Selling an AMG

[Bobby Dazzler]

I have used all major car publications to gauge a price. Glass being £8500 Parkers being £12750 with what car and AT being around £11k. Then I looked at what's being advertised. Then I priced mine based on all this research. Which I think you will find is fair especially given the rarity of the colour combo and spec. £11500ono too expensive!?!?

I understand your position. Cars that I've cherished are worth more to me than they are to anyone else, but unfortunately if I price them at what the car is worth to me then it probably won't sell, as only I would buy it. In order to sell them I have to price them according to the market, not what I think they're worth or what a guide suggests they might be worth. Either that, or keep it, which I often do.

The same goes if I buy a car from a dealer, who prepped, advertised, financed and warranted a car, and made enough to pay his mortgage, then I have to accept that those things aren't reflected in the future value of the car. Maybe part of the warranty if it's transferable and still has a meaningful remaining term. I have to accept that value has been taken out of the car by me.

However when I've read a few of your posts, including the one above, it feels when I read it that your trying to convince the me and other members that it's worth more. With the greatest respect convincing us is not going to sell your car. Unfortunately most of the pricing guides and advice from members suggests it's market value is less than you're currently advertising it for.

The acid test though is the level of interest, which based upon your posts isn't much at all. So you either need to wait for someone who really wants your car, adjust the price down in steps until it sells, reduce it by a chunk more to sell it quickly, or keep hold of it and enjoy driving the car, which is even more special because of the rarity, colour combo and spec.

This almost certainly not what you want to hear, and you may not agree, but I wish you luck with selling your car.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Out of interest how many miles each month were you doing when you bought it, and how many are you doing now? The difference would have to be big to justify taking a hit on this and then potentially another hit on the diesel car you want to buy because you won't have that long if you plan to sell it for a C63.

Is financing a C63 now rather than saving for one an option? That could be another way to go the reason you're selling, and what you'll ultimately do is buy a C63.

Good luck with your sale.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

It's ever so easy to listen to other owners of the same car on forums, they all think they're worth far more than they really are.

Having said that, I don't think you're too far out value wise, but ultimately it's the buyers that determine the market, not the seller.

 

[Bigrichw]

Since I've reduced I've had more interest. As soon as someone sees her it will be sold I assure you. Ill drop to £11250 if needed.


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[Alex225]

Didn't the E60 M5 have SMG trans issues?

I looked into the V10 M5/6 and it was the SMG box that perturbed me. Many horror stories of then being replaced at huge cost and clutches being very pricey and wearing quicker than in a normal manual!

I hadn't realised the CLS 55/63 was around the same price bracket and it's a no brained by comparison did me.

 

[Grovsie31]

11.5 is more than fair, don't give it away

 

[C240Sport97]

it may the non OEM wheels that is putting people off

 

[Bigrichw]

I personally prefer them. But each to their own. Not as if they are hard to swap if the new owner so wishes.


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[AMGeed]

11.5 is more than fair, don't give it away

+1. A more than fair price which you should achieve if you have enough patience.
Best of luck

 

[Cyclone1]

Just need to be patient Chris. I agree that now isn't a good time to sell and that will continue until early March. People just aren't as flush at this time of the year and the weather etc puts them off travelling around. Hardly any of the big engined cars are selling. I sold my CLS55 a few weeks ago but was fortunate that there was another Enthusiast in the market for one. On EBay I had 1500 views in the 9 days I had it on there and loads of watchers. Hopefully will give you a comparison. I advertised on AT and PH but only for a short time as it sold quickly via this forum.

I am now sat waiting to pounce on a CLS63, there are not many out there but clearly not many in the market for one as they are selling very slowly. The prices are dropping week in week as a result. I bought my last few cars at this time of the year.

Keep yours advertised for a few more weeks and if it doesn't sell take it off the market until March, then do a fresh new advert. You'll also have a new audience by then hopefully. It depends on your circumstances obviously but that's what I would do. You have a nice car and I am sure at some point over the next 4-5 months an enthusiast will appear on the forum looking for a decent CLS or E55.

Jules

 

[Will]

For what it's worth, I saw forum member 'whitenemesis' recently sold CLS55 on Auto Trader.

Looked and sounded like a very well cared for example, I think it had 39k more miles on it than yours, but looked in similar condition. Black with black leather, distronic etc.

