C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

W203/CL203 Car Buyer's Guide - All you want to know and consider

Old Jul 7, 2003 | 06:44 AM
  #226  
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C230 Sport Saden
I got my C230 under $30k 4 weeks ago. Love that car!!
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Old Jul 7, 2003 | 10:42 AM
  #227  
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2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by ffejalink
I had to special order mine. Discounts are not given for special orders.
That's a pretty broad statement, IMO. This in only your experience... Ordered vehicles can be negotiated just like in-stock units -- in fact, there may be more incentive for them to order since there's no floorplan cost built in...

Last edited by MarkL; Jul 7, 2003 at 10:45 AM.
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Old Jul 7, 2003 | 10:57 AM
  #228  
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mueller_jack...which dealer did you purchase from?

you got a great deal...
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Old Jul 7, 2003 | 12:01 PM
  #229  
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C230 Sport Saden
Re: mueller_jack...which dealer did you purchase from?

Originally posted by mbdude
you got a great deal...
Yeah!! I think so. I got it from House of Import www.mbz.com. What I did is get a qoute from AAA club first. AAA gave me $1000 off invoice right off from email. Then I brought this email to diff dealers for better price. So, I think anyone should get below $1000 invoide.

Do watch out, not all the dealer understand the market. FJ in Newport are stupid, the sales manager told me that I could only get $500 ABOVE invoice while I was showing him the email I got from AAA. I only spend 15min in that place. I guess they don't care cuz all the rice people from Newport are buying MBz from them at full price.

Have fun shopping!
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Old Jul 7, 2003 | 08:45 PM
  #230  
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haha yeah I went to Fletcher Jones too, and they were wouldn't budge much on the price they wouldn't even go for invoice. Crazy people, so I'm looking at purchasing my car from Laguana Niguel or House of Imports
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Old Jul 8, 2003 | 01:47 AM
  #231  
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'14 A6 3.0 TFSI
One family owns all of the (credible) dealers in my area, which is probably why they don't negotiate much. I don't understand the not dealing on ordered cars. They're already pre-sold, guaranteed profit. Some things in life, I m ay never understand...
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Old Jul 8, 2003 | 05:03 AM
  #232  
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c240
AAA gave me $1000 off invoice right off from email.

Invoice or MSRP?
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Old Jul 8, 2003 | 05:31 AM
  #233  
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'03 c320wz
u wont regret it
Attached Thumbnails W203/CL203 Car Buyer's Guide - All you want to know and consider-1.jpg  
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Old Jul 8, 2003 | 06:21 PM
  #234  
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C230 Sport Saden
Originally posted by yeloaw
Invoice or MSRP?
www.carsdirect.com give $500 BELOW invoice
AAA qoute give $1000 BELOW invoice.

If you want to get a better price, do remember to get a qoute from both first, and go to dealer for lower price. Good luck.

Hey LOL888,
I agree with you. Crazy people work there in FJ.
From SouthBay and Laguana Niguel I got $1500 BELOW invoice. House of Imports gave me $1800 BELOW invoice.
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Old Jul 8, 2003 | 06:32 PM
  #235  
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From: Orange County, CA
C230 Sedan - 6 spd.
Cool

Hey LOL888,

I got my C230 sedan from Laguna Niguel... I didn't get a bad deal, but I didn't get as great a deal as the rest of the gang like mueller_jack.

In fact, you guys are making me sad now... I hate looking at these numbers and realizing I didn't get a good deal , but I'll be o.k.

I agree with your sentiments about Fletcher Jones... I walked away from that dealership wishing they didn't get anyone's business. I wish they were willing to deal more, or at least deal better. They're about 8 minutes from where I work. Laguna Niguel is about 25 minutes away, but they treated me great.

p.s. Damn you and your $1800 below invoice!! j/k :p This just means that I can't spend that much money on mods, since I didn't save it on the car. To all you folks who find this informative board BEFORE you buy the car... SMART!!

-Thach

Last edited by neptunespeed; Jul 8, 2003 at 06:36 PM.
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Old Jul 8, 2003 | 08:11 PM
  #236  
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haha damn $1800 under invoice is a crazy deal.. its a good thing i didnt buy it from FJ. I live only like 10 minutes from FJ too.. thx for all the help guys
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Old Jul 8, 2003 | 08:52 PM
  #237  
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I got my 320 from Fletcher jones and the experience was nothing short of fantastic

i got 1000 over invoice and i am happy with it. come on this is a Mercedes Benz not a Honda or Toyota where you get get 6 or 7,000 off a car. maybe i could have gotten a better deal but who cares, its worth every penny. i love my car. i guess the market is really bad.
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Old Jul 8, 2003 | 10:02 PM
  #238  
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all depends on what part of the year did you buy the car. The end of the year models always have discount. My bro's friend got a 03 BMW 530i sport premium for $47k out of door. Now that's cheap...lol
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Old Jul 8, 2003 | 11:08 PM
  #239  
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come on this is a Mercedes Benz not a Honda or Toyota where you get get 6 or 7,000 off a car
Actually, good luck getting any kind of deal off a honda or toyota. I just tried buying either the Acura MDX or the Honda Passport and could NOT get a deal worth my time. I live in the Chicago area and we have probably 20 honda dealers alone - not a one of these would deal. Most wanted list.

But more importantly, the point isn't that since this is a Mercedes product it needs to cost more. That's plain BS. If I were shopping for a Porsche, Bently or any other car, I'd attempt to get the best deal I possibly could. Furthermore, buying my c230k sport sedan at invoice is evidence that this is very available even though (especially though) it is a mercedes, and NOT a Honda or Toyota.

P
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Old Jul 8, 2003 | 11:08 PM
  #240  
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C230 Sport Saden
Originally posted by FrankW
all depends on what part of the year did you buy the car.
Good deals also depends on the dealers incentives&Rebates.
http://www.carsdirect.com/researchce...entives_search

When I got my C230, there is some kind of dealer incentives (I heard that it is ~$3000 but not sure.) That is why I can cut $1800 off invoices. Now when I check again, the incentives is over... Perhaps next time around to get a car, we should all monitor the incentive factor.
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Old Jul 9, 2003 | 12:04 AM
  #241  
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...and sometimes, we just get lucky.
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Old Jul 9, 2003 | 12:04 AM
  #242  
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From: Orange County, CA
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Originally posted by peet
Actually, good luck getting any kind of deal off a honda or toyota. I just tried buying either the Acura MDX or the Honda Passport and could NOT get a deal worth my time. ...

P
Here here. I was thinking about an Acura TSX before buying the C230 sedan. I talked to 5 different dealers here in So. Cal. They ALL wanted at least $1,000 over invoice. That helped me make my decision real quick. $600 under invoice for a Benz or $1,000 over invoice for a Honda.... hmmm....
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Old Jul 9, 2003 | 12:35 AM
  #243  
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haha yeah I went to go take a look at the TSX, at Southcoast Acura and since my brother bought a Tl type-s there a year ago they said they would automatically discount 1grand off msrp but thats still around 1000 under msrp I think.. and I think it would be worth it to spend a couple grand more and get the C230K ^^
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Old Jul 9, 2003 | 12:53 AM
  #244  
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From: Las Vegas
2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
My experience with Armin at Fletcher Jones was great. He is their number 1 seller for several years now. I bought in April 2003, paid $23,900 for a sticker price of $31,900. Really happy with FJ. Treated me like I had bought a E class.
Other buyers were saying FJ has more dealer incentives because they sell so many cars. I got exactly what I wanted, told them all I wanted was the orion blue and auto. We started at $21,900 with auto and std paint. I really wanted the C7 wheels and was very happy they had a car with the 17 inch wheels. Even like the sun roof now.
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Old Jul 9, 2003 | 01:18 AM
  #245  
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C230 Sport Saden
Originally posted by breastroker
My experience with Armin at Fletcher Jones was great.
Hi Breastroker,
My experience with Fletcher Jones was very bad. Price is one problem and service is another problem.

