theboogers

what were the options on the s65 in 07. did they have sunroof seperate from pano roof? anything else above standard s65 setup for usa. were they loaded with everything like s600?
thanks

WSH

IIRC, '07 S65 options were DistPlus, Pano roof, rear seat ?massage/lumbar controls, 4-place seating and iPod...

Would be aware that some new '07 S65s were delivered w/missing std items, like window shades, etc....as MB struggled w/parts shortages on various S-Class during MY07....

Loaded '07 S65 MSRP pricing was some $3K more than loaded '08 S65 (only option iPod)....yes, a price decrease despite a fast-depreciating dollar....gotta love deflationary pricing of new cars....

usctrojans1

Current '08 S65 is at $198,250 (non designo interior). If I'am not mistaken the 07 S65 (with all the options you mentioned) was at $191k.

WSH

I don't currently have exact figs....but back in Summ06 I closely eval'd '07 S65 for self (and passed w/mixed feelings...may get '09 S65 if SL63 030 MCT isn't interesting after 2-3K mis)...and advised several colleagues as they obtained new '07 and '08 S65s.....

IIRC, at start of MY08, loaded '08 S65 MSRP was some $3K less than loaded '07 S65 (I was surprised, as was my usual MB salesman by the price reduc)....haven't closely tracked MSRP intra-MY08.....

Obviously, MB periodically moves prices around w/price increases due to depreciating dollar; price reductions (e.g., intra-MY08 DistPlus option on CL63 became ?$800 cheaper, even though BlindSpotAssist was added); and price increases on some options (e.g., intra-MY08 AMG went from inclg cf on CL63 030 option to charging addtl ?$2500 for cf on 030)....

And other variables are obviously lease terms and dealer discts....

As we've discussed in other threads, mysteriously some OC dealers have ?10 new '08 S65s in-stock for mths...yet other major dealers in SF/NYC/Greenwich/BevHills/Chic have no new S65 inventory and obtaining S65 build spots is not an instantaneous event, even for repeat custs at major dealers.....

My guess is new S65s are a "tiered" mkt in this more difficult economy.....a few super-affluent corridors like Woodside/Greenwich are clearly enamored w/$200K kid-haulers....but robust mkt for new $200K kid haulers is fairly circumscribed even within vast, economically powerful urban regions like SF/NYC/LA/Chic.....and most of these buyers don't want some "new" S65 that's been sitting on a lot being test-driven somewhere, so new S65s in Podunk are tough sales....and the used buyer is a different socio-economic species, so trade-in values on S65s will be as dismal as ever....

usctrojans1

[QUOTE=WSH;2692992]I don't currently have exact figs....but back in Summ06 I closely eval'd '07 S65 for self (and passed w/mixed feelings...may get '09 S65 if SL63 030 MCT isn't interesting after 2-3K mis)...and advised several colleagues as they obtained new '07 and '08 S65s.....

WSH: Why are you waiting for the '09 S65? Is there something wrong with the current '08 S65? Are there major changes in order for the '09 model?

WSH

[QUOTE=usctrojans1;2693097]Few reasons....

Am getting SL63 030 in May...plan to play w/its MCT for few K mis....am not a convertible fan (don't like elevated safety risks of convertibles), but am a tech fanatic, so want to explore MCT....

Don't know if MCT box will make it to '09 AMG S/CL....

Don't know what motor this SL ?Black supposedly arriving Fall08 will have....?a new-tech AMG V12 w/650hp/550lb-ft w/MCT.....will this motor influence power offerings of '09 AMG S/CL???

Also like to get new cars early in MY....can't stand driving a prior MY car....

IMO, lots of interesting unknowns re: MY09 V12 AMGs....but should gain much resolution re: pipeline within next 3-4mos, so I wouldn't advise anyone to now get a new '08 S65 unless need a sedan ASAP....

