As I get older, the less and less I want to deal with cars that aren’t comfortable. I adore my 1983 240D with nearly 300,000 miles on it, but when its 22 degrees out and I’m de-icing locks, barely getting any heat out of the vents, and woefully accelerating, I’m not all that happy. Every time I’m in this situation, I yearn for a car I get in, turn on, and drive away in total comfort. Not necessarily a soulless appliance, but a car that satisfies my inner needs for a machine that is “special.” What car could do that job exceptionally well? The Mercedes-Benz S-Class, of course. But not just any S-Class. An S-Class with a designo interior just to be extra “special.”
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2012 Mercedes-Benz S550 on eBay
Year: 2012
VIN: WDDNG7DB2CA455863
Model: S550
Engine: 4.6 liter twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: 7-speed automatic
Mileage: 100,565 mi
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Price: $29,900 Buy It Now
“wow ! Look at this beautiful beast !!!!Amazing 2012 mercedes s550 sport amg designo with 100565 original miles. Fantastic designo black over armagnac interior & black piano wood trim, best ever mercedes flagman sedan with every possible option, over $129k original sticker (present): premium 2 pkg, sport amg pkg, designo armagnac edition ($12650), rear seat pkg, bang & olufsen sound system, driver assistance pkg, distronic, panoramic roof, alcantara headliner, illuminated door seals. This gorgeous s-class is in immaculate collectible condition, drives absolutely brand new like a rocket, has no any issues. No doubt this is most beautiful and rarest benz on the market right now, collectible item, do not lose it again, won’t stay long for sale. Non-smoker california car, never seen snow, always garage kept. Never been in any accidents, all original paint. Clean 2-ca-owner carfax report, perfect high score autocheck. We finance. Any credit. We do trades. Warranty. We ship all over 48 state”
To me, the question always seems to be, ‘Is the juice worth the squeeze?’ If you find that perfect equilibrium, then I think yes. A car that is too new obviously has a high buy-in price, but then also gets you again because of the rapid depreciation. On the other end of the chart, you have the cheap W126/W140/W220 that won’t cost much to get in the game, but don’t offer much in terms of amenities and reliability can be iffy given the age. The sweet spot right now? A W221.
Of course your mileage may vary, but the W221 S-Class is still enough new enough where you aren’t missing any tech at all in terms of must-haves, while almost all of the depreciation has already hit. This 2012 up for sale in Brooklyn is a prime example. This was a $130,000 car new, now suddenly $30,000. The M278 is a fairly trouble-free twin-turbo V8 outside of some fuel injector issues that were remedied in a redesign that this car should have by now given the age and mileage. Is $30,000 too much for a daily? All depends on your comfort level. I think this one is priced at a premium given the designo interior and really outstanding condition for and eight year-old car with 100,000 miles. If you want something more subdued, a W221 around $25,000 isn’t a bad call.
– Andrew
