What do the sale prices for W107 SL's Suck?

[meltedpanda]

So I am an old car guy, and by that , as many like me know , we love our cars but like to trade and buy and sell as well. I have moved many MB's over the last few years but what continues to amaze me is why the W 107 SL market is so weak. Granted they have quirks, and a lot were made, but I don't understsnd the lack of a market for a well restored classic. I think my SL is a fine example of a early (72) 450, but I would venture to guess I would be lucky to get 10 grand out of it, despite the fact that it is basically error free. I saw several go at auction that were at 2 times lower than expected. Is it the economy? Bad reputation?
Just curious
.... and BTW mine is up for grabs at the first offer over 16K.
And no I am not holding my breath (lol)

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

So I am an old car guy, and by that , as many like me know , we love our cars but like to trade and buy and sell as well. I have moved many MB's over the last few years but what continues to amaze me is why the W 107 SL market is so weak. Granted they have quirks, and a lot were made, but I don't understsnd the lack of a market for a well restored classic. I think my SL is a fine example of a early (72) 450, but I would venture to guess I would be lucky to get 10 grand out of it, despite the fact that it is basically error free. I saw several go at auction that were at 2 times lower than expected. Is it the economy? Bad reputation?
Just curious
.... and BTW mine is up for grabs at the first offer over 16K.
And no I am not holding my breath (lol)

Supply and demand. That, and the weak overall quality of 'em.

I would own one in two seconds if their quality was that of most of the Mercedes-Benz turbodiesels. I hate moneypits - but that's just my take on 'em.

[Wodnek]

[QUOTE=Skid Row Joe;2549749]Supply and demand. That, and the weak overall quality of 'em.
QUOTE]

I agree with the supply and demand part of your statement.
I disagree with the weak overall quality of them statement.

My 82 380SL seems to share the same build quality as any of my others. Other then the single row timing chain issue on the 3.8.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by Wodnek

I agree with the supply and demand part of your statement.
I disagree with the weak overall quality of them statement.

My 82 380SL seems to share the same build quality as any of my others. Other then the single row timing chain issue on the 3.8.

Unfortunately, the massive cost per mile to keep any SL on-the-road, mile-per-mile massively overshadows the MB turbodiesels.

I could not have afforded to drive any SL over one-million miles versus putting that on an assortment of other diesels over the years.

You can disagree, however, the numbers (dollars and cents) will not hold up to support your "claim," of mile-quality-cost. Nor will it ever in that model.

I doubt you've put 433K or even 305K (my last MB diesel) miles on your 82 380SL, as I have MB diesels..... There's no comparison in terms of value.

[Wodnek]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Unfortunately, the massive cost per mile to keep any SL on-the-road, mile-per-mile massively overshadows the MB turbodiesels.

I could not have afforded to drive any SL over one-million miles versus putting that on an assortment of other diesels over the years.

You can disagree, however, the numbers (dollars and cents) will not hold up to support your "claim," of mile-quality-cost. Nor will it ever in that model.

I doubt you've put 433K or even 305K (my last MB diesel) miles on your 82 380SL, as I have MB diesels..... There's no comparison in terms of value.

Now you are saying something that i do agree with. I was only saying in terms of build quality and engineering. A higher cost per mile does not always go hand in hand with quality. A LWB 600 is a quality vehicle, but the cost per mile to run it could bankrupt a third world country.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Supply and demand.

..

[meltedpanda]

True < , I have had no issue selling the diesels I have restored (lol) . I understand the moneypit thing, but I am referring to SL's in a restored state,and road worthy. Former moneypits so to speak, now ready for an enthusiast?

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

True < , I have had no issue selling the diesels I have restored (lol) . I understand the moneypit thing, but I am referring to SL's in a restored state,and road worthy. Former moneypits so to speak, now ready for an enthusiast?

Thanks, Ron!

They are pleasing to the eye, I just have saved a small fortune running a diesel-powered MB on-the-road for my business for so many decades - I just know the value of a dollar, and my best automotive dollar spent is on an MB diesel HANDS DOWN!

Good luck on it!

[alabbasi]

It's a luxury car and these are not luxury times. You'll get your price, but you will have to hang in there for maybe months until the right buyer comes along.

There is a strong market for diesels because there is a perception that they last forever and get good gas mileage which makes them good work horses. I think that the diesel rep is like the Toyota rep. They are perceived to be reliable so many people beat the living snot out of them and perform very little maintenance on them, then expect to sell them for way more then they are worth.

I'm very weary of used diesels for that reason. Most of the time that I see one for sale, the first thing that comes to my mind is "you want how much?". The same applies for those $3000 90 something Honda accords that have peeling clear coats and intergalactic mileage. There is only so much abuse that a car can take.

Your SL is almost an exotic car, but unlike other exotics, it has held together much better then any other car that it competed with during it's day.

There are lots of them around for sale which muddies the water as you'll be advertising your car next to the $1500 non runner.

A good one requires very little to keep going well. The v8's are work horses and the suspension and brakes are basically the same as what you have in a W114 or W124 so there is no surprises there.

If you're trying to sell it for $10k, then you need to be patient as 99.9% of people looking to spend $10k on a convertible would rather buy a 5 year old Mustang or Miata then a 30 year old MB. They are perceived to be a safer bet when it comes to running costs.. This is probably true, but the person looking for a nice R107 will see the value in your car.

