cjf_moraga

I have just been offered a fully loaded S63 black exterior, black interior, AMG Perfromance Package, Premium 3, Rear Seat Package, Distronics Plus, Panorama roof, iPod integration kit, all for $4000 above invoice. From what I can see happening in the market around here (Bay Area) this seems a reasonable deal... Edmunds states that this configuration has an MSRP of $144K against an invoice of $134K. I am wondering if this is foolish to turn down and if others here are getting better deals...

The dealer let me drive it home to sleep on tonight and it sold itself from a drivers POV. It might sound trivial but I am agonising if the black exterior (which looks great polished in the dealer) is a lot of work to keep up, and will hold up for the 5-6 years I will likely own the vehicle.

Chris

SteveFox

Bro, if you like it and can afford it...GO FOR IT!

When it comes to the color, If I were you I would try to look for a lighter color. Like White or silver. I have grey on the 55 and I am constantly washing it(just about every other day!). Its so bad that sometimes i say to myself "i should've gotten a silver or white one." So, i couldn't imagine black. I must say however, when she's clean and freshly waxed up, i fall in love all over again.

getbitten

If you can afford it, I highly recommend it.

AdamG@NorCal

Go for it!

jl88

Is it a 2007 or 2008 model? Has it been pre-titled?

I'm guessing that it's left-over inventory from 2007. There are heavy discounts on all remaining 2007 S classes. There's probably maybe another $1k-2k wiggling room, which may or may not be worth the hassle.

If the car is new and has not been titled before (ie sold to you as new with full length warranty), then go for it. Just make sure the dealer doesn't stick in their ridiculous doc + prep fees to pad their profit. $4k over invoice on that car is a great deal.

If the car has been titled before, then it's a whole different story.

Make sure that issue is completely clear. With these high end cars, you'd be surprised the kind of games dealers play.

usctrojans1

All S63's are 2008.

MBZFAN55

I had a call today from an east coast MB dealer who has a very similarly equipped S63, down to the color. It was an ordered car, but the buyer cancelled. Although Mercedes appears to be somewhat limiting availability of the S63 & CL63, it seems that the market has obviously softened a bit. Nonetheless, with the margins on these cars being what they are, $4000 over invoice seems fairly good, especially if you are in the market anyway. It's a great car and you will enjoy it to no end !

djamer

If you really desire the car, and have the means to afford it, do it. Realize the minute you drive off the lot, the depreciation on such a car is horrendous. But anyone even thinking of such a fine car, isn't necessarily buying the thing as a investment. Good luck and enjoy the car.

cjf_moraga

Thanks for all the feedback guys... The offer was on a 2008 S63... Dealer currently is working on obtaining an Iridium Silver (my favored color) black interior S63 under the same terms... Hopefully I will have good news to report soon...

Coming from an almost 3 year old E55 I need no lessons in depreciation! Actually this time round I am looking for a longer term acquisition... The E55 was getting a bit cramped in the back for my wife and 2 growing teenage sons heading towards 6' tall... Given that I am looking for a vehicle that will last 7-10 years, is super solid, prestigious, the highest quality, ultra safe for my family, somewhat ahead of the art in features, really roomy inside, (that is not an SUV) and in the high performance sedan zone for the foreseable future (but not necessarily always the fastest thing on the road) ...The S63 seems to make a lot of sense... and in terms of sedans for practical family use it is not as if there is anything further up the chain to tempt... (Except an S65 )

As far as any car can be said to be future proof, (at least in the medium term) the S63 should fit my requirements... I love massive acceleration at full power as much as anyone, but I suspect most here stress their AMG engine/transmissions more than I do... This car is not for the track... so I am hoping that this latest version will resemble the bullet proof (if mechanicaly/electrically much simpler) S Classes of old...

So for peace of mind I will get the 3 year extended warranty and plan to run it for at least 7 years (at least the duration of this model cycle) and possibly more... who knows! Trading in the E55 it "feels" I am essentially getting a fully loaded s63 for the price of a base level S550 before all fees and taxes... As I will pay the remainder off in full over the next six months, it makes sense for me when taking the longer term view....

And it is such a gorgeous and well engineered car! People talk about losing tons of money in depreciation, but being a "my glass is half full" guy, I rather think of the value you get for the money over time... the heritage and technology is so incredible, and I believe you do get what you pay for... Can't deny emotion as well....

Eddie Knopp

Good Luck in your search. I went from an '04 E55 to this one and am extremely happy. There is a different feel to the 7 speed tranny, but the handling is much much better as is the car.

WSH

Agree....S63/65 is absolutely world's best overall sedan today in perf/safety/comfort/utility/reliability/advcd tech, etc

Would $0 down lease S63 for perhaps 3yrs based upon disct price you're getting....leasing is more efficient from a sales tx perspective in CA; lease gap insurance in event of total loss, etc...

Doubt any modern car w/its intense tech is worth owning past original factory warranty period; costs of repair to multiple aging tech systems, those amazing brakes, etc make owning older, high-tech cars a future "case study" in cost of ownership.....extd warranties tend to be dubious...and merely rather profitable for seller of warranty...

