CantankerousAMG

My 2003 SL55 AMG is for sale. I have enjoyed the car however it's time to move on. The car just turned 22,000 miles and is FULLY LOADED with all the options! It also has brand new tires (less than 500 miles on them) and a FULL FACTORY 3YR./75,000 mile warranty--until April 2010! All the campaigns and services have been done so far at the authorized Benz dealership (Beshoff Motorcars, CA).

Make: Mercedes Benz
Model: SL55 AMG
Year: 2003
Mileage: 22,000
Options:
1. Distronic
2. Parktronic
3. Keyless Go
4. Panoramic Sunroof w/ sunshade
5. Heated/Ventilated Seats with 3 Memory settings.
6. 6-CD changer
7. Navigation
8. Voice Command System
And all the other misc. features like bi-xenon headlights etc.

The car was always garaged. Never tracked and never modified.
The car is in pristine condition. It is also listed on Cat's Exotics:
http://www.catsexotics.com/used_vehi...7b2e050cdbc694

Although it is listed for $74,888, I am willing to negotiate up to a certain extent. Please let me know if any of you or anyone you may know would be interested in purchasing my car.
Thanks.

Pics:

CantankerousAMG

Pics:

CantankerousAMG

104 views and not a single post?!?

BUMP!

DannyM383

theres no replies bc your asking way way too much. Granted Im a dealer, but I just bought an '04 for 64K fully loaded mileage was below 30K as well, everybody knows that when searching for an SL the '04 and newer have fewer problems, the '03s in general,not saying yours, so don't lash out at me, the '03s had a lot of little glitches here and there. REad my previous posts, Im very knowledgable about SL's as I have 2, you can the pics I posted, my sl500 is an '03 but I paid around 42K for it w/ 20K miles. I really hope yours sells, but you can't expect a forum of enthusiats to pay 75K when your car would really wholesale for probably 57K-60K. Just being honest, theres one at a dealer here in houston, expo motorcars, its an '03, lots of options i think the sticker was 128K, 25k miles hes asking $62,500...its been there for months...You can get an '07 w/ no miles for around 115K now, so '03 have plunged alot, people sitll ask hihg prices, but the ones that actually sell dont go too high

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...QQcmdZViewItem

NOTA4RE

blazinginder

I second DannyM383's comments, my friend's a dealer and he just recently bought an 03 SL500, well equiped with 30k miles and paid in the $40s...and the 03 SL55's were/are going for 50s

...not really trying to burst your bubble but for 70s I could probably get an 04 if not get lucky with an 05 for around that price.

and yes we know you said "Although it is listed for $74,888, I am willing to negotiate up to a certain extent" but honestly who no one is going to waste their time when your price is a good 10k above some retail price s

djamer

The price is a little too high. Granted you have a 3yr/75K warranty which is definately a plus point and all the options u listed are impressive, I think if you dropped the price in the mid-60s, then you will be able to get responses.

jmm

I have an 03 with all the bells and whistles, less the panoramic roof, and paid mid 50's with 24 mo/24000 mile warranty. Will gladly sell with warranty for same. 60 is top end for a 10000 mile car. Low 50's for a high mile car.

lontong

What is your next

bltserv

That price really needs about 15K off of it to move the car.

I agree with the post about 03`s. Thats a significant issue if you know your
SL`s and have been in the market for one. Always get the latest year you can afford. 03 Was the first year model.

My 05 is missing some of the top end goodies. Park, Dist, Pano.
But with 30K miles. My 05 is worth less than you are asking for your 03.

Dont flame me I am just being honest and trying to help you move the car.
Price needs to be Sub 60 in todays market. No Mortgage or RE guys out buying AMG`s down here is So Cal lately. They are flipping burgers.

DFW01E55

Aren't you glad that you forced the issue?

AdamG@NorCal

Depreciation for an AMG is a nightmare....

JackStraw

Very funny reply.

JackStraw

Depreciation for a (...fill in your model...) is a nightmare....

