Anyone know someone selling an SLK 55 (2005- 2009)?
Discussion
So as per some of me previous threads I'm still looking for a SLK 55 ...
The ones on sale currently are all dogs or being sold by dodgy dealers...
Been looking for the last 8 months and missed out on a couple due to various reasons and bad timing as travelling out of the country.
Ideally don't want black but just seems a lot of over priced crap out there...
I want to keep the car a few years so if possible would want <70k on the clock..
The ones on sale currently are all dogs or being sold by dodgy dealers...
Been looking for the last 8 months and missed out on a couple due to various reasons and bad timing as travelling out of the country.
Ideally don't want black but just seems a lot of over priced crap out there...
I want to keep the car a few years so if possible would want <70k on the clock..
Edited by fizz47 on Saturday 20th May 11:59
How many of the ones for sale have you looked at? I've looked at one and tried to cut thru the crap written about some of the others because most are oop north!
What's your budget? I'm discovering that I might have to raise mine to get what I think I want.
I say 'think' because the ideal spec car isn't necessarily out there...for example I don't think auto blip came in until the 2008 update which also brought a 10% faster shift. And I really want them. But of course post 23/3/06 cars attract a premium of over £200 a year in VED.
Then there's the 030 performance pack. Is it worth it? Carbon accents look nice but is the suspension too hard?
And designo does lift the cabin.
And the Harmon Karen unit does sound superb.
My ideal spec car would be around 32,000 miles, not silver, with 030, HK, designo and post 2008. The higher VED is then worth paying!
What's your budget? I'm discovering that I might have to raise mine to get what I think I want.
I say 'think' because the ideal spec car isn't necessarily out there...for example I don't think auto blip came in until the 2008 update which also brought a 10% faster shift. And I really want them. But of course post 23/3/06 cars attract a premium of over £200 a year in VED.
Then there's the 030 performance pack. Is it worth it? Carbon accents look nice but is the suspension too hard?
And designo does lift the cabin.
And the Harmon Karen unit does sound superb.
My ideal spec car would be around 32,000 miles, not silver, with 030, HK, designo and post 2008. The higher VED is then worth paying!
fizz47 said:
I've physically looked at 4...
Spoke to about 4 more about the car and they were not suitable - lack of history, too many owners etc.
Cars currently on sale have been around ages... surprised some of the dealers can hold on to the stock for so long..
Pm me - I'd like to know what you rejected and can point you towards a couple too pricey for me but with a good pedigreeSpoke to about 4 more about the car and they were not suitable - lack of history, too many owners etc.
Cars currently on sale have been around ages... surprised some of the dealers can hold on to the stock for so long..
Inevitably it's a compromise due to the limited numbers available.
I bought mine in 2012 and there were a lot of dogs about then and unfortunately price has little correlation with quality.
In the end I wanted an early model for two reasons..larger 6 pot brakes which i believe became an option which few took up after the first 18 months and also lower VED. I also wanted a duotone interior as all black looked a bit too funereal. Unfortunately no HK in the one I chose but took the view I could always upgrade later. I bought mine at 23k miles and it's now at 43k.and don't intend to sell anytime soon.
In december I bought another one for the wife, a 48k 2007 in jasper blue, higher specced than mine with dual climate, HK and electric mirrors to replace her rust prone slk 32.
There are good ones out there , you just need to persevere!
I bought mine in 2012 and there were a lot of dogs about then and unfortunately price has little correlation with quality.
In the end I wanted an early model for two reasons..larger 6 pot brakes which i believe became an option which few took up after the first 18 months and also lower VED. I also wanted a duotone interior as all black looked a bit too funereal. Unfortunately no HK in the one I chose but took the view I could always upgrade later. I bought mine at 23k miles and it's now at 43k.and don't intend to sell anytime soon.
In december I bought another one for the wife, a 48k 2007 in jasper blue, higher specced than mine with dual climate, HK and electric mirrors to replace her rust prone slk 32.
There are good ones out there , you just need to persevere!
slk 32 said:
Inevitably it's a compromise due to the limited numbers available.
I bought mine in 2012 and there were a lot of dogs about then and unfortunately price has little correlation with quality.
In the end I wanted an early model for two reasons..larger 6 pot brakes which i believe became an option which few took up after the first 18 months and also lower VED. I also wanted a duotone interior as all black looked a bit too funereal. Unfortunately no HK in the one I chose but took the view I could always upgrade later. I bought mine at 23k miles and it's now at 43k.and don't intend to sell anytime soon.
In december I bought another one for the wife, a 48k 2007 in jasper blue, higher specced than mine with dual climate, HK and electric mirrors to replace her rust prone slk 32.
There are good ones out there , you just need to persevere!
