brent951

Has anyone heard about MBZ reducing their SL63 production by 60% because of the financial crisis? Along this same line I heard that the limited SL63'S which are coming in have had their prices increased $3,000.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Blk04cobra1

Havent heard anything about limiting the production, but I know there are some out there to be had right now...i'll check in to it and let you know if I hear anything.

spnslc

I have heard that build dates have been pushed out. Some cars with Oct builds (cars that were not sold, but just going to dealerships) have been pushed to Jan. They did raise the base price on all SL63s a few weeks ago. I can't remember the exact amount. It was $3000-4000. The base price on Audi R8s (we own one) just went up, too, by $4000. Go figure.

Dean62

I purchased an SL63 Oct 4th. I was eyeing it for a few days before taking possession while it was still in the port clearing customs etc. I was quoted a price when I first looked at it and while still in port and before the sticker was officially affixed the price went up $3,000. The dealership honored the original price but it definitely went up $3,000 in the US on all SL63's.

trumpet1

You would think they would have dropped the prices to stimulate sales especially since this car is in its late life. Of course , this may be a dollar strength issue but I'm not too educated about that. I do know that I heard Daimler's stock price took a beating a couple of trading days ago. Lost like 15% I think.

BossHoss

I bought an SL63 /030 at the end of August...even then the dealer (first time I ever stepped foot in their door) deeply discounted the price (Invoice + $500.)

The recent $3,000 Sticker Price Increase by Mercedes (and Audi) might just be to give the dealers "additional room" to knock off the price--making the deal look that much better.

...my 2 cents. And I love the car.

allenjdmb

If there was going to be "additional room", it will come in the form of trunk money to MB dealers. And it will, probably in Q1. I was at a large metro Atlanta dealer last week, and saw a minimum of 4 cars sitting unsold. I also counted 10 new SL 550's, with Sport packages, nicely equipped, sitting in a line. Of course, they have LOTS of cars sitting unsold.
Frankly, one of the best things that MBUSA and the factory could do is cut production. There is simply no sense in having this many cars in the pipeline. Hurts exculsivity, resale, and the brand's image. Course, it's tough to chage course after these few years of Chrysler bean counters trying to EXPAND production. That worked out well.
Do remember however, that MBUSA is often schizophrenic in their policies, and one never knows what kind of craziness will emerge from there (like a 4ish % price increase in these turbulent times).....

Fantasm

glad ive already got mine, heres hoping for an 80% decrease in production of the SL63's

AMG 17GT

I was on autotrader today. first let me say I luv this car, but:

There are 253 sl63's for sale. This car is going to go for under 100k in 4-6 months and 80k in 12-18.

Thats when we buy.

AMGTTV8

That price increase was released internally a long time before this crisis elevated to what it currently is today - in no way is this price increase a reaction on mercedes part to our current economic conditions.

As to MB cutting production, I don't blame them. From a business perspective this is the best long-term plan in terms of maintaining current profit levels.

Think about it...if they cut prices, the hardest thing for them to do will be to raise prices back to their original levels and wont be able to do so until they have a new product which can command that higher pmt (ie tylenol and now tylenol extra strength).

Therefore, they cut production on some units lowering supply and potentially creating a market in the future with stronger demand bringing the overall micro-market back up with it. This will benefit us all as owners because prices on the front and back end (used cars) will both rise with a new supply methodology. Ie stronger residuals and resale values in the long term.

I guess this is all assuming that it goes all to plan, but the potential is there nonetheless...just my 2cents

allenjdmb

too much production worldwide. It has lowered the exclusivity and desirablity of all Benx products, not to mentioin destroying the resale. Of course, that matters not to the bean counters, who see more units as the only way to profitability. Things were better when there were less dealers with less cars, more margin to play with, and the ability to show customers more for there trade in, even if it was illusory.

Dean62

How's this...Don't blame me cause I didn't vote for the pathetic, dry drunk, low intelligence president who singlehandedly got us into a pointless war against make believe WMD AND caused the collapse of our economy by deregulating us into a situation where every tom , dick or harry could remortagage 50 times and buy a new mercedes every 2 years on a fast food salary...there I feel much better.

I know we all have the constitutional right to express our opinions but do we have to infect the board with ridiculous signatures?? Can't we keep our focus on the cars that we all obviously love and leave our political opinions to a different board? For God sakes the war is over and so is the F@*%$ election! If I had to put up with Bush for the last 8 years I'm sure you'll do fine with Obama.

boxs987

Don't know why you want to blame the "half white president" when afterall the all white president got us in this mess! Racists are just about everywhere, but this forum is about cars, not your ignorance! Save that for your friends and relatives!

Goyard

+ 1

That signature and the ignorance irritates the hell out of me.