RJC

The SL being tested in the video almost sounds like the Mustang in the Steve McQueen movie Bullitt.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/4071008....lift-spy-video


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36MFh4of6lE

Murtaza

I've heard the 63 motor in action enough to recognize it anywhere, guess the SL63 is coming and will be NA

SL2003driver

Frontend looks to heavy. Changes the lines of this classic design. This new safety requirement is not a good thing for the looks of the SL.

NOTA4RE

and the change will be extremely bad for the resale value of the current body style.

NOTA4RE

I am up by Syracuse.

I mean bad by....expect the body style change to shave 20k off the price of the newer SL in one day when the current style is replaced. I am seeing 03 SL55's in the 40k range and have seen 03 500's in the mid 30's. I would expect the 05 SL55 to be in the mid 50's by next summer.

Look at an 06 S500 price compared to an 07. Or look at the price drop on 00 or 01 S500's. They fell into the teens after the 07 came out.

I think the style change will slaughter the SL65.

I just traded in my Sl55 before the style change. I don't feel like losing 20-30k for no real reason. Mercedes has about the worst depreciation I have ever seen on high end cars, except for maybe jaguar.

I really loved my SL55 but I really feel the depreciation is close to unacceptable IMO. Look at a SL55 that sold new for 140k and with in one year is worth 50k less. I can't think of another car which depreciates that quickly.

SL2003driver

I have not seen these prices. If you look nationally a 2003SL goes for mid $50K's. A great deal right now on a 2003 is high $40K's. People that are buys 3-4 year old SL's won't let the ugly change in the 2009 bother them. I don't think depreciation will be anything but the normal. Might even increase demand for the older ones with the good looking design.

NOTA4RE

Local dealer near me put a sl500 up on ebay. It was a really nice fairly low mile car in firemist red. No reserve....he got 36k. I know there is not a lot of cars that trade at these prices but once they start trading there it is not long before more start trading at the lower price and then eventually all of them trade at the lower price.

SL2003driver

Of 586 2003 SL500's listed on auto trader

$89,500 Highest price
$7,000 Lowest price
$51,001 Average price

I would say that the low price represents a damaged SL500 and there were several at this lower price. With the average still at $51,001 I would say that the real average would be closer to Mid $50K with as I stated before a good deal would be high $40's with most selling in the mid $50K range. I think the one your dealer sold for $36K most of had a accident in its past that was not a fender bender. JMHO

gocargo

+1 NOTA4RE Two avg cond '03 sl500's asking $39,999 in Atlanta 2 mo's ago, same time a red sl55 in Auto Trader asking $50 grand. Currently a local Graphite Designo '03 sl55, 30,000 mi with every available option and a certified CPO warranty sitting nearly 3 months.. no takers $69,000.

WordSmith

Regardless of what will happen to the resale price of the older models, that is one impressive video.

NOTA4RE

Yep. I saw the red 55 too. it was on ebay for a while with no takes at 49k buy it now. No issues or buy back either. The 03 I was talikng about was the same thing a no issue car. The dealer who had it is the same dealer I bought my Cayenne from. The way he tells it the market for the SL is VERY soft right now. I will miss my SL but I think I picked a great time to sell it and retain the value for the next car. I think the 65 is going to get slammed hard it the next year or so. It has had ~30k shaved off the price of a used one in the last 6-8 months. I was looking at the 65 before I bought my 55 and a good car was 130 -140k now a good car is ~100-110k.

derrick_lui

mercedes value just suck..face it guys...

although we love em

NOTA4RE

I remember that 65 at Romano when I bought my 55 there. I also asked to have no front plate on my 55.

NOTA4RE

it really is just horrible IMO, but the cars are fun. I just got use to near zero depreciation after having a NSX

mikeblah

i haven't had front plates here in CA for probably 15 years.

I've never received a ticket for it, but it has given more than a few officers a valid reason to pull me over coming out of a bar/restaurant/club to see if i've been drinking.

i could have easily been hit with a few DUI charges just because of that missing front plate.

i'm not sure how my little story relates to the facelift.

RJC

If it's just a facelift and not a complete body style change, the depreciation won't quite be so bad. When the all new model comes out then that will be a different story...

Murtaza

Completely different headlights/grill is a pretty significant facelift though, especially if it looks like the CL lights. It could make our older SL's look dated...

RoydRage

+1 Bingo.

They facelifted the car last year too... although not as radically.

when the R231 or whatever comes out, and it's a totally new platform... Nota4RE is correct the car will dive like crazy... Same thing with the R129, after the R230 came out they dropped 30k overnight, also the CL from 99' to 2000 when the 2000 came out you couldn't give the 99' car away even though I believe the 99' Retailed for slightly more.

Thank God this won't happen to our cars till 2011-2012

Best,

RoydRage

SL2003driver

This is a debate of the guys that think the newest model is the thing to have versus guys that like the current model for the beauty of a great original design. If you want the newest facelift so you are driving the newest model, trust me most people including almost all women can't tell which one is new and which one is the older design.

Murtaza

Completely different headlights/grill is a pretty significant facelift though, especially if it looks like the CL lights. It could make our older SL's look dated...

Edit: Royd...your 55 looks incredible in your sig

RJC

Yes , your car will look dated but it won't be a complete new body which would REALLY make your car look dated and then some

Guido1986

The only time i will buy a new car car is when the body is completely redesigned.....I think by buying the face lifted one coming out is a waste unless you love it.....Im going to wait to al least 2010-2011 or whenever the next generation comes out......The trade in value for benz sucks so you buy a face-lifted one now and then about 3 more years they come out with the next geration and you trade it in you will lose thousands....

p.s- the R230 guys will never look out dated there like the 300SL gullwing or like my dads corvette sting ray there timeless and instant classics.

SL2003driver

Logical response. If someone buys the facelifted one it will be out of date in a couple of years, if driving the current model is that important it would be an expensive couple of years.

CY

My lease should be coming up right when the 2009 is for sale.....Im OVER it and will wait for the next generation SL.

mjr24

Those prices are nonsense. Just because you saw 1 car for a price means nothing. These cars will barely depreciate when the update comes out. Anyone who says they will drop 20k overnight....well, you are an idiot.

Ebay is not the place to price cars. Nor is your local auto auction. I look on Ebay all the time and have rarely seen a 55 for under $60k and the ones that do have 50k miles.

Yeah, I have seen some 03 500's in the upper 30's....but that is bone stock with no sports package, pano roof, parktronic, ****ty colors, etc. etc. etc.