V8 quest continues....

peterg1965 · 01-17-2009, 01:40 PM

I now have a pocket full of cash, having sold the X-Type (never again will I do 'sensible') and I am still wanting a V8 (now or never). I want another Merc and this is the latest potential purchase.......... 2001 CLK430, 59000 miles..... not a lot of toys but looks fantastic, pending some more enquiries am off to see it next week

mikem · 01-17-2009, 02:11 PM

I`ve never seen one without Nav. Hope its a good price but with things the way they are, it shouldn`t be difficult to find a loaded 55 at a good price ?

peterg1965 · 01-17-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikem

I`ve never seen one without Nav. Hope its a good price but with things the way they are, it shouldn`t be difficult to find a loaded 55 at a good price ?

I have been looking for a decent CLK55 (W208) for a while now. I missed one last week, Silver and black leather, 70K miles, 2001 @ £9K, loaded with most of the options and FSH. They are few are far between, and some of the ones out there are up at silly money £12K+. Have been told to tread v carefully with a 7/8 year old AMG, they have probably been driven very hard and whilst the engine and gearbox are robust he car needs to have been maintained meticulously.

As for the 430, COMAND nav can be retrofited if needed. It doesn't bother me to be honest, I would rather have xenons and heated seats, that cab doesn't, but it is mine for £8.5K which is about right. I think the non standard alloys are AMG replicas though.

Geoffo · 01-21-2009, 11:34 AM

I agree with mikem, now is the best time to look for a fully loaded Merc..

peterg1965 · 01-25-2009, 04:12 AM

That CLK430 Cab is now off the list! It is overpriced. I went to see two Merc V8s on friday; a 2002 (52) CLK500 Coupe (unloved, low mileage, needed all alloys sorting and a paint restoration job - price reflects) and a very nice older shape (W208) 2001 (51) CLK55 AMG. I liked both but the consensus is that the CLK55 is the better car. Just in final negotiations with the trader. It was up for £10995, I have him down to £9700 but want to get it for £9300 (heels dug in!). Here it is....... 347bhp...... fully loaded.

Oli · 01-25-2009, 04:40 AM

When do you pick it up then.......

Do you want me to ring the trader and pretend to be another customer and offer him £9k for it, he should then snap your hand off @ £9.3k???

peterg1965 · 01-25-2009, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oli

When do you pick it up then.......

Do you want me to ring the trader and pretend to be another customer and offer him £9k for it, he should then snap your hand off @ £9.3k???

Its a bit of a mexican stand off at the moment! We agreed to talk later today, having left it with my £9300 offer on the table and his very reluctantly agreeing to drop to £9700. He tells me there is other interest, but not a cash buyer, someone wants to swap an early Porsche Carrera for it, but that doesn't help his cash flow!

He is a decent bloke (trades from home) but can talk for Britain and has been to the Acme school for car salespeople! I know it is a very nice honest car, full MB history, 68K miles, most options. I suspect he will come back and say £9500.

Gibbo · 01-25-2009, 05:01 AM

Peter, good luck with the car it looks really nice and Silver is a fab colour for it.

peterg1965 · 01-25-2009, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibbo

Peter, good luck with the car it looks really nice and Silver is a fab colour for it.

Thanks Gibbo. Silver and black are the 'usual' colours for Mercs, but it does look great though. I am hoping that a Merc V8 is the car I have been searching for to keep me happy for more than a few months!

Although the W208 CLK55 is by no means a 'classic' (yet), I reckon there will always be a market for a decent AMG and this model is probably somewhere close to the bottom of the depreciation curve!

Gibbo · 01-25-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterg1965

Its a bit of a mexican stand off at the moment! We agreed to talk later today, having left it with my £9300 offer on the table and his very reluctantly agreeing to drop to £9700. He tells me there is other interest, but not a cash buyer, someone wants to swap an early Porsche Carrera for it, but that doesn't help his cash flow!

