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Back and forth, back and forth, even though I just paid for the registration this month and just finished pulling it out of storage.
Anyone looking for a great SL65? 2008 model year...bought it three years ago...
Very high mileage (95k), has a 3/4" crack in the windshield, and needs some rotors. You can buy these cars for so cheap nowadays that I don't know when to sell - keep driving it and enjoy it while it continues to depreciate, or sell now and just take the loss? It's hard to replace the V12TT...
Why are you selling it? Also if replacing it what in your eyes would be better to you then a SL65? Me personally I would keep driving it.
Well that's exactly the problem. Three years ago when I bought this car, I had the idea that every 2 years I would switch out a car just so I could try out different brands (used, of course). Every brand out there has some cool cars that I'd like to experience.
What's better than the SL65? In terms of bargains, nothing that I can see can match the power, design, and overall "feel" of this cruiser. So unfortunately I'm at a point where it's not about "what's better", it's about just experiencing something different.
I have the same problem with the C55 as my DD currently. Given it's worth nothing at this moment, I know for a fact there is nothing that I can replace it with that is as nice and troublefree as the C55, given all the features it currently gives me. There is definitely no car out there for $8k that can replace the C55.
Well that's exactly the problem. Three years ago when I bought this car, I had the idea that every 2 years I would switch out a car just so I could try out different brands (used, of course). Every brand out there has some cool cars that I'd like to experience.
What's better than the SL65? In terms of bargains, nothing that I can see can match the power, design, and overall "feel" of this cruiser. So unfortunately I'm at a point where it's not about "what's better", it's about just experiencing something different.
I have the same problem with the C55 as my DD currently. Given it's worth nothing at this moment, I know for a fact there is nothing that I can replace it with that is as nice and troublefree as the C55, given all the features it currently gives me. There is definitely no car out there for $8k that can replace the C55.
I see exactly what you are saying. The SL65 is a true bargain. As far as what makes that kind of power for the price? Nothing stock that I know of. You would have to buy something and tune it or already tuned. Solid build quality and attention to detail along with interior only thing I could think of is a Bentley. Where do you go from a SL65? A newer SL65? Or keep this one and send it off to Brabus or some other large tuner and upgrade everything on it?
Well that's exactly the problem. Three years ago when I bought this car, I had the idea that every 2 years I would switch out a car just so I could try out different brands (used, of course). Every brand out there has some cool cars that I'd like to experience.
What's better than the SL65? In terms of bargains, nothing that I can see can match the power, design, and overall "feel" of this cruiser. So unfortunately I'm at a point where it's not about "what's better", it's about just experiencing something different.
I have the same problem with the C55 as my DD currently. Given it's worth nothing at this moment, I know for a fact there is nothing that I can replace it with that is as nice and troublefree as the C55, given all the features it currently gives me. There is definitely no car out there for $8k that can replace the C55.
Both your SL65 and C55 are pretty rare cars. They didn't make many of either one (US models). Both vehicles have people willing to pay good $ for a well maintained and kept model. That C55 is a great DD.
It's hard to find something else that will give you more enjoyment once you've tasted something that is as good at so many things as the SL65. For me, the different enjoyment would cost me a whole lot more and would bore me pretty quick.
Best of luck on your search and keep us informed on how it all goes.
I see exactly what you are saying. The SL65 is a true bargain. As far as what makes that kind of power for the price? Nothing stock that I know of. You would have to buy something and tune it or already tuned. Solid build quality and attention to detail along with interior only thing I could think of is a Bentley. Where do you go from a SL65? A newer SL65? Or keep this one and send it off to Brabus or some other large tuner and upgrade everything on it?
It's not just about the power for me, it's about the total experience you get when driving this car. It's special. There is definitely some attention to detail in the interior when you start looking closely. Where to go from SL65? Oh, there's lots of options... Not necessarily "better", but then again, how you define "better" is also relative. I would not do another SL65.
