How much does new model affect prices

[television]

I am on the look out now for a replacement SL from the R230 stable, after reading threads on Benzworld I know that I am not in the same league as some, but it would appear best to avoid the 02 and 52 cars.

To my point, the new model facelift that included new engines was released earlier this month, Glasses guide will mark the old one down in august as always. Dealers are offering the old model new, a couple of thousand under the price of the new one. As these things cost over £75k new, does anyone really try and save £2k.

As the market stand at present there is a huge £15k- £20k hole in the price of the last of the 129 models to the start of the 230, maybe I should wait a couple of months, but no longer. A good friend due to retire in the morning had a heart attack on Friday, and died. Any thoughts always apreciated.

Malcolm

 

[SLinKyjoe]

you only live once, best enjoy it.

however, 2004, my local syster merc dealer had a SL55AMG with 33k on the clock at £75,000. it was up still up 3months later at £67,000.

so wait and look and see what the market has to offer. i would hazard a guess that some people will have kept on to their SL's until they saw the new faclift model and may well go for one from september onwards.

so that mite be a good time to buy, it may also be worth calling in and see if they know of any coming in that would be in your price range in the next few months or so!

 

[television]

Thanks, like yours, it is the extra's that make these things, what ever option there was, if I did not have it I would never sleep.

I have started to build a picture as to whom has what, Though it may appear that some MB outlets are over priced, this is not the case when you walk in with no part exchange, I am even happy to buy one "as seen" and take it as is with no warranty, mainly that if I buy a car 300 miles away its not much use anyway.

I see that the SL55AMG's are now dropping into my price range, but I know your answer on that one without asking.

There are more than 400 at the MB outlets, and I am getting to know some. main thing is to wake up in the morning

malcolm

 

[SLinKyjoe]

i had a go in the above mentioned SL55AMG. and altho it was quick, it was also very comfortable due to that trick suspension and not as loud as mine inside. all in all it was a rapid GT car.

several things put me off, the main one being the fact the prievious owner had a aftermarket phone kit fitted.

When i went down the runway a few weeks back, i took a few different people out in my car including a guy with a cl65. ALL of them said mine felt fast. I went out in the CL65 and was astounded as to how comfortable it was, how quiet it was and how fast it was. never one to shy away, we had a bit of a race. he was very disapointed that i kept up with his car. it has near on 300hp more than mine.

Anyhow my point here is the SL is a very accomplished GT, the bigger the engine the faster it may be but the more it will cost and the more fuel it will need.

Mines not what you can call comfortable. its rock hard on the suspension and altho its not noisy as such, it isnt quiet. The SL in any guise is far nice interior than the SLK and feels well put together.

I am led to belive the sl350 is the biggest seller and i would assume that may well be the cheaper 2nd hand. altho if its the most popular it may be that it holds its value more, so in theory at least, you may pick up a 500, thats newer with more goodies on for pehaps not much more!

dont forget to check its boot space with the roof in using your suitcases. and there is a button when the roof is donw, that moves the roof so you can access your bags. something that mine could do with.

and you may be able to get a MB dealer to sling in the upgraded DVD sat nav disk in the deal. its about £275retail i think.

 

[Speedmaster]

Did the SL320 go ok on ebay Malcolm?

 

[television]

Did the SL320 go ok on ebay Malcolm?

Yes thanks it did, iwill put up more details in the Ebay thread, later in the week.

Malcolm

 

[Rory]

There are more than 400 at the MB outlets, and I am getting to know some.

I guess different dealers work in different ways, but most won't sit on a car indefinitely - they'll send it to auction after a certain time. A BMW dealer salesman told me they wouldn't keep a car more than 3 months.
If you're looking for a good deal then presumeably the trick is to get the timing right, and to know what price these things sell at auctions for.

 

[Speedmaster]

main dealers have a stocking policy where the sales managers get penalised for overage stock. As mentioned, 3 months is usual and then it is traded. However, an SL that sat for 3 months would need to be very overpriced or a bad example i would think

 

[television]

Thanks Rory and Speedmaster,and Raj (telephone) I am going to wait a couple of months before I buy,winter always knocks the price down. the 3 months in stock is about right as the first car I saw was back in May, and I tried it a couple of weeks ago, and now its gone. If my ex and me hit it off in two weeks when she comes over I can re think the whole thing, Raj said tonight why not a CL500 or AMG around 2003, just looked at a few and yes very nice.
we will see.

Malcolm

 

[hawk20]

New models usually affect guide prices but not always. The 220 series S class actually went up very slightly. I don't pretend to know the psychology of SL buyers, but if ever there was a classic in the making surely this is the one. The Pricess Diana one was a triumph technically but the present one is aesthetically one of the greatest of all time. Loads of pop singers and others bought it in the US just because of the dreamy looks. So why should it drop much?

OK Malcolm, prices drop in Winter. Well actually they drop month by month by month as cars get older. But as you wait, so you are missing month by month of the pleasure of ownership and use. It is easy to convince yourself you save by waiting but as a famous monk once said 'the trouble with abstinence is it means no sex.'

 

[television]

Going to see three cars this week end , all 500's and 7 speed, late 03 onwards One is private with 25k and loaded with everything, the other two are with dealers 20k one has no glass roof , the other a glass roof but no" key go ".


Seing a 350 this evening with everything on a 03 53 plate but no ABC is tempting at £6k under the 500's. there are only 2 with ABC in the country for sale, the dealer for one does not even answer my Emails

Malcolm

The new car numbers start in 17 days