How to buy a classic Mercedes in the 21st Century.

It’s the modern day. We’re all being pummelled with advertisements, news, fake news, discounts, finance deals, pay with Klarna, cryptocurrency, auctions, digital car raffles and more… It’s no wonder that making purchase decisions is becoming harder; especially when it comes to buying a classic Mercedes. With all the white noise and different purchase routes, how do you cut through the marketing and manipulation to find a vehicle right for you?

Let’s start by looking at the options:

1. Traditional Auctions:

Classic car auctions have been a common destination for the aspiring owner for many years. These traditional physical auctions offer petrolheads the opportunity to inspect a vehicle before placing a bid; conjuring an atmosphere of excitement, as individuals compete to acquire their dream classic. These auctions exist across different tiers, with the higher-level auctions being more exclusive and reserved for ‘select’ high-net worth’s – think Christies’ and Sotheby’s. These are where the rare classics – the Gullwings and 250 GTO SWBs  – circulate between wealthy individuals. Below this are the more common vehicles – the Porsche 911s and 360 Maranellos – more accessible to the everyday punter.

With the ascension of technology, traditional auctions have moved online – think eBay, Car and Classic, The Market and Collecting Cars. eBay has been in existence for several years and has the monopoly on day-to-day cars over classics, where Car and Classic has been a destination for buyers and sellers since 2005. The latter platforms are more recent and have grown to acclaim, thanks to celebrity (Chris Harris) and VC investment.

2. Digital Auctions: A grey area?

As we’ve pointed out, digital auctions are not a new phenomenon but since the Pandemic, they have grown exponentially as people have looked to invest their money into classic cars at the swipe or click of a button. With this growth, is the potential for aspiring owners to be misled by glossy photos and carefully arranged wording. Couple this with the pressure of the clock ticking and aspiring owners are put into a position of speculation – almost as much as a gamble. Where some platforms allow you to view the vehicle prior to the online auction ending, others do not. This is creating a sense of urgency and a grey area around the authenticity of a vehicle listed for sale at auction. It is almost as if we are expected to view these vehicles with rose tinted glasses.

For those that agree and find the uncertainty of digital auctions difficult to swallow, we’ve devised a new route to purchase a classic Mercedes as part of our new MarketPlace.

SLSHOP MarketPlace

As the leading Mercedes-Benz specialist, we recognised that we needed to do more to support existing and aspiring owners of ALL Mercedes-Benz models. Not just the concours level vehicles. To restore some confidence to the classic car market and make purchasing a classic Mercedes-Benz easier, we decided to take a different digital route to those who find the digital auction platforms difficult.

Introducing SLSHOP Appraised:

As a family business with a genuine passion for all Mercedes models and their owners, we wanted to create a way for people to sell and buy with confidence. SLSHOP Appraised is a unique way to purchase a car with confidence and…

Yes, you still view the vehicle online;

Yes, you are still expected to read a description, look at a video and photos to make an assessment;

Yes, you are expected to take the opportunity to view the vehicle in person;

Yes, you negotiate on the price.

BUT,

You do all this knowing that SLSHOP’s Craftsmen have inspected the vehicle at our facility in Stratford-upon-Avon. All Appraised vehicles feature an inspection report you can view from the comfort of your home on a mobile phone, desktop, or tablet. This report shows you essential information about the condition of the vehicle inside, under the bonnet and underneath. Our Craftsmen are the best of the best and WANT YOU to make an informed purchase.

SLSHOP Appraised is for people who want an added layer of security when purchasing a classic Mercedes-Benz. They may be less knowledgeable about what to look for when buying, or simply want the reassurance that they are making a sound investment. Whatever the reason, there are no grey areas.

Know what you’re looking at? Try our Classifieds

SLSHOP MarketPlace caters for all types of classic Mercedes-Benz models. For those who are more confident when inspecting a classic Mercedes, SLSHOP Classifieds are vehicles listed for sale by owners around the world. You have the freedom to deal directly with the seller and make an informed decision in your own time. No clock, no hidden fees just direct contact with the seller and the vehicle.

Why have we created SLSHOP MarketPlace?  

Transparency.

We recognised that the classic car market needed to be more transparent and to not lose its core values – of preservation, enjoyment, and community.

Inclusive.

SLSHOP MarketPlace aims to cater for three types of sellers and three types of buyers. We want to help everyone with their ownership journey, whether they are just starting out or bringing theirs to a close. It doesn’t matter what your budget is, our three services cover all wallet sizes.

Entry.

Starting a classic Mercedes ownership journey should be simple, easy, and flexible. MarketPlace gives aspiring owners three routes to make their dream purchase.

Exit. 

Sellers can sell to the right people and get the right price for their car. If they’ve invested heavily in a vehicle, we will show this through our Appraisal service or guide you on how to make your listing stand out visually and through accurate descriptions.

SLSHOP MarketPlace: An Overview:

Buyers:

Classified:

Purchase directly from the seller and make an informed decision using our buyers’ guides.

Appraised:

Purchase directly from the seller, using the Appraisal certificate to understand whether a vehicle deserves your investment and at what price. 

Showroom:

Choose from a hand-picked selection of Mercedes models that have undergone intense scrutiny by our Workshops. The finest classic Mercedes models available.

Sellers:

Classified:

Sell for free on SLSHOP MarketPlace.  

Appraised:

Have your vehicle inspected by SLSHOP’s craftsmen and photographed by our team. You manage the description and enquiries.

Showroom:

Sell via our Showroom for a hassle-free process. We manage every aspect of the sale from inspection, listing, marketing, listing and negotiations.