CLK Depreciation

[hrothgar02]

The only reason why I am on this forum is due to the bargain that is my 2004 CLK55 Cab ($40K w/ 29K miles). The original sticker was $87K (depreciation of $47K in only 3 years). The only thing that I can think of for this drastic drop in value is that the new CLK550 is even more powerful that the AMG and the intro of the CLK63 AMG. Any other thoughts out there on the reason for the drop? I was surprised to see the other thread of the 03 CLK55 Coupe on sale for $27K. I have a sinking feeling that the depreciation will not taper off especially with the release of the new 2009 CLK.

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[AMGOODNESS]

unfortantely you are probably right. i dont really care i guess. i am not selling the car anytime soon and when i do sell it i will most likely trade it in.

[TornadoTJ]

Well, that's what gave us the opportunity to purchase our '04 with 40k miles for $30k. I'm not sure what the reason is, I do realize the CLK63 is a mean car, but the CLK55 is plenty fast for the price you can get them for now.

[AMGOODNESS]

i can not think of another purpose built sports car with over 375hp and 375lbs of torque that you can pick up for under 40K.

[s4avt]

Well, I dont think CLK550 really affects CLK55 AMG's price.

550 might be quicker but 55 has better suspension brake...etc..

550 is just one of those mass produced 500 + 50 MB V8

and 55 is hand-built engine...

Right??

[ndabunka]

Originally Posted by hrothgar02

The only reason why I am on this forum is due to the bargain that is my 2004 CLK55 Cab ($40K w/ 29K miles). The original sticker was $87K (depreciation of $47K in only 3 years). The only thing that I can think of for this drastic drop in value is that the new CLK550 is even more powerful that the AMG and the intro of the CLK63 AMG. Any other thoughts out there on the reason for the drop? I was surprised to see the other thread of the 03 CLK55 Coupe on sale for $27K.

I have a sinking feeling that the depreciation will not taper off especially with the release of the new 2009 CLK.

Did you buy it for $40K or are you trying to sell it for $40K? I called on a 2004 CLK55 cabrio that was listed for $36K. When I called the guy, he said he had it on there for about two weeks and had sold it a day earlier for $35K. I think it had about 40K in miles though so it sounds like the price is "about" right (maybe a little high but reasonable for the miles).

[DBLNICKL]

i look @ it like this; the car is still in the newest body style, and definitely has a mean look when ur windows are dropped out...thats the cars best feature if u ask me...idk bout where u guys live, but i come thru NYC on a hot summer night fresh wash, windows down, rims shinin off the city lights!...best believe my sh!t is turnin heads...lol...i guess until the new body comes out, it'll remain a head turner on the street...but with that being said, i've seen plenty of well put together 208's that're official!...bottom line is these cars are one of the fastest, well put together road beasts u can get that wont kill ur pockets...the maintenance is another story...haha...so forget depreciation...just trade it in for the next car of choice, right?

[Improviz]

Mercedes' depreciation does tend to be higher than other brands, which is, I suspect due to their reputation for being unreliable coupled with a high cost of repair. People don't want to gamble.

[ProjectC55]

Originally Posted by s4avt

Well, I dont think CLK550 really affects CLK55 AMG's price.

550 might be quicker but 55 has better suspension brake...etc..

550 is just one of those mass produced 500 + 50 MB V8

and 55 is hand-built engine...

Right??

I would not be so quick to down play the new CLK550. It's not too much different than the W209 CLK55 all around (suspension and brakes) and does have a more powerful engine handbuilt or not.

The engine also sounds just the same if not meaner.

[Improviz]

I think this is a negative effect of the horsepower wars as well: if you buy a car and one year later they come out with one that's far less money making the same horsepower, or the same money making far more horsepower, that's going to have a detrimental effect upon resale no matter how you slice it.

[Stiggs]

Originally Posted by ProjectC55

I would not be so quick to down play the new CLK550. It's not too much different than the W209 CLK55 all around (suspension and brakes) and does have a more powerful engine handbuilt or not.

The engine also sounds just the same if not meaner.

That pisses me off. Not to mention it looks exactly like the 2003 CLK55. At least give it different bodywork or something. Geez.

[ProjectC55]

Originally Posted by Stiggs

That pisses me off. Not to mention it looks exactly like the 2003 CLK55. At least give it different bodywork or something. Geez.

Well it only means we have to step up! It's mod time!!!

Your car with the right mods and DR's can run low 12's. The 550 modded right should have that potential as well.

[UltimateSpizort]

That high depreciation got me into an AMG. I just bought a 2003 CLK55 with 44k miles for $24,100!! I still have to sell my M3, but am just tired of $1000 car payments and want to get something paid off. But still have FUN driving. Start the mods!

[nathanoj]

You could also consider that a person who can afford to spend 80 grand on a coupe is not worried about resale value. Most higher priced vehicle drop dramatically in price after a few years of use. No different than most makes of auto's, the rich can better afford to replace with another. A wealthy customer purchases an 80 grand vehicle, which reflects only about 20% of their yearly income, while the average consumer spends 25 grand reflecting 50% of their yearly income.
Just another perspective...
J.H.

