Nevada Jack

Guys...I am ticked!!!! I priced out my R350 yesterday (using $49,000 as the base) and Netstar information for the options. The MSRP came to $66,464 when I selected a loaded car. Today while watching the US Open I saw a Lexus ad and it featured their Keyless Go. All of a sudden I realized that the listing for my car did not have that as an option. I called the dealer and he checked and sure enough you do not have an option to have Keyless Go in an R350. It is an option on the R500.

I have a real problem with MB and their option plans. Here I am about to spend $65,000 on one of their cars and it does not offer a Keyless Go option! I intend to call MBUSA tomorrow morning and demand a direct answer to why they offer this in the R500 and not the R350. (The same is true for the ML350 vs. the ML500.) I had asked the dealer to price me out a R500 with the Keyless Go and see what the bump up was to get the R500. But the more I thought about it the more upset I became. Why the hell should I have to spend another $7000 or so dollars just to get a Keyless Go option. What luxury car that sells for $65,000 does not offer such a feature?

I am upset enough to cancel the whole deal and look elsewhere or just drive my 2003 E Class Sport Sedan. This crap has got to stop and unless the MB buyers refuse to buy the product, they will continue with their arrogant ways. I intend to follow this to a level that will respond to me with a full explanation.

AutoSaurus

Not to add fuel to the fire but you can get it in a $20,000 Toyota Prius or a $30,000 Toyota Avalon. Makes you really wonder what MB is thinking....I know its frustrating I want it too for my ML350.

Nevada Jack

I contacted MBUSA today and they will have a Product Specialist (whatever that is) call me next week to explain my concern over no KG for the R350.

glojo

Usually it is a case of MBUSA deciding what options they want to import on Mercedes-Benz vehicles. This time though the R-class will be built in your country?

Interesting,
John
Forgot to mention,
I watched a review of this vehicle lat week on one of out Motoring TV channels. It appeared very good.

moa4r

if you're getting 16K (66K msrp vs 49K base) worth of options on a 350, its probably worth it to just get a 500 (which most likely comes with a lot of the 350 options standard) with keyless, IMO . either way good luck.. when will it deliver? Is that car out in europe already?

Nevada Jack

Hi John...yes, it is a twist this time. I really cannot figure out why only this option is not available on the 350, while it is on the 500. I hope to hear from MBUSA sometime this week on what their reasoning is. Thanks for the input on seeing a program on the R and indicating it was good.

"A bright sunny day in LV and only 102 degrees..."

Nevada Jack

You are correct in that some of the optional items that I selected on the R350 are standard on the R500. However, many of the other options I selected are also optional on the R500 including the Keyless Go for $1080. The bump up to a R500 I estimate at approximately $7000 at a minimum. I don't have the R500 Netstar information but my dealer is working up the difference for identical cars but not knowing the base price it is a guessing game at this point for both of us.

I really do not want a V8. The V8 in the R is currently the 302HP, 3 valve engine which is being replaced with the new 4 valve engine in the S Class and other models. If it was the new V8 I may consider it. But I do not intend to pay MB $7000 more just to obtain a Keyless Go option that should be available on a $66,000 "luxury Grand Sport Cruiser."

I have a build date of September with delivery in October. Europe will be getting the car in January or so 2006 in the shorter wheelbase model so I understand.

matsna

From my enquires - Keyless go will be available in Europe on all models of the R class. You just gotta pay for it.

So strangeness indeed!!

glojo

Hi matsna,
That would be back to the status quo for all the other models. I am considering one of these vehicles. Is there any further information on the R-class other than what can be found on the various Mercedes-Benz web-sites.

Thanks for the update,
John

Nevada Jack

I have not yet heard from MBUSA on their position on the Keyless Go feature but I did talk with my dealer. He talked with the MB Sales Rep and both felt that there was little chance anything would change (at least this model year.)

So my dealer in order to satisfy my needs has offered me a very attractive deal on the R500 (with KG) and all the other options I had selected for the R350. So I spec'd the R500 and my order will be changed to reflect the R500. I did not really want the V8 but feel as big and as heavy as the R Class is, it can only make my "ride" more enjoyable. Spending time on the 211 forum I found that the E500 drivers were very happy with the engine.

I just don't want to continue the confrontation with MB...I just want to take delivery on this car that I have been tracking since concept pictures were shown in 2002. Thanks to my dealer this is going to happen.

glojo

What a great shame you are being forced into a decision you did not originally want. I am sure you will be happy with the 500 and hopefully the economy will not be that different.

I dread to think what will happen if your fuel prices continue to increase!!

Good luck,
John

A really hot, sunny afternoon in Torquay

Nevada Jack

Hi John...yes it is upsetting but I just want to proceed with this purchase. The dealer has been great and the discount will ease the "pain."

I think the economy will be a couple of less mpg but since I drive very little in the city, at least I will get the higher figures on trips. I am sure gas prices here will continue upward but I don't think it will really effect me that much. I can always trade it in when MB sees fit to produce the 320CDI for US market...:-)

A really hot, hot day in Las Vegas...105 or so!

glojo

Having a good dealer is the most important factor, and it must be satisfying to know that.

I bet you have Air conditioning in HOT Las Vegas!!!

My poor punka-wallah is getting old and will soon need replacing

Take care,
John

moa4r

congratulations, I bet you'll be happier with the 500. Did the total price the dealer gave you end up being much higher than the 350 you specced out?