From a safety perspective, airbags have a ?10yr lifespan; but who knows what decay cycle is?.....i.e., what's effectiveness/failure rate of 3yo vs 5yo vs 7yo vs 10yo airbags?

Suspect as cars become as tech-intense as S-Class, buyers will need to adopt similar view as wanting to own/keep an iPhone 1.0 for more than 2-3 yrs.....product life cycles/obsolescence/disposability/leases have made cars increasingly similar to various consumer tech goods like smartphones/laptops/flat panel TVs, etc, not Pateks or Petrus or items of furniture....

cjf_moraga

I did consider a lease but it does not seem to make sense in my situation... The down payment (of greater/lesser amount) and monthly in the $2.7K to $3.1K+ range I am being quoted is quite expensive (and inflexible) when interest and the total monthly cash flow is added up over the life of the lease... The S63 also demands to be driven long distances on family trips which makes the lease mileage restriction a factor... as the vehicle is for private use, I can not maximize any business advantages of leasing in CA either... as stated I am taking a longer term ownership horizon than 3 years, and my thinking is to swallow the cost up front and enjoy it for the rest of its life without worrying about monthly lease payments and having to get something else again in 3 years... (when the S class will be just past its mid model-life cycle) but thats me...

Point taken about the obsolesce cycle of tech-intensive products... The 3 year extension to the 4 year factory warranty does not seem dubious to me however... I have been quoted figures in the $4K range and I believe it covers everything... It does at least buy peace of mind given the sheer amount of electronica that could go wrong... (An experience I have had on the E55) After 7 years is up, everything that works is a bonus IMO! (But I have some expectations that the engine will at least still run...)

Chris

JRAMGV8

Its a good deal if you ask me.... Get it..

ajgk

I stumbled into mine in early August and paid not a dollar over sticker. This was not an issue with the dealer. Maybe my dealer is just more honest than some of the others.

m_berman

Had some time today to browse the inventory at Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach. Blew the socks off me. 07 S65 w/ 8K mi for $79K. They had another one with 30K mi for 3K less.

That's 50% dep in 12 mo.


A footnote to this, they had an 08 S55 V12. I took a double take on this. The salesman said it is indeed rare.

Venom-AMG

Was that a typo? 07' S65 for 79k. If you're sure Im going to go pick it up right now.

JRAMGV8

[quote=m_berman;2425922]Had some time today to browse the inventory at Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach. Blew the socks off me. 07 S65 w/ 8K mi for $79K. They had another one with 30K mi for 3K less.

That's 50% dep in 12 mo.


[A quote]

Whooaaa

hayden

Must be a type. I checked the site and it aint there...

http://www.fletcher.mercedescenter.c...ce&sortOrder=D

They have an '06 S65 with 8k miles for $118,775

cjf_moraga

Just browsing the Fletcher Jones website I can't find those S65's... the prices you quote don't seem to make sense for new model 2007's... they are marketing S550's with similar/greater mileage for similar or more (often considerably more) than those prices.. (A 2007 S550 at c 15,000 miles at $79,888 for example) They even have old body style S65's with little mileage at almost full price... sure what people actually pay is something else but that pricing seems odd...

Sure these prices do not refer to old body style 2006 S65's? Or repaired or anything else which would drastically impact the price?

As mentioned in parallel threads I eventually chose an S600 and am increasingly glad I did... Never had a V12 engine before.. and it is absolutely phenomenal - like a locomotive under the hood! Coming from an E55 it has all the torque that really matters to me in the 0 - 70 mph range... It's a long term keeper...

Hey if those S65 prices are real I am more than half way to getting a spare S65 for the extra amount I did not pay to get an S65 in the first place!

Chris

cgjungdds

i'm in louisville,ky and I was offfered a s63 with $3000 off msrp -- the market may be different there. i'm sure you might save some money by calling small markets and pay for transport. just an idea

retardedmunk

in the next few months as the year rolls ... the 07 S65'S will be close to a hunrdred grand... I am seeing the S600'S go through the auction at $100k or less now

Schiznick

Close but not really 130K. Your comment doesn't really represent the market.

This is auction, expect to pay a bit more than this retail.

Here are the last 4.....

08/15/07 W PALM Lease $154,000 4,740
07/19/07 RIVRSIDE Lease $132,000 18,341
05/24/07 RIVRSIDE Factory $140,000 11,373
03/28/07 ST LOUIS Lease $166,000 258

Z356

Schiznick:

Isn't this kind of unusual? In this forum several months ago somebody mentioned a blue 2007 S65 that went through Riverside (I believe) for 140K, so that must be the 5/24 date point. Since then, just two more...according to your data. This is all of Manheims, no? Is one of them the buyback from Mercedes at World Imports in Florida or these can't flow through the auction houses due to 'note' on title? Z356

SteveFox

u talkin' about w221 s600's? if so thats a steal.

Schiznick

This is what Manheim is reporting currently. They can go through aution with "notes" on titles as long as it is disclosed.

I would suspect that others have gone through other auctions but less S65's are flowing through than most people think.