How much should I be paying for a used C63 PPP

How much should I be paying for a used C63 PPP

Author
Discussion

Moosey47

Original Poster:

37 posts

116 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
quotequote all
Hello all,

I'm relatively new here - at least on the posting front.
I'm on the verge of buying a used facelift C63 with PPP and was planning on a budget in the region of £35k
That would seem to put me in the market for 2011 to some early 2013 plate cars.
I've read through many of the topics on here regarding C63's and noted a posters comment that "the spec that you want will appear"
I can certainly relate to that, having watched 3 perfect (exact spec I'd like) come and go over the last 7 months or so.
Up until now, I haven't been in the position to go for them however that's no longer an issue and as it happens another "perfect" car
has just appeared on Autotrader (but not PH classifieds strangely)

Anyway I also read the market watch article http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI... suggesting that C63s
hadn't depreciated enough as yet. Given the variance of price tags in the classifieds I was wondering what a fair price would be for say
a 2012 C63 PPP with HK sound, Command with Internet and Bluetooth Phone Prep, plain old black designo interior with 30k miles.

The reason I ask is I have seen 2 this week alone with 5k difference in price but no discernible difference in spec.
Your thoughts are appreciated.

Edit: I have checked Parkers btw


Edited by Moosey47 on Thursday 22 January 19:46

ecain63

10,588 posts

174 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
quotequote all
You won't know what to pay until you view the car.

I sold my 2010 PPP saloon back in July and I had every man and his dog phoning and telling me that I was asking way too much for it. The car had just over 20k on the clock and had a Quaiffe LSD fitted along with Eurocharged map. It was red too so not the most popular colour. Spec was decent though. In the end I sold it for £100 less than I was asking (covered his fuel and food for return trip) and only 10% less than I paid for it 2 years earlier.

Reason for my high end value?: Condition and history.

There are 1001 dogs out there as many were lease cars or cars used by rich kids blatting around London / Leeds etc. Accident damage is very common, as are resprays. Sift through that crap and you'll find your gem! That's what my buyer did. He was the first to view my car too, and he p[aid on the spot and drove away with it!

Getting a good deal is obviously key, but the right car is surely more important. I can't see values dropping too much at the moment as the W204 is fast becoming a car that people are looking to buy 'before they die'.

Steelnads

171 posts

272 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
quotequote all
Looking at the classifieds lately, I agree the c63 is holding its money especially cherished examples which are worth a premium.

Moosey47

Original Poster:

37 posts

116 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
quotequote all
Appreciate the responses. I know I'm in for a bit of a search and some disappointment along the way.

alxce

417 posts

220 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
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I have been doing much the same as you since the beginning of November 2014, although not for a PPP car which I think would make it even more difficult as I see so few in the listings. During that time I have only seen one example of the right spec come and go and that was at the outset when I wasn't really ready. One of the major problems I am coming across is trying to get the options spec of the car out of the dealer as most of them seem unable to tell you either in adverts or over the telephone. When you are sitting there with the options pdf in front of you and they reel off all the stuff from the standard list it gets a bit tiresome.
Anyway, I think I have now studied so many on the MB lists, Autotrader, Parkers and PH that I am getting a bit jaded but it is easy to spot a new addition as I know the others so well. I am sure the right one will come along eventually but compared to November the market seems very slow at the moment. May have to wait a couple of months, just hoping I haven't lost the will to change by then.
In terms of pricing over the period I have been looking there seems to have been little movement other than the odd main dealer reduction for a car they have had a while. I think it is holding up well and I have seen a couple appear in January at a higher price than I would have expected but that may be down to options, difficult to tell from the adverts. I had one hilarious exchange via email with a West London main dealer about a 2014 car they have put up for 57K which I assumed must be a 507 or the price was in error. When I enquired they said not a 507 and the price is correct but it does have a lot of options!!

Edited by alxce on Friday 23 January 10:00

alxce

417 posts

220 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
quotequote all
ecain63 said:
You won't know what to pay until you view the car.

