capt_paul

My dealer placed a special order for me back in May for a 2013 C350 Coupe with Polar White ext/Red Leather int, with most options, including the dynamic handling package and bi-xenon lights.

The car has yet to go into production because of a delay from the supplier for the bi-xenion lights. The salesman called me a few days ago and said it may not go into production until October at the earliest.

An alternative for me was a car coming to the dealership in September (which means that the car is already built, and therefore no other changes to the car can be made), It is a 2013 C250 Coupe with the Sport Plus package. This is the specs:

Polar White
Black MB Tex/DINAMICA with Red Stitching
Premium 1 Package-
SiriusXM Satellite Radio/Heated Front Seats/Harmon-Kardon Sound System w/Dolby 5.1/iPod/MP3 Media Interface
Rear Side Air Bags
Multimedia Package-Comand/Rear View Camera/Voice Control
Aluminum Trim
KEYLESS-GO
Sport Package Plus-AMG 18" Multi-Spoke Alloy Wheels/Speed Sensitive Steering/C250 Sport Copupe Plus

$46,035 + $905 Destination and Delivery = $46,940

If I get the C250, I would likely retrofit biexnon lights at a later time, and I would eventually change out the aluminum trim for wood trim pieces.

I had a $7000 cash deposit for the C350, and the salesman said that they could transfer it to the C250 that is arriving in September. I will be using the $1000 MBCA loyalty certificate towards the purchase also. I am thinking about going for 5% off the price ($2347) then do the discount from there. The total would come to around $43600.

Is that a good ballpark to work with, or should I negotiate further, due to the delay in getting the other car as originally ordered?

My other option is to just wait until the C350 is built ( I would have it delivered until the very end of this year). What do you guys think?

Showa

When I ordered mine, I asked to have 15% off MSRP but only got 10%. I went through 5~6 dealers and finally one dealer gave me that deal. I got the car after 3.5 months. You should get much better than 10% for the delay. GL

MB_inspired

Stick with the C350 order. You will be far happier with the car overall, especially the power, and the factory bi-xenons and the adaptive high beam system is amazing.

Retrofitting these things are more and more difficult with the way that MB has started locking down individual cars' Star Diagnosis profiles to their original factory specs only.

Carmo99

I would agree with the post above. I've just got my C350 and the engine is great. Its not just the smooth power delivery, as the noise alone makes it for me. I tried the 250 before buying and there is quite a difference.

Guilty

Both super slow, but stick with the C350. The C250 is gonna kill you.

hublotista

this is funny because i had also ordered a c350c 4matic early may. They said it wasn't supposed to go into production til October as well. I did not know it was because of the bixenons, but the sales rep was rather nebulous in describing what the reason was behind the delay.

Blessed_Badger

Would definitely stick with your original order. As others have said you will regret it. I know the waiting will be awful, BUT, you will be far happier with the car you chose than one you'll get a few months earlier. And the bi-xenons are by no means an easy aftermarket fit.

smo0othride

Seriously why would you get either. get a used one with a bigger engine. I laugh at people who drive those. Why get a new Mercedes if you're just going to get the cheapest model? You will get no respect from those models

capt_paul

I can't quite afford a $100,000 + model, and I have had a very good experience with my 2005 C230 sport sedan that I bought new in Aug 2004.

Spending $52000 on a new Mercedes is not like buying a Toyota or a Hundai, so maybe I am not a fortunate for you, but I know that I will be happy with either the C-350 or the C250 coupe.

smo0othride

Except for the c63 the c class is junk. I hate getting those c300 loaner cars at the dealership. If you can't buy new then buy used with a warranty. I'm trying to help you not make the mistake of getting a model you'll later regret. It will look nice brand new but you'll soon realize that model is seriously lacking quality.