Originally Posted by Nor Cal SL55
Both your SL65 and C55 are pretty rare cars. They didn't make many of either one (US models). Both vehicles have people willing to pay good $ for a well maintained and kept model. That C55 is a great DD.
It's hard to find something else that will give you more enjoyment once you've tasted something that is as good at so many things as the SL65. For me, the different enjoyment would cost me a whole lot more and would bore me pretty quick.
Best of luck on your search and keep us informed on how it all goes.
1988 BMW M5, 1989 BMW M3, 1979 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9, 2006 SL55 AMG w/ P30 Performance Pack
I develop a bond with my cars and tend to keep them forever. It's not really the car's mechanical ability but the memories that I created while driving/owning the car. I'm very picky about my cars and they must be:
1. Hand built
2. Limited production
3. Have a racing or interesting pedigree and finally:
She has to make me look back and take look at her while walking away. If a car does this for me - then there is never a question of having to keep or sell. Now, if take for instance my '88 M5 that I paid $49.500 for in 1988 - fully restored - are not being offered for sale at $100K and higher then it's just a bonus if I ever do have to sell her. I say keep her, she is a rare beast indeed. I would like to get an SL 65 after a few years with my SL55.
Well, since you guys asked, here's the short list of options I'd like:
Daily duty (including snow):
Maserati Ghibli SQ4
Range Rover Velar
Grand Cherokee SRT
GLC43 AMG[lite]
[I wish they'd release the C63 Wagon 4Matic stateside...]
Cruising duty:
Jaguar FType R (coupe and convertible...)
Maserati GranTurismo
CLK Black Series
Aston Martin DBS (still too much money at this point)
S63 Coupe (still too much money at this point)
Supercar dreams:
McLaren 570GT
Lambo Huracan (McLaren definitely over the Lambo, but gotta own a Lambo at some point in time...)
Ferrari Something (575M was always awesome to me, but their prices nowadays are just way too high)
None of these cars per-se are "better" than the C55 for daily duty or SL65 for cruising duty. They're just different in different ways. I do have one car that was my #1 and will always be, so that one is never for sale.
In the end, I may trade out both current AMG's to get something out of each of the two lists. I definitely need to look through my couch cushions some more though to find some more loose change
I just sold mine. The issue here is no one wants to pay anything for them. You can find your car all day long on Ebay now for upper 20s, low 30s at best with the mileage. When I sold mine, there was one with similar miles (50k) going for $28k. It's unreal. But people have come to realize that the cars are just TOO ****ing expensive to maintain. $3500 brake jobs, that's 10% of the value of the actual car. And people are saying the value is getting better, it's not, it's getting worse. My same exact car 5 years ago was selling for $45,000 and now you can get it for $30,000.
I develop a bond with my cars and tend to keep them forever. It's not really the car's mechanical ability but the memories that I created while driving/owning the car. I'm very picky about my cars and they must be:
1. Hand built
2. Limited production
3. Have a racing or interesting pedigree and finally:
She has to make me look back and take look at her while walking away. If a car does this for me - then there is never a question of having to keep or sell. Now, if take for instance my '88 M5 that I paid $49.500 for in 1988 - fully restored - are not being offered for sale at $100K and higher then it's just a bonus if I ever do have to sell her. I say keep her, she is a rare beast indeed. I would like to get an SL 65 after a few years with my SL55.
Great post!
I feel the exact same way about my CLK AMG and CL600. Park and look back every time. My F355 and 911 I do the same with.
That BMW.... WOW! Still looks amazing to this day!
Last edited by C280 Sport; Apr 13, 2017 at 05:25 PM.
Well, since you guys asked, here's the short list of options I'd like:
Daily duty (including snow):
Maserati Ghibli SQ4
Range Rover Velar
Grand Cherokee SRT
GLC43 AMG[lite]
[I wish they'd release the C63 Wagon 4Matic stateside...]
Cruising duty:
Jaguar FType R (coupe and convertible...)
Maserati GranTurismo
CLK Black Series
Aston Martin DBS (still too much money at this point)
S63 Coupe (still too much money at this point)
Supercar dreams:
McLaren 570GT
Lambo Huracan (McLaren definitely over the Lambo, but gotta own a Lambo at some point in time...)
