SL55 autotrader -- wide range in pricing

ninjamagic

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Happy new year one and all!

It's now January which means it's almost time for me to get my SL55. So I've been looking at autotrader (every day!) and it seems that there are quite a few for sale and quite a wide range of prices.

ie.
I see a 2003 model with 70k, black and pan roof and mid-range alloys for £13k.

A 2004 with 70k and no pan roof, mid range alloys for £16.5k

A 2006 with 70k, silver pan roof, mid range alloys for £22k.

why the huge disparity? £3k per year of manufacture on the above.

Also, is it cool to post links to auto trader here? (I don't especially want the dealer to see what I'm saying, especially when I ask you guys how much i should offer...)

thanks!
 

LostKiwi

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Price variations for most SLs are huge with no real obvious reason.
Yes its fine to post links here
 

John Laidlaw

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Autotrader links on here are fine - folks do it all the time to invite opinion. So no issues. The disparity I believe is down to the fact that no one really can value SL55s accurately- if it’s a car you intend keeping for a while I would not worry to unduly on valuation - just pick the best one with the best options you value...
Look forward to seeing a few you’re interested in! And good luck, car hunting is so much fun!
 

Craiglxviii

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As Television (PBUH) would say, get the one in the best condition you can find, with the most gadgets (avoiding keyless go) available, that fits your budget.
 

Steve@Avantgarde

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A couple of reasons really.

Firstly, they have dropped of the valuation charts with CAP and Glasses as they are too old. So there is no definitive value to them when it comes to PX or retail pricing.

All AMG variants are starting to climb in price and vary because they are a bit of a special car. CLK55s and 63s comand big money still and there is a low mileage SLK32 on the market for £20k/ Because of this, they are worth what people are prepared to pay. Some are better than others.

I will be selling my SL55 in a month or 2's time. I need to do some work on it to get it presentable. Mine isn't the best example as its done 130k and had 8 owners (mostly in one family) but I bought it from an existing customer who had spent £6k on it with me in the 18 months he had it, 2 new struts and pipes, ABC pump, oil leaks fixed and a full service. Mechanically its really straight, the roof works and it doesnt leak in the boot. So in some ways its probably better than most! And I've had some great fun with it.

I was going to take it through Europe this year but having a baby on the way has put paid to that and it will be for sale soon!
 

00slk

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Have to agree with that, though what sets the price is what you pay for a SL55 and what the seller lets you pay for it.
Mine was advertised at £13850, drove off with it after giving the dealer 9 cash and my 2k E class. It required a few bits doing which was negotiated in my favour. The only unforeseen issues have been a strut leak which was replaced and now the ABC pump banjo connection is leaking. I've had the car a year and done about 8000mls. Love it to bits........Eeww is that the right thing to say :oops:
Will be taking it in to get that sorted shortly, house move etc taking priority at the moment :rolleyes:
 

Craiglxviii

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A couple of reasons really.

Firstly, they have dropped of the valuation charts with CAP and Glasses as they are too old. So there is no definitive value to them when it comes to PX or retail pricing.

All AMG variants are starting to climb in price and vary because they are a bit of a special car. CLK55s and 63s comand big money still and there is a low mileage SLK32 on the market for £20k/ Because of this, they are worth what people are prepared to pay. Some are better than others.

I will be selling my SL55 in a month or 2's time. I need to do some work on it to get it presentable. Mine isn't the best example as its done 130k and had 8 owners (mostly in one family) but I bought it from an existing customer who had spent £6k on it with me in the 18 months he had it, 2 new struts and pipes, ABC pump, oil leaks fixed and a full service. Mechanically its really straight, the roof works and it doesnt leak in the boot. So in some ways its probably better than most! And I've had some great fun with it.

I was going to take it through Europe this year but having a baby on the way has put paid to that and it will be for sale soon!

So it’s a CL for you then? :)
 

star

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I was looking for an SL55 towards the end of last year, there's some tat about and an "amg specialist" was very reluctant to show me his cars, had removed every single wind deflector, stating they were extras?? Thanks and goodbye.
 

Craiglxviii

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970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
I was looking for an SL55 towards the end of last year, there's some tat about and an "amg specialist" was very reluctant to show me his cars, had removed every single wind deflector, stating they were extras?? Thanks and goodbye.
A bit like the guy selling E Class estates I contacted. When I said I was bringing a code reader along just to make sure the cars had no faults, he told me that I wasn’t welcome to view, then hung up on me. Hmm, hello smoke meet fire, over...
 

star

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:D This guy had a one bay workshop and a small unit for sales, said he had 3 genuine star machines?? Updated by some bloke in Banbury?? I couldn't be bothered to put him straight, I just walked.
 

star

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A couple of reasons really.

Firstly, they have dropped of the valuation charts with CAP and Glasses as they are too old. So there is no definitive value to them when it comes to PX or retail pricing.

All AMG variants are starting to climb in price and vary because they are a bit of a special car. CLK55s and 63s comand big money still and there is a low mileage SLK32 on the market for £20k/ Because of this, they are worth what people are prepared to pay. Some are better than others.

I will be selling my SL55 in a month or 2's time. I need to do some work on it to get it presentable. Mine isn't the best example as its done 130k and had 8 owners (mostly in one family) but I bought it from an existing customer who had spent £6k on it with me in the 18 months he had it, 2 new struts and pipes, ABC pump, oil leaks fixed and a full service. Mechanically its really straight, the roof works and it doesnt leak in the boot. So in some ways its probably better than most! And I've had some great fun with it.

I was going to take it through Europe this year but having a baby on the way has put paid to that and it will be for sale soon!

Steve, what colour and spec etc, pm me if you like ;D
 
OP
N

ninjamagic

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As Television (PBUH) would say, get the one in the best condition you can find, with the most gadgets (avoiding keyless go) available, that fits your budget.

I think that I will aim to get the nicest one I can find -- what's the deal with Keyless Go? It was on my list of nice features to have.
 

Steve@Avantgarde

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Its Silver on Grey leather with a Pan roof. Its loaded with pretty much everything including keyless go and Distronic. If you PM me your phone number I will get some photos to you, its currently in my storage unit which is 20 miles or so from my workshop but I will be over there on the weekend.
 

houseboss2

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There is no "get around" option for choosing the right car.

All I can say from personal experience is to research everything for the period and model history of the car you think you may want.

Take into account the maintenance and service costs of the various models as they differ considerably.

By doing this, you come across many areas that are not obvious, even to supposed experts. This extra information often leads to personal changes of criteria that were originally set in stone.

Once a short list model analysis is produced, see as many vehicles as you can. Photographs are always misleading. Knowledge of the history remains high on my personal priorities

Like a house, a decision on initial condition and provenance can usually be made within five minutes. The more you see, the easier to decide exactly what is required.

Then patience - a good car at a price you know is good for you, based on the number you have already seen will appear.

Good luck

Michael
 

Craiglxviii

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I think that I will aim to get the nicest one I can find -- what's the deal with Keyless Go? It was on my list of nice features to have.
A) The flat credit card style KLG keys are no longer available as service parts.
B) that security technology is now highly compromised.
 
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ninjamagic

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A) The flat credit card style KLG keys are no longer available as service parts.
B) that security technology is now highly compromised.

Well - when you put it like that, I have no choice but to strike it from the list!
 

00slk

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I think that I will aim to get the nicest one I can find -- what's the deal with Keyless Go? It was on my list of nice features to have.

I don't know what it is like to have go keyless, the options on mine but I don't have the card :( But apparently your car can be tea leafed with a computer gadget :shock:
 

00slk

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