Guilty

Get a used E350/E550 coupé and don't throw your money from the window like smoothride said. The regular C class is a piece of junk. Buying new is NEVER a good idea unless you're loaded which doesn't seem to be your case. (No offense sir)

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...Id=76776&Log=0

You might wanna take a look

Sportstick

Respect is earned by who people are, for example, being kind and considerate and not mocking others. Respect is not earned by the things people purchase.

Both of your quality assertions are objectively untrue. Both widespread experience since 2008 of many like myself on the sedan forum, as well as winning the IQS Study one year, have demonstrated that the W204 is a highly reliable, high quality vehicle.

However, it seems clear you will be happier with some other car than the C Class, so we wish you well wherever you go next.

smo0othride

It may be reliable but it's far from high quality which is the reason I don't like the c class I think it devalues the Mercedes name.

andrew e coupe

~ move along...

Sportstick

That is an interesting distinction. For many, reliability = high quality. How do you define "quality"?

BTW, how will you feel about Mercedes once the A and B Class cars arrive in the next year or so? They will then likely sell more volume of A/B/C than the rest of the entire brand.

Kevin82

On behalf of everyone that buys a car that is lesser than yours, we're sorry

nomoremustang

no way would I accept the C250.
I ordered a C350 and that is what I want...I can wait a couple more months to get exactly what I want vs. settling for the alternative...and are you sure they aren't just tyring to dump the C250 on you.

accce

Why would I want somebody's old car when you can by something new? I laugh at those who can't afford new and drive old cars.

ferrariyellow44

I wouldnt exactly call the C cheap and of low quality, its the most reliable, highest selling car MB sells in the US! I agree that the E, S, CL...are better cars but they also cost double the price. And $52,000 isnt exactly an inexpensive car, some people in this country spend $100k on a house! The c coupe is a very nice car, IMO

capt_paul

Well, I think that I am going to go with the C350 Coupe, with the Sport Package, Multimedia Package, Parktronic, Illuminated Door Sills. Still haven't decided on weather to get it in White or Black exterior color.

Sportstick

In Nevada? I humbly suggest white. The A/C is good, but why the extra challenge of black when it gets to 100 degrees?

Sportstick

I would NOT agree they are better. They are simply different, with a different purpose for different buyers. They are larger, have more equipment, etc. but that is not objectively an improvement for everyone. They are not of higher DQR (industry term for durability/quality/reliability). Different and bigger does not automatically equal "better".

Kevin82

Does it have HID's (aka: Lighting package)? I think this is a must because they look freaking awesome.

capt_paul

2013 C-Class C350 C350 Coupe
2-Door Rear Wheel Drive Car, 268 bhp, 258 lb-ft, 7-sp Automatic, 19/28 mpg

SELECTED OPTIONS
BLACK

SPORTS PKG (956)

-inc: 18" 7-double spoke AMG polish black alloy wheels, AMG rear spoiler, sport
seats, MB-Tex/DINAMICA upholstery w/red stitching, interior contrast red stitching,
steering-wheel mounted silver shift paddles, red seat belts, black floor mats w/red
leather piping

MULTIMEDIA PKG (320)
-inc: COMAND HD-based navigation system w/3D map views, 7" color display,
Gracenote media database, in-dash 6-disc CD/DVD changer, SD card slot, 10GB
hard drive w/Music Register, SiriusXM real-time traffic service, rear view camera,
voice control
ILLUMINATED DOOR SILLS (067)

KEYLESS-GO (889)

PARKTRONIC W/PARKING GUIDANCE (230)

2013 C350 C350 Coupe
TRIM: C350 C350 Coupe
EXT: Black
INT: Black
INVOICE MSRP
BASE (incl. dest.): $41081 $44105
OPTIONS: $7078 $7610
TOTAL: $48159 $51715

capt_paul

Est build date- Sep 15th, delivery end of Oct

I think I will start with an offer of $48,000 and go from there, and use my MBCA discount of $1000 after that. With my $7000 down, should have a fairly decent price.