[meltedpanda]

Originally Posted by alabbasi

as 99.9% of people looking to spend $10k on a convertible would rather buy a 5 year old Mustang or Miata then a 30 year old MB. They are perceived to be a safer bet when it comes to running costs.. This is probably true, but the person looking for a nice R107 will see the value in your car.

this is the very reason I stopped doing the benefit car shows, my SL ( which was selected for a "invite only" concours ) would not even place is a sportscar division loosing to Nissans and tricked out Toyotas. I even lost once to a Ford. I attributed it to the fact that most folks simply do not know the vintage MB brand , or its legacy.

And on the diesels, I am with Wodnek on the V8's, these are built tough , my iron block V8 is pretty bomb proof , yes it has parts that wear out and need replaced that the diesel does not have but , on par these are tough engines and capable of miles that a diesel can amass. That said they need Skid Road is correct in that diesels (speculating here ) in the long run are cheaper to maintain

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

this is the very reason I stopped doing the benefit car shows, my SL ( which was selected for a "invite only" concours ) would not even place is a sportscar division loosing to Nissans and tricked out Toyotas. I even lost once to a Ford. I attributed it to the fact that most folks simply do not know the vintage MB brand , or its legacy.

And on the diesels, I am with Wodnek on the V8's, these are built tough , my iron block V8 is pretty bomb proof , yes it has parts that wear out and need replaced that the diesel does not have but , on par these are tough engines and capable of miles that a diesel can amass. That said they need Skid Road is correct in that diesels (speculating here ) in the long run are cheaper to maintain

When there are as many posts of SLs here with 300K+ miles on their original engines as MB diesels (mine for one) - I'll look into switching as my daily-driver. As far as a diesel's value is concerned, I've saved enough dollars through driving MB diesels the last few decades to buy several SLs with the difference. Since the reverse isn't possible, I'll maintain my decision to drive the diesels.

The car show concours deal of mixing MBs with Japanese tricked-out rice burners is an oxymoron, ie mixing apples with orangutans. Because of economy, safety, quality and value, I'm incredibly loyal to MB diesels. I have no interest in Japanese cars - never have either.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

And on the diesels, I am with Wodnek on the V8's, these are built tough , my iron block V8 is pretty bomb proof , yes it has parts that wear out and need replaced that the diesel does not have but , on par these are tough engines and capable of miles that a diesel can amass. That said they need Skid Road is correct in that diesels (speculating here ) in the long run are cheaper to maintain

They (MB diesels we've owned) are absolutely cheaper to maintain, than the gas engined cars/trucks my immediate family - including myself have owned. By a large margin.

[alabbasi]

Some people buy cars to enjoy them and others treat cars as pieces of transport.

I'm not sure where this thread is going. The majority of SL owners couldn't give a damn if a diesel is cheaper to maintain, that's not why they bought it. It's pretty clear that the majority of owners own other cars as well an SL so what's the point in comparing a cart to a carriage?

It's pretty simple:

If you appreciate a Mercedes Benz, like driving with the top down and enjoy a powerful I6 or V8, then the R107 will fill your every need. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, you can maintain one at very little cost.

Now if you're risk averse, don't like cars with v8 engines and don't know one end of a spanner from another, then move along, this isn't the car you.

By your own comments, you fit in the latter category which is fine, you've convinced yourself that this is not the right car for you and we all agree.

Others who can afford the risk of owning an SL enjoy for what it is, which is a fast open top tourer. So far, nothing that Mercedes Benz sells in the US with a diesel engine fits that criteria.

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

They (MB diesels we've owned) are absolutely cheaper to maintain, than the gas engined cars/trucks my immediate family - including myself have owned. By a large margin.

[Skid Row Joe]

The title of this thread, and most of my cogent answers to MeltedPanda's (the OP's Q) have been to address the many reasons of;
"why the sale prices for W107 SL's suck."

It's primarily supply and demand at work. As well as many other supporting components in my opinion as I have discussed at length.

Nobody is "out to get" W107 SLs......at least no one that I know of. We all love W107s....heck, I almost bought one (see my post #112) a few years ago.

Originally Posted by alabbasi

Some people buy cars to enjoy them and others treat cars as pieces of transport.

I'm not sure where this thread is going. The majority of SL owners couldn't give a ***** if a diesel is cheaper to maintain, that's not why they bought it. It's pretty clear that the majority of owners own other cars as well an SL so what's the point in comparing a cart to a carriage?

It's pretty simple:

If you appreciate a Mercedes Benz, like driving with the top down and enjoy a powerful I6 or V8, then the R107 will fill your every need. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, you can maintain one at very little cost.

Now if you're risk averse, don't like cars with v8 engines and don't know one end of a spanner from another, then move along, this isn't the car you.

[meltedpanda]

Oh Al , I am not actively trying to sell my car, but then I was not goiing to sell my 300SD either, sometimes it just happens
No -my plan is to drive the ol gal ,as I do almost daily now, since my SD is gone, and enjoy the top down cruise. It is a solid car, and very fun to drive.
I just have been thinking about why others don't see these cars in the same light
Your post is right on, did not think of that perspective.