I had a very similar thought with an unvoiced suggestion in his WaxRax thread. Which was exploring, I did a quick websearch around LB to no avail, the availability of semi-modular custom built industrial shelving of the sort one might find in a specialist library or executive storage system. Embellishment might not be to his taste. Storage or wall improvisation in the preferred wood. Your comment was in any case quite in line with my thoughts.
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I had a very similar thought with an unvoiced suggestion in his WaxRax thread. Which was exploring, I did a quick websearch around LB to no avail, the availability of semi-modular custom built industrial shelving of the sort one might find in a specialist library or executive storage system. Embellishment might not be to his taste. Storage or wall improvisation in the preferred wood. Your comment was in any case quite in line with my thoughts.
After a wonderful 11 years together today I sold Gunther, my 2009 SL550, which I custom-ordered in 2008.
The design brief of the SL still makes it my favorite car for a daily-driver, so I will look for a low-mileage 2018 or 2019 SL550.
But I think I will have some fun test-driving the Taycan and the M8 convertible.
The design brief of the SL still makes it my favorite car for a daily-driver, so I will look for a low-mileage 2018 or 2019 SL550.
But I think I will have some fun test-driving the Taycan and the M8 convertible.
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Since I made the decision a few months ago to sell my SL, I have been looking for low mileage 2018 or 2019 SL550 replacement.
I’ve been looking for a medium gray metallic exterior with a white interior.
Today I found a low mileage car, but with an odd color interior.
It has some stuff I don’t want, but it does have the active body control suspension that I want and it does have the upgraded sound system.
I always like the medium gray metallic, but this very dark gray (almost black) is kind of a sophisticated color. Maybe I’m just used to the medium gray of my old car.
I definitely never thought of a camel/brown interior with a dark gray car. This color is called “Sienna Brown.” I would’ve preferred a white interior or maybe a red interior with a dark gray car.
But the camel/brown interior looks kind of interesting, and maybe it is kind of an interesting combination? I just don’t think of light brown or camel matching with dark gray.
So, with that long wind up, what do you think of this Sienna Brown interior against a Graphite Grey Metallic exterior?
Thank you for your opinion!
I’ve been looking for a medium gray metallic exterior with a white interior.
Today I found a low mileage car, but with an odd color interior.
It has some stuff I don’t want, but it does have the active body control suspension that I want and it does have the upgraded sound system.
I always like the medium gray metallic, but this very dark gray (almost black) is kind of a sophisticated color. Maybe I’m just used to the medium gray of my old car.
I definitely never thought of a camel/brown interior with a dark gray car. This color is called “Sienna Brown.” I would’ve preferred a white interior or maybe a red interior with a dark gray car.
But the camel/brown interior looks kind of interesting, and maybe it is kind of an interesting combination? I just don’t think of light brown or camel matching with dark gray.
So, with that long wind up, what do you think of this Sienna Brown interior against a Graphite Grey Metallic exterior?
Thank you for your opinion!
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Anthracite exterior with saddle tan interior is a very classic color scheme in Europe that I quite like.
And saddle tan is certainly less delicate than white, especially if you wear blue jeans from time to time.
And saddle tan is certainly less delicate than white, especially if you wear blue jeans from time to time.
Very classic..and much better than white
After u grind the dealer on price, come back with "my wife really wants white" and get another $$.....
After u grind the dealer on price, come back with "my wife really wants white" and get another $$.....
It is unusual for me to be uncertain about something as simple as colors on cars — about which I typically have unwavering preferences — but this unexpected color combination, by which I would expect to be repulsed, I find oddly sophisticated and luxurious looking.
So thank you very much, gentlemen! I appreciate your opinions!
I think I will make an offer today.
So thank you very much, gentlemen! I appreciate your opinions!
I think I will make an offer today.
I get you, but I am horrible at negotiating for myself. (Jeffrey T is my official negotiator for all future audio purchases. He is tougher than “Mr. T” (from the “A - Team”).)
To my surprise these used cars at Mercedes dealerships seem to get turned over pretty quickly. It seems that some dealers have an automatic price reduction every couple of weeks if the car doesn’t sell.
About three months ago I was looking at a 2017 SL550 at a Mercedes dealership, and the dealer told me that it was going to some auction a few days later, which I assumed was a lie. But sure enough it was gone the next week.
I was looking at a 2018 SL550 at a Mercedes dealership in Arizona. The online saleslady told me that several other people were interested in the car, which I assumed was a lie. Three hours later the car was sold — and I had begun to make plans to fly to Arizona to see the car.
So maybe I’m wrong — MikeL can tell us for sure — but it seems like the dealerships don’t want to keep these cars around all that long.
PS1: Kudos to MikeL for advising me to sell Gunther two years ago — before I incurred an additional $9,000 in unwarranteed repair bills and several thousand dollars in additional depreciation! I finally took his advice. But we do miss Gunther — he was a very good and serious boy (and he saved me more than once on the highway).