He is a decent bloke (trades from home) but can talk for Britain and has been to the Acme school for car salespeople! I know it is a very nice honest car, full MB history, 68K miles, most options. I suspect he will come back and say £9500.

Did you get it for £9,300 after you phone call?

peterg1965 · 01-26-2009, 05:32 AM

Bought it, pick it up saturday week!

MOB · 01-26-2009, 05:46 AM

Nice one - congrats!!

I played the stand off game with the Porsche dealer that I have just bought my Cayman from - we haggled to his lowest price then I suggested a lower price and walked away with the instruction for him to call me if he accepted - which he did lol.

Snooky · 01-26-2009, 03:37 PM

Just seen this thread Peter. Looks great mate and that is a hell of a lot of car for the money. Best of luck with it!

01-17-2009, 01:40 PM	#1
peterg1965 Brigadier General 164 Rep 4,190 Posts Drives: F30 335d M Sport, F15 X5 40d Join Date: May 2007 Location: The place of dark satanic mills, UK iTrader: (0)	V8 quest continues.... I now have a pocket full of cash, having sold the X-Type (never again will I do 'sensible') and I am still wanting a V8 (now or never). I want another Merc and this is the latest potential purchase.......... 2001 CLK430, 59000 miles..... not a lot of toys but looks fantastic, pending some more enquiries am off to see it next week
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01-17-2009, 02:11 PM	#2
mikem Lieutenant Colonel 83 Rep 1,557 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere iTrader: (0)	I`ve never seen one without Nav. Hope its a good price but with things the way they are, it shouldn`t be difficult to find a loaded 55 at a good price ?
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01-25-2009, 04:12 AM	#5
peterg1965 Brigadier General 164 Rep 4,190 Posts Drives: F30 335d M Sport, F15 X5 40d Join Date: May 2007 Location: The place of dark satanic mills, UK iTrader: (0)	That CLK430 Cab is now off the list! It is overpriced. I went to see two Merc V8s on friday; a 2002 (52) CLK500 Coupe (unloved, low mileage, needed all alloys sorting and a paint restoration job - price reflects) and a very nice older shape (W208) 2001 (51) CLK55 AMG. I liked both but the consensus is that the CLK55 is the better car. Just in final negotiations with the trader. It was up for £10995, I have him down to £9700 but want to get it for £9300 (heels dug in!). Here it is....... 347bhp...... fully loaded.
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01-25-2009, 04:40 AM	#6
Oli Campervan man 94 Rep 2,667 Posts Drives: RS3 and VW Kombi Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: here, there, everywhere...... iTrader: (1)	When do you pick it up then....... Do you want me to ring the trader and pretend to be another customer and offer him £9k for it, he should then snap your hand off @ £9.3k??? __________________ www.bmvs-camperhire.co.uk Genuine VW T5 California Rental
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01-25-2009, 05:01 AM	#8
Gibbo Colonel 104 Rep 2,292 Posts Drives: Golf Ed35 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South East iTrader: (0)	Peter, good luck with the car it looks really nice and Silver is a fab colour for it. __________________ Golf Ed35 Black with - Black Leather
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01-26-2009, 05:32 AM	#11
peterg1965 Brigadier General 164 Rep 4,190 Posts Drives: F30 335d M Sport, F15 X5 40d Join Date: May 2007 Location: The place of dark satanic mills, UK iTrader: (0)	Bought it, pick it up saturday week!
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01-26-2009, 05:46 AM	#12
MOB Major 56 Rep 1,413 Posts Drives: Alpine White M2 LCI Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northants UK iTrader: (4)	Nice one - congrats!! I played the stand off game with the Porsche dealer that I have just bought my Cayman from - we haggled to his lowest price then I suggested a lower price and walked away with the instruction for him to call me if he accepted - which he did lol. __________________
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01-26-2009, 03:37 PM	#13
Snooky Major 40 Rep 1,167 Posts Drives: Audi RS5 Sportback Carbon Blac Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Livingston, Scotland iTrader: (0)	Just seen this thread Peter. Looks great mate and that is a hell of a lot of car for the money. Best of luck with it!
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