People who bought 2003s when they came out were able to flip them at good prices when demand outsripped supply. Those days are gone.

If it makes you feel any better cantankerous one, the 2009 will not be as attractive as the 2003-2008, so your vehicle will be more desirable.

AdamG@NorCal

Can i safely say mercedes?

phonetics

guys.... it has brand new tires.....

DannyM383

honestly in no way is this a personal attack on you nor am i implying this is your first car, sometimes people who buy their first high end car don't understand how hard the depreciation is, last july i had a guy come to me w/ a 2000 S500 sticker around 95K it only had 35000 miles. He bought a new S550 from me but when I refused to take his trade he was irate. The man said he had heard cars like that depreciated $1/mile and he said the least he'd take for his car was $55K and that was way off my offer of $24K which was pretty generous....similar S500's were retailing for 30-32K but this guy insisted his car was worth $60K, i mean i didnt get mad he was an old man and I saw him post the car on ebay w/ national vehicle marketing but nobody was biting. He's probably still sitting on that car now. Its better to sell it now bc its gonna lose $1500/month from here on out and in a few months when '05s with the DVD based navi get to the 60K range, good luck even getting $50K for it. On the otherhand if your the original owner from '03 and paid close to $200K then I see why you want so much. Grab the old novemeber '02 dupont registry, 2 '03 SL55 one for 190K OBO and one for 175K OBO...WOW

JackStraw

This is why the dealer is indifferent when a customer buys a CPO rather than a new vehicle... the $8,000 profit margin is preserved.

DannyM383

if you understood the car industry you would understand profit margins like that are necessary for it to function. Lines of credit incur interest. We have a warehouse with close to 200 cars at any given time, do I have $10,000,000 in cash just sitting around in these cars, no, a big chunk is cash but not all of it, if the car takes 6 months to sell you need to make 5-6K to actually turn a profit

CEO Alex

The price does seem a bit steep. I bought my fully loaded 03 SL55 w/18k miles 2.5 years ago for $72k...it's always been in excellent condition. I was contemplating on getting rid of mine for 20k less than what you're asking (I only have 30k miles on it now).

CantankerousAMG

wow! Thanks for the replies guys. I hadn't been to the forum in a few days. Anyway, I know the asking price is too high. I have been following other '03 SL55's on Ebay & Autotrader and they ARE selling for low 60's. However, I am quite sure that my particular car is definitely worth more than 60k. With all the options, the extended warranty, AND brand new tires, the car is really pristine.

However, I will reduce the 'asking' price to $65,888. This is such a torrid experience for me as I bought the car last October and the depreciation in less than a year is appalling. I love the new S class styling but I'm not going to be a fool and buy one new--one hit to the stomach is enough for me. Anyway, PLEASE pass the news along and if anyone is interested please contact me. Thank you.

NOTA4RE

Depreciation only matters to those who can't afford it. Just kidding. I am also shocked at the amount of depreciation I have taken on my SL55. Sometimes I sit and stew over it but after a short ride in the car I feel I really do get my moneys worth. It really has become obvious why some Mercedes owners keep their cars for several years.

CantankerousAMG

BTW, Fletcher Jones Mercedes (Fremont, CA) and Stevens Creek Mercedes (San Jose, CA) offered me $58k & $55k respectively. If they get the car they'll turn around and list it for at least $70k. So I think $65,888 is a reasonable price to ask.

JackStraw

If you read what I wrote, I merely stated why the dealer is indifferent as to wheteher the customer buys new or CPO.

allenjdmb

I"m in the industry as well, but not a big city car dealer. The most interesting thing to me at the moment about R230's is that no 55 or 600 is bringing any more money than a 500. I've been watching these cars pretty close over the last 30 days, and amazingly, the 55's that I've seen are generally brining very little more--and sometimes less--than really right 500's. I think the perception is just that it's more to see about and to live with than the 500--not that that is actually correct. Worst problem is that as a private seller you can offer very limited financing options for a 50-60k used car. Anyway, you'll find all this out on your own. Good luck, looks really nice.