[Ted Baldwin]

Originally Posted by AMGOODNESS

i can not think of another purpose built sports car with over 375hp and 375lbs of torque that you can pick up for under 40K.

............2003 CL55

Ted

[Chappy]

Autotrader.com prices on the W208 CLK55 (2001, 2002) seem to have stabilized. Asking prices for decent mileage cars are going in the mid-upper 20s and some are even into the 30s.

[Chappy]

Originally Posted by nathanoj

You could also consider that a person who can afford to spend 80 grand on a coupe is not worried about resale value. Most higher priced vehicle drop dramatically in price after a few years of use. No different than most makes of auto's, the rich can better afford to replace with another. A wealthy customer purchases an 80 grand vehicle, which reflects only about 20% of their yearly income, while the average consumer spends 25 grand reflecting 50% of their yearly income.
Just another perspective...
J.H.

Most of the CLK55 owners I know - and I know quite a few - don't fit into the statistics you reference above. My CLK55 was bought new and is paid for....and I still consider resale on every vehicle purchase I make.

[Chappy]

Originally Posted by StiggshotunderthecollartheCLK550isaclone

That pisses me off. Not to mention it looks exactly like the 2003 CLK55. At least give it different bodywork or something. Geez.

Yeah, make it look like an Accord or Volvo C70 lol....

[Holson]

Originally Posted by Chappy

Autotrader.com prices on the W208 CLK55 (2001, 2002) seem to have stabilized. Asking prices for decent mileage cars are going in the mid-upper 20s and some are even into the 30s.

I had the hardest time trying to sell my car for $21,5k! It's got Starmark warranty, is 9.8/10 in every way and I have OCD (that's gotta be worth something right?

[Chappy]

Originally Posted by Holson

I had the hardest time trying to sell my car for $21,5k! It's got Starmark warranty, is 9.8/10 in every way and I have OCD (that's gotta be worth something right?

Where are you advertising it?

[Holson]

Originally Posted by Chappy

Where are you advertising it?

The forums & craigslist.

Maybe I should try cars.com and autotrader. I, however, didn't have much luck with those two listing my other cars (an E420, a Celica and a $900 Escort).

[ndabunka]

Originally Posted by nathanoj

You could also consider that a person who can afford to spend 80 grand on a coupe is not worried about resale value. Most higher priced vehicle drop dramatically in price after a few years of use. No different than most makes of auto's, the rich can better afford to replace with another. A wealthy customer purchases an 80 grand vehicle, which reflects only about 20% of their yearly income, while the average consumer spends 25 grand reflecting 50% of their yearly income.
Just another perspective...
J.H.

Actually, you don't need to be rich. You just need to me both smart and luck. I bought my 2001 in mid 2003 from a guy that was going through a divorce (Lucky). I paid $42,000 for it at the time as it had only 17K miles on it (Smart as this was a little less than wholesale at the time). I drove it for about a year and a half which ran the miles up to 28K (One of those trips was down to cruise the mountains with Chappy and about 15 other AMGs. Lots of fun and more than a few "high speed" runs to demonstrate how the different AMG's compared at the time). I then listed it on eBay after that brief period because I didn't want to take a huge depreciation hit (Smart), Autotrader and this site. I ended up selling it (Lucky) to a nice guy who had found this site for $40,500 in December 2004. At the time is was around retail price but the car was PERFECT so it was worth the pricetag. In the end it cost me about $100/month in depreciation. So, you can get "in" and "out" of these cars without taking the HUGE depreciation but it may not be easy.

[Chappy]

Originally Posted by Holson

The forums & craigslist.

Maybe I should try cars.com and autotrader. I, however, didn't have much luck with those two listing my other cars (an E420, a Celica and a $900 Escort).

$21.5K is an absolute steal on your low-mileage car WITH warranty. The only two things I can think of as to why it may not be moving are:

1. Color - hate to say this but White is the least desireable color for this model. Most want Silver or Black. Even the red ones seem to move better.

2. Location/Time of year. A potentially snowy locale is not ideal to unload a high-performance rear driver.

I would venture to say if your car was in SoCal, TX, FL or AZ you might fare much better.

[Improviz]

Originally Posted by Chappy

$21.5K is an absolute steal on your low-mileage car WITH warranty. The only two things I can think of as to why it may not be moving are:

1. Color - hate to say this but White is the least desireable color for this model. Most want Silver or Black. Even the red ones seem to move better.

2. Location/Time of year. A potentially snowy locale is not ideal to unload a high-performance rear driver.

I would venture to say if your car was in SoCal, TX, FL or AZ you might fare much better.

This is the worst time of year to sell a car, and the best time to buy one. December is just a slow month, particularly for hipo cars, which tend to sell better in the spring/summer season.