Mercedes to corvette??? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

will70724 · #1 06-08-2008, 09:25 PM

Had a question, and trying to get some advice. I have a 1992 sel 600
(v-12) pretty clean I think 160,000 a ton of records also.

I'm SOMEWHAT thinking about selling the mercedes and getting a
corvette.. Somewhere between a 1997-1999 ( about the money I want to spend on a corvette)

Just wanted some advice on selling the mercedes, or what I should expect back for it? Maybe some advice on corvettes, or just any general advice?

I'm not sure if I'm going to do it but just wanted to hear what you guys thought?

babymog · #2 06-08-2008, 09:40 PM

Ahh, a Corvette, aka: a chevy. The well-known mid-life crisis car, rides like a pickup truck, at least the C5 is a decent handling car.

I was talking with a guy one time who had just bought a new Audi 5000turbo, asking hime why he would plop that much money down on an Audi. He told me that once he decded how much we was going to spend on a car, and looked at his options, he knew he didn't want to be known as the type of guy who would drive a Corvette. I feel the same way.

Just an opinion, you did solicit opinions.

will70724 · #3 06-08-2008, 10:06 PM

Let me just say I love my mercedes this is my first mercedes ever and I love it. But financial cost is defintely factorring in this decision.

It costs $ 100+ dollars to fill up. (26 gallon tank x $4.65 ) getting about 12 miles to the gallon....I spent alot on parts and repairs. 2 fuel pumps, a vacuum pump, and a few other various things probably somewhere around $5,000 the past year or so...

Then factor in $2,500 for insurance per year. I'm a chevy guy ( also have a 70 camaro)
and know my way around chevy's and 350's. So thats a big advantage.

But I kind of just wanted to hear some advice or stories about people getting corvetes
1997-2000 years or so? And I cant find a place where I can gague how much my car is worth, It's really hard to find a price for a 1992 sel 600 (v-12) mercedes anywhere. It's hard to find sel 600 prices for one and even harder to find one for a 92. I know kelly blue book and stuff but those dont represent the price especially since there so hard to find. Any advice?

will70724 · #4 06-08-2008, 10:11 PM

By the way im only 26 not middle aged hahaa.

jackstefano · #5 06-08-2008, 11:05 PM

i think everyone is just speechless.

will70724 · #6 06-08-2008, 11:15 PM

Really? I know its a mercedes board and not saying I hate mercedes or anything at all. I just am thinking more about getting a car that I still like but is cheaper to maintain and drive.

I don't want anyone to take it personal or anything. If it was rich I would love to keep this car. It's just that money is tight and $5.00 a gallon is going to kill me. ONce again my sel 600 is the best car I ever had. This is just more of a financial decision.

Trying to get some helpfull advice.

stcbenz83 · #7 06-08-2008, 11:53 PM

Well if finance is a big issue, why not get something more appropriate then going from a gas guzzling V-12 to an equally gas guzzling vette?

I mean change is nice, but from what i've seen, vette's have just as many problems if not more than your benz and probably just as expensive to maintain.

Not saying you dont know alot about cars or chevys, but going from a 70's car to a 99 and above car is a big difference. It would be like going from a simple 240D to a Blue tech. Alot of difference and alot more experience is required to work on modern equipment.

Finally, im not sure what part of the region your from, but is a vette something you can drive year round?

Just some food for thought. I'm not saying yay or nay to the Idea, just giving you some questions to think about

will70724 · #8 06-09-2008, 01:29 AM

Thanks for the reply. I live in the bay area in california doesn't snow here so driving year around wouldnt be a problem. And I'm not really looking to go to some toyota or some little 6 cylinder or anything Just something that gets better gas mileage. Mercedes sel 600 gets like 12 in the city and like 17 on the freeway. And I think the corvette is more like 17 city 25 on the freeway which is a big difference in terms of gas prices and fill ups and I dont have to go to a 4 cylinder non powerfull car.

But looking around I'm finding it very hard to find a 1997-1999 corvette in the price range of $10,000-12,000 dollars. So it might not happen if I corvettes are still going for that much.

