In this four-part mini series on classic car reliability, we are looking at the wider definition of reliability in the context of a classic… And what it means for you as an owner.
Blog Post #3 – Financial Reliability
Does your classic car give you financial confidence, or do you lose sleep over losing money?
A classic car is an investment, not just of time and space but also of finance. When it comes to money, there really is no limit as to what a classic car can cost. Displaying a vehicle at a classic car show could start with an entry-level classic such as a Mercedes-Benz 190 Saloon, available for a few thousand pounds in good running order… At the other end of the spectrum would be a 300SL roadster, requiring more like £1,000,000 to put on the lawn at your local rotary club event.
In the broader spectrum of classic car values, a Mercedes-Benz SL offers excellent value for money. More reliable than it’s British counterparts, better built than any Italian alternatives, and well supported by a plethora of established clubs, magazines, parts suppliers and restorers.
In recent years, particularly since the financial crash, far too much attention has been placed on classic cars as an investment, an asset, and as a way to make money. Too many column inches and blog pages have been taken up by what’s going to be the next big thing, how much such and such made at auction and whether marque values are up or down.
First and foremost, we at SLSHOP are enthusiasts. And we really are interested in helping you create memories with your classic, not just as well as how much money it will make you over time. In the last 10 years, we have seen a significant increase in price almost across the board in the world of classic cars. For some marques, this rise was driven by an influx of investment money into the market. This buoyed the market as a whole, but in our corner of the classic car world, values increased not just on investor speculation but because of a genuine increased interest in the Mercedes-Benz SL.
Aficionados of the SL want the very best, and as more buyers join the market, this drives the price of the very best cars – it is the simple equation of supply and demand.
So should future gains play a role in deciding which car to buy, or whether and when to part your with existing classic?
This is where we ask if your car provides you with financial reliability? If you are content with just investing in a classic Mercedes and this is your sole objective, then you can easily answer yes. If you’re unsure and want to enjoy the vehicle as well, avoid putting too much weight on the former, as this may affect your vehicle’s emotional reliability.
There is, and always will be, value in the Mercedes-Benz brand. There is a safety in owning a high calibre classic Mercedes-Benz, a consistency that other marques cannot guarantee.
The question as to whether you lose sleep over the value in your car has to be countered with another… Do you sleep soundly knowing you own the car you love and that you love the car you own…?
Let the market do what the market does, enjoy the cars you have, keep them in fine fettle and use them when you can.
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SLSHOP has over ten years experience selling, restoring and maintaining a variety of classic and modern classic Mercedes; with a team of almost 60 specialists dedicated to the owners of these Stuttgart’s finest around the world. It would be our pleasure to support your ownership journey by booking your vehicle in for an appraisal, with an open and honest discussion around your vehicle’s potential. Contact our workshops team today to find out how we can take your vehicle to the next level.
Share With Your Fellow Enthusiasts
In this four-part mini series on classic car reliability, we are looking at the wider definition of reliability in the context of a classic… And what it means for you as an owner.
Blog Post #3 – Financial Reliability
Does your classic car give you financial confidence, or do you lose sleep over losing money?
A classic car is an investment, not just of time and space but also of finance. When it comes to money, there really is no limit as to what a classic car can cost. Displaying a vehicle at a classic car show could start with an entry-level classic such as a Mercedes-Benz 190 Saloon, available for a few thousand pounds in good running order… At the other end of the spectrum would be a 300SL roadster, requiring more like £1,000,000 to put on the lawn at your local rotary club event.
In the broader spectrum of classic car values, a Mercedes-Benz SL offers excellent value for money. More reliable than it’s British counterparts, better built than any Italian alternatives, and well supported by a plethora of established clubs, magazines, parts suppliers and restorers.
In recent years, particularly since the financial crash, far too much attention has been placed on classic cars as an investment, an asset, and as a way to make money. Too many column inches and blog pages have been taken up by what’s going to be the next big thing, how much such and such made at auction and whether marque values are up or down.
First and foremost, we at SLSHOP are enthusiasts. And we really are interested in helping you create memories with your classic, not just as well as how much money it will make you over time. In the last 10 years, we have seen a significant increase in price almost across the board in the world of classic cars. For some marques, this rise was driven by an influx of investment money into the market. This buoyed the market as a whole, but in our corner of the classic car world, values increased not just on investor speculation but because of a genuine increased interest in the Mercedes-Benz SL.
Aficionados of the SL want the very best, and as more buyers join the market, this drives the price of the very best cars – it is the simple equation of supply and demand.
So should future gains play a role in deciding which car to buy, or whether and when to part your with existing classic?
This is where we ask if your car provides you with financial reliability? If you are content with just investing in a classic Mercedes and this is your sole objective, then you can easily answer yes. If you’re unsure and want to enjoy the vehicle as well, avoid putting too much weight on the former, as this may affect your vehicle’s emotional reliability.
There is, and always will be, value in the Mercedes-Benz brand. There is a safety in owning a high calibre classic Mercedes-Benz, a consistency that other marques cannot guarantee.
The question as to whether you lose sleep over the value in your car has to be countered with another… Do you sleep soundly knowing you own the car you love and that you love the car you own…?
Let the market do what the market does, enjoy the cars you have, keep them in fine fettle and use them when you can.
Next Post:
Previous Posts:
SLSHOP has over ten years experience selling, restoring and maintaining a variety of classic and modern classic Mercedes; with a team of almost 60 specialists dedicated to the owners of these Stuttgart’s finest around the world. It would be our pleasure to support your ownership journey by booking your vehicle in for an appraisal, with an open and honest discussion around your vehicle’s potential. Contact our workshops team today to find out how we can take your vehicle to the next level.
Share With Your Fellow Enthusiasts
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Start investing today and our dedicated CARE team will work with you to increase the value and enjoyment you receive from your vehicle.
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