In love with an SL500

[MBDIVA]

I drove a 1992 SL500 yesterday for the first time. WOW!
Car is for sale!! 82,000 miles. No dings or dents but a few scratches.
Has Both tops and the ydraulics work well.
Interior is clean. Tires have plenty of tread left.
CD changer in trunk. Radio and CD work well.
Owner is asking $12,000.
I'd like to make her an offer but I can't seem to get a sense of where I should be on it.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

MBDIVA
'01 S430

[Red SL]

If you have some mechanic skills accept her price, pull a car fax, keep monitoring this site for future concerns, after you purchase it flush the tranny and the coolant system, have the brakes checked, and change the distributor cap all the spark plugs and wirers. Finally, happy driving!

[MBDIVA]

Thanks for your informative response. Much appreciated!
Owner has suggested that I call her service indy to confirm that brakes were done within last month. She reports that she has all service records.
Autocheck Vehicle History Report is clean.
Hope to close the deal soon and drive her home!!!
BTY, my daughter went to Emory U. ATL is a great town!!!!


MBDIVA
'01 S430
'92 500SL (soon!)

[SunGuy]

Well, based on a quick look at autotrader.com, if the car is as represented, you seem to be very much in range for what 40+ other ones are listed for. For comparatives to yours, click the link below....my experience is that many of these cars are offered with a 10% uptick to leave wiggle room for the buyers to think they're getting a deal.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?sort_type=mileageDESC&search_type=both&num_records=25&keywordsfyc=&make=MB&transmission=&model=500SL&distance=0&make2=&address=34209&only_price=1&default_sort=priceDESC&advanced=y&certified=&max_mileage=100000&max_price=&min_price=&only_photo=1&body_code=0&end_year=1992&keywordsrep=&color=&start_year=1992&drive=&engine=&fuel=&doors=&style_flag=1

Have fun with your new ride!

Bob

[MBDIVA]

Thanks for the feedback.
I am definitely learning more and more every day and I love it!!


MBDIVA
'01 S430
'92 500SL (soon!)

[Mike Miller]

"REDSL" above is 100% right on the money. Follow his advice and you are in for some very happy motoring!

[Jim B.]

Sounds like an attractive price for a car with a known history. The SL500 is generally regarded as the most favored motor for them, as opposed to the 300SL (a little slow) or the 600SL ( a little more complex)

You may want to go shopping for a hardtop hoist or a hardtop stand after you acquire the car.

A review of the service records will help you to plan future maintenance for it, especially with respect to motor mounts, flex discs,plugs, filters, oil changes, brake and coolant flushes and transmission service.

They are real good cars, and considering their build quality and pirce when new, they have never been better bargains than now

[MBDIVA]

Thanks for your response.
The feedback that I have been getting from the forum has really helped to reaffirm my feelings about purchasing this ride.
I plan on speaking with the service indy today.
Hopefully I can close the deal sometime this week.
Stay tuned!!


MBDIVA
'01S430
'92 500SL (soon!)

[page62]

Having a service history is SO important! Personally, I'm more willing to pay a few more $$$ for a car that has one than a car that comes with no information...

You're on the right track!

[MBDIVA]

It is NOT a happy day in the neighborhood......
The '92 SL500 was sold to someone else despite the owner's reassurance that she would call me if a second buyer came into the picture.
I am still working through the disappointment.
However I have found a '96 SL500 red on light beige which is really my dream color combination.
Unit has 95,500 miles on it and vehicle history report shows it was a leased vehicle (twice) and then sold at auction. Interior and exterior allegedly clean with no rust.
It is at a "stealership" for $16,900 which I feel is clearly overpriced.
I plan on doing some pricing research tonight but if anyone has any feedback as to where a fair market value would be I would appreciate it.
Thanks for your help.


MBDIVA
'01 S430
crazy for an SL500!!!

[gqmagic]

Offer the same price you wer going to pay for the other one as your starting point, they want to sell it as much as you want it.