Hello, I'm sorry if this has been asked a million times or not but I did a search and nothing recent really came up. I had two questions. I'm in the Houston, TX area and my mom and I are looking at getting my dad a new SL500 for his 50th birthday. I went to the dealership tonight but got there after it closed so I couldn't get any information on the subject. I was just wondering how long the waiting list is right now and about how much over MSRP they are currently selling for. If anyone could be of any help, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks alot.

 

Benz dealer told me the wait period is 2 years. I told them they need to hire more people

I paid $95K for my SL500 (drive out price).

 

To get the SL equipped to your specs it is now 8 months at the downtown Mercedes dealership in Chicago which was recently acquired by the people who sponsor this board. They are a volume dealer and can deliver out of state or you can go there and pick it up and enjoy a nice ride home. If you are flexible though there are cancellations all the time and you could be in one within days if you are lucky. MSRP or less if you negotiate. Alternatively many dealers (including the one referenced above) have SL's on their floor "used" which are available immediately but you will pay a premium over MSRP for those. The one I saw at the Chicago dealership as of a few days ago is desert sand, and it sounds like black ones are usually available since that seems to be the most ordered color on the SL500. If you need the name of a salesman there who provided the above information to me feel free to PM.

 

Well ,last night I went to the local dealership near us here in Houston (Mercedes of Houston - North), and they had a used red SL500 with 1K miles on it and they were asking $96K for it. It didn't look like it had many options on it at all, atleast not that I could tell from. My dad is EXTREMELY picky about his car and will never buy a used car though. Maybe if we are lucky a cancelation of what he wants will come in and we'll be able to get one of those.

 

It seems like cars on the lot that were ordered by the customer but not taken are going for near MSRP.

However, if you plan on ordering and expect a car within the next 6 months, you might end up paying a few k above MSRP.

regardless, Its a good time to pick up the SL500 right now

 

We just went to the dealership and test drove the red 'pre-owned' SL500 they had on the lot. The salesman said that he could try and find one exactly like my dad wants (either black, white, or some pewter color) with whatever options they have, and if he can't find one, we are getting the red one on the lot.

 

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

Is it Magma red or the other red (firemist?)? Both look nice on the SL - definitely better than white. Black is just too common and hardly a car to have in hot Houston. The Pewter does look nice too. Your quoted price could be OK if enough options are included. Otherwise try to deal them down so your are not paying more than 5 thousand over MSRP. MSRP is the most dealers now will pay for a "used" SL500 so a $5000 profit may be understandable. Ask them to show you the paperwork evidencing what they paid for it if you need to.

 

The red that we looked at was the lipstick red (I guess it's the Magma red), not the one that's almost maroon (damn Aggies, to anyone that's from TX ). There were two Magma red ones, the one we drove and on that they had just gotten in from another dealership. My dad is looking at the one they just got in. It's that red with the stone interior and has quite a few options on it. I don't have the list of them infront of me, but it's fairly loaded. Also, the salesman ended up being my grandmother's pool boy from like 20 years ago, and because he was so glad that my grandmother was still 'as sweet as ever', he's cutting us a really good deal on the car. I think it was like $3-4K over MSRP, and that was without any negociating. Also, because of that thing with my grandmother, he said Monday when we go finalize the paperwork for the one my dad wants, he'll 'lend me the keys' to the black SL55 AMG they have out front and I can take it for a little spin .

ALso, I have a few questions about it for you guys. My parents keep argueing back and forth about it, so I'm going to see if you guess have any personal experience so I can stop magazine racing with them. My mom has a '01 Lexus GS430, and she and my dad keep argueing between them which one is faster, the GS430 or the SL500.Anyone here ever race an GS430? I know it's a good low 14's car in the 1/4 mile, seeing as I've brought it out a few times and judged it's performance compared to what I was against. Anyone else ever go up against one? I know the GS430 is significantly faster than the SC430 because of the weight difference. I know the SL500 isn't exactly a race car, but still, I'm just wondering if any of you guys have felt it's 'full potential' against a GS430 ever before.

 

Ok, he just went in to their 'sister' dealership on the other side of town to look at a black/charcoal one that has 4K miles on it and are asking $97K for. It has parktonic, bi-xenons, that Keyless-go thing, the ventitated seats, and the AMG sports package. Is $97K a good price for one like that?

 

that is a good price with those options. Does that 97K include local taxes, gas guzzler, luxury tax, tag, title, etc. Is that DRIVE OUT price?????????????????

 

An extra grand for a SL500 with 3000 additional miles, but with better options? A tough call. I really like those ventilated seats and parktronic. The AMG package is overpriced in my opinion but if you like it you like it and probably have to have it. Sounds like neither vehicle has the panorama roof but maybe in hot Houston the top will be down most of the time anyway so less of a concern than up here in the cold north. IT probably goes down to red vs. black.

 

Ok, he ended up getting the black one for $97K. It has 4,100 miles and is in absolutely perfect condition. It has Parktronic, Keyless Go, bi-xenons, and the AMG package. Once I get back home early next week, I'll post some pictures of it.

 

congrats and welcome to the family

 

i think you can get it lower, cuz it has 4000 miles on it

 

Sounds like a done deal though. Looking forward to the photos..by the way which interior?

 

The car is black/charcoal.

 

Congrats on getting your dad the new car!

I ordered my CLK from MB Houston North...

I asked the salesmen what the wait list was for an SL and he said 3 years.

I went a few weeks ago and they also had a Silver one used.
I saw that Black one that you bought at MB Greenway Plaza, I didn't think it would take too long to sell..

Post pics when you get a chance..

 

When did you see it at Greenway? He bought it on Tuesday of this week after it arrived from North Carolina two days prior. I know they had another black, non-AMG packaged SL500 there.

At MB Houston North, we had 3 different salesmen tell us three different waiting list estimates; one said 8 months, one said 12-18 months, and another lady that admitted she didn't know much about the cars at all said that there was an 80 person waiting list and they got about 3-4 SL's per year. You do the math on that last one.

 

The one I saw was definitely not the one you purchased then..

As far as estimates, I had the same thing happen with my CLK...
3 different wait estimates from 3 different salesmen.

1 tells me 45-90 days
another tells me 60-120 days
the last tells me 8months...

MB greenway told me 90 days.

Funny.

 

I dont think the sl500 can compete with a gs430 stock for stock on the highway. The gs is just geared too strong.

 

Apples and Oranges
The SL500 sure the hell looks better though.

BTW: I don't think that the gs430 can compete with the Vett Z06.

 

No one said it could......

 

Well, I was being sarcastic since you were comparing the Benz to the Lexus.

 

No one said it could......