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I'm looking at getting a 2017 SL 550 for about $40-50k with about 20-50k miles, and I'd like to get a better understanding of the cost of maintenance, expected repairs, and depreciation. I only drive about 8k miles per year tops. I cannot do my own maintenance. The main goal here is just to make sure the costs are in line with my other choice (Cayman 981S) and not considerably more / less to the point where it would affect my decision. I'm pretty sure I'd be happy with either.
Anyone know how I can calculate these or anyone have numbers for me? Or info on how I can find them?
Also, better more miles for reduced cost or less miles for higher cost? What should I aim for? Obviously I'll be looking for a well maintained car that has documented maintenance at correct intervals.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
What are your goals and why the SL550 versus the SL450? Have you driven any of the cars you are looking at?
The SL is not a sports car like the Porche. It is a Grand Touring vehicle with great handling. It is comfortable and confident. WRT maintenance, the SL is going to be easier to work on, so we assume cheaper to maintain.
So, I suggest you test drive the SL450, SL550, and the 981, and then decide because if you fall in love with one car and hate the other, are you really going to spend that kind of money on a car you hate?
(The SL450 is probably the most reliable of the group. You may want to consider a 3rd party extended service agreement. @Highline-Autos.com can help you with that. Actually, get quotes on all three; the most expensive car is the one that will probably cost the most to maintain.)
What are your goals and why the SL550 versus the SL450? Have you driven any of the cars you are looking at?
The SL is not a sports car like the Porche. It is a Grand Touring vehicle with great handling. It is comfortable and confident. WRT maintenance, the SL is going to be easier to work on, so we assume cheaper to maintain.
So, I suggest you test drive the SL450, SL550, and the 981, and then decide because if you fall in love with one car and hate the other, are you really going to spend that kind of money on a car you hate?
(The SL450 is probably the most reliable of the group. You may want to consider a 3rd party extended service agreement. @Highline-Autos.com can help you with that. Actually, get quotes on all three; the most expensive car is the one that will probably cost the most to maintain.)
I've driven the SL550 and the cayman. I'm not really planning on tracking the car so I dont NEED a sportscar but i know that sportscars tend to hold their value better so thats why i was interested. None of the cars I've driven I've really fallen in love with but these two are at the top of my list.
I never tried the SL450 but I cant imagine it being better than the 550? I like the speed and the power of the 550 I just wish it had better V8 sound. According to the forums here it's achievable with aftermarket mods, BUT now the concern is more about it depreciating and how it is to maintain in comparison to the Cayman.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
A SL450 with a tune will get you close to a stock SL550. I'm probably close to 410 hp with my Stage 2 tune. The less weight of the M276 gives the car a more balanced feel. The 6 cylinder is certainly going to cost less to maintain than the SL550. Maybe not a lot less, but certainly less. You should drive one to see how you like it. @Streamliner has a story about picking his SL450 over an SL550. I really like the sound of my SL400 -- very throaty. Stock, the SL500 is only about half a second faster than the SL450. So, it may also depend on whether you are going to modify your car.
If you are worried about buying a car that is going to hold its value, I would say a Honda CR-V is probably a better bet than any sports car. But I never buy a car as any kind of investment. I drive cars I enjoy driving and don't care what they are worth next year.
I read a n article last week that rated the 10 worst new cars at retaining their value. . . the SL550 was rated number 1 to lose the most value.
Makes me feel better about buying my 27K miles 2015 SL550 for about 1/3 of the original sticker. The guy at the head of the line
took the big decline.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by toolguy4u
I read a n article last week that rated the 10 worst new cars at retaining their value. . . the SL550 was rated number 1 to lose the most value.
Makes me feel better about buying my 27K miles 2015 SL550 for about 1/3 of the original sticker. The guy at the head of the line
took the big decline.
Absolutely better to buy one a few years old. However, the loss is value is not unique to the SL550 or Mercedes as just about any high-end, semi-exotic will greatly lose its value after a few thousand miles.
I read a n article last week that rated the 10 worst new cars at retaining their value. . . the SL550 was rated number 1 to lose the most value.
Makes me feel better about buying my 27K miles 2015 SL550 for about 1/3 of the original sticker. The guy at the head of the line
took the big decline.