Asking price was £8995 and it was being retailed from a dealer/garage.

I can't see it on there now so I assume it has sold.

Your car will sell at the right money. The time of year will have an affect on the saleability of it. Other people who are keen to sell will drop lower hence you have competition in the market.

I would either drop the price further or wait until the spring as suggested.

For what it's worth I bought another car this week, and my last two AMGs were bought at this time of year too.

Maybe you'll get a good deal on your replacement vehicle - swings and roundabouts

 

[Bigrichw]

£8995! Holy crap. These have to be one of the worst depreciating cars ever! How sad. I'm sticking to £11500ono. No emotional attachment just dont want to be taken for a fool



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[Will]

£8995! Holy crap. These have to be one of the worst depreciating cars ever! How sad. I'm sticking to £11500ono. No emotional attachment just dont want to be taken for a fool



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I think you probably paid a bit over the odds for yours at the time, and some of that would've been due to the dealer premium. Even if you'd sold it straight after you purchased you'd have lost a couple of £k due to adding another owner and no warranty for the next purchaser. Now you've had it a few months, are selling it a month or so before Christmas/the cold weather etc and you've done a few miles too.

In real terms though, you'll have lost a fraction of what the original owner(s) did

I think if you compared like for like, along with the seasonal pricing/demand issues it's not as bad as it seems.

Obviously 135k miles although only 39k higher than yours will probably put some people off hence the dealer car was priced competitively - but it seems that the results speak for themselves, it sold promptly.

You'll probably get a little more for yours because of the mileage, but £8995 and £11500 aren't that far apart.

 

[ChrisCLS55]

Its a nice car, although the trim isn't my cup of tea. Don't let it go for pennies, it will sell at a more than reasonable price eventually if you are prepared to wait.

These cars are not an impulse buy, they are sold to people who buy into it if you like.

The moment I watched Clarkson on TG test drive one back in 2005 or whatever it was I wanted one and I couldn't even drive back then!

I bought mine 3 years ago on the back of 12 months or more worth of research into the car and everything about it.

I overpaid for mine and it wasn't the perfect example, but so what, its a great car and I don't regret a moment of owning it.

Like yourself I'll probably be looking to sell mine after the new year, although if I had a garage I'd keep it because good examples of the CLS55 in say 5 years time are going to be worth more than what you're asking for yours and maybe double in say 10 years time.

Good luck either way, again its a really nice example.

 

[b1g1an]

It only takes one person but if they're not about you won't be able to sell at any price, other than to some **** who'll offer you sixpence for it.

When you sold the other cars you mentioned you may well have just been lucky that you caught that one person each time. Also, both the cars you mentioned are far better known than the CLS and the brands are considered sporty by the masses. Many 'enthusiasts' don't even know what the CLS and many have no clue what AMGs are capable of and consider them to be just luxo barges so our cars don't appear on many people's watchlists even though it may be perfect for them.

Ever sold a house...unless you were very lucky you should know what waiting for the right person is all about.

When I bought mine, I wasn't looking for one. Although I was looking for a CLS it was a Grand Edition I wanted but my local MB dealer got a very low mileage 55 in over Christmas and I talked myself into it, actually it was more Sean on here talked me into it like many others So I ended up spending a lot less than I intended on a car older than the one I was getting shot of. I was the right person at the right time, so the dealer sold it rather than trading it.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I personally prefer them. But each to their own. Not as if they are hard to swap if the new owner so wishes.


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No it's an easy swap, but buyers may be mentally adding the cost of replacing the wheels to the cost of the car, which makes your car appear more expensive than a car which already has standard wheels.

 

[njkmr]

For what its worth I actually like the wheels on your car.
I purchased a CL600 with big shiny alloys on it because I thought it looked fantastic.
Again its down to the individual.

 

[njkmr]

alloys...on my old CL600

 

[Will]

For what its worth I actually like the wheels on your car.
I purchased a CL600 with big shiny alloys on it because I thought it looked fantastic.
Again its down to the individual.

Of course - but there's more potential buyers for standard cars than modified ones, hence people have mentioned this

 

[Bigrichw]

Sod it. Im keeping it. Had such a nice drive today... Cleared my head. Why have cotton when you can have silk...


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