I have been offered by a friend a Merc S55 AMG 5.4L V8 Supercharged for sub £6k. I know the history of the vehicle. He is a business owner who rarely uses the car due to having a van and his missis has a 3.6 SLK. Therefor it has low millage and is in great condition. It does have a bit of superficial rust around the door sills and the front indicators.

 

Question: Would i be mad to buy it? (running cost, tax insurance etc) Or Mad to turn down the offer?

 

He's after something a bit more fun like an aerial atom etc.

Fifth Gear did a review of some AMG cars on Monday. Can't find a link right now, but it'll be there somewhere. Might be useful.

"Buy now, think later"

"Its easier to ask forgiveness than permission."

It doesn't sound like you've much to loose if you know the history of it

Hmmm... If it's the generation S class that I'm thinking of then they are rust buckets...

 

Hence the 'superficial' rust showing through.

 

If this rust can be sorted cheaply enough then apart from that I think they are solid cars.

 

A relative has an S500 and that engine was yummy enough so an extra 400cc and a supercharger would be even better.

 

If you can afford it then go for it.

 

Phil

S55? Which shape?

 

They're a bit of a barge, but that'll go well in a straight line

 

As has been said, knowing the car is a definite bonus. Problems can still occur though, as they might with any car. Depends what you want it for, and how you'll use it. For longer trips and general wafting about, they're hard to beat - just depends how much you like buying fuel....

No idea of your running costs,

ie

the mileage you need to do, or usage of the car,

what you will pay in the Insurance,

how much the VED is,

or if servicing is available cheaply or at least is it affordable.

 

If the figures work for you with fuel at around £6.50 a gallon and not getting cheaper, then it seems like worth looking at.

 

george

It looks like this:

 

 

I just fancy a bit of V8 point and squirt. my last 4 cars have been Mk1 VRS, Audi A4, Mk2 VRS, Mk2 VRS and fancy something different.

I know it wont go round corners that well owing to its titanic proportions but it will be like driving in luxury. I will at least get a taste

of the good life for very little money. Work is only 7 miles away so i don't do much millage.

You don't really get 'point and squirt' from the S-Class, not if your definition is the same as mine!

 

Maybe best to have a test drive of it, and see what you think?

 

An E-Class AMG might be better suited, but like you say - you know this one. I'd go try it out, and take it from there.

_{That beast will go round corners faster then you think.}

Of course, but it's about sensation of speed as well.

 

It'll cover ground quickly, no doubt about that. It's whether you like the way it does it

On cold days it will likely use a gallon of petrol each day to work and back.

 

Fuel consumption after that depends on how often you want to enjoy it differently from just driving along.

The seller knows best how quickly it can drink fuel.

 

So its a bit of a different proposition each time you take a long journey filing the tank compared to your previous cars.

Probably near twice the cost to do the same distance of journey as in the diesels.

Its only money, and if you can afford it, then more smiles are better than more savings IMO.

 

george

On cold days it will likely use a gallon of petrol each day to work and back.

 

Fuel consumption after that depends on how often you want to enjoy it differently from just driving along.

The seller knows best how quickly it can drink fuel.

 

So its a bit of a different proposition each time you take a long journey filing the tank compared to your previous cars.

Probably near twice the cost to do the same distance of journey as in the diesels.

Its only money, and if you can afford it, then more smiles are better than more savings IMO.

 

george

 

LOL i wouldn't use it in the winter im not that mad.   The car would serve no other use than a play thing. but then it

would be a very expensive toy and maybe some better toys out there for less money. Im not sure its a tough one i think

im worried i will regret not buying it more than ill regret owning it. I can always sell it on for similar money.

Filling up will be a bit eye watering, as it'll have the 20Gal (90L) tank I'd expect. So £110+ possible easily

Why mention only 7 miles to work if not relevant.?

 

So a second car not a daily driver, thats rather different.

SDP only, no commuting, limited mileage/matched insurance could be cheap enough then.

 

?how much is the VED on it, ? i have not googled that.

 

george

Comes down to whether it fits the bill as a 2nd car for you. Only you can answer that one

 

Still think a test drive out would answer it for you.

^ found a link

 

http://www.finalgear.com/shows/fifthgear/23/6/

Why mention only 7 miles to work if not relevant.?

 

So a second car not a daily driver, thats rather different.

SDP only, no commuting, limited mileage/matched insurance could be cheap enough then.

 

?how much is the VED on it, ? i have not googled that.

 

george

 

Technically it would be a third car don't see the point in getting rid of the VRS and the blackline still has finance on it, My Drives big enough to hold em all so it would just sit there until conditions permit. I would use it to get to work and back on sunny days during summer months and probably use the vrs in the winter & when wet. Its tempting but not sure the overheads are worth it and if anything went wrong it could be a money pit!

In regards to fuel consumption.

 

On a brisk Autobahn run from Bielefeld to Paderborn airport and back the S500 used about 1/4 of a tank.

 

I'll agree on how it does speed though... totally different feel... 120mph feels like 60mph and 130+mph feels just marginally faster... the S55 AMG version definitely needs an Autobahn! Hehe

 

In terms of tax I think you may be looking at the top band... £490!

 

Phil

Oh and which one is it here:

 

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon-1999/

 

I assume it's the S55K 4D Auto. I assume the K stands for Kompressor as it's foced induction. 500bhp and 516lb/ft of torque! Lovely.

 

The S65 Bi-Turbo AMG looks like a real monster. 612bhp!!!

 

Phil

On the VED issue, what year is the car Scribbler?

On the VED issue, what year is the car Scribbler?

 

I think its 2003 but will check.

You don't really get 'point and squirt' from the S-Class, not if your definition is the same as mine!

 

Maybe best to have a test drive of it, and see what you think?

 

An E-Class AMG might be better suited, but like you say - you know this one. I'd go try it out, and take it from there.

 

Wot he said ^

 

But V8 hmmmm, V8

 

Bear in mind parts for an AMG will cost more than standard Merc.

Any significant fault in the barge will probably write it off.

It'll be a long time before it becomes a classic.

How old is this car? before a certain age road tax is the same regardless. For example my 3.7 litre V8 Audi costs £280 a year for tax, with 300gk/m emissions.

 

£100 plus refills are part of my life, my A8 has a 90 litre tank and will take me 450 miles on a good day. The 4.2 A8 uses about the same, so on a good run even a larger V8 should achieve surprising economy results. Around town though, you'd be looking at 5-6mpg at best. My Audi does 6mpg on my short commute across town.

 

The car will still have the running costs of a 50K plus car, servicing maybe cheap but if something goes wrong then it could cost big ££££ to fix. A gearbox fault could be £3K plus for example.

aaannnnndddd 0-60 circa 4.5 seconds

 

BUY IT!

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advice/road-tax-guide