EXCLUDING the new SL550 upgrade, how is the 2005 SL500 inferior to the last model year of the SL500?

Cuz i found this (http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/mer...z&distance=any) and WANT it lol

If you want it, then go for it. 2005 was a good year for the SL (My father had one). They got the updated nav and had cleaned up all the kinks from 2003. So a 2005 is just as good as an 2006. Some body can probably add or correct me if I'm wrong.

it depends on what budget do you have. if you are looking for the lowest price for sl, you may consider 2003/4 sl500 with low miles. it feels the very similiar with newer model. the difference is just the navi and some small things. i believe you can get 2004 sl500 with less than 40k miles for less than 40k now.
however new navigation system in 2005 model is very nice, and i would recommend you to get this car if you want to spend more for this car.

I agree. I've always bought new cars...but I couldn't resist this 2003SL with 7800 miles on it. It had 2 oil changes, that's it, at the Dealer I use. It has the AMG package, Xenons, and it's Brilliant Silver with Charcoal interior. It still smells new. I bought it for $53,000 but it's perfect. The dealer sold me a warranty for $1650. Zero deductible, 36,000 miles, 5 years and transferable. It's my 3rd car and I'll probably put no more than 5 or 6K on it in a year. So, what a deal!
I bought the 2007 CD's for the Navigation, and they are incredible. They get me to the most remote areas I've inputted into the Nav. I have a Lexus with DVD nav and a Cherokee with DVD nav and this is just as good as those systems in my opinion.
I now have 8800 miles on this beauty.
Stan

Now thats a good deal. If you can find one in the condition at that price, its a steal.

just sent another member a note as well that I was thinking about selling my 2005SL. Its silver, 13,000 miles and showroom condition. Daughter attending law school. Let me know if interested.

Pre-05 navigation system is a joke~ lol

I have a 04 and I am constantly yelling at the Nav screen as if it's actually voice activated. Ah well, it serves as a stress relief after work.

If it isn't already sold I'll be driving that CROSVS's SL500 that he found on Yahoo tomorrow when I am in the area with my son. Price seems a "bit" high and I'd really like to get a 55 but I'm going to check it out anyway and see if the seller is "motivated". If I don't buy it, I'll let you guys know what I think of it (condition, etc)

Yahoo has used cars? That's interesting, I wonder if eBay has better deals, or if going the CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) route is safest. At least at the dealership or on the lot I can see the car in person, in detail, and even test drive it if I like it. Good Luck

Well, I did swing in and took a look at this SL500 that was on Yahoo. This 2005 was built 12/04. The paint on the car is pretty good. A "minor" 2 inch long scratch on the rider side front fender that can really be buffed out. This car really doesn't have the keyless go nor the Pano not either 'tronic. Pretty much just standard stuff like Xenon's and NAVI. The interior did look good in really good shape though and it had new tires. The roof would not automatically retract and the sales guy said that it was "probably the second battery"? I've never sat in one that didn't work so don't know how accurate that may, or may not be.

One thing I really did NOT like was the rust on the calipers (not the rotors as that is normal), but rather on the bolts on the calipers of this car as well as all the underbody components looked like they had simply been "left out in the weather". I found a likely reason after I left the lot and will gt into that later in this review.

However, this may not have been the best bargains on this lot. They had two SL55's. One was a black/black 2004 with keyless go, std 55 wheels and 44K miles that they are asking $54K for (so you can probably buy it for less) that didn't exhibit the weather issues of the 2005. Unfortunately, that one was placed into service 12/20/2003 so it's out of warranty, right?

The second was that pale blue (not a real "manly" color but was attractive IMO) with some nicer custom wheels and they are only asking $44K for this one but it's miles are 57K and it also (of course) is out of warranty. But it has both the Pano roof as well as the keyless go options. This seems like a "bargain" but is well out of warranty and I understand that getting an aftermarket warranty on AMG's can be tough. The salesperson acted like it was "no problem" and even stated that they could give me an extended warranty from GMAC. Really, I didn't think they warranted AMG's.

Oh well, I asked my dad about why this particular place seems to have SO MANY high end cars (there are about 50 Benz's and 40 BMW's, 8 Lexus GX's, etc and even a 355 Ferrari. He said that the MAJORITY of these cars come from lease programs up north. As such, most of the cars have been exposed to the northern winters salt and slag roads (probably explains the caliper rust). As I understand it, this market allows a bigger mark up than the same car on a lot up north. If they don't seel them fairly quickly, they forward them to the auto auctions in Florida.

They also had a 90K mile 2003 SL500. I didn't even bother asking about the price of that one.

my 04. The prices vary a bunch, dependent of mostly the miles, sport package and other options, and whether they are out of factory warranty. I'm just beginnint the process of selling my 05, and I'm higher than many on Autotrader. There's just lots of factors. Remember, you can hardly pay too much for the nicest, and hardly too little for the cheapest. You can check mine out at www.encoremacon.com, click the "vehicles" tab. Good luck in the search.

Here's a loaded 2004 Private Party valuation. It also looks like a northern car as well so take this with a grain of salt (literally)...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...235537634&rd=1
EOM