Jim Banville

I'm in Ga. Best deal so far within 100 miles is $500 over invoice for C230K SS. Added to that is that the car I want (blk-on-blk w/ manual & very few to no additional options) is RARE! Since it seems from this forum that S.Cal. dealers sell at $2000 below invoice without batting an eye, would it seem worth it to buy via e-mail & phone from a REPUTABLE west coast dealer and have the car shipped to the east coast? One negative I can think of is that I couldn't finance in the Ga. state sales tax. Is shipping that far too cost prohibitive? Am I crazy?

thanks
Jim

rtking

If you can save $2000, it might be worth it. Shipping should be around $1000 (open transport) to $2200 (enclosed transport.) Better yet (if you have a long weekend) you can drive the car back to Georgia. It might cost you $250 for a one-way plane ticket and another $250 in gas.

As for financing-in Georgia sales tax... try going to Capital One Auto Finance and see if they'll approve you for a loan. I think you can use the check they send you anywhere and (I think) they'll finance the car, tax and license.

Bob

MBc230

MB dealership in Houston Greenway has a 2005 Black on Black c230 SS manual with pretty much no options. I think sticker was right around $31,000 (?) for it. But they were looking to give an even better deal on it to get rid of it, since it was pretty much the basic model and not too many people wanted it with little to no options.

Salesman was looking to give a great deal on it below invoice since they wanna get rid of it before end of month.

Shipping (via third party co.) should run you on average about $750 from Texas to east coast I believe (friend sells cars on ebaymotors). As a matter of fact, if you know your MB dealership in your area, you may be able to setup the car to be delivered to them for a cheaper price since the MB dealerships always truck cars back and forth between each other.

Here's their direct # 713-986-6400
ask for Larry in sales, he can help you with it.

Good Luck!

jayitx

I bought my C32 in Boston, then drove it back to Dallas. I saved $1000 on the price of the car, plus over $2000 in sales tax differences between MA and TX. The 2000 miles drive back was very nice.........no better way to get to know your new car than a cross-country drive, if you have the time. I say buy it in CA and drive it back to GA. Stay as far south as you can to avoid the bad weather.

Jim Banville

Jatitx, you have to pay your resident state's sale tax, yes? Didn't MA collect it from you for TX?

jayitx

I paid only MA tax. My mother still lives in MA, where I grew up, so I was "living" with her at the time I bought the car. The address of record (and sale) was in MA. All I needed was something with my name and that address on it, and I actually did live there.
I tried using my sister's address in NH (no state sales tax), but I didn't have anything addressed to me at that address so it didn't work.