[j99xj]

I went to Carmax to check out a newer Mercedes and when they did the appraisal on my car they came back with $2500.

$2500 for a '99 E320 4matic, and 157k miles...

...about HALF the real actual trade in value.

No wonder they can sell cars for "less" than retail and with a "no haggle" price.


I promptly left, feeling insulted.

 

[Spadwaller]

I went to Carmax to check out a newer Mercedes and when they did the appraisal on my car they came back with $2500.

$2500 for a '99 E320 4matic, and 157k miles...

...about HALF the real actual trade in value.

No wonder they can sell cars for "less" than retail and with a "no haggle" price.


I promptly left, feeling insulted.

I bought mines for around that just didn't have the 4matic

 

[Kajtek1]

Last years got the car prices totally crazy, but from the past I remember main rule about KBB.
When it gave $8000 value on Chevy, or Jeep you could easy find this model for $6000.
When it gave $4000 value on Mercedes you could consider yourself lucky finding one for $6000

 

[BigBossE320]

What kind of Mercedes did you look at?

 

[j99xj]

2005 C320 4matic. Only 41k, one owner, immaculate. They wanted $20k and being Carmax it was a non-negotiable price.

I wasn't too serious about buying it but I wanted to check it out because 05 was the facelifted year for the W203 and I wanted to compare its quality to the W204 which I looked at a few weeks ago. Not quite as solid as the 204 but a very well made car, much better than the first 203s (like 2000s and 01s).

 

[p100]

I went to Carmax to check out a newer Mercedes and when they did the appraisal on my car they came back with $2500.

$2500 for a '99 E320 4matic, and 157k miles...

...about HALF the real actual trade in value.

No wonder they can sell cars for "less" than retail and with a "no haggle" price.


I promptly left, feeling insulted.

I got insulted in a similar way by a dealer in Fort Myers Florida. I wanted to trade in my 1983 300SD with 108k miles and original paint and great interior. New brakes, everything worked, even the cruise control. It was not a mint car, but certainly a nice car for its age. Engine ran great and transmission shifted smooth. No cracks in the dash at all and no visible body rust. The SOB offered me $ 1,200! I walked away.

 

[aardvark]

I think we hold the values of our cars above what the market will really bear.
Mercedes, even though good cars don't call for big dollars.
The entire market fell out in late 08 early 09. Book price on mine fell severely from $7k to $4.5k in one year. I bought t for $5800 in 08 (when valued high), and will never see near what I paid for it.
I actually thought I made a good purchase. I should have held off 2 yrs.

aardvark

 

[Kajtek1]

The luxury cars market nose-dived about 4 years ago, but it is picking up.
For example my 98 E300 diesel seems to have higher value than the price I paid for it 4 years ago. But the trend is with most diesels, since the fuel prices were higher in last years.
My 99 Ford Supeduty is technically worth more now that the purchase price 5 years ago as well.

 

[p100]

A well kept low mileage 1983 300SD is considered a classic and its value is dictated by its condition alone. It can be worth anywhere from $ 100 to $ 25,000 or more. I have seen low mileage pristine examples go for $ 15,000 or more on eBay. Using KBB on a car like this is meaningless.

One like mine would be at least $ 3,500 - I expected to be offered around $ 2,500, but certainly not $ 1,200. BTW, that was not a Mercedes dealer. They probably would have offered me more.

 

[nrj1084]

Guys, our cars are not worth very much these days. Not many people - especially in this economy - are interested in buying an old luxury car that will likely be costly to maintain. $2500 sounds about right for trade-in on a pre-facelift 4Matic with over 150K miles.

 

[tony1963]

Gassers are a dime a dozen. I am a licenced dealer and you can pick them up cheap because not many people want them. Narrow market. Supply and demand.

Perception is just that. It is not reality.

 

[dl7265]

They Pay Premium prices for nice, low mileage cars in my area. I have sold 2, and been Very pleased. I'm Actually surprised they did an estimate on a 150k plus mileage car.

 

[BADwayz]

I'm suprised they offered you that much for a trade actually. And be glad your not a 00+ S-class owner, those have dropped in value twice as much as ours did.

I also bought when the prices were high, paid $2500 less than the next cheapest w210 with same miles/year/options. Too bad I didn't wait it out either, but I also don't mind keeping my benz til it dies, so I'm satistfied either way.

 

[BigBossE320]

This thread reminds me of a local Craigslist ad.

1998 E320 MERCEDES-BENZ

It's been listed on there repeatedly for the past couple of months. Good luck with that sale. :thumbsup:

 

[Kajtek1]

I wonder how many MB dealers are in Nebraska? Can you drive from one to the other without fueling between?
MB are having high prices in CA, where we have lot of German shops, in NY and in Florida. Most of other places consider them exotics.
It you own older Ferrari would you take it for a 2000 miles trip without a fear of finding service?
Years ago I was stalled in Las Vegas for couple of days only because of flat tire on ML320. Even the tire size is popular -ML require H-speed rating and that was special order.

 

[TexFinn]

No wonder they can sell cars for "less" than retail and with a "no haggle" price.

CarMax selling cars for less than retail (what ever that really means, anyway...)?

I admit that it's been quite a few years since I've looked at even single car at CarMax, but IMO their prices have always been really high. Especially when coupled with the "no-haggle" stuff.

Then again... If you want to trade an old car in, be prepared to be insulted. That's nothing new.

 

[Scuddog]

Sad but true

My 1998 E320 with 206K on the clock is essentially worthless on KBB, Edmunds, NADA or Black Book. Sad. I would be foolish to trade it in. It would be dumb to sell it for $2500... if I could get that from an enthusiast like myself.

The W210 with the 722.6 tranny (Long Live the Pre-Facelift Model!) is an amazing car. 30+mpg hwy, 136 MPH, sub 8 second 0-60, heavy, solid, great Bose stereo, comfortable even after 600 miles in one sitting... er' tankful!

Carmax moves metal as do most dealers. They could care less about soul, maintenance records, charachter or appreciation for a car that has been well taken care of. Buy your cars like you want to sell them... from an enthusiast who knows when it is time to fall in love with another car for a change.

Best of luck to you. I will drive my car until Nov of next year. After that it will be parked in a garage in FL while I am back in the desert for up to 18 months. I am glad that I will have something to look forward to (besides my family!) parked in the garage. I do have a trickle charger and a reliable car driver for the occasional run every once in a while.

KBB says my car is worth about $2400 Private Party Value. I disagree. It could be worth that IF it was neglected with original shocks, aftermarket brakes, poorly maintained fluids and filters, crappy leather, dull paint and Chinese tires. OEM parts, a ritualistic annual Meguiar's wax process and Michelin tires all contirubte to what I deem a very satisfying ownership experience.

 

[Matt L]

I agree with you, Scud. Cars are a commodity to used car dealers, and they really don't care about anything after the sale.

Good luck in the desert. Come back to us in good condition.

 

[j99xj]

For a laugh I wanted to see what my car would be worth if I bought it brand new in 1999, drove it home, put it in a climate controlled garage with a Mercedes car cover over it, drained all the operating fluids, and NEVER drove it again.

In this case, guess what the value of my car would be today?

$11,350.

Imagine that. A brand new, never driven, mint condition Mercedes would be worth less than 25% of its original sticker price 11 years later.

Of course, I would have every Mercedes collector in the world contacting me with offers that could very well exceed what the cost was in 99.

 

[Kajtek1]

Not likely. The era of car collection is gone, or at least suspended.
I remember 2000 ML55 AMG with about 1000 miles on ebay over a year ago. Sold for like 7 grands.