S211 E500 - Nice interior

[E55BOF]

When the seller told me he'd had the car for nearly a year and had been driving it around, and I put it to him that it had not been taxed since July, he told me that he is in the motor trade, and if he can't sell it he'll keep it. He won't take less than £6.5k.

So that's a private sale, then, at more like dealer forecourt price. No thanks.

 

[ChrisPDuck]

For someone looking for just such a car, the relatively small difference between dealer and private prices isn't going to be an issue. Spec and rarity will be what clinches it. When my S212 E500 finally came up, I wasn't interested in haggling because I'd been waiting quite a while and knew that the spec was what I wanted.

 

[E55BOF]

It would have been a whim purchase; the ML is just fine for my needs. If I was actually looking for an S211, I'd have bought that one.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

When the seller told me he'd had the car for nearly a year and had been driving it around, and I put it to him that it had not been taxed since July, he told me that he is in the motor trade, and if he can't sell it he'll keep it. He won't take less than £6.5k.

So that's a private sale, then, at more like dealer forecourt price. No thanks.

How do you tell when a small trade dealer’s lying? His lips move. If he had been driving it, there would be miles on the clock

You can’t tell what a seller will accept until you’re stood in front of him, with a serious expression and waving the rhetorical cash.

Millions have watched The Apprentice and think that they can get a discount by cold calling a trader and asking for one. Life doesn’t work that way.

Until you see, and drive, a 150,000 mile elderly car you have no idea what it’s worth. It could be a bargain that’s crisp and ready for another 150,000 miles, it could be one major repair bill from being broken for parts.

 

[E55BOF]

Millions have watched The Apprentice and think that they can get a discount by cold calling a trader and asking for one. Life doesn’t work that way.

Oh yes it does... sometimes... with private sellers.

I've bought a few cars that way; I know what is the maximum I'm prepared to pay, and that's all that matters; I see no point wasting both our time time going to see a car if the seller won't accept my best offer, and I don't care for haggling. It's different if I really, really want a car, of course, but that one I don't.

It may well fetch what he wants in a few months, and he has my number; he can always call me back if he doesn't get a better offer. I won't be raising mine.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Interesting that there's been loads of traffic (more than a hundred a day) and 220 watchers, but still no sale.

Time of year's a factor, but maybe it's not quite "as described?"

 

[MrGreedy]

Interesting that there's been loads of traffic (more than a hundred a day)... but still no sale.

Mike, 99+ of those a day are us!

 

[ALFAitalia]

.....or......just maybe......its too high a miles.....too expensive (for the mileage)....very dated now (as much as I like them, especially inside).....too thirsty (23.9mpg combined claimed....if you are lucky).....too expensive to tax at £735............or a combination of any of those..........or otherwise it would have gone by now.......... just a suggestion. Merc enthusiasts like us like it but even none of us want to buy it!!!!!......but the average bloke looking to spend seven large on a quickish estate car has a lot of choice.......and can pick a rather more modern car too.

Its on AT now too.

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

 

[Will]

I agree - it’s too many miles for the discerning buyer and those who run leggy old bangers won’t want to spend top dollar on an older car! VED does seem to be a problem as these cars become older and worth less it seems - £735 on a £30k car used daily is one thing, but for a car like this that might be retired to weekend duties it’s quite a chunk to pay for such limited use (I keep saying, VED should be free and stick another 50p/litre on fuel or something )

But I’m sure someone somewhere will pay a premium for the spec and condition if it’s as nice as it looks in the pictures

 

[bolidemichael]

It’s a curio with a punchy price. I do like the extended leather and alcantara roof lining but the seat colour is plain odd.

 

[E55BOF]

It's very simple; the seller is an optimistic lying knob of a small-time dealer, masquerading as a private seller, looking for a mug, and the mug hasn't come along yet...

 

[ChrisPDuck]

It's very simple; the seller is an optimistic lying knob of a small-time dealer, masquerading as a private seller, looking for a mug, and the mug hasn't come along yet...

Haha - come on now, don't hold back. Tell us what you really think

 

[bolidemichael]

I wonder where he found it, as it hasn’t previously come up for sale on any of the popular channels

 

[E55BOF]

I'd have thought it would have been on a dealer's forecourt at an optimistic price, unsold, after being traded in, and he picked it up relatively cheaply after the dealer saw sense and let it go within the trade.