Z356

Re: WSH's quote "and most of these buyers don't want some "new" S65 that's been sitting on a lot being test-driven somewhere, so new S65s in Podunk are tough sales....and the used buyer is a different socio-economic species, so trade-in values on S65s will be as dismal as ever....". I find this all very interesting. Back in late August of '07 I started tracking all used MY07 S600, S65 and CL600 for sale for the US in Autotrader, Cars.com and MB's nationwide used dealer inventory. As months went by and I saw what was happening to S600s, I was certain that by December 31, 2007 we would see a real drop in price for the '07 S65 to, at minimum, the mid $130s. I set my target 'buy' price at $125K. But it didn't happened...and it hasn't happened even now, a few months later. The average price has not dropped yet to these levels. In fact, the numbers for '07 S65 even listed for sale have decrease slightly from numbers I found late last year. And the lowest prices to this date (other than an oddball former lemon buyback in Florida which sold around $125K) seem to hover in the high $140K...and above. I finally pulled the trigger on a MY07 CL600 in early December instead...and found the Cognac/Black color interior I wanted all along. But I still find perplexing how the S65s are still holding on to these prices for I agree with WSH that resale of a vehicle like a S65 is tough. Finally, unlike my friend WSH, I love buying a prior year MY model car. Folks with the mind-set like his take the hit on a yeoman's share of the first year depreciation for a bargain hunter like me. I am not too proud to buy a vehicle built less than 12 months ago and used for only 8K miles...if I can get it for nearly 2/3 of its original MSRP and include a 3 year/100K miles MB extended warranty. I am sure WSH will share with us what it will cost him to end early his '08 CL63 030 lease...and it will be an expensive proposition. All well and good, but I don't feel the need to spent the money it will cost replacing my MB every six months. I rather use my 'savings' (accounted when I purchased my used MY07 CL600) to acquire other vehicles I would love to own & experience before I pass away. Like a bright 'period' color Sunroof Porsche early 911, which I dreamed about owning as penny-less student at Penn in 1968-1972. Well, I just bought such a car today. 1973 911T. MFI. Sunroof. 63K original miles. Original paint & interior. Signal Yellow exterior paint with black interior. A rare find. A 911 doesn't get much more colorful than that...or more classic than this early model. Life is good. So to each his own. Z356

theboogers

auction prices have been at 140k for a 07 s65. i am still watching and waiting also.

Z356

Here is an old post I saw in this Forum back in mid October, 2007. We are now in March of '08 and nothing much has changed. Perhaps someone with access to auction results could give us the complete list of '07 S65 at auction for the past year so that we can chart this depreciation more accurately. Some of the real low figures might be lemon law buybacks which MBUSA later took to auction. That was the case with the blue/savanna S65 at the wholesaler in N. Florida late last year for which they were asking $125K. Z356

"Here are the last 4 (S65 at Auction in Manheim)

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"

theboogers

here ya go-
02/28/08 RIVRSIDE Factory $142,000 2,145 Avg IRI SIL 12G A Yes
02/28/08 RIVRSIDE Factory $138,000 7,960 Avg IRI SIL 12G A Yes
02/14/08 RIVRSIDE Factory $132,500 7,514 Avg AND GRY 12G A Yes
02/14/08 CHICAGO Lease $140,000 11,637 Avg BLACK 12G A Yes
12/19/07 W PALM Factory $147,000 20 Avg BLACK 12G A Yes
12/06/07 RIVRSIDE Lease $143,000 14,418 Avg ARC WHT 12G A Yes

Ferri

I do exactly what you do. To date, I have never acquired a zero-miles vehicle from a dealer, though I have had some high end autos by now. I simply find the savings too irresistible compared to the "loss" in appeal coming from the gap in one model year and the [very minimal] wear and tear from a previous owner. I got my current vehicle at less than 75 percent of its new msrp--admittedly, it was a "fire sale" on account of its previous owner's situation at the time, but nonetheless.