Sad, Very Sad..!! Trying to exchange my 2001 ML 320 for an ML 500 at the dealer and

[tcp_ML500]

timf - 2/28/2004 9:39 AM

The trade in I was offered on our 00' ML430 was pathetic - decided to keep it and eventually give it to my daughter to wreck. Will likely replace it with a Cayenne TT or VW Tourag V10 oil burner !

Doubt either of the above would be as fast as an ML500 though ;-)

Tim,

maybe my wife is just a better driver than I am, she cannot help but spank me off the line. The CTT has been tested 0-62 @ 5.4sec and 5.5sec consistently.

In addition, when I take her suv for a spin, I tend to take the curves much faster than with my 500, and feel confortable doing so.

AC_ML,

I think you got a low quote on your ML. When my wife wanted out of her ML, I was very surprised by the hit as well. Porsche was not keen on taking the ML, and I kept it as my daily driver to avoid the hit. I do wish my wife had more modest taste in cars, but she drove a Ferrari when I met her, and she made her own dough...

Anyway, gas prices on the rise (on the news yesterday they said it could reach $3/gal before long in some states) I might not be willing to drive the ML to work every day anymore (98m daily commute). If anyone wonders, the CTT when pushed puts up really ugly figures in terms of mileage!

Since the ML is paid in full, I might decide to drive it to the ground, but I'll be really itching a lot when the E320CDI hits our TX shores (not to mention that we do NOT need two SUVs)!

Expect your ML500 to lose value at an accelerated rate, especially when the W164 hits the dealerships, and expect buyers to be more concerned about getting a gaz guzzling V8 SUVafter the next few price hikes.
I'd be totally happy with a W163 400CDI right now!

I really wish we'd get a return for our $58b. effort in Iraq in form of cheap oil. Since the rest of the world is already working under the assumption that it is our motivation, let's make their day!

[tcp_ML500]

Jeff's ML55K.

I think that his 550-600 horses would spank my butt in the CTT, and I do not want to know!
Although the front of the Cayenne has grown on me, the read has nothing good looking. Does not matter when I'm in it much, but that's all I see when my wife takes off.

I do think, however, that I could negotiate turns faster.

[sosh]

Your ML is way over average mileage. A 2001 should have somewhere in the mid to high 20,000 range and the difference as dealers figure it at .15 per mile adds up to much more than you figured. When sold it will be competing with 98 and 99 year vehicles. This would occurr with any make of car not just MB. Remember also that the dealership is a for profit business and in the car business most profits come from used cars and other facits not new car sales. There is not enough margin in them to keep the doors open. In addition any of the mods that the guys on this forum put on their ML's also cost them at trade in time, I am not aware of any mods that a dealer will allow additional money for. They want standard, heavilly optioned and undamaged cars. This is true weather or not they retail or wholesale the car. If you are given more by a dealer of another make they are taking it off the new car profit ot from a factory incentive program that exists. A used car is worth so much no more no less

[Daniel]

You will almost always get the best deal for a used car at the dealer that sells those cars. As another poster said, if you trade it on a Lexus or other marque, they are screwing you with the sale price of the new car. Just try to trade it and then tell them you are not buying their car, but will they still buy yours [;)].

We have traded two cars in the last year, and in both cases the dealer made us a very reasonable offer. In the one case, we paid MSRP for the new car, where other dealers were charging $5k+ over MSRP (on a new '04 CLK cabrio, just after launch). The dealer offered us $6k more for our trade-in than Carmax, and quite in line with with the on-line values. In the other case, the dealer gave us a combined deal that I felt was quite fair.

I also agree with others - I will not even consider a car with aftermarket options, especially body kit, non-standard wheels or electronics, not to mention engine mods. It definitely devaluates the car.

[Benz Boy 07]

tcp_ML500 - 2/28/2004 4:27 PM

Jeff's ML55K.

I think that his 550-600 horses would spank my butt in the CTT, and I do not want to know!
Although the front of the Cayenne has grown on me, the read has nothing good looking. Does not matter when I'm in it much, but that's all I see when my wife takes off.

I do think, however, that I could negotiate turns faster.

You don't like the rear? I like the rear better than the front. When I get enough money I'm going to send my Cayenne to Gemballa. Should be able to atleast run with Jeff's car. Do you have any videos of you car Jeff?

[Ratso]

My 98 has just 66k on her. 76k on an '01 is a ton of miles. I've been offered 16 for mine and it's a real warranty hog.

Gues tha 'Bama Benz has it's faults when it comes to depreciation. I've heard a few of the members bitch about loosing more than expected in the first, second and third years.

I'mm still shopping for the summer, but have accepted keeping my ML if I can't get out.

[AC_ML]

The W163 400 CDI would have been a great vehicle to have in North America.. I don't understand how can the Diesel quality/type be good for the new incomming Touareg Diesel V10 but not for the CDI's..? Anybody on this one..?

AC

[glhehe]

Guess I was lucky, because my 98 ML320 which have 200,000 KM on it, have a trade in value of 12500CDN. Which i thought it's good because i had accident that resulted in over $3000 CDN damage.

[ed]

I believe it's because of the high sulfur content of our diesel compared to Europe.

[ed]

Why mid to high 20's? The owner could have bought it in late 2000 thus making it 3 years and 4 months in ownership. Counting an average of 12K miles a year = 40K.