apricotscrub

Back in 2003, I purchased a 2000 S430 for 40,000$, about 60% of its original price. My question is that, do SL cars depreciate as fast as the S-series. If you look at the 3-series BMW's they depreciate at a trickle, about 1/3 the rate of these S-classes, what about the SL, those are my dream car (of course I would need at least 10X the cost of an SL to actually buy one for financial planning). Do you see the SL coming down in value and is it already in the 50K range w/ low miles? Also what do you guys think about the upcoming Volvo hard top covertible on volvo.com? Its heavily priced as well. By the way, help me make commission so I can be a proud owner of the SL500, (dont need the 55), I can add some kits to the SL500 -- use my promo code on my signature below, its ACT2005.

CE750

SL's traditionally hold their value the best of all the gas MB's, the diesels being the King.

jmf003

The SL55 AMG is holding its value very well. See for example http://www.memag.com/memag/article/a....jsp?id=108953, which shows a 2004 SL55 holding 77% of its value which is second only to the Mini Cooper S among all cars.

jl88

That chart is the furthest thing from reality.

The used car market is in the biggest glut (or boom, depending on what side of the fence you're on) ever.

2005 SL55's are already selling for high 90's/low 100's. And this is RETAIL pricing. I don't have access to wholesale pricing manuals, but i'm guessing they're being sold in auctions for low 90's.

Just check Ebay. That site is the greatest place to find actual real-world pricing of used cars. Kelly Blue Book is a complete joke.

Bigdot

i know the R129 SL500 did well,

my SL in 1994 was 99,995

and then 10 years later it was $30K
and it had 37Kmiles on it.

thats about $10K a year loss

or $2,702 per mile loss.

keep them miles off!

mark

jmf003

Well, FWIW Ebay doesn't back up your point. I just checked.

Two SL55s appear as sold. Only one was an '05. It had a flawed title (lemon law repurchase) but sold for $97,888 even with the title problem.

The other was an '03 that sold for $83,000. The Kelly Blue Book value for the '03 is $86,940 so the sale price was 95% of the KBB value and something like 72% of the original MSRP.

YMMV, as the saying goes.

WIldcat465

Keep the miles off? I say drive the car into the ground and get your money's worth. Lease it, drive it, and give it back to the dealer.

When my CL lease is up, I'm going back to BMW for a 750Li. Less money, equivalent car, and retains it's value better and they service the car for free. MB raises prices, lowers quality and wants me to return. No thanks.

I still love my SL. Had it out tonight with the top down here in San Diego. There are few joy like driving an SL600

Vik888

I can't tell you how much I wish BMW had made the 6-Series a convertable hard-top. It would give the SL some serious competition.

Ted Baldwin

LINK

Ted

Vik888

I realize Fifth Gear is a British show, but their stats show 42% value left after 3yrs/36k miles .. so thats a value of $54k left after 3yrs on a $130k car.

Vik888

Wow, at least he's honest about the fact that the car lemon'd.

Not worth $69k for a lemon title though.

Ted Baldwin

LINK2

Ted

JackStraw

Yes it would--- if you like goofy-looking cars.

Vik888

To each his own I *love* the SL. I like the 6-series. It doesn't look that bad.

SLK55R

I don't want to start a bashing thread here, but here goes ...

I can't stand the look of the 6 series. When I was looking at cars I went to the dealership to try and convince myself to get the 6 series and I just couldn't. The Bangle Butt on the 6 series is the worst of all of them. The convertible is even uglier with the top up.

WIldcat465

The 6-series is nice, but I don't think it can compete with the SL. It's at least on the same level as a CLS or E500 (although the BMW is more comfortable and IMO better looking than both). Even if it had a retractable hardtop, it still would be the car an SL is--especially a 55 or 600. I like the 6 with a ragtop. It suits the car.

jl88

This is the search I did

These are 2005 models. $30k drop from MSRP. This ISN'T INCLUDING SALES TAX.

I've bought brand new a 2001 S430 and 2003 SL500. I sold both to private parties. Mercedes, AMG and non, are not holding their values. I don't think any car is holding their value. Ferrari F430's can be had for $30k over sticker now. 6 months ago, it was 70k over sticker.

seattlecarfreak

well with any high end car, when you drive it off the lot, you lose 20% of the purchase price.. it's kind of a given.. and with the dealerships anticipating the changes for 2007, that holds true as well.. but definately, if I was out and debating btween a new 06 sl500 and sl55, it definately would be a used 05 sl55 for the same price as a new sl500 that blue one with 2,000 miles for $97,000 buy it now is less than a new base SL500 with a sport package (which the amg already has), for the same price, without the luxury, gas guzzler tax :>

jmf003

The only '05 on your list with an asking price less than $100,000 has a flawed title. It's another lemon law repurchase. The clean '05s are all over $100,000.

I'm not looking to debate things but I just don't see any data to support your earlier comment that "2005 SL55's are already selling for high 90's...Just check Ebay...." Sorry.

Feel free to have the last word beause I'm done responding to this topic.

seattlecarfreak

think about any $20,000 car.. drive it off the lot and a year later, drive it a few thousand miles, and it's a $16,000 car.. (20% depreceiation)

$40,000 car and a few thousand miles and a year later? $32,000 car... (20% depreciation)

why would the sl55 amg be any different? $130,000 car, few thousand miles, 1 year old.. $105,000 or so (20% depreciation) all sounds good and well with me.. it just seems higher because they are more expensive cars...

BigHat

$100K in '94. $30K "ten years later." Last time I checked $70,000 divided by 10 is $7,000, not $10K

By the way, it cost you $1.81 per mile not $2,702.

Amazing.

ndabunka

I think that car is the SL55 that had the blown engine after 3,300 miles. Looks VERY similar to the one someone else on here turned in as lemon law

ClayJ

Exactly.

And RedMongoosE is my accountant so he should know:

and BigHat is my auditor and he can verify the accuracy of those numbers:

LOL

Only the rare collector's car actually appreciates in value, guys -- this is all very basic.....

DBERRY7578

Simple enough for me.

Tony Musgrave

In the Uk, dealers are currently offering around £10,000 off of the list price of an SL.

I recently sold my March 2004 SL55 which had a F1 Performance pack. price paid £107,000 which included £1,000 discount. 19 months later and only 10,000 miles later, £61,000 was the best 'Shout'and most offers were in the mid fifties.

Now that big discounts are on offer, I dread to think what anyone selling an SL55 would get.