FOR SALE FS: 1994 E500, Black/Gray, 150kmi, $25k (Santa Barbara, CA)

[gsxr]

http://mbca.org/classified-ad/rare-1994-e500

VIN = ???

Rare 1994 E500

California car, my 'weekend driver' in excellent mechanical and interior/exterior condition with with relatively low mileage.
New tires, runs, drives, rides, and looks great. Always garaged with independent shop records from 2001. $25,000

Contact: Byron Evans
Phone: 805-453-2378​

 

[texas993]

There are/were a lot of 500Es in Santa Barbara. I purchased mine there. For a lot less $ and 50k fewer miles than the car above.

But I will say that it is a good climate for preserving these cars.

 

[gerryvz]

$25K should bring a car that is cosmetically EXC- and 100K or fewer miles, with a full paperwork history and minimal obvious deferred maintenance (it will still have $5K worth of DM, just nothing immediately pressing).

 

[gsxr]

Could be another owner "testing the market".

 

[sheward]

I can't recall seeing many 94 models in 040 black.

drew

 

[gsxr]

I can't recall seeing many 94 models in 040 black.

There were 22 total 1994's in 040. 20 had black interior, one gray, one shroom. Uh-oh, here's another pseudo-one-of-one car. The only facelifted 036 in 040 with gray interior. The price might go north of $30k now!!

 

[Maui]

The car is 199 not 040.

 

[KarlC]

There were 22 total 1994's in 040. 20 had black interior, one gray, one shroom. Uh-oh, here's another pseudo-one-of-one car. The only facelifted 036 in 040 with gray interior. The price might go north of $30k now!!

Dave how many 1993 040 cars ?

 

[maw1124]

Somewhere in America, a bubble is bursting... And all of these folks who once saw cars as "investments" are starting to realize that much like houses, "maybe not so much."

As usual, the smarter ones (like those who own E500E cars) figure this out first, and try to sell out first to capture the premium, not wanting to hold the "asset" until the next selling opportunity. This appears to be one of those. I encountered them when I was shopping for mine right before the 20-year "new classic" mark.

Buyers, get your money ready, cuz these 150k+ "excellent condition, all records, blah blah blah" cars will be $12k to $15k by the end of 2015.

Owners of less than 100k cars, keep them and watch their values be higher next round -- at the 25-year mark -- and beyond.

I agree with Gerry. I just don't see high mileage cars commanding premiums. Irrespective of any argument about whether they "should", they just don't. Some things in life you just have to accept and move on. Like, houses are for living, cars are for driving, and the more and longer they are used the less they are worth to another buyer -- 99.999% of the time. They are not stocks, precious metals or art because they depreciate with use.

But I digress. This is probably a very nice car. Not a $25k car for those who know (on this site). But the reality is most people don't know, so maybe he gets someone to buy at $18k-ish. And there are better cars on this site for that money, IMO.

Cheers, Gents

maw

 

[sheward]

The car is 199 not 040.

Ah... I couldn't get the pic to enlarge yesterday.

drew

 

[Bzliteyear]

My neighbor here has a pristine 1994 E500 showroom condition with 58k miles, pearl black, renntech exhaust, and wood/combo steering wheel.
Although he doesn't drive it much, I was not able to entice him to part with it.
I did, however, get to drive it...and it drove very tight.
If he were open to it, I'd probably pay $20k+ for it...but alas, it was not meant to be.
PL

 

[gsxr]

The car is 199 not 040.

I couldn't tell either from the one bitty photo with poor lighting. Need the VIN to confirm, but I think Ken is right, this is 199 (not 040).

Dave how many 1993 040 cars ?

44 total, all with black interior except one which was cream-beige. There were zero 040 cars imported in USA for 1992 model year.

 

[gerryvz]

Definitely looks like a polished 199 car to me from the photo above.

 

[Maui]

The sellers ad says it's Black Pearl unless he's describing his favor Disney movie ship I'd say it's 199.

 

[gerryvz]

Somewhere in America, a bubble is bursting... And all of these folks who once saw cars as "investments" are starting to realize that much like houses, "maybe not so much."

Owners of less than 100k cars, keep them and watch their values be higher next round -- at the 25-year mark -- and beyond.

I agree with Gerry. I just don't see high mileage cars commanding premiums. Irrespective of any argument about whether they "should", they just don't. Some things in life you just have to accept and move on. Like, houses are for living, cars are for driving, and the more and longer they are used the less they are worth to another buyer -- 99.999% of the time. They are not stocks, precious metals or art because they depreciate with use.

