R129 Mercedes-Benz SL - Why the gap in values?

[j4ck100]

So my dad is looking at this SL320 from 1999 in particular this one:

http://www.silchestergarage.co.uk/index.php/en/car... (£14999)

But I am not sure why autotrader turns up slightly older ones say 1994/5 and albiet slightly smaller engine which maybe is less desirable but still doesn't fully explain the price gap?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016... (5 grand something)

Are the later ones sought after to a higher degree and are they appreciating now?

Cheers

Edited by j4ck100 on Tuesday 29th March 18:08

[j4ck100]

Or this one for peanuts for example and it is a 320

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[truck71]

Condition. Once you start viewing them the whole thing becomes a minefield. Aim to get a well cared for one that isn't being sold by a chancer.

[gizlaroc]

To be fair, that one at £15k looks like new...




Although, I would rather spend £5k and get the whole thing retrimmed in need be and put all new suspension on it too.

£4k tops to do all that.

[r129sl]

There's a few "specialists" who are starting to chance their arms with the 129, as well.

[ras62]

I would recommend your father drives a 320....and then tries the 500. The latter will get his vote. There is no downside imo, they are a superb car.

[0a]

I have a '91 500sl. In my view the earlier cars look far better, but the later ones have a lot more equipment and a better gearbox. This is rather offset in the 500 by the later engine having less power and being considered less special. The r129 is a very heavy car so I would advise against buying the smaller engined models given they are no cheaper.

The disparity in price can be explained by some SL specific parts (fixing the roof to as new operation), and the fact that in an SL immaculate condition tends to be more important than in other Mercedes models (an image thing - it's a convertible after all).

A good one is fantastic for what it does.

Edited by 0a on Tuesday 29th March 22:30

[rubystone]

Facelift cars are generally more sought after. I personally prefer the facelifted cars for their seats and lights but at the end of the day it's condition, service history and colour combination that really matter.

[rubystone]

I'd also add that don't let the fact that the 1999 car is a 280 put you off, these aren't sports cars as such, so you'll find yourself wafting around in whatever you buy more than burning rubber. I'd go and drive the 3 cheaper cars and give the dealer car a miss. The £5600 car seems very good value for money if it comes with a good history and everything works, including the gearbox too!

[j4ck100]

Ta will pass all this info on to the father. He deliberates a lot so I'd love to say I'll update with the purchase but to see that you might have to bookmark and come back in a few months/years !

[PositronicRay]

I looked @ a few cars a couple of yrs ago.

Condition and drive are everything so take your time. I saw great looking cars that drove like a bag of spanners and vice versa, frankly some were old dogs with great ad and pictures.

I still managed to miss a lot of stuff, so the car I chose needed plenty doing to bring it up to scratch. Keep a war chest. Over 2.5yrs I reckon I spent the purchase price again, but now at least I know the car.

[ras62]

r129sl said:

There's a few "specialists" who are starting to chance their arms with the 129, as well.

I do wonder if we're starting to see a subtle change in the R129 market. The cars are certainly of the right age and the design which once looked a little old fashioned next to the flashy faced R230 is perhaps coming to be appreciated for what it is, an exercise of classic 80's proportions. The R230 is not aging gracefully imo, perhaps a little too bling for its own good. Add in the R129's ability to match more modern cars in performance and safety with it's incredible build quality and it's easy to see good cars as an attractive ownership proposition for those seeking something a little different.

[j4ck100]

ras62 said:

I do wonder if we're starting to see a subtle change in the R129 market. The cars are certainly of the right age and the design which once looked a little old fashioned next to the flashy faced R230 is perhaps coming to be appreciated for what it is, an exercise of classic 80's proportions. The R230 is not aging gracefully imo, perhaps a little too bling for its own good. Add in the R129's ability to match more modern cars in performance and safety with it's incredible build quality and it's easy to see good cars as an attractive ownership proposition for those seeking something a little different.

Very interesting points

[QuantumTokoloshi]

ras62 said:

r129sl said:

There's a few "specialists" who are starting to chance their arms with the 129, as well.

I do wonder if we're starting to see a subtle change in the R129 market. The cars are certainly of the right age and the design which once looked a little old fashioned next to the flashy faced R230 is perhaps coming to be appreciated for what it is, an exercise of classic 80's proportions. The R230 is not aging gracefully imo, perhaps a little too bling for its own good. Add in the R129's ability to match more modern cars in performance and safety with it's incredible build quality and it's easy to see good cars as an attractive ownership proposition for those seeking something a little different.