I sold my 2010 PPP saloon back in July and I had every man and his dog phoning and telling me that I was asking way too much for it. The car had just over 20k on the clock and had a Quaiffe LSD fitted along with Eurocharged map. It was red too so not the most popular colour. Spec was decent though. In the end I sold it for £100 less than I was asking (covered his fuel and food for return trip) and only 10% less than I paid for it 2 years earlier.

Reason for my high end value?: Condition and history.

There are 1001 dogs out there as many were lease cars or cars used by rich kids blatting around London / Leeds etc. Accident damage is very common, as are resprays. Sift through that crap and you'll find your gem! That's what my buyer did. He was the first to view my car too, and he p[aid on the spot and drove away with it!

Getting a good deal is obviously key, but the right car is surely more important. I can't see values dropping too much at the moment as the W204 is fast becoming a car that people are looking to buy 'before they die'.
Hope you don't mind me asking but as a previous owner of a red car could you give me some idea of how easily the front end/bonnet was damaged by stone chips? Reason for asking is that I took a look at one that was close to dream spec but looked like it had a severe dose of track rash through following too close to the car in front, the bonnet was a mass of touched up spots. I would have to build in the cost of a complete front end respray to pursue it any further and not sure I want to go down that route.
Apologies to OP for the sidetrack here but not really worthy of a new thread.

moffat

1,020 posts

224 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
quotequote all
My advice:

Buy a facelift model - late 2011 onwards I think as the pre-FL car will depreciate more.

Now that the W204 model has ceased production and the fact that there are no discounted lease deals mean that used prices will probably firm up for a while until 1) the new model becomes mainstream and 2) the 2013 massively discounted lease deal cars flood the used market.

My 2 year old non-PPP coupe just went back to Mercedes.


Moosey47

Original Poster:

37 posts

116 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
quotequote all
Yeah, I figured there might be a few more approved Main Dealer options coming up when deliveries of the new model start.
My local Dealer (Bishops Stortford) is aware of what I'm looking for (but still calls me about coupes and wagons all the same).
The hassle for me at them moment with the 2 I've found is that they are so far away, it's a serious logistical exercise to simply
view them.

ecain63

10,588 posts

174 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
quotequote all
alxce said:
ecain63 said:
You won't know what to pay until you view the car.

I sold my 2010 PPP saloon back in July and I had every man and his dog phoning and telling me that I was asking way too much for it. The car had just over 20k on the clock and had a Quaiffe LSD fitted along with Eurocharged map. It was red too so not the most popular colour. Spec was decent though. In the end I sold it for £100 less than I was asking (covered his fuel and food for return trip) and only 10% less than I paid for it 2 years earlier.

Reason for my high end value?: Condition and history.

There are 1001 dogs out there as many were lease cars or cars used by rich kids blatting around London / Leeds etc. Accident damage is very common, as are resprays. Sift through that crap and you'll find your gem! That's what my buyer did. He was the first to view my car too, and he p[aid on the spot and drove away with it!

Getting a good deal is obviously key, but the right car is surely more important. I can't see values dropping too much at the moment as the W204 is fast becoming a car that people are looking to buy 'before they die'.
Hope you don't mind me asking but as a previous owner of a red car could you give me some idea of how easily the front end/bonnet was damaged by stone chips? Reason for asking is that I took a look at one that was close to dream spec but looked like it had a severe dose of track rash through following too close to the car in front, the bonnet was a mass of touched up spots. I would have to build in the cost of a complete front end respray to pursue it any further and not sure I want to go down that route.
Apologies to OP for the sidetrack here but not really worthy of a new thread.
When I bought mine it was pretty badly chipped actually. Doors, bonnet, bumper, front and rear arches etc. I bought my car from a dealer that was near a vehicle test track so assume it had been round that!! lol

The cure was a nigh on full respray by MB. At dealer cost I had my local award winning bodyshop ( and MB accredited) respray the bonnet, bumper, wings, doors arches, roof and supply new skirts. The new paint was much thicker and stood up well to the next 18 months of ownership. I do regret selling the car in hindsight. The car was mega low mileage, mint and well looked after. My current Red A45, although quicker doesn't have quite the thrill as the big V8 C63!



