What’s she worth?

[pommy]

Hi folks,

After looking at a dog 560SEC I stumbled across a 280CE at a little stealership in a rural town. No books but deceased estate sale and condition matches kilometres - it’s all original -1979 76,000km. Dark red and cream interior, sunroof, Becker, electric windows. Hasn’t had any paint or restoration and is immaculate. Like a 2 year old car. Couple of paint chips and 2 pin prick dings and that’s your lot. On the original plates.

I’m trying to gauge a fair price. What price would people put on it?

Mike

[AMG]

Whatever someone is willing to pay.

I'd start looking for hidden rust.

[GREENPEDRO]

Wow! 1979 and 76Ks, that gives it a value edge. My 1979 has 636,000 Ks.
As mentioned by AMG, the market dictates value however make a sensible offer and gauge the response.
My personal thought is somewhere between $3k to $5K but with such old, not run of the mill vehicles, who knows, I could be way out.
Larry

[Ivanerrol]

Just because it has low K's doesn't mean mechanically it's any good.
But the basic body works are there.

Does it run and have you been for a test drive?

One general rule is : whatever you pay you will probably spend the same amount again getting it to a condition you are initially happy with.

[iluvbrownale]

I've had to abandon my account, I have resurrected my old one so 'pommy' is now back as 'iluvbrownale'.

To accurately describe the car, it's in as new condition, inside, out and beyond, like a full resto. Mechanically it's spot on. It's been dry stored for a decade and you could eat your dinner off any part of it. The guy is open to offers, and I think it's fair to say this could well be the best in the country. I was thinking $20-25k would be more the mark based on UK and European prices for similar mileage and condition. My only gripe is the lack of books - it was serviced in Hobart and the garage has since gone out of business, and they held the books for it. Bugger.

[T-Modell]

Hi Mike,
if you have a car like this, there's no "market", because they're so rare. The price - in the end - is what someone at this point in time is willing to pay. So if it's really so good and you're willing to pay 20-25k, then go for it. But it could well be the case, that the guy finds noone in Australia who wants that car for that price. Alternatively there's someone with money, whose father had just a car like this ... well he'd pay even more.

If the condition is like you described, you'll definitely have a rare car.
Thomas

[Ivanerrol]

Gee,

If the car is as good as you describe I would be advocating throwing an ambit bid at it and negotiate with the seller.

Offer Say $7,500 and go up from there depending on what the seller does.
How are your negotiation skills?

[AMG]

Agreed, that's what I meant by my first post... if it really is THAT good and you get a PPI done, then really, negotiation skills are what you need.

I'd take this combo in a 123 coupe over a 126 any day of the week - but that is just me. I have a thing for the more unusual colours and love the 123 coupe styling.

126's are nice, but are of a different 'bent'. They are also a much bigger, heavier car than the 123. Both have about equal body-roll in corners.

If the engine in the 123's stuffed, you can easily fit a 5.6L m117 in there with very little effort. then you have a 560CE :occasion5:

[iluvbrownale]

I think my answer is in there - whatever someone wants to pay. I used to have one 15 years ago and loved it, so seeing one in this condition was like falling in love again. That's when you pay over the odds though.
My heart wants it, my head says every classic I've had I've made good money on and I just don't think there's any value ad to this, so I'm beholden to the market and that's just an unknown.
As for negotiationing, the seller doesn't have to sell. I've got him from $30k to $25k and whilst there might be another grand in it, that's where we finish. As an experienced car salesman i negotiate every day so it is what it is.
I'd put a WTB up for a 126 as I think I'd find it more usable as it could share the daily duties with the 124. A low km 123 needs to stay that way.
It's fair to say I don't really know what I want, only last week I was about to buy a 911.....

[T-Modell]

The question is: Are you happier with a fantastic car that you used to have or with a few thousand quid saved?

Regards
Thomas

[iluvbrownale]

The question is: Are you happier with a fantastic car that you used to have or with a few thousand quid saved?

