"Yes, the W164 M-class will indeed go to a unibody construction"

'Anyone who wants the current body-on-frame design M-class should plan on getting one within the next year and a half.'<br> <br> Drew, do you think 1.5 yrs from now the W163M-Class with become a sought-after commodity and thus retain its re-sale value OR... the contrary?<br>

I don't think the ML will retain it values for many reasons. <br> <br> The hard core off roaders would think the ML is too prety and the ones who buy a suv for the looks will opt for a newer modle. And the youngsters who is in the use suv market would opt for a toyata or a pathfinder even if the price is simuliar (preception).<br> <br> Besides I think SUV may go out of style. Mercedes is comming out with more all wheel drive cars all the time and so are the other makes like BMW and Jag.<br> <br> That may be good for me, so I could get a good deal on a use ML 430, 500 or 55. :)<br> <br> blau

Most MB vehicles hold their value quite well (better than the average) and judging from the market prices of used MLs, this is no exception. A used '00 ML320 Elegance with about 28K kms like mine goes for about CDN$43-46K (I paid $55K for mine, before accessoris, taxes, etc.). While you will, of course, not get $46K when you trade-in, it does show that they do retain their values quite well.<br> <br> I don't think that the body-on-frame design will be considered a special sought after feature for most people, but some may prefer it to the unibody design.<br> <br> Regarding the off-roading comments, most hardcore off-roaders won't be looking for a MB anyway, so that is not a problem.

I am certain that whatever the next M Class turns out to be that valur retention will be OK. By OK I mean better than the domestics and some Japanese vehicles. At this time the M Class has about the lowest of any MB, but better than most of the rest. This is driven by the high relative production numbers and some dealers selling at invoice or near it. MBCC recently lowered their residuals on leased M Class. The vehicles that do best have lower production numbers and are not highly discounted when new.

Another thing to remember...if the new ones have a significant price increase, it will make the value of the used ones go up. I remember growing up one of my fathers friends bought a 2 seater convertible (either MB or porsche) for about 31K, and sold it for that 6-7 years later since the new ones were so much more expensive. So you never know. I doubt they raise the price too much though.<br> <br> BTW...Mine arrived at the dealer today!!! Pick up friday!

You would think that that may have an impact on resale price but in actuality it does not. Used to but no more. I bought a 1974 450SL, drove it till 78 and sold it for more than I had paid for it new. Just does not happen anymore!!

I for one hope we never see it again. Factor in all the massive price increases in those 4 years and you will see you actually lost.

Actually that has happened to me pre double digit inflation, with a Shelby Cobra I purchased in 1966, sold in 68 for 8000 more than new price (wish I had it today!!). I also paid a couple of years ago 10 times the new price for a 1965 Corvette.