Juice it

I know if you use Cingular the phone is the v600 and you need the cradle and the phone. I think I paid 750 for both but when you buy from the dealer it is covered under the same warranty as the car. I already had to swap out a phone. The cradle snaps right in. You can also buy them on ebay. Your car does have the x11 interior. The normal is a charcoal upper and lower is a two tone but yours will be all black. You can look up wholsale numbers but remember, you don't know the circumstances/conditions and you can get an SL65 that optioned out at 185 or 197 and the wholesale numbers won't tell you anything about options. I have been watching the 65 pricing and the car you are looking at is a special car and is a good price. You can find lower, sure but you get what you pay for.

v8plus4

I agree, you're getting a unique car with all of the good options, plus a $6k designo package basically for free. Make a deal and go for it, you'll regret it if you pass this one up.

david_101

you're all right. and the deal is all but done. i'm now considering how to travel there one way to get it.

it makes sense to purchase the telephonics from MB, even though there's quite a premium required. there are neither repairs nor refurbished replacements; rather, there are replacements with new equipment.

i just have to find out what the extended warranty will cost. do any of you know the dealer margin on the warranty?

thanks again for your thoguhts.

david_101

was just under 199k.

all the same, wholesale numbers would be helpful because they'd tell me how much funny-money the dealer is playing with.

Rareamg

I love the color!!! Hate the price tag..

v8plus4

See if the dealer, in lieu of shipping the car to you, will spring for a one-way plane ticket. You're spending $140k, they should fly you there first class

david_101

yes, that's a bargain i'm certain the dealer would appreciate me suggesting. {;-)

since asking if anybody knew the wholesale value of the car, i was able to find it: 143,200. if the car were in fair condition, then it'd be about 7k less. those are current, up-to-the-month numbers.

given those numbers, they might not wish to provide airfare.

chances are i'll hitch a ride on a private flight i think will be heading up there within the next couple of weeks. if not, then i'll splurge on my own ticket.

overall, not such a bad deal, right?

sprins

Sounds like a steal to me (I know I'm biased with al the taxes here, but still)

JR.

Auction Averages
For Week Ending Apr 02
Above Average Below Feb 2006 Oct 2005 Apr 2005
Sale Price $152,122 $120,795 $89,468 $120,795 $0 $166,000
Mileage 4,212 8,423 12,635 8,423 0 5,361
Total Sold All 6 1 0 2


Average Auction Mileage
Prices are based on more transactions than shown under 'Transactions', above.
Apr 07 - Apr 14 2006
Above Average Below Insufficient Transactions To
Auction $140,000 $120,000 $100,000 Estimate Future Prices
Est. Retail $152,000 $130,000 $108,000


Copyright © 1996-2004 Manheim Auctions V 3.3.10

JR.

sorry, i could not make this read any better.. the program would not accept my changes..

david_101

thank you foir the numbers.

unfortunately, i'm unfamiliar with the format. would you please interpret them?

thanks,
david

SJRAMROD

Looks like a great car! As far as the price goes.......I''ve been watching them as well as the S65's. It seems to me that when there was talk about the brand new SL's coming out in mid-year.......the prices have gone down a bit on the 05's and 06's. I think that the price is very fair! It is a $190,000 + MSRP car with under 5 K miles!

I would say that if you wanted to hold onto the car for several years and enjoy it.........it's a great deal! On the other hand, if you wanted to drive the car for a year or so and get rid of it.........I think that you will loose money on it!

Lastly, several dealers that I ve spoken to about the very same thing.....low miles. They all seem to tell me that they have some very rich customers that want to have every new toy coming down the pike. They drive them for a bit and........trade them in for the next toy! My opinion is that many people need tax deductions as well. So, they buy these cars for a tax shelter of some sort, hardly drive them, trade them in.........then buy a new one! I guess they get the benifit of writing off the depriciation somehow!

ajf1

I have seen 06's in that price range. Frankly the designo package is a negative in resale, but if you like it I say go for it, sometimes its better to enjoy the car than worry about a few k on a $140k car.

Fast55

I have to agree. This is not an investment in anything other than the sheer enjoyment of the car. I'm sure you will appreciate it.

Scruffyone

I have been watching the V12s for over a year now. They all seen to take a 50-60k hit as you drive them from the showroom. I could never find out why. I came close to getting a CL65 with 3000 miles on it last summer. 135k?Hindsight is a good thing, glad I did not do it now. (for reasons not related to the CL)

david_101

i think they have such low mileage because these usually aren't primary or even secondary drivers. they seem to be cars driven only occasionally. and people who get them usually are far more than able to just afford them. so, i guess they don't mind leaving behind that 50k-60k nearly as much as a commoner, such as i. that's why i won't purchase the car new.

as for tax advantages associated with the depreciation, i'm unfamiliar with any that could substantially offset such depreciation. the only thing i could imagine is that someone with a dealer/manufacturer license or something akin might be able to book the entire "loss."

david_101

i admit that part of the pleasure i derive from my indulgences is being able to get more for less. the central question always remains, "how can that be done without losing the deal?"

i nearly lost the deal yesterday, when i learned that another rep had put a SOLD sign on the car...just before i called to say i'd take it.

when i learned about it, i didn't say i'd take it. instead, i took a different route.

now, my name is on the flip side of the SOLD sign. even so, i have the no-cost option to back out, if i should wish.

not such a bad deal became even better.

shaba230

Playing around on ebay, i found this little snitbit from the auction of an SL65

"When we obtained this vehicle, the owner stated that the mileage was accurate."

Makes you suspicious of odometer tampering, imo.

here's the link, car had 75 miles on it

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-...QQcmdZViewItem

JR.

auction: 2005 SL65 for week ending april 06
.
sale price above average below
$152,122 $120,795 $89,468.

mileage 4212 8223 12635


condition is really about the miles unless there are glaring problems

JR.

i don't know what it is about this site or is it me..

.
above average condition is: $152,122 with 4212 miles

david_101

okay, i've got it now. it was just the formatting for alignment.

so, 140k for a starmark designo in excellent condition from a dealer with every option (except distronic) is at least not an unreasonable number?

david_101

nope, it's not just you.

regarding the auction prices,

above 152,222 w/ 4,212 mi
avg 120,795 w/ 8,223 mi
below 89,468 w/ 12,635 mi

there's an ~4,000 mile spread between above and avg, and between avg and below.

and there's an ~30,000 price spread between above and avg, and between avg and below.

without benefit of seeing and inspecting the auctioned cars, it looks like the depreciation per mile is HUGE at about 7.50/mile.

can that be accurate???

prsmith777

JR..

Where is this auction that you are refering to? 12K miles is not so bad to get an SL65 for under 100K. I need to look into this.

Paul

Juice it

I doubt that is acurate. 12k mile SL65's aren't selling for in the 80's wholesale. I would bet if an auction has those numbers it probably represents one flood car or one salvage title car and then that number goes in to the average.

david_101

i believe they're from the manheim auction, in PA. it's the heavyweight of NE auctioneers, i think.