SLK values - help!

[zoidberg]

I'm helping my sister look for an SLK at the moment, and I've seen a couple of nice looking ones:

The first is an 05/54 200K with 16,000 miles, black with black. Up for £29,000.

The second is 04/54 350K with 11,000 miles, silver with black. Up for £29,250.

However, I'm a bit confused about their valuations. Why is there so little difference between them? I thought the bigger engine for a similar mileage and age would attract much more of a premium...

[zoidberg]

True, but they're both at main dealers!

[nickwilcock]

Couldn't find the black 200K - but the silver 350 doesn't have the COMAND system. I guess the 200K was higher spec than the 350?

[markbe]

zoidberg said:

I'm helping my sister look for an SLK at the moment, and I've seen a couple of nice looking ones:

The first is an 05/54 200K with 16,000 miles, black with black. Up for £29,000.

The second is 04/54 350K with 11,000 miles, silver with black. Up for £29,250.

However, I'm a bit confused about their valuations. Why is there so little difference between them? I thought the bigger engine for a similar mileage and age would attract much more of a premium...

I would advise, Buy New, current list for SLK 200 Auto, met with leather is £32000
Before Discount!!!!!

Trade price on a 0554 plate is £23800

I know which way I would go.

Mark

[zoidberg]

nickwilcock said:

Couldn't find the black 200K - but the silver 350 doesn't have the COMAND system. I guess the 200K was higher spec than the 350?

I hadn't noticed a huge difference in the spec - what does the COMAND system do? Is it sat nav etc?

[nickwilcock]

Cockpit Management And Display - it was a £1950 option when the 'new' SLK was launched - add another £500 for the harmon/kardon LOGIC 7 surround system and a further £350 for a 6 CD changer in the glove compartment......

COMAND includes full colour navigation (with TMC if you have the right disc) and can also play Region 2 DVDs when the car is not moving.

Metallic paint, leather, automatic transmission, COMAND (+ LOGIC 7 & 6 CD changer) would have added no less than £5750 to the price of a new 200K - or £6070 to the price of a 350!

Edited by nickwilcock on Tuesday 2nd January 08:57

[olf]

Also which gearboxes do they have? Both Manual? Maybe the 200 is auto and the 350 Manual.

The merc dealers are running a very tight ship on SLK prices. They offer you very poor money when you come to trade in but it goes back on the forecourt at top dollar. When it comes to part ex whatever brand you go for will hang their hat on a Merc dealer price so it really is a closed market.

Anyway. If I were buying second hand I would want the following options without fail:

Air Scarf
Command
Auto Gearbox

I would also go for the 350. The engine is glorious and quite economical as well.

I half know what I am talking about as I had a 350 for a year. I had a Manual which is a great gearbox but the automotive equivalent to leprocy when it comes to ditching the car.

[pk328]

olf said:

I half know what I am talking about as I had a 350 for a year. I had a Manual which is a great gearbox but the automotive equivalent to leprocy when it comes to ditching the car.

Hmm, I've just paid top (MB dealer) dollar for an SLK350 manual, I guess I'd better prepare myself for the worst for when I sell it (and enjoy a cracking driver's car in the meantime).

[disad-vantage-d]

pk328 said:

olf said:

I half know what I am talking about as I had a 350 for a year. I had a Manual which is a great gearbox but the automotive equivalent to leprocy when it comes to ditching the car.

Hmm, I've just paid top (MB dealer) dollar for an SLK350 manual, I guess I'd better prepare myself for the worst for when I sell it (and enjoy a cracking driver's car in the meantime).

For years Mercedes had a reputation for building excellent saloon cars with poor manual gearboxes. As a result any such car with such gearbox was as popular as a fart in a spacesuit come resale time.
The manual gearbox fitted to the current SLK350 is undoubtedly their finest effort to date and stands favourable comparison to any 'box I have experienced in a succession of BMWs' I have owned.
The manual gearbox was favoured over the 7G box in a number of authoritative road tests I read of the car prior to purchasing.
At the end of the day we are led to believe that this is Mercedes' closest stab yet at the heart of the Boxster and as such it needs to be viewed in isolation from your typical Mercedes product.
If I was purchasing an S, E, ML or SL class vehicle it would have to be auto. But for me, the SLK is a sports roadster and a manual is the only option (and yes, I did test drive the auto first).
I feel it is such a shame that all of Mercedes efforts in this department are being negated by this tired and lazy sales doctrine which has no doubt been handed down over the years.
Never mind PK328, we can revel in our little secret and enjoy a superb drivers car rather than worrying about a few hundred quid more come resale time!
After all, the previous owner of our vehicles specifically chose a manual. So there are obviously others out there!!

Edited by disad-vantage-d on Saturday 6th January 15:29