Hello all, this is my first post.

I have this idea/fantasy about getting a roadster as a weekend car, and the SL seems like a good one.

I'm looking at mid to late 90's ones, and I'm noticing that they seem to not only be a good deal, the 600 is usually about the same price as the 500.

Why is this? I found a nice, low mileage (50k or so) 1994 SL600 for under $20k. Seems like a super deal. And there are even more 500's for around that kind of deal. Why do they go down in value so much?

I have italian motorcycles, and they have taught me how things can go bad quickly. I can work myself out of problems to an extent.

Am I in danger of getting in over my head?

Thanks for any help.

 

The SL600 has probably dropped in used car value due to the amount of $4.25 gas needed to fuel the 12 cylinder car.

 

I think the mileage isn't hugely different, although the SL600 does seem to be pretty low. For a car like that though, I think that shouldn't matter to whoever owns it.

 

Yeh I think gas mileage is one factor. My 95 SL500 can get 31 mpg on flat freeway and I actually get 25-27 in my rural highway area. The 600 probably gets less but nothingas low as they are rated for. I dont get those ratings. Other reasons may be the reliability on the 500 V8 is better known and people may fear repair costs on a V12. I got mine for a weekend car just like you and I was very paranoid about getting something like that. I wasnt looking for SL's but the price kept popping out at me. This is just an amazing car and never ceases to amaze me. I love it more everyday. Id do that deal 100 times more.

 

I use to own the 1996 600SL V12. What a car by the way. It was a gas hog. I dont think it even got over 23mpg on the highway. But it did have a V12 and its hard not floor it at times

 

lol, I know what you mean. Its really hard to keep from stepping on it. People talked about me driving like an old man til I got this. Now I think the cops are about ready to put my vehicle pic on their dash. I would like to have a 600 sometimes or soup up this one a little. Though its very fast, since 95 there are now several newer cars that will beat it by accelleration and Id just rather people know they dont stand a chance and leave me alone. That 389 hp I assume you have would feel a lot different than my 315, I think.

 

Why is the 600 similar price to 500??Well,I really think you have to look atpricing first. Was the 600 really worth almost $40K more than the 500? That is a lot of cash, yeah, some of it was for the V12,and the 600 came with every option on the 500 plus it gotentire leatherinterior, dash, door, center console, everything is leather in this thing.But $40K more, I don't think you really got $40Kmore.. but heck, if you can afford a $130K car, you probably are not worrying about resale value to much.

Reason number 1 - The perception that the V8 is some howmore reliable than the V12.Acomplete myth than many folks, including other MB owners,keep repeating. The V12 is absolutely bullet proof.

Reason number 2 - The fear of the unknown.... not too many folks have owned a V12 prior to buying a 600, myself included,but most likely ownednumerousV8 vehicles over theyears.

Reason number 3- Maintenance costs. Well, the vehicle is essetially the same vehicle as the 500, chasis, metal, transmission, suspenstion, etc, except for the V12. So yes, maintenace cost is a little more as the V12 needs 11 quarts of oil, four more spark plugs, more valves, etc. So yes, tune-ups andoil changes will cost you approximately 50% more. Cost a few more bucks, but you are also getting a ton more torque. You pay for what you get. My last oil change was $180 with 11 quarts synthetic.

Reason number 4 -Gas prices could affect it, I think more folks are driving the 500 as a daily driver, or at least when the weather is nice. Hate tothink someone would drive a 500 in snow/rain/cold weather. It seems lilke more of the 600 vehicleare weekend cars, putting lowermiles on them ,and not driving them as much.NOTE: I did say more, not all... so many 600 ownersare not worried about gas pricing and a few more bucks on tune-up day. But because of the reasons 1 through 3,has allowed myself and others to pick up incredible deals on a fabulous 600 foronly a grandor two more than a 500, and in some cases thesame price.

You can't go wrong with either car.If you plan onputting miles on it, 5K or more miles per year, the 500 is the way to go. And if you are nota "geek" aboutengines, you will be very happy with the V8. But many of the car and engine geeksand/or someone who wantssomething a littlemore rare, and/or torquewill want theV12. And if you want the 6 banger, well,your on your own, because I can't forthe life of me try and make an argument for buying a 6 banger in aclassic, sophisticateddriving machine like the SL, not to mention the thing weighsover 4000 pounds.