The historical trends with MBs (especially high-performance sedans) prove it. Only low-miles "wirgin" cars, or those in condition 1 and 2 (very few), or anally restored examples will go on to command premium dollars and appreciate in the future. Everyone else, myself included ... just enjoy the car for what it intended to do (be driven) and laugh and have fun every time you get in it.

The market for the 6.3 bears this out. Even then, with appreciation of 6.3s in recent years, they have not appreciated anywhere near the rate that "sexier" cars like Gullwings, Pagodas, 111/112 coupes and convertibles, and other fancy MBs have. Even the 6.9s have started appreciating, though at a similar rate as the E500E and again only for the best examples.

Fundamentally, for me, the joy is in the driving and maintaining of the car, miles and "collectability" be damned. I've said many times that I love and appreciate museum-quality garage queens, but I love and appreciate more being out on the road driving a great car.

 

[gsxr]

The sellers ad says it's Black Pearl unless he's describing his favor Disney movie ship I'd say it's 199.

He sure does!!! *facepalm*

 

[KarlC]

Somewhere in America, a bubble is bursting... And all of these folks who once saw cars as "investments" are starting to realize that much like houses, "maybe not so much."

As usual, the smarter ones (like those who own E500E cars) figure this out first, and try to sell out first to capture the premium, not wanting to hold the "asset" until the next selling opportunity.

Cheers, Gents
maw

Interesting, what may I ask, are your statements based on ?

Thx

 

[maw1124]

Just one man's observation. Could prove right or wrong, but only time (not a human) knows for sure. I'm apparently not alone in those thoughts. But I'm also not looking for debate on the topic.

I'm watching the same car markets Gerry is watching. My car has less than 100k on it, I bought it from a collector with 60k on the odo and a 2-inch file on it, the car was never listed for sale and had been maintained with an open checkbook at the same mechanic since 1998. It changed hands twice between customers of that mechanic. This seller owned about 20 cars at the time, including race cars (and teams), and this one just wasn't being driven. It had done the lap around America at least once, etc., etc., yada yada, blah blah blah.

So it had "provenance" if you believe in such. And it DIDN'T have a premium price attached to it, mainly because both the buyer and the seller had what I view as clear eyed pragmatism about what cars are. They are to be driven, driving them "uses them up" maintenance notwithstanding, and while they may appreciate in value over time, it won't be an "investment grade" appreciation, particularly once you factor in the maintenance costs. He saw I was not a "flipper" and that I would own, drive, maintain, improve and enjoy the car -- all of which I've done. I agree with Gerry, "that's the fun of the game!!"

Keep in mind, investment securities and precious metals have neither maintenance costs nor use driven depreciation. If I sold my car today, I would expect to "lose money" on it, if I add up my (low) buying price and the money I've put into it. And it wouldn't go to anyone who's looking at it as an "investment". I'm jus sayin

maw

 

[gerryvz]

Keep in mind, investment securities and precious metals have neither maintenance costs nor use driven depreciation... I'm jus sayin

I'm a big fan of investment securities and precious metals, and owning property too. They're all great. My only problem with them is that it is difficult to hoon 'em like you can with a good .036.

It is an interesting experiment in human psychology to see what motivates folks in terms of owning cars. Some like to preserve them and admire them in place (it's the act of owning a perfect car that provides satisfaction), others like to caress them (it's the act of cleaning them that provides satisfaction), others like to drive them (it's the act of hooning them that provides satisfaction), and yet others like to fix and maintain them (which provides satisfaction).

 

[Bogeyman]

Geez Gerry, I'm guilty of all four...

Oh well, as I tell my wife - it keeps me out of trouble (usually)

 

[Klink]

I have had a standard quip for at least 30 years. It's one I use the instant I hear the first two syllables of the word "investment" associated with these "modern classic" cars like E5E, AMG, 6.3, 6.9, etc:

"No, these are not investments. One has investments so that he can drive cars like this."

That popped into my head in '83 when someone was talking about "investing" in a decrepit 6.9. It's not intended to be cruel. It is intended to be a slap in the face "Get a hold of yourself, man! That's crazy talk!" kind of thing.

I've been able to use it countless times since then, usually just as some model with a cult following is being phased out (think 107 ) and again when another one was coming online (think "go ahead and do the predelivery inspection on the SLS but don't drive it! Dr. Smithereens doesn't want a single extra mile put on it! It's going straight into storage.)...







Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Klink]

Geez Gerry, I'm guilty of all four...

Oh well, as I tell my wife - it keeps me out of trouble (usually)

Whatever works when it comes to Mama. Have you tried telling her they are "investments" or is she too smart for that one?