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Should I purchase a 2007 C230 dealer/loaner car?

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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 08:07 PM
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Should I purchase a 2007 C230 dealer/loaner car?

I have a 2003 C230, which just past the 50,000 mile mark. I have never had any major problems with the car and I have really enjoyed it these past 3 1/2 years. I did purchase the extended warranty so I have another 3 years left. I just put on new tires and recently had it serviced(scheduled). HOWEVER......

My dealer is selling some of their 2007 C230 loaner cars(roughly 5,000 miles on each), they are being discounted about $5,000 off the original sticker price. Has anybody purchased one of these? Any advice? Or should I avoid these loaner cars?
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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 08:13 PM
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Originally Posted by soma
I have a 2003 C230, which just past the 50,000 mile mark. I have never had any major problems with the car and I have really enjoyed it these past 3 1/2 years. I did purchase the extended warranty so I have another 3 years left. I just put on new tires and recently had it serviced(scheduled). HOWEVER......

My dealer is selling some of their 2007 C230 loaner cars(roughly 5,000 miles on each), they are being discounted about $5,000 off the original sticker price. Has anybody purchased one of these? Any advice? Or should I avoid these loaner cars?
Look up several posts below yours .

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w203/182584-used-2006-c-230-ss-dealer-lots.html
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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 08:13 PM
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FFFFFFFF that!!
A loaner car ONLY $5K off sticker?!? Your dealer is smoking something, you should get $5K off sticker on a new car if anything. A loaner is basically the worst car you can buy. I punish those damned things cause I'm pissed I gotta drive that around instead of my monster.
Anyway man, if you're gonna buy used, buy used, don't fool youself into thinking that the loaner is a new car and pay for almost new.
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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 08:27 PM
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5000 is not alot of miles and I am sure they are checked out and carry the warrantee but for only $5000 off I would say fine if it is a exec driven one from corporate office (MB Canada is in Toronto and we occassionally get those) but for one that been driven by about 30+ different people I would say crack open the wallet and negotiate a new car. I would say that most people would not abuse them, save for "trezaei"

Currently they are selling brand new 2007 C280 at a reduced rate and with about $6000 of extra content thrown in
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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 08:27 PM
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That was my main concern, there are a lot of people who drive the loaner cars. However, most Mercedes owners aren't speed freaks. I have never "abused" a loaner car. But still I'm hesitant. So avoid these, huh?
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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 09:56 PM
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IMHO - I would rather go for an off-lease used car over one of those loaners. I love the loaners that my dealership gives, but you can tell that others tend to abuse these vehicles. Its sad, I treat them very gently because I know that as a fellow benz-owner, we all have to "share" these when we are in for service -- I'd say 1 owner is better than, say 300 different people flooring these things.

My .02

- Eric
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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 10:20 PM
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Yeah, you can get $5K off a new W203 C-Class right now! A loaner should be heavily discounted. I myself have always 'mistreated' loaners - and usually people drive these cars rough - or at least don't treat it like their own cars. If you're considering buying it then you should get much more off to consider, otherwise stay with your car - you've got your warranty, it's not a lemon or hasn't had too many problems.

Just my thoughts.



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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 10:24 PM
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if your car has no problem at all, why get another car that is the same, just newer.

you should just wait for w204
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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 10:24 PM
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Many dealers make more dollars on used cars than new. With only a 5K discount on an alternative transportation car, he is making about double what he makes selling a new car.

If you really want a rental, start at invoice, subtract 5%, then take $ 4,500. from that. The original "destination chaarge" is waived. No doc fees, no tire tax, no shiney paint sealant or other junk fees. Now subtract .25 per mile and ask that service A be performed with a wheel alignment on their account. That is the maximum I would offer. Deduct at retail for any cosmetic defects to have them fixed, if any.

