2006 S65 AMG: What's Good/Bad

[Atazman]

Gents......

Just wondering if you guys would share your thoughts on the goods/bads of a 2006, S65 AMG.  I know this car is high $$, and that it depreciates greatly.  I'm thinking that....just maybe.... it will have some value down the road.  I'm interested in knowing what you think/know about the reliability of this automobile?

Comments appreciated.

[peterm]

That is an awesome machine-  massive torque and speed usually owned by those who will use it.  I can only imagine it may have had some abuse and now that its out of warranty I would be very concerned about compnent failure.  Everything is expensive to fix and that is a massively complex vehicle.  Had an 04 s and had a air suspension failure which made the car undrivable but happened at 48k miles.  After it was fixed I inquired how much it would have cost to fix it 2ooo miles later when the warranty would expire and it would have been a 4800$ repair-

[bogeyman]

Maybe check the aftermarket warranty companies cost - might give you an idea of what you are in for.

[treedoc]

If I where to buy any Benz fitted with an airmatic suspension system I would seriously concider doing to it what we did with our 1994 SL500, ripe all that sophisticated electro hydraulic gadgetry out and retro fit standard springs and shocks.

I can't drive like Michael Shoemacker, and if I did I would shorely bend the thing anyway,nor do I carry bags of cement or loads of house bricks in the trunk

Below is an image of some of the expensive"junk" that I removed, made enough on sale of the parts to cover the cost of the new bits.

[cbenz1]

Having a newer complex Benz without a warranty is russian roulette....even with the warranty it is a hassle going to the dealer more than you will like. Some of the engines are known to burn oil too.

[Atazman]

Please keep your thoughts coming.  Just don't know what to expect from a vehicle so highly sophisticated.  Thanks for the comments so far!

[enochbell]

You are not buying a new car, you are considering a ridiculously expensive, awesome machine.  The original price of a this beast was...wait for it...$169,000.  And you are going to pay what, $50,000?  The original owner paid $22,000 a year in depreciation alone.  Are you willing to pay 25% of that in repairs (per year) to drive a car that is not exactly "new".  As long as you have realistic expectations and a thorough inspection I say, if you can afford it and you value a marque like this S65, then go for it.

g