I would agree with that. The R230 is now in the no man's land of old, but not cool stage.

The reasons you site for the 129 is correct, a good looking older car, modern performance, good safety, reliable, practical, good value for money (if you buy right) and different to the usual default vehicle choices.

[SSL]

ras62 said:

r129sl said:

There's a few "specialists" who are starting to chance their arms with the 129, as well.

I do wonder if we're starting to see a subtle change in the R129 market. The cars are certainly of the right age and the design which once looked a little old fashioned next to the flashy faced R230 is perhaps coming to be appreciated for what it is, an exercise of classic 80's proportions. The R230 is not aging gracefully imo, perhaps a little too bling for its own good. Add in the R129's ability to match more modern cars in performance and safety with it's incredible build quality and it's easy to see good cars as an attractive ownership proposition for those seeking something a little different.

There are definite changes in the 129 market and they have been seen before. Twelve years ago I started looking at the 107. To be honest I would have loved a 113 but even then they were starting to go beyond what I could or wanted to pay. A very good condition 85-89 107 low mileage, low owner, full service history example could be had for the price of what a similarly nice 129 will cost today. However try buying that same 107 today and you can expect to pay nearly three times the 2004 asking price and the 113 has doubled or tripled.

In some respects the 113 has pulled up 107 prices but as many people are beginning to really appreciate how good the 107 is it is getting a momentum of its own so that it is moving beyond the ability of many, like me with the 113 , twelve years ago, to buy it.

This really opens the door for the 129 sitting as it was a couple of years back at the bottom of its depreciation curve. Today like the 107 twelve years ago there are lots and lots to choose from and a wide range of asking prices largely based on condition, mileage, ownership, service history and model year.

As r129sl pointed out specialist dealers are recognising that as the 113 and 107 move beyond the pockets of many enthusiasts the 129 is easily capable of filling that gap and satisfying the demands of a new set of SL owners.

It will be interesting to see if 129 prices go the same way as the 113 and 107 but its clear to me that the process I witnessed with each of those models has already begun for the 129.

Edited by SSL on Wednesday 30th March 21:11

[0a]

I took a work colleague out in my 500sl a few weeks ago - he owns a 6 month old e63 with some tuning so it's vastly faster, and he was somewhat enchanted with the engine / noise and, interestingly the ride quality of the r129.

The 500 has quite enough performance for me for the road, I find it easily breaches the 155 supposed limiter on the sat nav and gets there fast enough.

[r129sl]

You'll go to gaol if you're caught at that speed Oa, especially up in Jockland. I can't help it either, though.

When I said some specialist dealers are chancing their arms with the 129, I kind of meant it in the way that those same specialist dealers would ask 25grand for a 3/4full tinfoil ashtray at the moment on the basis that it's a sure-fire investment, guv. But what SSL has written above makes a lot of sense. I remember when Pagodas were where 107s are now and the rise and rise of the Pagoda has undoubtedly pulled up the 107 which in turn may pull on the 129. It is also a fabulously under-rated car.

[SSL]

r129sl said:

...... I remember when Pagodas were where 107s are now and the rise and rise of the Pagoda has undoubtedly pulled up the 107 which in turn may pull on the 129. It is also a fabulously under-rated car.

It is a criminally under-rated and under valued car. For me the 129 is a Mercedes benchmark car in the way that the 198 300SL moved the goal-posts in the 1950s.

I am not suggesting that 129s will ever command the stratospheric prices that the 198 models do today. Rarity is as much a factor as beauty and fitness for purpose with them but the 129 did move the bar way up and was as much a game changer in 1989 as the 198 in 1954. I doubt there are many people who appreciate that more than you.

Edited by SSL on Thursday 31st March 22:17

[mickyveloce]

New mot, new Pirelli P7's and ready for the season. Value more or less irrelevant, but as its almost certainly appreciated from the cost five years ago, I'm sending it to the paint shop to resolves stonechips etc.

A wonderful, wonderful pleasure.

[Stegel]

Some dealers are really pushing the envelope - 22k miles, pretty tidy but not perfect (rusty front OS wing) with some tat nailed on which appears to far exceed whatever made Silver Arrow cars unique - according to the guy in parts one recently deceased owner - £30,995 (although it was actually priced at £29,995 when I collected some parts this morning)

http://www.draytongroup.co.uk/used-cars/search/?co...