RE: Spotted: supercar special
Thursday 21st June 2012
Some cursory glancing at the classifieds recently threw up this rather interesting SLR. Yes, it has done a lot of miles for such a car - check out the shiny steering wheel, attesting to its 50K-plus miles - but surely this is a hell of a lot of engineering and performance for a smidge less than £100K?
Sure, this SLR cheap for a supercar...
...but shiny wheel belies high mileageMoreover, it was argued the 'confused identity' of the SLR, with its McLaren-designed carbon tub allied to a Merc auto and supercharged V8, resulted in its rather negative press and public reaction. But now the two have separated, employed solely their own ideology on respective supercars, and yet still the market struggles with a 200mph car with a three-pointed star. The first SLSes can now be had for £110K with very few miles, while not a single MP4-12C is available in the PH classifieds for less than its £168,500 list price.
Even early SLSes are down to £110KWhatever the reasons, Merc supercars look like something of a bargain right now. And just to underline the fact here are some competitors...
Spotted: supercar special
A sub-£100K McLaren SLR prompts the question: why does the market seem to hate Mercedes supercars?
Sure, this SLR cheap for a supercar...
And the depreciation issue is an interesting one for Mercedes supercars. Even the best examples of the McMerc struggle to command more than half the original. This is especially intriguing when its values are compared with that of its closest contemporary, the Porsche Carrera GT. Most examples of these have in fact appreciated from the £320K price point it originally shared with the McLaren Mercedes.
And whilst some level the 'mainstream manufacturer' criticism at the SLR, how do you therefore explain the rock-steady values of the Ford GT? This was powered by a V8 derived from a pick-up no less, and yet its blue-collar origins have done nothing to dent its used prices, with some examples again appreciating in value.
...but shiny wheel belies high mileage
It's not like Mercedes doesn't have form, the original 1954 300SL Gullwing regularly cited as the very first modern supercar and there being no lack of motorsport success and credibility over the years on which to draw upon.
Even early SLSes are down to £110K
- Ferrari 360 CS - £133K new, now still £90K plus
- Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 - one year older than SLS and more miles, £115K
- Ferrari 458 Italia - the cheapest right-hand drive one available is £184,286
Discussion
The Ford held strong I reckon because of the GT40 link.
Maybe it's because Mercedes just isn't a supercar brand and lot of buyers want to have the Ferrari, Lamborghini badge if they're shelling out £100K. The fact that is was made by McLaren doesn't really matter as it still has a 3-pointed star on the bonnet - same as a C220CDI
Maybe it's because Mercedes just isn't a supercar brand and lot of buyers want to have the Ferrari, Lamborghini badge if they're shelling out £100K. The fact that is was made by McLaren doesn't really matter as it still has a 3-pointed star on the bonnet - same as a C220CDI
I think it has something to do with the fact that it was Merc's first car in that vein for a long while. The kids who grew up thinking "I want one of those!" (myself included) are still young, they're not yet the successful 35+ year old's that might be thinking of spending £100-200k on a car, whereas the offerings from Porsche/Lambo/Ferrari hold much easier appeal with the older generations with the big money. As for the Ford GT, I suspect many of these are owned by people who grew up with the GT40 still in vague memory - the SLR doesn't have quite the same immediate emotional connection with a predecessor.
How about a 599? Plenty for under $100k, better reputation and still fairly poor residuals. Most front engined, rear drive supercars depreciate like TVs off tower blocks. That this massively unfashionable one hasn't gone lower is a bit of a surprise when you look at what's out there for that money.
This, like the LFA, is high on my Euromillions wish list.
In terms of the (relative) lack of appeal, I think it it because within the world of Mercedes Benz, it looked like an SL (pre-facelift) but with less practicality (LHD v RHD, folding hardtop roof in the SL, far lower running costs but in day to 'can I use it', not too far off the performance (SLR v SL55) and quite a bit closer (SLR v SL65) for a much much cheaper price.
True it is that 200mph plus and that, like anything capable of the same speeds, completely irrelevant for most of the world except an early summer Sunday morning on one of the rarer autobahns.
However, is the "feel good" factor there? An XJ220 sounds awful, cramped and impractical, quite expensive to upkeep, can do many multiples of the speed limit but my gawd, does it look stunning. Parked up in the garage you would just look at it.
A few bays down in the Euromillions garage, you look at the black SLR parked next to the black SL65 and think....worth the extra?
Like the Maybach, especially the 57, they did not differentiate it enough from what the top of the range models in the same family one rung below could do.
S600L or Maybach 57?
SLR or SL65?
and enough change to buy a house (or two) or lease a few other cars from the Ferrari and Lamborghini stables.
In terms of the (relative) lack of appeal, I think it it because within the world of Mercedes Benz, it looked like an SL (pre-facelift) but with less practicality (LHD v RHD, folding hardtop roof in the SL, far lower running costs but in day to 'can I use it', not too far off the performance (SLR v SL55) and quite a bit closer (SLR v SL65) for a much much cheaper price.
True it is that 200mph plus and that, like anything capable of the same speeds, completely irrelevant for most of the world except an early summer Sunday morning on one of the rarer autobahns.
However, is the "feel good" factor there? An XJ220 sounds awful, cramped and impractical, quite expensive to upkeep, can do many multiples of the speed limit but my gawd, does it look stunning. Parked up in the garage you would just look at it.
A few bays down in the Euromillions garage, you look at the black SLR parked next to the black SL65 and think....worth the extra?
Like the Maybach, especially the 57, they did not differentiate it enough from what the top of the range models in the same family one rung below could do.
S600L or Maybach 57?
SLR or SL65?
and enough change to buy a house (or two) or lease a few other cars from the Ferrari and Lamborghini stables.
Looks like an SL!? I don't particularly care for the SLR looks-wise but I'd struggle to think it can be mistaken for an SL. I happened to behind a grey one in traffic the other day and even in grey it looked and sounded every inch the outrageous flashy and unobtainably expensive supercar.
Small Car said:
The well fingered SLR was a certain footballer's car and wrapped a few different times. Love it at that price though...
Yep - whenever I saw it the wrap was hideous, but it was always well kept. A good buy I'd say. New steering wheel from Merc and you'll be feeling much better.It's not just over in the UK. Okay, they aren't supercars, but on Saturday I saw a Honda (?) dealership with a 2010 C63AMG for 125,000 AUD outside, parked just up from a 2004 SL55 AMG for only $105,000 AUD. That's SL, not SLK... Surely that peanuts for a car that came second only to a Zonda C12S in a popular UK mags 2003 performance car cup... anyway, I then hopped onto my 5k bike...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff