Before I type this let me just say....

PLEASE DONT GET OFFENDED.

Why are MB's so cheap in the US? I don't know what they are worth new but used they seem dirt cheap. A guy on this forum is asking low $20's for a C32. That Car would hover around $100k here.
How does MB stack up against other cars in terms of resale, i.e. is an M3 worth the same amount as the C32 I mentioned?
As I said please no one get offended but I'm just really curious, the only logical answers I can come up with are that the US market probbably has 3-4 times the choice of cars selling on the market compared to here so this would impact the resale value of any make or modell-to a degree.
Or
Our import taxes are astronomical....but even then....
or its a combination of the above and factoring in the dollar difference?
I hope to hear, and just to recap....no offense anyone!!!!

 

used ///M and AMGs are expensive in Canada...

 

Do laws prohibit US cars being imported to Canada?

 

Nope it is totally legal, but with import duties included, it will be probably more expensive than getting it locally in Canada...lol

 

Ahh I see! Registration might work alittle different here than over there but as an example I sold my W202 to a friend in a different state to me where registration in dearer and roadworthy certificates must be issued every year.
As this was the case, we decided to leave the car in my name and just have a gentlemans agreement that he would honour speed camera fines etc.

Could a simmilar idea be used in Canada to loophole taxes?

 

My observations exactly

Here in Canada we pay a premium on all our cars, both new and used

When I went down to visit my folks in December there was a display from a local dealer in Sarasota FLA in the airport for a used 2004 E55 in mint condition with 33,000mi going for a steal at $34,600 You guys have it too good down there!

When talking new, lets take 2 equal cars C230 Sport with sunroof pkg

US:
$30,424 + $1790 =$32,215MRSP + state tax (4-7%) = $34,147

Canada: (sport pkg is an option)
$38,900 + $1500 + $2200 = $42,600 + tax (6%GST + 8%PST) =$48,564

of course ours in in $CDN but with current exchange rates we still come out at a $9000CDN disadvantage when the prices are equalized with current exchange rates.

With what we pay here I could be driving a C350 down in the US for the same money

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2005-Mercedes...QQcmdZViewItem

Thats for a Used car and its a classic too!!!

 

Plus the other thing to consider is if I worked in the US my salary would be in the same number amount (but in US$ of course) so imagine the car selection I would be looking for at the same ratio of affordability.

Hello BMW 335i twin turbo and more

As I said, you all have it too easy in the US where you pay for everything cheaper then the rest of the world pays...of course except when it comes to medical, and higher education costs.

 

What is an average US/Canadian income out of curiosity?

 

well, in the US, there is so much competition, and also theres no "extra" taxes on a more powerful car unlike AU or the Asian countries.

 

Hey Damon

I just went to the MB site in Australia and was blown away, I thought that we had it bad here as I am always comparing our costs to the US and saying WTF!

A C200K in Australia has a list price of $65,990 which is equal to $60,320 in CDN$ One of the big things is your tax as you have to pay 10%GST up to $51,000 and 35% after that. Ours is just a flat 14% tax (8%provincial 6%GST).

Perhaps explains my post called 'Rant...' We both consider having our Benz as a luxury and are proud to drive it, the Americans on here complain about the performance and features etc etc eventhough they are getting their cars at an increadible steal and then post discussions such as 'I am bored with this car' or how do I get more power out of this snail. For the prices you pay, you should all be driving C55 or a C350 at the very least.

My parents who live in FLA buy everything for almost half the cost that I pay here in Toronto.

The only saving grace for you Australians is that at least your cars will technically last longer then ours here where it is -10*c today and that makes it so hard on the engine, not too mention the tons of salt that they dump on our roads which rusts the hell out of our cars

 

Ok I have done a search here. a C 230 Evo AMG Sports Coupe 7G Tronic over here is brand new $78,840 plus $3942 stamp duty,+$4961 LCT,+$575 reg, $88318, not including dealer delivery charges or Compulsay insurance.
Assuming I have done my maths right, and assuming we are comparing apples to apples then thats 69,700.3 USD

 

Lol, ignore my previous post then as I most certainly have done my maths wrong!!

Hey I too agree with your rant post, infact when I read it I thought to myself, this is a well thought out and very true post. I must admit though that I am guilty of complaining when it comes to the power output too!

 

close $68,888 US or $80,618CDN

For that price you could have bought (in Canada) a C55; or an M3; or an S4 with left over cash; or BMW 550i; or CLK500

In the US, probably a Maybach or SLR (just kidding)

 

USA here I come!!!!!

what is the average income for the States and for Canada?