ziggy328

848 posts

213 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
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lovely A45. My black one looks very dull in comparison

Moosey47

Original Poster:

37 posts

116 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
quotequote all
I do kinda like Fire Opal, but as a self-respecting Everton fan, I just can't do it. nono

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
quotequote all
Moosey47 said:
My local Dealer (Bishops Stortford) is aware of what I'm looking for (but still calls me about coupes and wagons all the same).
The hassle for me at them moment with the 2 I've found is that they are so far away, it's a serious logistical exercise to simply
view them.
Why am I not surprised. Bunch of idiots. Avoid them at all costs. Call Nigel at Waterhouse and ask him to have his team look out for one for you.

alxce

417 posts

220 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
quotequote all
ecain63 - thanks for the comeback on the red paintwork. By pure coincidence I stumbled across a new, registered A45 like yours with 120 miles on it at an MB dealer yesterday. Stunning interior and exterior with performance to match that you can actually put down on the road with 4matic. Comes at a price though - 42K - about the same as my budget limit for a C63 - hmmmm confused

ecain63

10,588 posts

174 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
quotequote all
alxce said:
ecain63 - thanks for the comeback on the red paintwork. By pure coincidence I stumbled across a new, registered A45 like yours with 120 miles on it at an MB dealer yesterday. Stunning interior and exterior with performance to match that you can actually put down on the road with 4matic. Comes at a price though - 42K - about the same as my budget limit for a C63 - hmmmm confused
You can have my A45 with £8k of options for a good bit less than that if you're interested?

Edited by ecain63 on Saturday 24th January 09:36

Moosey47

Original Poster:

37 posts

116 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
quotequote all
rubystone said:
Why am I not surprised. Bunch of idiots. Avoid them at all costs. Call Nigel at Waterhouse and ask him to have his team look out for one for you.
I will do thanks.

alxce

417 posts

220 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
quotequote all
ecain63 said:
You can have my A45 with £8k of options for a good bit less than that if you're interested?

Edited by ecain63 on Saturday 24th January 09:36
smile Thanks for the offer but if I don't go the C63 route I know I am going to regret it, it's C63 or bust ( I.e. stick with the RRS)

Moosey47

Original Poster:

37 posts

116 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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Who bought the Palladium Silver PPP car in Teeside? I'd just managed to organise a ride up there for next week.

Moosey47

Original Poster:

37 posts

116 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
rubystone said:
Why am I not surprised. Bunch of idiots. Avoid them at all costs. Call Nigel at Waterhouse and ask him to have his team look out for one for you.
Is that Waterhouse Chelmsford or Braintree?

jovie

53 posts

174 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
When I bought mine last year PP cars were about £5k more than none pp due to their rarity and PP, and private cars were roughly a grand below dealer prices.
Mileage variation also counted for up to a grand either way.
Using the layout of the autotrader app on my ipad and playing around with the various filters I was able to roughly gauge a ballpark figure.
As for the specs, the cars on MB website will have them listed correctly and with the others I just studied the pictures for PP parts and HK. The complete spec is easily found if you get the VIN and pop into a dealer for them to run it or over on MBclub.uk there is a link to a site that will give you the spec.

Moosey47

Original Poster:

37 posts

116 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
jovie said:
When I bought mine last year PP cars were about £5k more than none pp due to their rarity and PP, and private cars were roughly a grand below dealer prices.
Mileage variation also counted for up to a grand either way.
Using the layout of the autotrader app on my ipad and playing around with the various filters I was able to roughly gauge a ballpark figure.
As for the specs, the cars on MB website will have them listed correctly and with the others I just studied the pictures for PP parts and HK. The complete spec is easily found if you get the VIN and pop into a dealer for them to run it or over on MBclub.uk there is a link to a site that will give you the spec.
Good info Jovie, thanks very much. I've just off-loaded my R26 Megane so now I'm just waiting for the right car to appear (at the right price hopefully)