truelove

hi everyone, i've been looking at the c230k for about 8 months now and finally have enough of a down payment to actually order one in the next month or so. i just have a few questions for anyone who can help me out. thanks. i will be ordering my car (2003 obviously) and having it shipped. i won't buy one off the lot.

when is a price negotiated?
will there be any sort of deposit required when the order is made?
what sort of mark down from the MSRP can i expect typically?
how long will the shipment take typically?
what are the dang prices for the paint colors? in other words, which colors won't cost me extra? is it just red, black and white?

thanks for any info you can give me

TimmyC230boy

go to www.mbusa.com and build your coupe. it has all the options as well as all the prices for them and alot of other info that you need. Make sure you get the C7 package, and the roof

Enze6997

when is a price negotiated? Before you order...

will there be any sort of deposit required when the order is made? Dealers in my area wanted from 500 - 1k

what sort of mark down from the MSRP can i expect typically?
For a 2003 I would not expect much but I think you should be able to get them down to at least 500 below MSRP... I got my 2002 at the end of the model year sort of so I paid about 1500 less than MSRP... If you want a good deal though find a dealer that will offer below MSRP then call around and wheel and deal until you get the price you want.

how long will the shipment take typically? Longer than you want it too... I got what I wanted without ordering. I got a pretty popular set up.

What are the dang prices for the paint colors? in other words, which colors won't cost me extra? is it just red, black and white? The non metalic colors are part of the total MSRP for the base setup... Brilliant silver and Obsidian Black and others are $644 more I think.

Enze6997

Yeah DEF. get C7!!

c240x

Have you tried looking at the dealerships in your area? There's one in Pekin, and another in Bloomington about 45 minutes away. Both have 2002 on the lot and if your not too finicky, you may get a deal on them. Keep in mind that the 2003 has a smaller 1.8L engine vs. the 2.3L of the 2002's. I spoke with the dealer in Pekin last week and they were willing to knock off about $1,300 off the MSRP, plus some bonuses (gifts)

truelove

thanks for all the info. i've looked at the 2002's and i can't find one with everything that i want. C1, C4, C5, C7. plus i'm one of those people who want the newest thing out. i'm a sucker like that. plus the new clear headlight lenses on the 2003's suckered me in even more. and the new smaller engine doesn't bother me a bit. if i were buying a car for power, i would buy a 350Z or a G35. not that the c230k doesn't have power.

kompress

I gotta say that I respect the fact that you know what you want and why. I am surprised that you don't know what color you want. Or do you? The info on the metallic vs. non-metallic posted above is what I know to be true.

That being said, my preference would probably be to try to find an '02 with all or most of what I wanted b/c I don't think you are going to be able to get a whole lot off the MSRP given how early in the season it is. Not a suggestion, just my personal preference. Of course, I did not follow my own advice b/c I needed a car when I bought. But I called around and was pretty open to the dealers about having to beat the other guy's price. I don't remember how much, but I got a bunch off MSRP when everything and everybody said I would not be able to get anything below. And I got EXACTLY what I wanted. It just happened to be en route from Germany at the time.

Ya know, waiting for the '03 may help you avoid some of the stupid problems we are having. Good luck!

viper

You may be a sucker all right. You will be one of the first to experience the problems with the new 1.8L engine.

MarkL

In addition to the metallic/non-metallic price difference, certain colors are "special order" and have a surcharge of about $1000 over and above the regular cost (yes, still the +$640 for metallic special order). I think some of the special order colors for the coupe are Capri blue and Citron.

truelove

thanks for all the info everyone. i actually will probably get a 2002 if i can find one with everything that i want. but i doubt i will. i've tried. if i can't, i'll order a 2003, those are the breaks and i'll live with it. i could use the delivery time to save more for a down payment anyway. quick question.

do dealers have 2003 pricing already? cause i know mbusa doesn't have it up yet so i wasn't sure if dealers have that info yet.

thanks again

Lynn

The dealers should have 2003 pricing by now. It is supoosed to be on the MBUSA web site on Friday.

Have a sales rep get on the MB network and check for the car you want. He can check the inventory of every other dealer in the country.

MsMercedes

Sud's in Bloomington told me they wanted $2500 to special order a C230 and that it might take up to 3 months to have it delivered, depending on the factory and what options I wanted. I don't think it was a ploy to get me to buy one off of the lot because I gave no indication I was even interested in one of them. After talking, I told the dealer "Okay, let's drive this black one then". I didn't have an extra $2500 lying around because my equity was in my trade-in, so I went ahead and bought one they had. I wish now that I had them do a dealer trade for a coupe with the C7 package! If you go there, ask for Joe Bolek. He's great.

Isringhausen in Springfield had several coupes on the lot last weekend...a Magma Red C7, a Bordeaux, and I think 2 Orions. I can't remember if there were more or not or what options they had. Thier website lists the inventory and prices. I'm just not crazy about Isringhausen because they have a somewhat snooty attitude.

avlis

Explain that. What costs $2500? Was that on top of MSRP? Special order for certian colors is "only" $1000.

truelove

yeah, i don't know what that meant either. cause i know that it costs absolutely nothing (i mean above and beyond just buying one off the lot) to order a car from any company. even the ones on the lot have a destination cost associated with them.

vyse

I never saw any references to these C packages when I got my car, what are they?

Lynn

They are option packages in the US. C7 is the almost the same as the Evolution package in Canada. The difference is we get standard floor mats. I don't think any of the other option packages are sold in Canada. You get the options ala carte.

vyse

Oh, no wonder. I was always confused by this! Thanks for the clarification

trench

I think I would have preferred this. I don't have a sunroof but would have liked the rain sensor. I'm sure others would have liked the heated seats - but passed on the headlamp washers, etc.

Cheers, BT

MarkL

I think she meant a $2500 deposit to order the car.

le848dave

Hey truelove79, if I remember correctly when I was buying mine I was deciding between two of 'em at my dealer...I ended up w/ just the C2, didn't want the sport package (C7 because I've never liked the sport tires on MI roads)...but anyway, the other one was a brilliant silver w/ black charcol interior. I know it had C7, C2, C5 and C4...I think it had C1 too...anyway, drove by the dealer today and I think the same one is still there. Have your dealer check MB of Rochester in MI, we are only about 8 or so hours away, I'm sure you could get it if you really wanted it.

dave

truelove

wow, thank you everyone for all your help. i didn't expect this much response. and i know it would probably be smart to just get a 2002 but like i said i'm a sucker and i need the latest thing so i'll probably just get a 2003. i need the delivery time to save up more money anyway. anyway, you were all a big help and i'll be sure to hang around and talk to you all once i get my car. i've been wanting it for 8 months now and i can't take it any longer. later

schwarz c230

I bought one special order in Champaign Illinois for 1000$ off retail, by the way they still have the same two C230's when I placed my order like 5 months ago.

MsMercedes

The $2500 was a down payment before the car would be ordered. Surely you guys don't think that a dealership would charge an *extra* $2500 just to order a car??

truelove

if anyone knows of a 2002 c230k near (within shipping distance, which i guess could be anywhere) Peoria IL, with AT LEAST these options on it, please let me know.

C1, C5, C7, 6-speed stick

these are the options that i must have. if it doesn't have at least these, forget it. thanks.

tommy

Only because you said "they wanted $2500 to special order a c230". Can't blame everyone else if you're not clear yourself.