 

Two words....taxes, and market value. USA car import taxes are MUCH lower than most other countries. Competition has eroded MB prestige and offerings (features, fit/finish, reliability, power, etc.) so they can no longer demand the big premiums they once charged.

 

taxes are supposedly cheaper in the US than other countries. philippines has an outragous car tax.....something like 200% on their vehicles......that's why you would seldom see a coupe or 2-door. i think there might be an additional tax if it were a luxury car, but not sure. a c230 would cost $90,000 US in another county whereas it's $30,000 US here in the states.

 

DamonAnthony,

The short answer to your question is that you have to keep in mind that new Mercedes (and for that matter other luxury cars) are way less expensive here than in most other countries. So naturally used ones will be cheaper as well. The reason for that is low import duties (that don't accelerate based on engine size or value like in some other countries)

Also, the readily available low rate financing and leasing available on new cars reduces the prices on used cars as well, especially cars that are just 1-2 years old. Many people would prefer to lease a brand new car for $600 - $700 per month rather than buy a 1-2 year old car. And you can get very nice cars for $600-$700 per month. In fact, look at the lease specials on bmwusa.com or mbusa.com.

As for average income, we have the same situation here that you have in other countries, incomes are all over the map depending on your industry, skills, marketability, business acumen, etc.

 

See my previous thread:

Modifying a US C230 To Meet Canadian Standards

We discussed the costs of modifying and importing a C-class from the US into Canada...

To answer your question of average Canadian income:

http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/famil21a.htm

 

They don't even sell the C180 here in the States...
meanwhile, people are buying hyrbrids,
when good mileage is available without all the gadgetry, just not here.

I read the C180 gets about 40-50mpg (US gallons)

 

Hey Eddietr yes that makes alot of sense, I think we may be in the early stages of a simmilar set up hear, mainly with prestige cars, but fortunately resale values are still quite high (for now). For example, BMW offer a capped millage lease, where you drive for a nominated period of time, be that 1 year or 3, then just return your car and drive away in your new one.

nickgailloux thanks for the links, I have looked at them both, I still feel though that If a rellative was living in the US then mabey a car bought from the states could be kept in their name, not the Canadian owners name. This should save the tax problem, not to mention the Canadian import upgrades because technically the Canadian owner would just be driving a visiting rello's car, and the Canadian owner gets memory seats!!!!

C230 Sport Coup, I checked the fuel economy on a C180k it is: Highway Fuel Consumption 6 (lt/100km)
City Fuel Consumption 9.5 (lt/100km) not sure what that is in miles.

 

100k there is for new one right.
around 60k for new c32.
MB resale value is not as good as bimmers.
low $20's, but how is the condition of the car.

I do agree that car is a lot cheaper in US than a lot of countries, but on the other hand, living expense is higher than most countries

 

9000 CND more is not that bad at all.
besides, state tax+registration is around 10% here in CA.
and if you want to compare car prices, compare with Asia, then you will be very pleased with the price you have in Canada

 

New C55 AMG is $160490 plus on road costs (reg, taxes, stamp duty, dealer costs, and extra options) Used C55 prices vary from $120k-$145k(plus stamp duty, transfer etc) age condition depending. Used C32 range from $80-$100k, once again age, condition depending, and also plus stamp duty etc.

Over here I find a Mercedes to have a better resale value than a BMW, and I find you get alot more BM for your money than you do a Merc IMHO, that being said the update model W203 had a classier and sportier finish than the pre update.

But, I do have to admit, my W203 and other ones I have driven feel cheaper in build quality than the E46 equivalants I have driven, this may effect the lower end Mercedes resale value in years to come.

 

Canada = Provincial Sales Tax + Goods & Services Tax = 15% on goods purchased. This plus exchange and relatively low volume means high prices.

US = 7.75% Sales Tax (can be slightly higher or lower, depending on the state) + decent exchange rate + incredibly high volume of cars sold = huge discounts.

Mercedes sells more cars in California and Texas than anywhere else in the world. FJ Motocars in Newport Beach has the highest volume of Mercedes sold period.

Remember also that some of the cars are made here so there is a very low shipping cost. Think about how much it costs to ship the car to your local.

A 1999.5 Audi A4 2.8 cost me $6,000 more when I bought it in Hawaii (US state) simply because very few were sold there and they had to ship it (and all the freaking parts) from the mainland.

As for BMWs, well, I owned a 2005 M3 for three months and had to return it under the Lemon Law. Three transmissions in one month was more than I could handle. My best friend's 745Li had two new trannies and a computer. A co-worker's trunk and differential were replaced within six months of purchase. None of my Merc's ever had a problem. Plus, the new Bimmers are hideous.