Ferrari Something (575M was always awesome to me, but their prices nowadays are just way too high)
None of these cars per-se are "better" than the C55 for daily duty or SL65 for cruising duty. They're just different in different ways. I do have one car that was my #1 and will always be, so that one is never for sale.
In the end, I may trade out both current AMG's to get something out of each of the two lists. I definitely need to look through my couch cushions some more though to find some more loose change
One hell of a list! DD I would do a GLC43 or the Range Rover. The toy I would do a CLK BS or a Aston Martin. There is just something about a Aston Martin that makes you go WOW! The looks! Supercar? Way out of my price range! Closest I got is my F355 or 911. Someday I will get there.
I just sold mine. The issue here is no one wants to pay anything for them. You can find your car all day long on Ebay now for upper 20s, low 30s at best with the mileage. When I sold mine, there was one with similar miles (50k) going for $28k. It's unreal. But people have come to realize that the cars are just TOO ****ing expensive to maintain. $3500 brake jobs, that's 10% of the value of the actual car. And people are saying the value is getting better, it's not, it's getting worse. My same exact car 5 years ago was selling for $45,000 and now you can get it for $30,000.
Ehh. I do not look at a car of any kind as a investment. So if my lets say $45,000 SL65 AMG needs a $3,000 brake job so be it. If you enjoy it and love it then it should not matter. They are crazy expensive but keep in mind this is a $200,000 car. No these cars will not go up in value but you will have something nice in say 10 years if kept in good shape.
For me, a few years ago I had the idea to start collecting the cars I wanted and keeping them. Every few years buy another one. I realized though that it's hard to "keep" a bunch of cars over time, and I'm not exactly Jay Leno or anything (far from it). I also realized that as technology keeps getting better and better, those "awesome" cars you had previously can become somewhat mediocre. So I decided to keep the #1 car on the list, and just own the different cars for about 2 years at a time. While this seems like a relative idea to be able to experience different cars, you definitely take a hit on the depreciation across two years on a car like the SL65. I bought this awesome car for 50k 3 years ago, and paid another 5k in registration tax. At least it's not like the original owner who paid $192k plus tax right?
In looking around, add the Audi R8 to the list (the first gen, with the V8). Sure, it's not the crazy V10 that everyone raves about, but I've loved the design of this car since I first saw the prototype in the IRobot movie with Will Smith. I still have that movie on Blu-Ray...
1988 BMW M5, 1989 BMW M3, 1979 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9, 2006 SL55 AMG w/ P30 Performance Pack
Originally Posted by C280 Sport
Great post!
I feel the exact same way about my CLK AMG and CL600. Park and look back every time. My F355 and 911 I do the same with.
That BMW.... WOW! Still looks amazing to this day!
I currently have 456,000+ miles on the chassis! Original Getrag 280 tranny and rear diff. Engine rebuilt at 234K because I wanted a Dinan 3.9 stroker. I can't break her. I hope I have the same luck with my new to me SL55!
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
you're going to get only a bit more than half what you have in that car and likely in the next few years will have thousands more in maintenance costs. on my sl55 i'm so far down the rabbit hole on fix up costs that i'm terribly underwater only a year later (and that's with me doing the majority of the work and only buying parts). In hindsight I'd rather have waited and bought a 65 so that I'd at least having something more rare and powerful long term. If I could get out of my 55 anywhere close to what I have in it I would do it in a heartbeat and get a 65. having said that a 65 is going to cost even more than my 55 to keep up b/c abc hose routing is different and requires more labor due to a tighter engine compartment, motor mounts are a 20-25hr labor job that requires engine removal, rotors are sky high, and coil packs are a notorious and expensive item that goes bad. other than that all the other stuff that goes bad on the r230 (like top hydraulics, other abc parts, rear window trim delamination, etc) are going to be the same, so might as well have the best version if you are going to throw money into a hole
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