Yes you're right. I've found a couple of good cars but they are over £20k and v low mileage...in many ways one is paying a premium for their ultra-low miles and I want to actually use the car!I bought mine in 2012 and there were a lot of dogs about then and unfortunately price has little correlation with quality.
In the end I wanted an early model for two reasons..larger 6 pot brakes which i believe became an option which few took up after the first 18 months and also lower VED. I also wanted a duotone interior as all black looked a bit too funereal. Unfortunately no HK in the one I chose but took the view I could always upgrade later. I bought mine at 23k miles and it's now at 43k.and don't intend to sell anytime soon.
In december I bought another one for the wife, a 48k 2007 in jasper blue, higher specced than mine with dual climate, HK and electric mirrors to replace her rust prone slk 32.
There are good ones out there , you just need to persevere!
rubystone said:
Yes you're right. I've found a couple of good cars but they are over £20k and v low mileage...in many ways one is paying a premium for their ultra-low miles and I want to actually use the car!
I paid £23.5k for mine in 2012 and £19.5 for hers from a dealer in December, so circa 18k should get you in a decent one privately. A lot of these tend to be used as second cars by older owners, it's one of these you need to seek out.I always remember the phrase that Quentin Wilson uttered about the e36 M3 eons ago on top gear that they were now becoming a bit 'white sock' ie falling into the price range of those for whom maintenance is seen as optional. I've seen early cars go for as little as 11k
Don't dismiss cars on mileage and owners. The previous owners thing I've never understood as a logic to dismissing a car... it's a convertible V8 sports car, many buy in spring for the summer and sell in a couple years. I purchased mine back in March after looking at around 8-9 all across the country, most had between 5-8 owners at 12 years old, think I only saw one that had 2 owners.
Buy on history and bills, the more the better especially little irrelevant bills - just shows it's been maintained to a particular level of detail, or at least indicates that. Make exceptions to some faults as they are very common and you will find them on 99% of cars that aren't meticulously enthusiast owned (Roof seals dry and filthy, cam covers leaking, glovebox damper broken, discs corroded and worn, few dings, stone chips, castor bushes split etc). All the above can be fixed relatively easy and not excessively expensive - however factor it into the price.
I made slight exception on interior, ideally wanted black on black and went with the red/black designo - however only red on the bolsters which I actually prefer now I own it. Also purchased privately with all of the above faults. Was listed for 16k and I viewed and purchased the day after it was listed.
As you said, there isn't many cars out there and a lot of dogs, the good ones seem to go very quickly. I actually lost 2 cars during the search within hours of viewing and deciding. Hold out and be prepared to go view soon as you can - they're superb cars. I would echo what others have said, no correlation between quality and price - the only correlation is between the mileage and prestige tax of the dealer. The engines being so relatively bulletproof I would absolutely purchase a car with 70k + if it drove like a 30k car and had been looked after.
GL with the search
Buy on history and bills, the more the better especially little irrelevant bills - just shows it's been maintained to a particular level of detail, or at least indicates that. Make exceptions to some faults as they are very common and you will find them on 99% of cars that aren't meticulously enthusiast owned (Roof seals dry and filthy, cam covers leaking, glovebox damper broken, discs corroded and worn, few dings, stone chips, castor bushes split etc). All the above can be fixed relatively easy and not excessively expensive - however factor it into the price.
I made slight exception on interior, ideally wanted black on black and went with the red/black designo - however only red on the bolsters which I actually prefer now I own it. Also purchased privately with all of the above faults. Was listed for 16k and I viewed and purchased the day after it was listed.
As you said, there isn't many cars out there and a lot of dogs, the good ones seem to go very quickly. I actually lost 2 cars during the search within hours of viewing and deciding. Hold out and be prepared to go view soon as you can - they're superb cars. I would echo what others have said, no correlation between quality and price - the only correlation is between the mileage and prestige tax of the dealer. The engines being so relatively bulletproof I would absolutely purchase a car with 70k + if it drove like a 30k car and had been looked after.
GL with the search
Good ones sell quickly. Sold mine to a trader who moaned endlessly about giving too much for it - he shifted it in 3 days. Silly low prices for a special car. Just be careful on the brakes, if you have fully floating and they are worn they will cost you £2000 all round (which is when most people sell them).
CaptainRAVE said:
Good ones sell quickly. Sold mine to a trader who moaned endlessly about giving too much for it - he shifted it in 3 days. Silly low prices for a special car. Just be careful on the brakes, if you have fully floating and they are worn they will cost you £2000 all round (which is when most people sell them).
If you don't mind me asking how much did you sell yours for to the trader and what year was the car?Well I finally pushed the button on one. 2010 car Obsidian Black/black leather with red stitching and Alcantara trim. Alcantara headlining, HK, Airscarf linguatronic etc etc. Ful MBSH and only 2 previous owners. Killer was that the car has covered just 5,000 miles from new! It smells and drives like a new car.
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