SLs hold value better?

[alabbasi]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

An SL is not a sports car, especially in the last 50 years or so. It's a personal luxury car - just like the CLS, that only has two doors and two seats. I don't get the draw to them, my 300 ETD is every bit as fun/responsive to drive as most any mundane 107, it just doesn't look like one.

I think that I could debate that one, an R107 SL had the same or more power then the corvette of the era and rode better too.

An late 70's corvette wasn't fast and was also built like an egg box. My SL is more fun then my W210 E420. Same chassis as your car but with a 32v 275hp V8.

This made my E420 more fun then your E300D

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by alabbasi

I think that I could debate that one, an R107 SL had the same or more power then the corvette of the era and rode better too.

An late 70's corvette wasn't fast and was also built like an egg box. My SL is more fun then my W210 E420. Same chassis as your car but with a 32v 275hp V8.

This made my E420 more fun then your E300D

I'm glad your 32v 275HP car was more fun than my 24v 174HP car. It takes a lot of intellect to figure that out.

Unfortunately, your 420 doesn't hold a candle to holding it's value as my 8.5 second 0-60 300 ETD does.

No 107 of the era was faster, quicker, handled better OR was more fun to drive than my '77 L82 Corvette.

You're going to have to try something else to make a 107 do better than the OP's CLS. He's already driving a car that is light years ahead. At least a Corvette is a sports car, something no SL will ever be. The Corvette also holds it's own in value as well as a 107 on an apples to apples comparison.

[alabbasi]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

I'm glad your 32v 275HP car was more fun than my 16v 174HP car. It takes a lot of intellect to figure that out.

Unfortunately, your 420 doesn't hold a candle to holding it's value as my 8.5 second 0-60 300 ETD does.

I'm not debating value, that was not what you said in your post. I'm debating fun because I know that my SL is more fun then my E420 and my E420 is more fun then your diesel. While it does not require a lot of intellect to figure it out, I thought I would explain it to you as you made the comparison on something that really does not compare.

I'm not sure where you're getting your figures on value from but those third generation corvettes aren't really worth that much. There were the dogs of the covettes. Your 77 L82 only made 210hp which is 15hp less then the euro spec 4.5 which proves it.

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

The Corvette also holds it's value as well or better than an SL on an apples to apples comparison basis.

I can debate that too, my ex gf's dad has a fully restored 54 Vette. He says that it's worth $250,000, that's about the going rate for a basket case gull wing. But really it's not apples to apples. That would be like comparing a high school education to a college education.

[dugald]

I believe Skid Row Joe could start a fight in an empty room.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by alabbasi

I'm not debating value, that was not what you said in your post. I'm debating fun because I know that my SL is more fun then my E420 and my E420 is more fun then your diesel. While it does not require a lot of intellect to figure it out, I thought I would explain it to you as you made the comparison on something that really does not compare.

I'm not sure where you're getting your figures on value from but those third generation corvettes aren't really worth that much. There were the dogs of the covettes. Your 77 L82 only made 210hp which is 15hp less then the euro spec 4.5 which proves it.





I can debate that too, my ex gf's dad has a fully restored 54 Vette. He says that it's worth $250,000, that's about the going rate for a basket case gull wing. But really it's not apples to apples. That would be like comparing a high school education to a college education.

At the end of the day it all gets down to holding value. Something that my 300 ETD does better than the 420 you used to own.

As for resale value of gullwings or C-1 Corvettes - I say show me the bill of sale. Your ex-girlfriend's Father can claim his C-1 is worth $500,000.00 to $1,250,000.00, but without a bill of sale, it's worth nothing. Same for a basket case gw. C-1 Corvettes routinely collect over $1,000,000.00 at auction. That's not even debatable.

C-3 Corvettes aren't worth very much - any more than a like year SL in like condition is. So, I don't know where you're going with that one??

My Corvette was one fast Mother! I never saw any "Euro 4.5s" anywhere to see if they "proved anything?" At least not in Tennessee or Nebraska where I drove the car.

The last SL I drove felt heavy and unresponsive, although more responsive than my SD, my SD felt lighter. Probably because it was less weight. For 1/2 the money of the SL, my 300 ETD is more fun/responsive than the SL I drove - hands down.

[alabbasi]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

At the end of the day it all gets down to holding value.

Well you said fun, so if you meant value, then say what you mean and stop flip flopping.

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

As for resale value of gullwings or C-1 Corvettes - I say show me the bill of sale. Your ex-girlfriend's Father can claim his C-1 is worth $500,000.00 to $1,250,000.00, but without a bill of sale, it's worth nothing.

I said that he told me that it's worth $250,000. not $500,000 or $1.25 million. He bought his car when he was 16 and has owned it for almost 50 years so if you want to see a bill of sale, then it would probably only be for a few hundred dollars.

He did spend 6 figures having a corvette shop restore it and he's not the type of guy that brags about how much money he has so I have no reason to question his integrity.

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

C-3 Corvettes aren't worth very much - any more than a like year SL in like condition is. So, I don't know where you're going with that one??

I'm just responding to your comment in that you can't compare them apples to apples and no they don't.

[QUOTE=Skid Row Joe]
The Corvette also holds it's value as well or better than an SL on an apples to apples comparison basis. [/quotes]

You later edited this comment to say 107 instead of SL, but that was not what you first said, I have the original quote in my response and I responded to what you said.

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

The last SL I drove felt heavy and unresponsive, although more responsive than my SD, my SD felt lighter. Probably because it was less weight.

You drove a lemon

[Skid Row Joe]

[QUOTE=alabbasi;2572584]Well you said fun, so if you meant value, then say what you mean and stop flip flopping.My car is fun, and valueable. And certainly more responsive as contrasted with that doggy SL I test drove in the early '90s.



I said that he told me that it's worth $250,000. not $500,000 or $1.25 million. He bought his car when he was 16 and has owned it for almost 50 years so if you want to see a bill of sale, then it would probably only be for a few hundred dollars. Maybe you should ask to see it then? You claimed he said it was worth "$250,000.00" I say - have him prove it....because he says so doesn't make it so.


There's nothing unusual about a C-1 Corvette selling at auction for $1,250,000.00 AND UP.

He did spend 6 figures having a corvette shop restore it and he's not the type of guy that brags about how much money he has so I have no reason to question his integrity. He can claim anything he wants to and claiming something will sell without of bill of sale proving it is horse manure - he's just shining you on. As far as claiming he spent "6 figures having a Corvette shop restore it?" That doesn't necessarily sound very wise to me. What kind of use did it incur to need that much work, is what I'd ask him. And, also "6 figures" may not buy very much where he spent that kind of jack. Just because he spent that much doesn't impress me, not in a positive way anyway. Perhaps it does you. I'm more impressed with how little one spends - not how much one spends. I think you have that bassakwards....



I'm just responding to your comment in that you can't compare them apples to apples and no they don't.

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

The Corvette also holds it's value as well or better than an SL on an apples to apples comparison basis. [/quotes]

You later edited this comment to say 107 instead of SL, but that was not what you first said, I have the original quote in my response and I responded to what you said.Corvettes on an apples to apples comparison basis do hold their value equally well to SLs - there's no question that that is true. They always have.



You drove a lemon

It wasn't anywhere near as responsive or fun to drive as my 300 ETD. It was very uninspiring. I won't claim it was a "lemon," I claim it is what it was.

[alabbasi]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Maybe you should ask to see it then? You claimed he said it was worth "$250,000.00" I say - have him prove it....because he says so doesn't make it so.

Like I said, he's a sucessful man who has nothing to prove to anyone. I have no reason or intention to question his integrity.

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

As far as claiming he spent "6 figures having a Corvette shop restore it?" That doesn't necessarily sound very wise to me. What kind of use did it incur to need that much work, is what I'd ask him. And, also "6 figures" may not buy very much where he spent that kind of jack. Just because he spent that much doesn't impress me

You may find this hard to believe, but he did not restore a car that he has owned for almost 50 years for the purpose of impressing you.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by alabbasi

Like I said, he's a sucessful man who has nothing to prove to anyone. I have no reason or intention to question his integrity.
You may find this hard to believe, but he did not restore a car that he has owned for almost 50 years for the purpose of impressing you.

You're not making much sense, son. You now worship some girl's Dad you dated. That's stange by any measure. Perhaps he impressed you so much, you feel threatened by any suggestion that he was shining you on. That "6 figures" BS he was feeding you seems to have you entranced. Now you claim the car "needed no restoration!" You do sound like your gullibility meter is broken.....if he's so successful, he wouldn't need to brag/impress you with anything. It may well be that both of you may have some serious veracity issues. I'm not an expert, but it's starting to sound that way to me...

I'd suggest you regroup, and come back with some evidence that supports all your grand tales, son...

[alabbasi]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Perhaps he impressed you so much, you feel threatened by any suggestion that he was shining you on. That "6 figures" BS he was feeding you seems to have you entranced. Now you claim the car "needed no restoration!" You do sound like your gullibility meter is broken.....if he's so successful, he wouldn't need to brag/impress you with anything. It may well be that both of you may have some serious veracity issues. I'm not an expert, but it's lookin' that way to me...

You need to go back and re-read my post. I did not say that it needed no restoration, I said he did not restore it for the purpose of impressing you.

I'm not sure why you're suggesting that he bragged. I made no suggestion that he had.
We had a common interest which was old cars, so we sat in the garage talked cars.

The only reason that I bought up his car is to compare against an SL of the same era after you suggested that Corvettes retain their value better then SL's. Clearly this is not the case with the 50's version and that was the only point that I was making.

Now your last comment is laughable. You've admitted that you don't know how to work on these cars and have never owned one and argue against the merits of owning one by comparing it to a Chevy or a diesel sedan. What on earth are you about?

As you've indicated that you're only experience with an SL is a test drive back in the 90's, you're clearly not an expert on these cars, yet you talk as if you know more about these cars then then anyone else on this forum.

You're clearly not an expert when it comes to SL's, or Veracity. If you were, then you wouldn't be posting negative comments on a car that you know nothing about or a person that you have never met.

[Dee8go]

My original point was only that it seems like the SLs are selling for higher prices generally than their counterparts do, all other things being equal.

Corvettes are fine, but for me at least, they just don't have the same cachet as European cars do. That's merely my own impression. maybe if I lived in Germany all my life, I would find Corvettes more exotic and alluring . . .

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by Dee8go

My original point was only that it seems like the SLs are selling for higher prices generally than their counterparts do, all other things being equal.

That's kind of a given. . .

That said - they STILL lose 50% or more of their original value INSIDE OF 3 YEARS.

[Dee8go]

Originally Posted by dugald

I believe Skid Row Joe could start a fight in an empty room.

That's funny, right there! I'll have to remember that. I think it could be said about any number of folks I've known over the years, certainly one to whom I was married for an eternity . . . .

[meltedpanda]

is may be my imagination but I think Al likes 107's and Skid does not
At LEAST this thread proves that

[mgburg]

"What one wants but does not have, can only be possessed if the possessor's ego is massaged, then most succinctly satified."

That being said, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" would be more appropriate for the purpose of the this thread.

SRJ likes Vets and some MBs, and could care less about the SL/SLC series.

Alabbasi holds true to the spoken word of acquaintences.

If I were sitting on a few million dollars and some of it needed spending, I could take a shot a either vehicle...assuming I wanted to go that direction.

I own an SLC. It's the best car I've ever owned. So far.

But someday, I would like to drive, and then decide if I'd like to own, a Corvette too. I've been to many shows...I've been to Elkhart Lake during the June Sprints a few times, but no one ever grabbed me (or saw reason to) and slammed my fat @55 into the bucket seat of a C-1 or any of the other various versions of a Vet and said "Have at it!"

Let's use a simpler version of comparison...Music.

Some folks like County/Western. Some folks hate C/W. Then, out of the folks that like C/W, there may be a few that don't mind too much about listening to some Crossover C/W-Country Rock, and out of those folks, there may even be a few that like those styles and R/B, Acid, Grundge, Goth and so forth.

You see where I'm going with this???

Again, the beauty in anything is in the eye of the beholder, or the person that wants and/or possesses the item of desire.

It's that simple.

Performance specs and comfort factors are just a few of the various degrees of the "beauty" of that object/desire.

Let's just stay calm about the subject and respond to Dee8go's observation that SLs seem to hold their value against other Benzes.

I'd say that it's the Soft-top factor. And of those folks that like Benzes and own them, there may be a few that don't care for a Rag-top, let alone the SL-series. But for those that lust after an SL and don't have one, I'm sure they're the ones keeping the prices up there in the 5-figure range, regardless the age/version of the SL. At this time, the buyers outnumber the sellers. AT THIS TIME. Or...the owners of the SLs haven't reached the point where they've tired of their vehicle and desire a change.

As for myself? I'm still on the fence. I've NEVER owned a convertable and yet, I hope to have one someday. Will it be the SL-series? Could it even be a Vette? I don't know. And when I decide, will my tastes have changed from what I'm wanting, right now, to something else later on, like 20 years from now? Who knows? I hope I'm not that boring that I stay stagnant in my tastes for that long. Then again, I might win the lottery tonight and decide to have one car from each year of manufacture of both the Vette and the SL line.

It's a "whim" you know.