Nevada Jack

Hi John...yes the dealer is crucial to a happy relationship with your car. This dealer is about 2000 miles from me and I intend to pick the car up on my way home after I visit my sister in South Carolina.

The A/C runs all day and night through the summer months...:-)

Nevada Jack

Thanks...I am looking forward to all that V8 power...:-)

Since the base prices have not yet been announced, it is all guess work at this point. The Options are pretty set but it looks like the R500 will run me about $5000 more than the R350 with the same options, including the $1080 KG on the R500.

glojo

That is further than travelling to Moscow from where I live in South-West England!!!!

Unbelievable. I don't fancy having to nip back to the dealership if I forgot something!!

Regards,
John

rkao

We were at the M Class Road Rally event on Sunday at Belmont Park, NY and there was a (supposedly) production R350 present for us to examine closely. My wife and I spent a good 45 minutes going over the car and came away very impressed with the interior designs/features. The exterior left a little to be desired but the car as a package and built for a family is hard to fault.

We were told by the rep on-site that the base price for the R350 is about $49,900 and the R500 is $59,900. Both with extensive options offered, including a very cool integrated iPod adapter in the glove box (a la the new ML). Not thrilled with the new gear selector on the steering column like the BMW 7-series (one of the many reasons why I now drive an Audi A8L instead of what would have been my 6th BMW in 10 years). But the interior quality is good with a great looking dash and center console.

The car was incredibly roomy in all 3 rows of seating with good headroom. The 2nd row seating were captains seats with individual arm rests and were adjustable in fore-aft travel and reclining back. Even the 3rd row seating was very acceptable for a tall adult (my wife, who is 5' 11" and gets claustrophobic found it easy to be in). The example also had the panoramic sunroof option (a must since it includes a ventilating rear window feature!) and 18" wheels (17" std on R350 and 18" std on R500).

I am already on the hot list for the R-class at my dealer and just called the rep to confirm that production slots were already available though I've not committed until we've driven both the 350 & 500 before deciding. We won't see the car in the dealer until about September, the R350 being first, and once we've had a chance to drive both, we'll be able to decide to go with the V6 or V8.

Based on our first impressions though, I think we'll have an R-class in our garage in a few months.

Nevada Jack

Yes...it is quite a trip. I figure about 2700 miles to my sister's place in SC and another 6-700 to the dealer in Mississippi and then another 2000 or so home in Nevada.

I will be spending a few days in the dealers city before I leave to come home and make sure there are no problems.

Service in the LV dealership has been really great. There sales efforts leaves a lot to be desired...flat out told me the new R would be sold at list! So I went elsewhere. So when I get the R home, I can count on my service advisor to take care of me like he has with the E 320.

Nevada Jack

Thanks so much for that first hand report. I had not talked to anyone who has actually seen or sat in the car. I am encouraged by your comments.

I have a allocation (slot) for the first decade in September with delivery in late Sep or early Oct. I have all of the options except for the Heated Seats and the Rear Seat Entertainment Center. My total options come to a little over $15,000 on the R500 (including the iPOD integration kit) and the Pano Roof. The Premium Package includes the Power Rear Qtr. Windows also. A Rear Center Console is also an option which is located between the 2nd row seats and is removable if you want to have the flat storage space.

As far as the base price, they are pretty good figures but the only thing MB has announced is that the R Class will start at under $50,000. I figure that means $49,000 or so for the 350. The $59,900 sounds a little high for the 500. I would figure something closer to $58,000 based on what my dealer indicated. My MSRP on the R500 will be approximately $73,000. I will post the details of the deal when it is finalized with pricing from MB.

Thanks again for the input.

Beaur

[QUOTE=Nevada Jack]Thanks so much for that first hand report. I had not talked to anyone who has actually seen or sat in the car. I am encouraged by your comments.


I too got to inspect the R350 at Belmont. Agree with most of the description except I thought plastic switches etc were a bit cheesy for 50K car(same on the ML!!), but the entire industry is going that way.

One drawback for me is that it looks like with the panorama roof you won't be able to install a roof rack on the car. Hope that is not the case as I would make use of that feature. The new BMW wagon has a pano roof with rack so I would hope I am wrong.

Nevada, are you getting options pricing/availability from your dealer or some site online. My dealer always says wait until late Summer when I ask!!

Nevada Jack

[QUOTE=Beaur] There is not a roof rack on the list of options I have seen and I doubt that with the Pano roof that would be possible. Perhaps some aftermarket option may become available.

I am using preliminary pricing from NetStar and it's listing for the R350 and R500. My dealer says they are not final but does not expect them to change. There is still no base pricing for either model.

rkao

The trend towards cost cutting is getting out of hand, based on what I've seen of the pictures of the new W221 S-class interior, it's affecting the entire luxury car segment and it's not going to get any better unfortunately.

But the overall design of the R-class interior impressed me, including the ergonomics and the layout. And that's why it's now so high on my wife's short list.

JackStraw

Nevada Jack--

Are you getting the AIRMATIC suspension? In published reports of the new ML, the AIRMATIC option is recommended, and I imagine that will be the case with the R as well.

Nevada Jack

Yes...I have it on my E320 Sport and as the saying goes..."don't leave home without it." It is a $1200 option on the R500 and $1400 on the R500. Don't know why the difference.