I started with their internet sell, and I told them that the car I want and the price expectation. He told me yes on everything. and told me that he already have the car I want in the shop just come and talk to the GM Mr.<ABC>. But when I get there, Mr. <ABC> was too busy, and he give me to VP Mr.<DEF>.
Mr. <DEF> told me that Sales Manager Mr.<GHI> will take care of me.... Oh well, I know that I don't need to deal with the GM so I hang on and wait for Mr. <GHI> to come.... Lost 15mins doing nothing.

Mr. <GHI> show up and he cannot find the car that the internet sales said he will hold for me. And Mr. <GHI> told me that they must have sold the car since I talk to them (in 4 hours??? they must be kidding... Well Lieing I believe.) .... Lost another 15mins.

Mr. <GHI> print out a list of their C230 and show me what they have, well, there are code ie. c1, c2, c3.... which we all know that they are... This Mr.<GHI> don't even know, and have to ask me if I have a print out that discribe what they are

Also, I need to wait for them to find out if they can find the car I want some place else..... Lost another 30mins...

He find the car, but when we talk about the price, He said, "don't worry, we have the best price in the world.." Then I said, can you do $1000 below invoice. His face turn dark, and told me that if I am lucky I will get $500 ABOVE invoice..... With a very unfriendly voice.

I show him those email I got, and told him about Carsdirect... Guess what, he never heard about carsdirect... Well, at this point, I know the deal is over. I walked out and wasted over 1hr. there... Also, I need to drive 30mins home... Lost overall 2 hours

Well, I know that not everyone have the bad luck like me in FJ. Just that I ran into some Crazy salesperson that have no idea how things work now.
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Old Jul 9, 2003 | 09:06 AM
  #246  
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2003 C230
Pricing depends on inventory levels and time of year

I 've always paid near or under invoice for my cars. My best deal ever was my 740i. Brand new $13K off MSRP, $6K under invoice, it was actually cheaper than a 540i. Since most dealers get the new year cars in late August/September you can get awesome deals in July. Of course, some dealers are ***** so just move on to the next one. When we were looking to buy an A4 for my wife, one dealer was giving me something like $1k over invoice for the end of year A4. The dealer in the next town was willing to do $1500 over invoice for an arriving A4. That's a whole year's depreciation for $500.

CZ
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Old Jul 9, 2003 | 09:19 AM
  #247  
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Czachari, can my wife and I take you car-shopping with us in a few years? We'll buy you lunch.

We paid msrp, but then again, we didn't haggle. Both of us tend to be a bit impulsive and impatient. Great traits when you're buying cars and houses.
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Old Jul 9, 2003 | 09:43 AM
  #248  
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if you are to buy the car at or under invoice does the dealer still make profit? im thinking they order the cars in bulk and pay less for the cars

my question basically why would they sell the cars at invoice if they are not making a profit? what happends when the cars do not sell and are just stuck in the lot?

can anyone explain this to me? im curious on how this whole process works.
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Old Jul 9, 2003 | 09:50 AM
  #249  
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Originally posted by noblert10
I got my 320 from Fletcher jones and the experience was nothing short of fantastic

i got 1000 over invoice and i am happy with it. come on this is a Mercedes Benz not a Honda or Toyota where you get get 6 or 7,000 off a car. maybe i could have gotten a better deal but who cares, its worth every penny. i love my car. i guess the market is really bad.
LOL my friend bought a toyot camry it was priced $4000 over not invoice but over MSRP not that he payed for it but good luck geting a honda or a toyota for 6k less on invoice your funny
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Old Jul 9, 2003 | 09:55 AM
  #250  
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Originally posted by Xpeed
LOL my friend bought a toyot camry it was priced $4000 over not invoice but over MSRP not that he payed for it but good luck geting a honda or a toyota for 6k less on invoice your funny
1. your friend drives a camry?

2.your friend payed 4k above msrp for a camry?

3. your friend has problems

4k above msrp for a camry lol

xpeed you made my day bro. you are the funny one. and yes you can get massive discounts on civics and corollas etc

Last edited by Guest0001; Jul 9, 2003 at 10:10 AM.
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