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For the past 15 years or so, Mercedes-Benz and AMG would take their flagship sedan, put a twin-turbo V12 in it that makes enough power to pull a barge of coal, and sell it for over $200,000. Then before the dealership owner’s nephew gets a chance to scratch the paint up by “washing” it, it isn’t worth $200,000 anymore. Mile after mile, the car is worth less. Significantly less. Like, “I could have gone to Harvard” less. Until we are here today, some five years later, where the car has lost over $160,000 in depreciation. Still the same car, same 621 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, and of course, same running costs. Tempting?
You might not believe this, but 15 years ago Mercedes-Benz produced a car that hasn’t depreciated to nearly nothing. For a four year stretch from 2005 to 2008, the SL65 AMG was the king of the castle when it came to torque and horsepower in a car like this. The twin-turbocharged M275 6.0 liter V12 made 604 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque in a manner that you could really drive everyday. It wasn’t peaky power like you’d get from some of the Italian brands that make this kind of horsepower, but rather all torque as you expected that is enough to burn through tires that you have them on automatic reorder from Amazon. I’m not going to lie, as soft as the R230 is, the little touches to make the SL65 unique really do give it a more aggressive stance. This 2005 up for sale in Wisconsin that I wanted to check out today also has a little secret to make this one even a little more crazy.
Some situations in life you do even when you know it is a bad idea and you will probably pay for it later. Like going back for that second piece of cake or buying a 15 year-old Mercedes-Benz with 738 horsepower and 840 lb-ft of torque. Okay, so maybe not too similar a set of examples, but you get the idea. What I’m trying to say is if a 2005 CL65 AMG with a RENNtech tune came up for sale that had enough power to spin the rear wheels at 60 mph, would you consider it? I think that answer depends on what your needs of a car is, do you have the budget, and are you currently under the influence of psychedelics? Still, my chest gets tight when I have to break a $100 bill, but this car is just so much for so little. How little?
I love flagship Mercedes-Benz and all their uniqueness that they bring. From last weeks Adenauer to today’s car, a 2011 S600, I enjoy all of them. (Except the W220 S600 with the 5.8 V12, that thing is garbage.) This W221 up for sale in Texas has everything you’d expect a flagship Mercedes to have with its radar guided cruise control and 510 horsepower that does 0-60 is 4.5 seconds. On top of all the normal goodies, this S600 has the extra special designo interior option. Problem is, I don’t know if I’m in love with it.
Something always brings me back to the M275-powered Mercedes-Benz cars. Is it the 603 hp and 738 lb·ft of torque? Probably. But something else just draws me to these mid-2000s rocket ships on wheels. I love the conservative styling with just a touch of aggressiveness like the quad exhaust tips and 18-inch twin-spoke AMG wheels in gunmetal gray. Just when I think I’m ready to dive in headfirst with one of these beasts in a business suit, I turn and run the other way when I see what it takes to live with one. This 2006 S65 AMG for sale in California checks all the boxes when you looking for one of the cars. Including a recent repair bill that will question how it is it possible that car repairs cost that much.
