Historics are pushing water uphill this afternoon.

[SpikyMikey]

Arnages seemed cheap. Normal ones always are but these looked high spec, low mileage and with well turned ankles.

That Land Rover seemed bizarrely cheap

And those MkII and MkV Golf’s: low mileage and good order..,

I know nothing about them, but at less than £10k that XJR Portfolio looked like a hell of a lot of car for the money.
Pleased to see the Merc fire truck sold too

 

[Will]

An awful lot didn't sell but of those that did I can't much that seems really cheap. I won't pretend I know the market for lots of it but the 456gt sold well, £15k for a broken 924gt replica seems alot.
The broken sl500 might be a bargain at only £3k if it can be fixed cheaply but they only make £8k or so and it's easy to run up mills into the 000s.
The maser grancab seemed a decent buy at £22. I don't think I'm quite I'm quite as pessimistic as you.

£3920 plus 10% buyers fees plus VAT on the fees…

Perhaps not that cheap for a broken 100k+ miler SL500 that can’t be driven home?

That Topaz SL350 looked lovely at £6.5k

I think R230 SL350s are pretty cheap anyway these days - have a look on AT etc, plenty of ‘cooking’ R230s about - I think at this end of the market people are concerned about the running costs.

In general the majority of the Mercedes in this auction seemed fairly underwhelming to me (yes there were a handful of nice/rare cars too!)

I expect the demand for convertibles and classics dwindles somewhat as we approach the end of the season anyway but no doubt a pinch of the economic climate also.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I know nothing about them, but at less than £10k that XJR Portfolio looked like a hell of a lot of car for the money.
Pleased to see the Merc fire truck sold too

Agreed, I was going to mention the XJR, but backed off because I thought XJR's wouldn't go down well with this lot. Lovely luxurious cars with only the mildest ghost of Arfur Dailey in them.

Someone's going to love that Merc Fire truck camper.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I think R230 SL350s are pretty cheap anyway these days - have a look on AT etc, plenty of ‘cooking’ R230s about - I think at this end of the market people are concerned about the running costs.

For sure, at 18 years old it's all about condition and service record.

Plenty of R230's about: but condition can be night and day....

I sold my Topaz blue 2005 SL350 on 50k miles six years ago for £8k.

£500 a year in depreciation isn't too bad for 30k miles of usage, I guess. (Looking at proceeds after commissions & Fees)

Maybe auctions do get better prices than private sellers.

 

[Will]

For sure, at 18 years old it's all about condition and service record.

Plenty of R230's about: but condition can be night and day....

I sold my Topaz blue 2005 SL350 on 50k miles six years ago for £8k.

£500 a year in depreciation isn't too bad for 30k miles of usage, I guess. (Looking at proceeds after commissions & Fees)

Maybe auctions do get better prices than private sellers.

View attachment 147319

I’ve noticed several R230 SL350s for around £5k in recent weeks.

As with anything at this end of the market, you want to buy the best you can afford and I suspect you wouldn’t pay an awful lot more for a nice one if you’re lucky.

No ABC on the 350s either unless it was an option?

Cheap tax too, probably quite a nice weekend/fair weather runabout if you can get one without too many leaks and electrical gremlins!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I’ve noticed several R230 SL350s for around £5k in recent weeks.
As with anything at this end of the market, you want to buy the best you can afford and I suspect you wouldn’t pay an awful lot more for a nice one if you’re lucky.
No ABC on the 350s either unless it was an option?
Cheap tax too, probably quite a nice weekend/fair weather runabout if you can get one without too many leaks and electrical gremlins!

Sold at £5k, or advertised at £5k ? Methinks t'would be easy to pick one up for £3k privately. And the cost to fettle....? Arghh....

As you say, the cheapest one to own is definitely the one that's a couple of grand more to buy.

Definitely no ABC as standard on the SL350. The SL500 was a lot more expensive new and that included the ABC. (I had one a couple of years before the SL350)

Great cars, well built and IMHO a better buy than the SLK's but still tough to find the right buyer who wants to run it and insure it.

 

[DavidL]

When I spoke to an indie dealer about an sl500 he had on a ramp he strongly suggested a 350 as being a far better long term buy owing to a lack (relatively) of complexity. The XJR was a lot of car for the money but 211 E55 are less and e63 6.2 can be had for £10k. I'd say it was about right.

 

[Will]

Sold at £5k, or advertised at £5k ? Methinks t'would be easy to pick one up for £3k privately. And the cost to fettle....? Arghh....

As you say, the cheapest one to own is definitely the one that's a couple of grand more to buy.

Definitely no ABC as standard on the SL350. The SL500 was a lot more expensive new and that included the ABC. (I had one a couple of years before the SL350)

Great cars, well built and IMHO a better buy than the SLK's but still tough to find the right buyer who wants to run it and insure it.

Classic insurance would be buttons.
Cheaper than the (not top-tier) VED (£395?)
I’d recommend a garage for a 230 though really, don’t the boot lid/roof seals let water in and soak some of the electronics?

Never really noticed many rusty 230s but I guess that would be next to check nowadays, they’re twenty years old after all

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

When I spoke to an indie dealer about an sl500 he had on a ramp he strongly suggested a 350 as being a far better long term buy owing to a lack (relatively) of complexity. The XJR was a lot of car for the money but 211 E55 are less and e63 6.2 can be had for £10k. I'd say it was about right.

He's right about the SL350. But the SL500 was a better car, by a country mile. Higher spec, more power, and wonderful ABC.
The XJR's a Jaaag, while the E55 is that Affalterbach engine. You pays your money and makes your choice.
An E63 on £10k? There'd be a very strong whiff of the cloven hoof.