PS2: Many of us here love these various European sports cars and luxury sedans. But I do believe it is dangerous to own one of these cars without the safety net of an extended warranty. And the depreciation on a brand new German luxury vehicle is horrendous, so for once I’m trying to be a little bit smarter about how I buy something.
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The depreciation hit will get you, at least, a new Etsuro Gold cartridge, so going the used route makes a lot of sense particularly on high end lease-return vehicles.
most dealerships have a very specific ageing policy for used cars; unlike wine they do not improve with age. and high line used cars are especially sensitive to age, and are very seasonal too. i could bore you guys to tears with information on this subject. briefly; the standards are 72 hours to recondition a vehicle and make it front line ready; re-price every 10 days to 2 weeks, at 45 days it get's re-marketed in some way, at 60 days it has to go. over 45 days gross profit is 50% of the average. over 60 days the gross profit is negative.
there is a clear relationship between used car age and gross profit. the peak is at 10 days, optimal exposure, but still fresh in the market.
there are always special 'A' cars that are irreplaceable and are allowed to over-age and be kept in stock longer. mostly these are more certain trucks and SUV's that are in lower price ranges. but it can be a high line model too. dealers will over-pay for these then take their time selling them. they attract lots of activity so other units are sold off their glow.
understand that 17 million new cars get sold every year, 65 million (with an M) used cars get sold every year (about 40% by new car dealers). it's a big business. our dealership sells 130-170 used cars a month.
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Strange. A few years ago I saw gorgeous Mercedes coupes and pop tops in dealerships around Santa Cruz. However, Toyotas of comparable vintage were selling for similar or higher prices.
I don't think you really 'buy' these cars because of the high ongoing maintenance costs after warranty. You kind of lease them with a high down payment. Bucks start flowing to the dealerships whenever the dash maintenance lights start blinking, and guys I have talked with say theirs always started blinking all the time. Aggro.
If I were into these I would probably just lease for three years or so while under warranty then rinse/repeat in the future. I have a neighbor who does that.
They are stunning cars, however.
I remember when I got a Q45 years ago with an all black interior. I thought I might not like it, but instead I found the all black interior to be soothing and womb-like for some reason. I also thought it would get unusually hot but it didn't.
I don't think you really 'buy' these cars because of the high ongoing maintenance costs after warranty. You kind of lease them with a high down payment. Bucks start flowing to the dealerships whenever the dash maintenance lights start blinking, and guys I have talked with say theirs always started blinking all the time. Aggro.
If I were into these I would probably just lease for three years or so while under warranty then rinse/repeat in the future. I have a neighbor who does that.
They are stunning cars, however.
I remember when I got a Q45 years ago with an all black interior. I thought I might not like it, but instead I found the all black interior to be soothing and womb-like for some reason. I also thought it would get unusually hot but it didn't.
“I don't think you really 'buy' these cars because of the high ongoing maintenance costs after warranty.”
I somewhat agree. That’s why I think it is very important to purchase and then renew an extended warranty.
I somewhat agree. That’s why I think it is very important to purchase and then renew an extended warranty.
used high line vehicles basically all depreciate to around the same amount after 3-4 years, due to the high cost of maintenance. average repair order for a Honda is about $190, average repair order for a high line is about $800. and some are $2000.
people will buy a $70k MSRP high line car 3-4 years old (out or nearly out of warranty) with 50,000 miles for $30k-$35k. dealers buy those for $20k-$25k wholesale.
a used Honda with a $40k-$45k MSRP also is worth $27.5k-$35k retail under 3-4 years old with 50,000 miles. people will pay more relatively because the maintenance is a fraction of the high line. and as each age the maintenance cost difference increases.
the exception is very high performance high line vehicles, assuming relatively low miles. those can hold their value much better in some cases.
people will buy a $70k MSRP high line car 3-4 years old (out or nearly out of warranty) with 50,000 miles for $30k-$35k. dealers buy those for $20k-$25k wholesale.
a used Honda with a $40k-$45k MSRP also is worth $27.5k-$35k retail under 3-4 years old with 50,000 miles. people will pay more relatively because the maintenance is a fraction of the high line. and as each age the maintenance cost difference increases.
the exception is very high performance high line vehicles, assuming relatively low miles. those can hold their value much better in some cases.
Mike that is kind of sad. It makes one wonder about changes in the industry. The very high performance high line vehicles are the only ones that have an actual reason for expenses that are really high. Well... and not everyone has the talent that say Honda does for making vehicles easier to work on. But it seems like the industry has been trying to make cars as easy to work on as possible because it means more cash for dealerships doing repairs and able to offer them at competitive prices.
It’s simply a reflection of the ultra complexity of high line vehicles. And the lower volumes of those models. When you make 3x or 6x or 15x as many and systems are less complex and more fully sorted out logical things such as less failures are the result.
Every manufacturer has their standards and cultures. What are they about?
What value proposition drives the products?
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