Regards
Thomas

You mentioned money, I'm from Yorkshire, that's a very very difficult question

[AMG]

The question is: Are you happier with a fantastic car that you used to have or with a few thousand quid saved?

Regards
Thomas

You mentioned money, I'm from Yorkshire, that's a very very difficult question

aye indeed tis.
you might find an extra pound or two, in the jar 'top cupboard.

In the grand scheme of things money saved does not equate to happiness.

Scrooge might have had money coming out of his ears, but he was still a grumpy old bastard with no mates.
:occasion5:

[stumpjumper]

I'd be wary of paying $25-$30K for any W123 that's not practically as new mechanically as well as in every other way. The lower end of the market is very low - in the hundreds - and $8-10K can buy a 'mint' car, mileage aside. The top of the range in price is currently represented by CEs - there are two on Carsales at present for $12K each. My 'mint' 230E sold for $1300 - that was low, but it's an indication of the range.

On the other hand, there's a truly immaculate, factory condition W126 420SEL with 7,500kms on Carsales now, at $119,000, along with other W126s for $1500. Good luck to Mr $119K, I say.

In the end, value is in the eye of the buyer, but it's better to make your day than someone else's.

[Pete49]

The question is: Are you happier with a fantastic car that you used to have or with a few thousand quid saved?

Regards
Thomas

You mentioned money, I'm from Yorkshire, that's a very very difficult question

Ahh yes I seem to remember that Yorkshire people think the Scots are spendthrifts. :occasion5:

[CraigB]

You are asking for a range of opinions so this is what I think.

If your thinking ' I love everything about that car and will love any glimpse of it opening the garage door or walking back to it parked somewhere etc - and just want to take it on occasional drives and maintain its condition and keep it for a long time' - then i reckon at $25k you are probably going to be in front compared to buying a $2k car and trying to get it to that same state.

Not everyone appreciates low mileage cars but some of us love them and will pay for that 'time warp' feel that really you can't ever replicate. I can admire a concourse restored car but its those time warp cars that I love seeing. To me its mostly in the interior, the way the doors close and this tightness when you drive it. I have heard negative comments about mechanical condition but the cars i have had - one driven a few km to the shops and church, soon cleared up and ran like no higher mileage car does - each to their own though.

I doubt the seller will be rushed with buyers at $25k. These sort of posts I find interesting because they usually demonstrate opinions of the cheapest or average condition prices being the value, without acknowledging that it is usually the case that any of these cars need huge money spent on them and assuming that sellers never lie in their ads about condition. Someone who knows the model and doesn't have a vested interest needs to evaluate condition and how much needs to be spent, before any of us can guess value or how much the real cost will be.

I've said this before, but I always get confused with the comment that it will cost double to get into the condition you want. I'm not saying that the situation doesn't happen but my experience is the opposite - where i go that extra and buy the better car, from someone who has properly maintained it, I spend less, when i buy a lesser car thinking I can easily fix this and I spend more in total. I guess it means if you are the sort of person who will buy the best car then you will be fussy and spend more than someone who will accept a lesser car.

One last comment - if you have money in your pocket and are looking for cars in this condition they never seem to be there and so when 'they find you', I've never regretted grabbing them. And if I liked this car I wouldn't go in at $7.5k - I reckon the guy will know enough that this is not an uncommon price for a reasonable car and I would take it as an ambit move and it might even piss me off a bit (I get bored very quickly with that approach).... but I'm not a car dealer. I would go in at $15k (if as good as it appears), show respect to the condition of the car and to the seller and be prepared to move a little, but I wouldn't be paying $25k.... which was the original question. I imagine from what you have said he doesn't need to sell it and he is happy to sit on it and enjoy it.

If anyone knows of a low mileage or properly nice W123 wagon I am interested - hard to find.

[T-Modell]

Offtopic @Craig:
I really like what you're posting and I'd like to read it. However it would help me enormously, if you could put your text in some paragraphs ... it eases reading a lot, especially on an old-fashioned computer :whistle:

Regards
Thomas

[Christo C]

I respectfully agree with Thomas.
It’s really interesting, but hard to follow on a iThingy phone too!