Dee8go · #9 06-09-2008, 09:58 AM

My 560SEC is my "activity car." I could not really consider it transportation because I can't afforst the gas to use it as a daily driver. Maybe you can buy a little ricer to get around in and drive your Mercedes and your Camaro for fun.

babymog · #10 06-09-2008, 10:04 AM

No offense meant to you, and none taken about Mercedes. Just the stigma that has been attached to later-model Corvette ownership by some. I grew up reading Road & Track, Autoweek, Car & Driver, meeting some of the writers etc, around road-racing, and Corvettes weren't considered sports cars, just symbols. Vintage Corvettes are highly regarded, but in the rubber-bumper era they lost their performance and quality, became heavy plastic Camaros.

My sister owns one, but she's 49, ... it spends a lot of time in the shop. They also don't have much of a reputation for quality or economy.

For prices on your car, they are rare enough that it becomes difficult to nail down. Check Hemmings, I sold one of my Mercedes there, worked pretty well (but not fast). Unfortunately the market for low fuel mileage cars is a bit soft right now and financing is tight, be sure your buyer understands that a conventional car loan is unlikely, I've sold several used BlueBird Wanderlodges, and always advertised with a statement that conventional financing will probably not be available, please have finances available before making an offer. Worked well.

Good luck,

Dee8go · #11 06-09-2008, 10:09 AM

Don't ask Powerpig what HE thinks of Corvettes!

ImBroke · #12 06-09-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stcbenz83

an equally gas guzzling vette?

Haven't owned a newer Vette before, eh? First, do a bunch of research, especially on a board such as Corvette Forum. Tons of good discussions on there. I had an 02 Z06 that I hated. When it ran, it was nice, in a masochistic way. Hard to keep your foot out of it when it wants you to be in it all the time..

However, if you drive it sanely, 24 in town wasn't unheard of, and I got 28 on my trip to NY doing around 80 the whole way. Sixth gear is nice for cruising. Mine was more problems than it was worth, even with only 32k miles on it. They say there are two happiest days in your life, when you buy your Vette, and when you sell it. Came true for me.

JimFreeh · #13 06-09-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will70724

And I cant find a place where I can gague how much my car is worth, It's really hard to find a price for a 1992 sel 600 (v-12) mercedes anywhere. It's hard to find sel 600 prices for one and even harder to find one for a 92. I know kelly blue book and stuff but those dont represent the price especially since there so hard to find. Any advice?

Here's three things to consider:

1. The 92 W140 is the first year, and as such is considered to be the least desirable year. Early W140s had a class action lawsuit brought against them for many problems, later cars do not share this stigma. The late nineties W140s are amazing bargains, and I would surmise that a 92 would be priced significantly below what a later one would go for.

2. Anyway you want to slice or dice it, you've got some high miles on that puppy. This will depress price quite a bit, regardless of condition. As you've found out, W140 cars are maintenance intensive, and you've got the model/year that would be considered the highest cost of all.

3. Check out the prices for a 500SEL. In the current market, older 600 cars bring noticably LESS than the 500s.

Not trying to bang on your car, but this is how I see the current market. I've got a pristine black 560SEL, and I don't even want to think about how much that car has dropped in the last year. So much so, I'd just as soon keep it......

Of course, maybe you could put some 22" dubs on it and troll the Richmond area at night, might get a great offer..... On the car, I mean.

Used to Work in Vally-ho, at Mare Island. Jumped ship in 90.
Your City gone bankrupt yet?

Regards,

Jim

will70724 · #14 06-09-2008, 01:36 PM

I don't think Vallejo is going to end up going bankrupt. I guess there figuring out some ways not to. I been out of vallejo for about 2/3 years now. I go to school IN San Francisco but I go back to visit my family there sometimes.

So if I'm not going to get my money back or close to it what do you suggest? Should I take a loss? Or should I keep the car and keep putting money into it when something happens, and pay alot for gas, and insurance?

I'm really undecided on what I should do?

4-speed · #15 06-09-2008, 01:47 PM

Well here's my 0.02. My daily is a 84 500SEC. I love this car...but... I get 17-18 MPG. My other car is an 01 Corvette coupe with the A4 tranny. I get 24 mpg around town and 30 MPG on the highway. At 50K miles I have had to replace the ignition switch ($50) and a window regulator ($150). I have plenty of room for luggage and it is very comfortable on the road. I would say that if you buy a used Z06, buyer beware, but a very nice low mileage C5 can be had for $20K, and you can still buy an extended warrantee for them. I pay less than $700 per year for full coverage on the Vette.