I guess i need context here.... buying a 2017 SL550 with 40k miles is diff than buying a new 2025 SL that no one wants...
Im planning to buy used, but how much more is it going to depreciate from a $45k as a 2017 over 5 years? maybe 2k a year? 5k/ year? 10k miles a year. Just looking for a reasonable estimate because there is a big different between 2k and 5k per year depreciation. Either way I can afford it but the difference is sizeable and i might get a different car for that reason.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by Apple713
I guess i need context here.... buying a 2017 SL550 with 40k miles is diff than buying a new 2025 SL that no one wants...
Im planning to buy used, but how much more is it going to depreciate from a $45k as a 2017 over 5 years? maybe 2k a year? 5k/ year? 10k miles a year. Just looking for a reasonable estimate because there is a big different between 2k and 5k per year depreciation. Either way I can afford it but the difference is sizeable and i might get a different car for that reason.
You should not get the SL if the most important thing is its value after 5 years. People don't buy these cars because they hold their value. That's what a Honda is for.
No one has ANY IDEA of what the market will be in 5 years or even three years from now. The chip shortage a couple of years ago drove prices of used cars artificially high. When there was $3000 to $5000 "market adjustment" above Blue Book on USED cars, who woulda, coulda known? My daughter got a 2018 Honda CR-V with 25,000 miles on it for MORE that original MSRP. But, if you needed a car, what were your choices?
So, if the future value of your SL purchase is what's holding you back, don't get it. If every day you wake up and want to drive it somewhere, then get it and to hell with future trade-in value.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
There are/were very few cars out there that were offered EXACTLY the same, with an 8 cylinder or a 6. The R231 SL is one of them. Virtually every single feature of the car, along with available options, was exactly the same if you ordered the SL500/SL550 or the SL400/SL450. Since I ordered my car brand new, after multiple “back to back” test drives of the 550 & 450, I found that I MUCH preferred the V6 car. So, I got a car with 369hp, and spent the approx. $10K savings on wonderful options, including ABC and the Exclusive Nappa Leather interior. The car rides & handles so much better with the lighter V6 up front and is way quicker & faster than I will ever need or desire to go. These cars are still SO under appreciated in the market and the time to scoop up a creampuff will never be better than now.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
My SL400 has everything from Magic Sky Control to the Driver Assistance Package to Nappa Leather to Soft Close DoorsexceptABC, which I would love to have. I bought my car used, so I got what I got. Still, it was very nicely equipped. The one luxury item that I think would be a future deal-breaker for me is the Wood Steering Wheel. I cannot imagine driving an SL without one. Once you go wood, you never go back! Wheel Locks, on the other hand --> 👎
One of only two options that my preowned vehicle did not come with that I would have ordered, if ordering new was soft close doors and the night vision package. I would have loved to have that night vision option, just becauseI geek out on stuff like that. All other options that I have I would have ordered if ordering my car brand new. Not only do I REALLY enjoy the magic sky option I appreciate it even more when I sit in an R231 that doesn't have it.
Originally Posted by JettaRed
My SL400 has everything from Magic Sky Control to the Driver Assistance Package to Nappa Leather to Soft Close DoorsexceptABC, which I would love to have. I bought my car used, so I got what I got. Still, it was very nicely equipped. The one luxury item that I think would be a future deal-breaker for me is the Wood Steering Wheel. I cannot imagine driving an SL without one. Once you go wood, you never go back! Wheel Locks, on the other hand --> 👎
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; Oct 10, 2024 at 01:48 PM.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by ThatsMyDawg
One of only two options that my preowned vehicle did not come with that I would have ordered, if ordering new was soft close doors and the night vision package. I would have loved to have that night vision option, just becauseI geek out on stuff like that. All other options that I have I would have ordered if ordering my car brand new. Not only do I REALLY enjoy the magic sky option I appreciate it even more when I sit in an R231 that doesn't have it.
I just wear night vision goggles whenever I drive at night.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Curious about what's used SLs are out there, I queried for SL400 on Carvana. 20 cars came back with 16 being SL550s, two being SL63s and two being SL400s. They were all in mid $30,000 to $50,00 range with 30,000 to 60,000 miles on them. There was one with 66,000 miles for $29k. The SL400s were $34k with around 51k miles. There was an SL63 for about $50k.
My point is that only 10% of the cars were an SL400 and 10% were an SL63. I was a little surprised to see this. I don't know what conclusion to make other than 80% of the SL550s were being sold. Not to disparage the SL550, but it does beg the question why.
My SL400 now has 51k miles. I paid $43,000 about three years ago. It had 22,649 miles on it at the time. So my "depreciation" after three years and 29,000 miles is about $9,000. It has aged nearly 42% and increased its mileage/usage by 127% yet has "depreciated" only about 21%. I'll take that for all the pleasure it has given me.
I've owned a lot of cars and there are about four that I kept for really long times or remember fondly. They are a 1981 Volvo 240 station wagon; a 2004 Audi TT; a 2004 SL500; and my current 2015 SL400. I've never bought a car concerned about its resale value as an "investment". Every car I buy I intend to keep "forever" and only get rid of it when I become bored or it becomes problematic.
Last edited by JettaRed; Oct 10, 2024 at 07:50 PM.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by JettaRed
Curious about what's used SLs are out there, I queried for SL400 on Carvana. 20 cars came back with 16 being SL550s, two being SL63s and two being SL400s. They were all in mid $30,000 to $50,00 range with 30,000 to 60,000 miles on them. There was one with 66,000 miles for $29k. The SL400s were $34k with around 51k miles. There was an SL63 for about $50k.
My point is that only 10% of the cars were an SL400 and 10% were an SL63. I was a little surprised to see this. I don't know what conclusion to make other than 80% of the SL550s were being sold. Not to disparage the SL550, but it does beg the question why.
My SL400 now has 51k miles. I paid $43,000 about three years ago. It had 22,649 miles on it at the time. So my "depreciation" after three years and 29,000 miles is about $9,000. It has aged nearly 42% and increased its mileage/usage by 127% yet has "depreciated" only about 21%. I'll take that for all the pleasure it has given me.
I've owned a lot of cars and there are about four that I kept for really long times or remember fondly. They are a 1981 Volvo 240 station wagon; a 2004 Audi TT; a 2004 SL500; and my current 2015 SL400. I've never bought a car concerned about its resale value as an "investment". Every car I buy I intend to keep "forever" and only get rid of it when I become bored or it becomes problematic.
I sold my 2004 SL500 after 12 years, with about 22,000 miles on it. At the time, folks here were saying that the $25K I was asking for it was “ridiculous,” and that I’d never get it. It languished on Craigslist for a couple of months and then one day a fellow who lived just a few miles from me answered the ad. He came over, looked it over and then peeled off 250 hundred dollar bills. I see the car every now & then and he appears to take very good care of it, as I did.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by JettaRed
R230 styling NEVER gets old!
I was able to add H7 LED bulbs for high beams without any problems. Made a significant difference in night driving.
Would you believe that I NEVER drove the car after dark? Same for the current SL450. It really is ridiculous, but as the years go by, I much prefer being in my easy chair before the sun goes down.
I bought an SL450 this summer and LOVE it!!! I can't imagine needing the 550. The balance of the 450 is a great trade off IMO. For those talking about the mileage... It had 40k miles, 2017, loaded except magic sky, Air suspension and nappa leather. I paid 36k and I feel like it is the best money I ever spent! I have never had a car give me so much joy! I have owned Audis, bmw's, and lots of others but nothing drives like this.
I live in the Northeast USA and so today I stored the car away for the winter. I am really bummed about it! I have been trying to find another car that I would love this much that I could drive in the Vermont winters. Anyone have thoughts? CLS 53 with 4matic? I would really love one of those, but I think I want to see them depreciate a little more. There is a e300 near me at a good price but I just don't think it will have any of the extra sauce that makes the SL special whereas I think the CLS might. Anyone have suggestions I should consider?
Hahaha. Winters are too extreme where I live for that. I am in a rural area and they use a lot of salt on the roads which I don’t want to ruin my SL. I plan to have that as a fun summer car for many more years to come.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Understood. Then maybe a 2001 Audi A4 quattro with manual transmission. Great winter car. Won't break the bank. Or, depending on what happens next Tuesday, a Subaru Outback.
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