Same Price Dilemma: A Used 2004 Mercedes SL55 AMG Or A New Entry-Level Muscle Car?

The R230 generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL has aged like a fine wine, and with depreciation hitting it hard, you could buy one for under $10,000 – if, of course, you’re not afraid of the high maintenance costs.

Landing this particular example, though, is going to cost you more, as it is in the hot SL55 AMG spec, with only 19,745 miles (31,776 km) on the odo since it left the factory floor back in 2004 and was shipped to Illinois.

The SL55 AMG GT is offered at no reserve at the Auburn, Indiana, auction that’s scheduled to take place on September 3-5, and if RMSotheby’s estimates are correct, then you are looking at $20,000 to $25,000 to park it in the driveway. That’s compact class territory or, if you may, entry-level muscle car realm, with the base Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger starting at $25,000, $26,670 and $28,095 respectively.

The auction house hasn’t released any details, save for the fact that it’s offered with the complete manuals and original window sticker, from the Dave Leimbach Collection, and that it packs a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 with 493 HP (500 PS / 368 kW) and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque. Nonetheless, the pictures speak for it, as it appears to be in top-notch condition and very well equipped, with heated and ventilated seats with electric adjustment and memory function, satellite navigation system, bi-xenon headlamps, keyless go, etc.

Now, if you were in the market for a fun ride within this budget, would you get the SL55 or another model? Feel free to chip in at the comments section.