I bought my 2008 S550 4matic in March of 2008. I remember speaking to my dealer when I bought the 2008 car that S Class inventory was building up at the ports. Then later in 2008 and into 2009 and 2010 huge amounts of S Class inventory built up at the ports since Germany continued to send cars to the US but people in the US slowed the buying of S class cars in late 2008 into 2009 and 2010. Below are the sales numbers for the S class from 2005 forward. Interesting information.
This is true, the only thing different is that Mercedes has dramatically throttled the S-Class production along with the facelift in 2018. Looks like they have seen the change in buyer behavior and have adjusted to maintain low dealer inventory. Same with AMG's (less than 50% of what dealers had in prior years). If anything, the timing will actually work for them as they already driven down W222 production lines to re-tool. While painful, they can easily delay the launch or slow production of the W223...
I actually find it amazing that the past couple years sales of the S class have not been so good especially last year MY 2019. The tech in the car was significantly improved starting 2018. All I can think of is maybe MB not treating there customers so well when problems cropping up is catching up with them? Maybe more people are buying Audi's? BMW's? American cars? I'll have to do some research. Nothing else to do now since Tennis is pretty much shutdown for the foreseeable future.
I actually find it amazing that the past couple years sales of the S class have not been so good especially last year MY 2019. The tech in the car was significantly improved starting 2018. All I can think of is maybe MB not treating there customers so well when problems cropping up is catching up with them? Maybe more people are buying Audi's? BMW's? American cars? I'll have to do some research. Nothing else to do now since Tennis is pretty much shutdown for the foreseeable future.
They are buying SUV’s instead. This has nothing to do with the S-Class or dealers for that matter.
Ya, I guess you're right. Either that or Toyota Camerys Honda accords and Teslas. Heres all the number by car makers. I'm surprised the Gensis G90's only sell 2000 units per year, those really are not bad cars for the money. https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2019-u...ures-by-model/
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
I believe that all these S Cabs we see out there will languish on dealer lots if they are not heavily discounted.
