SLR/C199/R199/Z199: Convertible SLR in 6 months
12-09-2006, 10:30 PM
#26
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No, the scenario is more like this:
Dealer A has purchased a silver SLR with black interior. Customer A walks into dealer A and wants a black SLR with black interior. A salesman does a search on available SLR's in the area and nothing comes up because they aren't listed. So dealer A orders a black SLR with black interior.
And around the same time:
Dealer B has a black SLR with black interior (OH MY GOD THE ONE CUSTOMER A WANTED!!). Customer B walks in and wants a silver SLR with black interior (THE ONE DEALER A HAS SITTING AROUND). Another salesman does a search and can't find any available silver SLR's with black interiors. So he orders a new silver SLR with black interior.
Bam! Now you have 2 more SLR's on their way that were already in the US. It was dealer miscommunication all along. And this is what I was told at the SLR training center...so I don't have any written proof to back it up. And it all makes sense since most dealerships are independently owned and operated so they're not really looking out for one another or help.
Dealer A has purchased a silver SLR with black interior. Customer A walks into dealer A and wants a black SLR with black interior. A salesman does a search on available SLR's in the area and nothing comes up because they aren't listed. So dealer A orders a black SLR with black interior.
And around the same time:
Dealer B has a black SLR with black interior (OH MY GOD THE ONE CUSTOMER A WANTED!!). Customer B walks in and wants a silver SLR with black interior (THE ONE DEALER A HAS SITTING AROUND). Another salesman does a search and can't find any available silver SLR's with black interiors. So he orders a new silver SLR with black interior.
Bam! Now you have 2 more SLR's on their way that were already in the US. It was dealer miscommunication all along. And this is what I was told at the SLR training center...so I don't have any written proof to back it up. And it all makes sense since most dealerships are independently owned and operated so they're not really looking out for one another or help.
12-10-2006, 09:16 AM
#27
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05 ML350, 85 300D
The lift, in fact, all the special tools together were only 25,000 or so, so that 500k number is a little off.
The real problem is that it was mandatory, unlike the Maybach, where if a dealer had a need, he could buy in, if not, pass it by. The SLRs got sent,,period.. There are only 433 in the US, the original 330something(one for every dealer), and then the extras that the heavy hitter dealers in SoCal and Florida sold..I think you would find most of those 'extra' one hundred were ordered early in the run, I know that before we got our first one at my old shop, West Palm Beach had 7 on the road.
Most of those cars sitting around now are in places they never should have been in the first place, seems like.
The real problem is that it was mandatory, unlike the Maybach, where if a dealer had a need, he could buy in, if not, pass it by. The SLRs got sent,,period.. There are only 433 in the US, the original 330something(one for every dealer), and then the extras that the heavy hitter dealers in SoCal and Florida sold..I think you would find most of those 'extra' one hundred were ordered early in the run, I know that before we got our first one at my old shop, West Palm Beach had 7 on the road.
Most of those cars sitting around now are in places they never should have been in the first place, seems like.
12-10-2006, 09:32 AM
#28
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various
12-10-2006, 04:50 PM
#30
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The lift, in fact, all the special tools together were only 25,000 or so, so that 500k number is a little off.
The real problem is that it was mandatory, unlike the Maybach, where if a dealer had a need, he could buy in, if not, pass it by. The SLRs got sent,,period.. There are only 433 in the US, the original 330something(one for every dealer), and then the extras that the heavy hitter dealers in SoCal and Florida sold..I think you would find most of those 'extra' one hundred were ordered early in the run, I know that before we got our first one at my old shop, West Palm Beach had 7 on the road.
Most of those cars sitting around now are in places they never should have been in the first place, seems like.
The real problem is that it was mandatory, unlike the Maybach, where if a dealer had a need, he could buy in, if not, pass it by. The SLRs got sent,,period.. There are only 433 in the US, the original 330something(one for every dealer), and then the extras that the heavy hitter dealers in SoCal and Florida sold..I think you would find most of those 'extra' one hundred were ordered early in the run, I know that before we got our first one at my old shop, West Palm Beach had 7 on the road.
Most of those cars sitting around now are in places they never should have been in the first place, seems like.
Last edited by AMG 17GT; 12-10-2006 at 06:52 PM.
12-10-2006, 08:54 PM
#31
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OMG ...what a brain wash to try explain this inventory debacle........ all of the dealerships were originally told it would be a limited production car,,,,,,and they sold them for 650k......then.......mcclaren sent mercedes the bill on all this overkill engineering and the only way mercedes could make money was to send another 100 or so SLRs to the dealerships ...........the dealers were then hit with the lift that was required to service the car i think it cost 500k for the monocoque ........clay is correct, there are hundreds for sale........... what an amazing spectacle and disaster for an amazing car.......... a truly king lear story for autos.....lol
And MBTech is correct, it doesn't cost $500,000 for a lift. You've got to be joking or grossly misinformed.
12-11-2006, 05:28 AM
#32
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2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
The lift, in fact, all the special tools together were only 25,000 or so, so that 500k number is a little off.
The real problem is that it was mandatory, unlike the Maybach, where if a dealer had a need, he could buy in, if not, pass it by. The SLRs got sent,,period.. There are only 433 in the US, the original 330something(one for every dealer), and then the extras that the heavy hitter dealers in SoCal and Florida sold..I think you would find most of those 'extra' one hundred were ordered early in the run, I know that before we got our first one at my old shop, West Palm Beach had 7 on the road.
Most of those cars sitting around now are in places they never should have been in the first place, seems like.
The real problem is that it was mandatory, unlike the Maybach, where if a dealer had a need, he could buy in, if not, pass it by. The SLRs got sent,,period.. There are only 433 in the US, the original 330something(one for every dealer), and then the extras that the heavy hitter dealers in SoCal and Florida sold..I think you would find most of those 'extra' one hundred were ordered early in the run, I know that before we got our first one at my old shop, West Palm Beach had 7 on the road.
Most of those cars sitting around now are in places they never should have been in the first place, seems like.
M
12-12-2006, 07:58 PM
#33
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05 ML350, 85 300D
I will be happy to quote you all the exact pricing tomorrow (can't get on ssep from here), but I approved all the equipment at my last shop and know exactly what it cost. In round figures, the special tools - minus scales were 15,000, the lift, if you bought a new one, and did not retrofit your existing rotary (like my new shop) was around 6,000. Scales would add 5K, but aren't needed that much and can be rented from MB. The lift table is mandatory for all cars now, even non-slr dealers, so that 8K doesn't count.
Special tools get put on the dealers parts invoice, so I kind of doubt you saw that, the lift may or may not have, depending on how they bought it , but still..
When I left work today, my 3 stalls held a 57S, a 57 and an ML320 on the SLR rack,,,not an E-Class to be found...
