MBUSA is presently offering $12,500 (CL500), $15,000 (CL55) and $20,000 (CL600) marketing incentives to dealers to move out the remaining 2006 CL vehicles.

Are the CL 55 and CL 600 worth the extra cost over the base 500 if they could be purchased at dealer cost? A few dealers I've checked with seem to be willing to let a 600 go for even below their cost. Fuel economy isn't great but the savings off list is rather substantial. Any comments on the matter?

V12s and AMGs are money pits, suffering severe depreciation as a result.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

So a new '06 CL600 for $35K off sticker wouldn't be a good buy? Isn't their reliability much improved over the early 215s?

New '06 CL500s are being offered for less than $80K. This would be the best way to go?

And a dealer informs me that a lot of banks are now refusing to lease the '06 CLs because of the falling residual values.

With the redesigned '07 models JUST around the corner, the dealers don't want those pesky '06s hanging around. They really want them gone

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

And how many folks can affort $100K cars to start with?????

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Which must somehow be related to the decline of hip hop. If you're looking for a way to talk yourself out of this consider this: a BMW 335 has 300 horsepower, a mere 2 less than the CL500, and a price of about half the discounted CL price, and it is available with a stick. Value can't always be measured as a relationship to an MSRP.

They are all too fast for me. Why do I want a 100 MPH+ car on a 60 MPH road? All it does is buy me tickets. Thats one thing I like about my 4 banger, no speeding tickets yet. However, it does turn on a dime, and I have gotten a "improper turn" ticket. Yes, I blame the car.

Mike

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Based upon that, you'd be better off with a bicycle, Mike. I bet you could REALLY avoid getting tickets then!

I'm sorry. I just read this and couldn't pass up the opportunity to say that.
I'd love to have a CL500 and have noticed the prices on used ones have been unusually low around Washington lately. I didn't realize this was the reason. I'd still be happy to have one of them once the depreciation curve levels out a little more.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles