Yep, I agree - you sacrifice your wallet when you buy the older SLs.

But cars are cars.

It's no different than with any other quality model... they are bought new by the rich or leasee. Then after a few owners and years down the line they are bought by enthusiasts.

The first owners take a beating on depreciation, and the rest of us take a beating on maintenance.

If only life was kinder to us, the car owner!

But there is an answer. Buy the car new and put it into storage for x years until the depreciation bell curve is over. You'll have an appreciating asset after that.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230, silver /black, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey / grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.