aansonsit

i said CANADA cost
C350 4Matic (available in Canada)

P Package:
Pano roof
Keyless-Go
Linguatronic voice control
Comand Aps Navigation
Rear sunshade
MP3
10ways memory seat
Xenon light w washer
AMG styling
Fully loaded
except Leather
plus Quickpark + rear spoiler<=(opt in CAN) Tax included

Total USD$ 67600 (CAD$65000) on the road rate CAD$1 - $1.04

hv a nice day my MB friend ^^

rlee02135

You could get a C63 here @ that price

aansonsit

and i tell u in my country "Hong Kong" a FRT tax is really high(that Tax is aroundUSD$40000) , a C350 4matic AMG fully loaded is around USD$104000 carzy

peabers

And I wish someone in the US would sell me a C class so I can save the $$$.

The one thing that makes me feel better is that I can't get a C350W4M in the US right now.

peabers

Hmm, I thought the rear spoiler was standard on C350W4M. It was definitely there on the demo car I drove.

pcurve

I don't understand why people outside U.S. (especially Canada and Euro) is comparing how much they have to pay compared to U.S.

Sure a C350 costs $65k in Canada, but an equivalent model (probably C320)cost rougly the same 5 years ago. Did people in Canada all of a sudden become poor? Of course not. You're paying the same price you did 5 years ago when Canadian dollar was worth 63 U.S. cents.

The only group getting shafted are car manufacturers that has to export cars to U.S. from Europe.

Jorg

The rear spoiler is standard on the C350-4matic.

Jorg

peabers

pcurve -- I can't say for everyone but my problem is that the present situation goes again simple Macroeconomics. It's called Purchasing Power Parity.

Fact of the matter is that the C320 did not cost $65K five years ago. The prices have gone up at the same time the CAD is appreciating. That is why there is such outrage.

I can accept that there are differences in economy size, vehicle content, regulations, taxes etc. between Canada and the U.S.. However, threatening dealers with revocation of licenses for selling to Canadians is strictly against NAFTA. And saying that you will charge $2000 "localisation fee" to initiate warranty coverage, and $500 for a recall letter to the RIV is just unfair business practice.

IMHO, of course.

pcurve

Actually, Canadian paid MORE for C-class 5 years ago.

I did some search to get accurate pricing on the internet.
http://en.research.autos.sympatico.m...el=C-Class&ts=

In Canada, 2003 C320 (manual) cost $49,750 CAD.
In Canada, 2008 C350 (automatic with more stuff) cost $47,900 CAD.
Price actually fell.

In US, 2003 C320 cost $35,200 USD
In US, 2008 C350 cost $37,725 USD.

In the end, you're paying less for your C-class than you did 5 years ago, and Americans are paying more for their c-class than 5 years ago, regardless of what goes on in the currency exchange market.

But I do understand how it seems like the same car solid in America all of sudden look so cheap. But believe me, it's no deal for American consumers.

(Of course, it's a huge boon for American car mfr. exporting cars oversea, assuming their cost of building a car in the US weren't too adversely affected by the weak dollars)

Jorg

When our Canadian Dollar was valued way below the US Dollar we got use to the fact that we paid more Can Dollars for the same car.

Lately the Can Dollar has surpassed the US Dollar and we hoped that the manufacturers would immediately adjust their prices to reflect this fact.

I must agree there are others factors that play a role in that formula. A sudden major price reduction throws all existing owners a big curve when they try to trade-in their cars. Then the would be all these lease returns in the coming months.

Porsche did lower their prices drastically and some people asked for more money for their Porsche than the price of a new one. Were they in for a shock.

At least when we visit our friends in the USA we get an immediate benefit for our new currency value and the savings can be huge.

The market has a tendency to work these things out, over time.

Jorg

peabers

Ok, let's look at it this way:

2003 C320 @ CAD $49,570 = EUR $31,760 (10/01/2002 rate of 0.63840)
2008 C350 @ CAD $47,900 = EUR $33,680 (10/01/2007 rate of 0.70689)

versus:

2003 C320 @ USD $35,200 = EUR $35,654 (10/01/2002 rate of 1.01290)
2008 C350 @ USD $37,725 = EUR $26,449 (10/01/2007 rate of 0.70110)

So Canadian went from paying $3,894 less than the Americans, to paying $7,231 more. Or a net of $11,125 increase.

I would certainly attribute the price drop in Canada to the expensive Canadian dollar, but don't understand how the Americans can be paying less. In order for MB to get the same amount of money (EUR $33,680) as a Canadian vehicle, the American should be paying USD $48,039.

Alternative, if per vehicle revenues should be EUR $26,449, then the Canadians should be paying CAD $37,416.

pcurve

Why does it matter what car cost in relation to EURO? Do Canadians and Americans have to go to bank and get their money converted to EURO, because Mercedes dealers in Canada and America only accept EURO?