Good luck, I hope you get the car you really want.
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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 10:46 PM
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i had a loaner one time man i was going around corners sideways, drifting, 6 Fat Chicks in the back seat, all type of **** lol i was doing that car dirty
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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 10:50 PM
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i rented a U-HAUL once and all i do is use its engine as my energy generator to play my PS2 outside
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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 10:51 PM
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i tried to get a deal for a friend of mine who wanted a 2007 C280 for his wife. In the south florida area, we tried 5 dealerships. No one wanted to negotiate, no wanted to quote their best price and there was no discount offered period. One guy's excuse was he could sell all four c280's he had in stock at full price by the end of the week. The fact that a new C class is just a boat load away di not matter in his opinion. Do not come to florida to buy your car.
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Old Feb 20, 2007 | 11:04 PM
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Originally Posted by tee_tz
Yeah, you can get $5K off a new W203 C-Class right now! A loaner should be heavily discounted. I myself have always 'mistreated' loaners - and usually people drive these cars rough - or at least don't treat it like their own cars. If you're considering buying it then you should get much more off to consider, otherwise stay with your car - you've got your warranty, it's not a lemon or hasn't had too many problems.

Just my thoughts.



Tee_Tz.

Where are you seeing $5K off new 2007 C Class models? I checked online and don't see anything.
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Old Feb 21, 2007 | 01:55 PM
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Then again, I'd rather see things break during the warranty not after.
A little abuse just helps to find the weak points.
Don't know about you guys, but I've never babied my car on the road, drive it like I stole it. 5K miles isn't much, but try to negotiate more like $10K off.

I could never "mistreat" a loaner any more more than my own car, since my car is faster, handles better, and hence can be driven faster in more extreme situations. I'm at 102K miles and everything is just fine, since I had extended warranty, and I wore out everything I could during the warranty.

Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Feb 21, 2007 at 02:00 PM.
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Old Feb 21, 2007 | 02:16 PM
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8 to 10k off would be reasonable. I think at the end.. it's your heart that will bug you the most. If you can bypass the thinking of "5k miles of abuse by others" then you are all set to go..
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Old Feb 21, 2007 | 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by WaveyKat
i had a loaner one time man i was going around corners sideways, drifting, 6 Fat Chicks in the back seat, all type of **** lol i was doing that car dirty
LOL!!


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Old Feb 21, 2007 | 02:21 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by soma
Where are you seeing $5K off new 2007 C Class models? I checked online and don't see anything.
Some dealers are offering this. My dealership was giving a 2007 C230 Sport for $32K w/Nav, Automatic Transmission, Heated Seats, 6-CD Changer, and all that stuff. Also, the color was Red (so count the $600 or whatever for paint). They were desperately trying to get rid of these cars -- so search around, you'll find good deals.

In fact, on eBay there are a bunch being sold at $29K - Dick Dyers or something like that... You need to find dealers with a big inventory which are clearing these a way for space of the W204.


Tee_Tz.
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Old Feb 21, 2007 | 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by yeuchau
if your car has no problem at all, why get another car that is the same, just newer.

you should just wait for w204

I agree... hold on to your 2003 C-class... it looks just like the current model.

If you really want a new C-class, get a 2008 c-class this Fall...

If you can't afford to get a new c-class this Fall, then hold on to your 2003 as long as you can, then get a 2008 C-class as soon as you can afford it.
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Old Feb 21, 2007 | 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by WaveyKat
i had a loaner one time man i was going around corners sideways, drifting, 6 Fat Chicks in the back seat, all type of **** lol i was doing that car dirty
LOL
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Old Feb 21, 2007 | 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup
Then again, I'd rather see things break during the warranty not after.
A little abuse just helps to find the weak points.
Don't know about you guys, but I've never babied my car on the road, drive it like I stole it. 5K miles isn't much, but try to negotiate more like $10K off.

I could never "mistreat" a loaner any more more than my own car, since my car is faster, handles better, and hence can be driven faster in more extreme situations. I'm at 102K miles and everything is just fine, since I had extended warranty, and I wore out everything I could during the warranty.
Um -- you just killed any chances of selling your car on this forum!

I would never buy a car from someone like you. I drive my car fast and rarely aggressively, but I also preserve it and make sure I'm not burning out the tires or killing the clutch.

