R230 values

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Discussion

Diderot

Original Poster:

8,079 posts

199 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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Where do people see the values of these going in the next five years?

I bought my 55 plate 350 for £8k 4 years ago, it had 87k on the clock then, now 93k. Browsing the PH ads, they look to be slightly less than that now - say £7k ish. Do you see these tanking to £2k or bottoming out and rising a bit like decent R129s?

Just wondering whether to chop it in now or wait, sit on it, and buy something else in the meantime.


Penguinracer

1,704 posts

213 months

Tuesday 15th August 2023
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IMHO, with these Mercs the medium / long term value tends to reside in either the flagship models or the big-engined AMG cars.

A mid-range engine in Mercedes is sensible & practical - attributes which are generally of lower importance in a classic car / weekend toy.


MickyveloceClassic

423 posts

66 months

Wednesday 16th August 2023
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Plenty of R230s are worth more in bits than as complete cars these days.

Most owners will encounter a (another?) big bill which they’ll see as a step too far, and scrap the car.

They’re a complex vehicle, with plenty of in-built costly foibles. The early cars 107, 129 look better and are simpler and better regarded in the classic car world, whereas later r231 cars are better screwed together from what I can see.

I was quite surprised what great value the 2012/3 era 350 and 400s currently represent.

55 and 65 engined cars may fare better, but there are so many of them around (well, maybe not the 65), that buyers can be picky and prices will continue to sink.

Venisonpie

3,608 posts

89 months

Wednesday 16th August 2023
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I've a very late SL500 on a 12 plate and suspect it will only head South in value. 700 quid annual road tax and 130 quid to fill the tank aren't going to appeal to many.

I love it though.

Diderot

Original Poster:

8,079 posts

199 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
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Thanks chaps. Useful thoughts. I’m thinking I’ll just keep it and run it into the ground as it doesn’t owe me anything.

alabbasi

2,689 posts

94 months

Friday 18th August 2023
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Most car values will bottom out by the time the car reaches 16-22 years old because the maintenance will usually cost more than the value of the car. Soon the ones in poor condition will become parts cars or recycled into refrigerators and the nice ones will begin to appreciate. If you're buying a nice right now, you're probably going to get a good deal and not lose much over the years.

I bought my R107, R129 and my Porsche 928 that way.

JD2329

489 posts

175 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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alabbasi said:
Most car values will bottom out by the time the car reaches 16-22 years old because the maintenance will usually cost more than the value of the car. Soon the ones in poor condition will become parts cars or recycled into refrigerators and the nice ones will begin to appreciate. If you're buying a nice right now, you're probably going to get a good deal and not lose much over the years.

I bought my R107, R129 and my Porsche 928 that way.
Agreed. Get a good one now with reasonable mileage and it should at the very least be worth its purchase price in future.
In a period of (relatively) high inflation there may be additional upside as the cost of a new model goes up significantly, increasing demand for the older ones.

MickyveloceClassic

423 posts

66 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
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JD2329 said:
Agreed. Get a good one now with reasonable mileage and it should at the very least be worth its purchase price in future.
In a period of (relatively) high inflation there may be additional upside as the cost of a new model goes up significantly, increasing demand for the older ones.
You’re not wrong, but the cost of keeping an r230 on the road (even for 2-3000 summer miles) per year is likely to be more than the simpler 129 SL. The newer car has more to go wrong I suspect, and when it does, it will almost certainly cost more to fix.

I’m happy spending on preventive maintenance on the 129 I bought for £5k back in 2011, because its market value is now a lot more. All down to personal preference and man maths though!