New Car Decision!

[stats007]

Given the current uncertain climate I have sold the Aston and am looking to return to the MB fold. I'm thinking about picking up a trade car - either a CLS55 or an SL55 having always wanted an AMG. That way I should be able to run it for a year and sell it with no depreciation.

It has to be black - but pretty flexible on the rest of it. Anything to be aware of on a 2003 SL or 2004 CLS?

The non-sensible route is a 348 or a T350...

 

[stumpy1]

I'd go down the SL route personally bearing in mind we are coming into spring / summer. If this is an everyday car then the F cars and T350 are too much of a gamble. Some Speed 6 cars are fine but others are dogs. The selling it bit at the end seems important to you and I'm told by my man at TVR that 350's take root in his showroom. Gotta be the AMG, but I still reckon it will drop in value.

 

[Mactech]

There are a few CLS55's on Autotrader starting at about £25k, cracking cars for the money but no guarantee that the values will not slip further. Even buying at 'trade' prices there are very few, if any, cars at the moment which will not take a deprecation hit. But have fun trying!

 

[stats007]

The car might get used twice a week and have had a TVR before so know what to expect. The SL is the 'sensible' choice as I think the values won't dip that much in a year - however it's the CLS55s that appear to be the bargains (roughly £7k below private values) - and I can't see those dropping to much less than £15k in a year. Some private sellers are also desperate to sell for varying reasons and whilst I don't like the idea of ripping someone off it's a buyers market for certain cars.

As always buy sensibly and look after a car and someone will always pay a bit extra. To date I've sold all of mine for more or exactly what I paid for it - so just running costs to swallow. A gamble I know which is why I have sold the Aston before the Vantage prices push it even lower. The Maserati went for top whack and now you can pick them up £5 - £7k cheaper.

Whilst I've yet to experience Ferrari ownership, the 348 isn't the car I want - the 550 is and they've dropped to £38kish so maybe miss that, grab a bargain Merc and see where prices are in a year's time...

 

[stumpy1]

The car might get used twice a week and have had a TVR before so know what to expect. The SL is the 'sensible' choice as I think the values won't dip that much in a year - however it's the CLS55s that appear to be the bargains (roughly £7k below private values) - and I can't see those dropping to much less than £15k in a year. Some private sellers are also desperate to sell for varying reasons and whilst I don't like the idea of ripping someone off it's a buyers market for certain cars.

As always buy sensibly and look after a car and someone will always pay a bit extra. To date I've sold all of mine for more or exactly what I paid for it - so just running costs to swallow. A gamble I know which is why I have sold the Aston before the Vantage prices push it even lower. The Maserati went for top whack and now you can pick them up £5 - £7k cheaper.

Whilst I've yet to experience Ferrari ownership, the 348 isn't the car I want - the 550 is and they've dropped to £38kish so maybe miss that, grab a bargain Merc and see where prices are in a year's time...

Which Tiv did you have? I stuck with the Griffs as the S6 cars are a whole new world of pain

 

[richard]

If you can possibly stretch into a March 04 build SL55 (i.e MY2005) then you get the DVD based COMAND system, which is far better than the CD based one.

The CLS always had DVD based COMAND

Richard

 

[stats007]

2004 might be pushing it - I'm also relying on something coming through at a sensible price to make it worthwhile. Not fussed about COMAND or any toys to be honest - though realise the effect they have at resale.

 

[Seamster15]

Given the current uncertain climate I have sold the Aston and am looking to return to the MB fold. I'm thinking about picking up a trade car - either a CLS55 or an SL55 having always wanted an AMG. That way I should be able to run it for a year and sell it with no depreciation.

It has to be black - but pretty flexible on the rest of it. Anything to be aware of on a 2003 SL or 2004 CLS?

The non-sensible route is a 348 or a T350...

Let me know if your going to to attend Blackbushe as I'm down there at most of their sales.

 

[stats007]

Which Tiv did you have? I stuck with the Griffs as the S6 cars are a whole new world of pain

I planned on a T350 which had had a rebuild and a 3 year warranty - keep for a year and sell with 2 years remaining. RG are also doing FFF head conversions and the 2004 onwards Speed Six is better than the crap that found its way into the Tuscan!


Never liked the Griffith personally, though the Rover V8s sound great. Chims are a bit out of proportion so ended up with this:

 

[stats007]

Let me know if your going to to attend Blackbushe as I'm down there at most of their sales.

Not looking at auctions to be honest though might be worth a look. A family member is in the prestige car trade with a large group and updates me with p/ex cars that come through.

 

[DSLiverpool]

Cant knock the CLS, not had an SL55 so cant comment but the fact I have decided to keep the CLS beyond 3 years is a miracle for me.
In 16k miles its had tyres and nothing else however the tracking seems overly sensitive.
If it helps my 06 22k miles is worth £22k on trade in - another reason why im keeping it but I fancy a F355 and will lose the SL320 to make space in the garage for it - the 355`s have never been cheaper and its a strong buyers market if you can stretch to mid £30`s

 

[richard]

Ok,
MY2004 (march 2003ish build) has

a) slightly different mirrors to MY2003 (they come from SLK instead of CLK)
b) SBC hold (which is nice if driving in traffic), I think MY03 didnt have it (but it may have been an 03 introduction) (you can push on the brake pedal when stationary and it holds the brakes on until you press the throttle)
c) UHI phone (exchangeable cradle) instead of fixed Nokia 6310i system - but you can just plug a ViseeO into the 6310i cradle to get bluetooth

R

Richard

 

[stats007]

The older Ferrari prices seem reasonably solid which is why I was considering a 348. My budget doesn't stretch that far as I don't want any finance on the car though a 355 would be nice! I can't help feeling that a 348/355 will attract the wrong sort of attention compared to the 550 or Aston for example.

 

[stats007]

Ok,
MY2004 (march 2003ish build) has

a) slightly different mirrors to MY2003 (they come from SLK instead of CLK)
b) SBC hold (which is nice if driving in traffic), I think MY03 didnt have it (but it may have been an 03 introduction) (you can push on the brake pedal when stationary and it holds the brakes on until you press the throttle)
c) UHI phone (exchangeable cradle) instead of fixed Nokia 6310i system - but you can just plug a ViseeO into the 6310i cradle to get bluetooth

R

Richard

Later cars had a bit more power didn't they? I'm thinking water-in-boot fixes (if they actually did fix it) - ABC recalls and updates etc.

 

[MPG]

I've known owners of both a 348 & a 355. The 348 is pretty much unloved within Ferrari circles and was far from their greatest offering. The 355 was in an altogether higher league, but the running costs could easily be a multiple of an AMG taking into account the vehicles respective ages....
Personally, I'd go for the SL unless you need back seats.

 

[Druk]

Just get a nice 211 diesel estate. You know you really want one. :bannana: :bannana:

 

[stats007]

I vow never to own a diesel car!

 

[Seamster15]

Not looking at auctions to be honest though might be worth a look. A family member is in the prestige car trade with a large group and updates me with p/ex cars that come through.

Lots of AMG's at auction recently, Mainly CLK 55's but there have been a few SL55's and CLS55's. Just before Chrismas there was a lovley Black SL55 on a 52 plate for 22k.

 

[C240Sport97]

To date I've sold all of mine for more or exactly what I paid for it - so just running costs to swallow.

a very impressive record :bannana:

 

[C240Sport97]

Later cars had a bit more power didn't they? I'm thinking water-in-boot fixes (if they actually did fix it) - ABC recalls and updates etc.

power only went up in the 06 facelift .. ie. when they changed the front and rear bumpers.