The point I was making about loaners is - in winter I don't wait for the car to warm up properly - I just get in, start it and drive. My car I let warm properly, rev appropriately until it's optimal driving conditions; I don't go over pot holes at like 50MPH, in fact I even swerve away from some sewer panels (some are pretty deep) with my car; but with loaners, I do. I don't put gas at shady places in my car ever (Exxon, Mobile, etc.); with a loaner - Jim's Petrol Station. I wipe my feet before I set inside the car; with the loaner, I wipe too, but if there's a little mud, oh well, not my carpets. When I park my car in the city, I park it clear of idiots who will ram with rear bumper; with the loaner, I park in tight spaces. So little things like that - we all kind of do it -- well it's our investment we protect it (like we should), but when it's not our own, we don't care about it too much.

And by the way, I'm not thaaat bad with loaners, but I think you get the point - it's the little things.


Tee_Tz.
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Old Feb 21, 2007 | 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by moosejaw
i tried to get a deal for a friend of mine who wanted a 2007 C280 for his wife. In the south florida area, we tried 5 dealerships. No one wanted to negotiate, no wanted to quote their best price and there was no discount offered period. One guy's excuse was he could sell all four c280's he had in stock at full price by the end of the week. The fact that a new C class is just a boat load away di not matter in his opinion. Do not come to florida to buy your car.
Wondering what part of s. fl you are in because this seems a little bit odd. Were you trying to low ball the dealers? Is so, then obviously they won't take you seriously. If you want to pick one up out of central florida, PM me and I will give you the contact information.
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Old Feb 21, 2007 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by WaveyKat
i had a loaner one time man i was going around corners sideways, drifting, 6 Fat Chicks in the back seat, all type of **** lol i was doing that car dirty


E
COC
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Old Feb 21, 2007 | 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by electromethod
Wondering what part of s. fl you are in because this seems a little bit odd. Were you trying to low ball the dealers? Is so, then obviously they won't take you seriously. If you want to pick one up out of central florida, PM me and I will give you the contact information.
I don't practice "lowballing" and I don;t bid shop, I simply asked "what is your best price?" I wasn't getting anywhere near invoice, let alone that as a starting point and the dealer's overconfidence killed it. All south florida dealers are owned by autonation.

My freind wound up purchasing a 07 R350 for 51k fully loaded......
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Old Feb 22, 2007 | 02:32 AM
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Hmmm...well, I see your point. No I don't park in spots where I might get dinged. Then again, sometimes no choice.
I take good care, replace all fluids as scheduled etc. Everything is in tip top shape.
But, from time to time, I like to push it. The Italian philosophy on driving.
I mean, thats what it's equipped to do;
Go faster, stop faster, corner faster, and I've spent about 4-5 grand to make it that way. I love cars, so I wouldn't abuse a Mercedes loaner.
Now once I had a Ford Taurtus, and I did donuts in the desert outside of Las Vegas for an hour or so, but thats different

Originally Posted by tee_tz
Um -- you just killed any chances of selling your car on this forum!

I would never buy a car from someone like you. I drive my car fast and rarely aggressively, but I also preserve it and make sure I'm not burning out the tires or killing the clutch.

The point I was making about loaners is - in winter I don't wait for the car to warm up properly - I just get in, start it and drive. My car I let warm properly, rev appropriately until it's optimal driving conditions; I don't go over pot holes at like 50MPH, in fact I even swerve away from some sewer panels (some are pretty deep) with my car; but with loaners, I do. I don't put gas at shady places in my car ever (Exxon, Mobile, etc.); with a loaner - Jim's Petrol Station. I wipe my feet before I set inside the car; with the loaner, I wipe too, but if there's a little mud, oh well, not my carpets. When I park my car in the city, I park it clear of idiots who will ram with rear bumper; with the loaner, I park in tight spaces. So little things like that - we all kind of do it -- well it's our investment we protect it (like we should), but when it's not our own, we don't care about it too much.

And by the way, I'm not thaaat bad with loaners, but I think you get the point - it's the little things.


Tee_Tz.
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