Forget what Americans are paying. Yes Mercedes is selling C350 for 21% LESS in the U.S. at $37,725 (instead of $48,039 you suggested). But Americans are NOT getting that 21% off. We're still paying the same amount we did 5 years ago, and so are the Canadians. Mercedes is taking that 21% hit because they would be priced out. Do you not agree with this?

QQQ

10 way memory seats and xenon are std for C350 4Matic.

Jorg

I think the seat surfaces is leather the sides are not.

Jorg

vcruiser

it sucks that us canadians pay so much more even tho our dollar is now stronger than the US.

id be getting a c63 100% if i lived in the states. but since i need a 4matic car in canada, im sticking with a 350

but now were paying 65,000+ for a c350 4 matic in canada.
its retarded. but what can you do?

harpz

Let me get this straight:
American suppliers use canadian gas and is cheaper there than here, that makes sense right?
Refusal of selling cars to canada is sensible and fair
Our dollar is worth more than yours, so we should have more buying power, alot more (coming from 60 cents)
There is a free trade agreement, so why do we get charged fee after fee after fee at the border?
why is it that before your cars cost less than ours and still got more than we did
I had an 05 c230, came out to be 45 with just auto and heated seats, sport was a few grand more

we're saying we've had enough either lower your prices or let us shop where we want to(chrysler has reduced their interest rates, walmart has dropped prices 10-20%)

What I want to know is where is is the extra 20-30% price increase coming from?

MBTex

It's called Supply & Demand. If the car is too overpriced in Canada, people will stop buying it and MB will lower the price.

Also, your assumption that US cars have more in them then Canadian cars is false. The W204 in Canada has many more standard and optional features then in the US (ex. Keyless go, memory seats, 350 4matic, more interior color options, etc).

The price is set by the market and MB will lower the price when Canadians stop buying the car.

harpz

I said you had more before, i meant before our dollar reached parity...and it isn't an assumption it's been proven over and over again in the past this is just a recent change

I highly doubt they will drop our prices, it'll create havoc on the resale values of previously purchased vehichles, what I think may happen is they may lower our price by a little bit and increase the US side.

I just wished the class action law suite included mercedes benz as well

pcurve

Canadians are getting more features than before, because Canadian dollar has become stronger against Euro. It has nothing to do with CAD and USD relationship. And you're absolutely right about the resale value. I'm sure Mercedes would like to drop their prices a bit in Canada to spur up sales, but they can't. Likewise, if they can get away with charging $48k for C350 in the U.S., $37k, they would in a heartbeat. Unlike most traded goods, cars have used market. (And costs a lot and takes long time to develop)

Keep in mind that Mercedes incurs higher overhead cost per vehicle in Canada, because it is a far smaller market, so you can't expect MB and their dealers to charge the same price as U.S. even if both countries were under a single unified currency. MB sells around 18,000 units per year in Canada, but in the U.S., they sell 250,000 units, not to mention probably a lot higher percentages of higher-end models. So when CAD was weaker against Euro, rather than charging a lot, MB simply offered less features.

Hey, if I were a Canadian living on the border, I'd be a little upset that there's all these rules to prevent me from crossing the border and buying the same car for 20% less. But ultimately, cars aren't the same as other goods.

Jorg

Take a very simple example:

Driving over the Ambassador Bridge from Canada to the USA costs CAN Dollar $ 3.50 or USA Dollar $ 3.00. Is that parity? That is our government.

Jorg

S.A.M6

Sorry just my 2cents on that boarder crossing, I just recently went buffalo(galleria mall) at starbucks i asked if they perfer US or CND money since it's almost even while buying coffee. She says it doesn't matter so i pay CND. They didn't convert at $1.03 they did it at .70c what's up with that and I found that alot in that mall
It's not fair for Canadian who some like me(ontario) Have a big 15% tax on items as well. Gas is also like 20cents diff.

pcurve

lmao these are hilarious stories. I'm sure most people in the U.S. still think Canadian dollar is still worth 70 cents for every USD. lol

harpz

there was a news article, they're raping us accross the border when you pay with cdn money, so they suggest getting your USD in canada and then heading over

peabers

Considering the number of Ontario plate vehicles we saw stacked up at Galleria Mall a few weeks ago, I don't think the Americans are clueless about what's going on with the currencies. They're raping us only because they can... that's why I would always pay with local currency. If Starbucks is converting CAD to 0.70 USD, talk to the Manager. Or take matters into your own hand by paying in USD... or use your Canadian credit card (with exchange rate, you're still ahead).

We crossed at the Peace Bridge and paid the toll in USD. Saved $0.50. w00t!

If you're going to the US a lot... consider getting a USD credit card. BMO's been pushing it.

peabers

I converted the CAD and USD prices to Euro because that's the currency Daimler Benz operates in. So my point is that either HQ is losing money on every C-class they sell in the US, or they are making a fat profit on each one they sell in Canada. Time will tell.