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In the market for used S550

post #1 of 30
10/6/10 at 10:16pm
Thread Starter 
So I had this late 90s S600 that belonged to my dad in storage back east... I liked it, looked really gangster. Had no use for it until recently so I had it moved here. The truck carrying it got hit by a minivan (in fucking Indiana, poor thing) and the thing apparently got totaled. I am now being forced, by my significant other, to live in LA part time. We're getting a small little place with a one car garage. I want another S class, they are nice and roomy. I went to see a friend in the north shore whose family owns a dealership... saw lots of the 550s with 30 or something k on them for like 40,000 or something. I don't really remember, I just remember thinking I would buy it. What do you guys think? Are these still good cars? Are there better options? I'm pretty ignorant about cars.
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post #2 of 30
10/6/10 at 10:23pm
I think as long as you get some sort of warranty, you'd be fine for the warranty period, at least... I drove one of those old W140 S600's before too, they were awesome.
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post #3 of 30
10/6/10 at 11:02pm
Great cars, but warranty is a must...buy only from an authorized Benz dealer, certified preowned=premium price
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post #4 of 30
10/7/10 at 1:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by uhurit View Post
Great cars, but warranty is a must...buy only from an authorized Benz dealer, certified preowned=premium price

Yea it would be certified pre-owned.

I don't know why more people don't just buy that way. For 20-30 miles you knock off a massive amount on the price.
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post #5 of 30
10/7/10 at 3:38am
For some reason people like the new leather smell and the ability to choose the tiniest details. Who would've thought?
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post #6 of 30
10/7/10 at 10:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by aleksandr View Post
For some reason people like the new leather smell and the ability to choose the tiniest details. Who would've thought?
Funny because I've looked at like 10 of them in person and online... they're all fully loaded and besides the color (all of them were either silver and black), there was absolutely nothing different about any of them.
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post #7 of 30
10/7/10 at 10:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
Yea it would be certified pre-owned.

I don't know why more people don't just buy that way. For 20-30 miles you knock off a massive amount on the price.

I don't know what it's like for S-class Mercs, as I most recently have looked at BMWs, but I have usually found CPO to be a big rip-off. They get one guy to pay for 40% of the car on the lease, then bring it in, detail it, and sell it for 80% of the new car price to some sucker who really wants a Bimmer but can't actually afford a new one. Of course they get financing and service on top of that.

For the money you're talking though, if you can really get an S-class Benzo for $40K, apparently the residuals and the model are very different. I'm dubious, however - Just browsing around locally here (Baltimore) all the CPO S-Classes are more like $60-70K.

Also, beware the CPO warranty, as it is not a full bumper-to-bumper warranty like they're offering with new cars these days.
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post #8 of 30
10/7/10 at 11:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
So I had this late 90s S600 that belonged to my dad in storage back east... I liked it, looked really gangster. Had no use for it until recently so I had it moved here. The truck carrying it got hit by a minivan (in fucking Indiana, poor thing) and the thing apparently got totaled.

I am now being forced, by my significant other, to live in LA part time. We're getting a small little place with a one car garage. I want another S class, they are nice and roomy. I went to see a friend in the north shore whose family owns a dealership... saw lots of the 550s with 30 or something k on them for like 40,000 or something. I don't really remember, I just remember thinking I would buy it.

What do you guys think? Are these still good cars? Are there better options? I'm pretty ignorant about cars.
I think you'll be pleased, the S/CL class is a good car. The cars are much better built compared to the previous generation. However, as others have stated, buy from a MB dealer, and a car with factory warranty remaining on it or one that is CPO if original warranty has expired.
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post #9 of 30
10/7/10 at 11:58am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas View Post
I don't know what it's like for S-class Mercs, as I most recently have looked at BMWs, but I have usually found CPO to be a big rip-off. They get one guy to pay for 40% of the car on the lease, then bring it in, detail it, and sell it for 80% of the new car price to some sucker who really wants a Bimmer but can't actually afford a new one. Of course they get financing and service on top of that.

For the money you're talking though, if you can really get an S-class Benzo for $40K, apparently the residuals and the model are very different. I'm dubious, however - Just browsing around locally here (Baltimore) all the CPO S-Classes are more like $60-70K.

Also, beware the CPO warranty, as it is not a full bumper-to-bumper warranty like they're offering with new cars these days.

My big problem in buying a car is I just feel bad buying a new one. I've had a very good few years recently and it wouldn't be a problem but I feel like no matter how much money I have I'll always sort of feel stupid for buying a new car, driving it off the lot, and losing a ton of money. I am a very big spender but not on anything that significantly loses its value like that. I had the same problem with purchasing a diamond, which is why I bought a sapphire instead.

I think these models have like 40k on them and the dealer is like the biggest most respected dealer in the Chicago North Shore.

I do aspire to own a Maserati, but only once my Chicago apartment is paid (a couple years), and our LA property which may be a while. I prefer to pay cash for everything so a fully new car purchase will wait until my two liabilities are no more.
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post #10 of 30
10/7/10 at 11:59am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JayJay View Post
I think you'll be pleased, the S/CL class is a good car. The cars are much better built compared to the previous generation. However, as others have stated, buy from a MB dealer, and a car with factory warranty remaining on it or one that is CPO if original warranty has expired.

How long do these CPO warranties last?
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post #11 of 30
10/7/10 at 2:36pm
For the vehicle I drive on a daily basis I almost always bought new ... until I bought a couple of vintage cars. Once I began buying vintage ... the used stigma disappeared. Never again will I buy new for the vehicle I drive daily ... I will buy gently used ... and for significatnly less than new. In fact, the last several have been used recent models.
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post #12 of 30
10/7/10 at 4:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
How long do these CPO warranties last?
The CPO begins after the original warranty expires and last for 12 months or 100,000 miles whichever comes first. I think you may be able to extend the warranty for additional years.
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post #13 of 30
10/7/10 at 4:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
How long do these CPO warranties last?
The CPO on my Lexus was fantastic. I bought it in 2008 (the car is an 06) and the warranty is good till 100k miles (has 60k now), and it expires and the end of 2011 (I believe). They offered to knock 1k off the price to drop the warranty. I guess they think they can fool some people into dropping the warranty for a small price reduction. Just last month the driver mirror stopped rotating down when I put the car in reverse, would have cost me $460 without the warranty = me not even fixing it in the first place. The warranty has paid for itself easily. The warranty varies with each dealer, but it should last you almost as long as you'll own the car unless you drive a lot, or plan on keeping this car for a long time. Personally, I don't like to keep a car longer than 4-5 years.
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post #14 of 30
10/7/10 at 4:31pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah these are all 09/2010 models I think... very recent.
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post #15 of 30
10/7/10 at 4:37pm
I'm sorry, but there is no way you are finding 09/10 S550s for $40K.
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