Philip LeBlanc

Hello, I am posting this message to ask about the C Class / MBUSA lease experience. My wife saw a C300 Luxury sedan on the local Benz dealer lot... she really likes it. It has every option except Panoramic roof. The price is around $41K. I configured the same car on the MBUSA build your own C300 site. Then I went to the MBUSA site and filled out a credit application. I got a call from the sales lady I met the other day telling me congratulations... I was approved... tier 1 credit whatever that means. The finance options on the site offer a lease, I selected 39 months, 10K miles per year, and $7500 down. I was given an estimated monthly payment of $392. She quoted me $539 per month the first time, I then faxed her the sheet I printed configuring the car. She then called me back with a $487.10 per month. I know the estimate of $392 was just that, an estimate but is the difference in payments normal? Is there room for negotiations with a lease like that? At this point I feel I am being taken by the dealer and am ready to say no thanks to the whole thing. The money amount isn't a huge issue but being quoted one price and now getting two significantly different ones back is another.

I am actually inclined to wait until 2009 to see if some of the features such as memory seats and steering column are added in the new year. Oh, and additionally they only offered me $11,000K for my wife's totally loaded 2003 C320 sedan. I told them no thanks, I would sell it myself.

Any thoughts?

Txhurdle

Because all dealers are in different states and different areas (with different tax rates) taxes aren't factored into your estimate. (The fine print will tell you that) Otherwise getting the exact details of your scenario....Money Factor, Residual Value, Taxes, and Cap Cost.... plugged into a lease calculator will help you determine if you're looking at a 'good deal'.

Philip LeBlanc

Thanks, I found a leasing company on the internet, leasecompare.com and will look into what they have to offer. The initial quotes without a full application look appealing. My gut is telling me my local dealer is not giving me the best deal possible. As an aside, I looked on eBay and found a totally loaded Certified Pre Owned C300 at a Benz dealer in Tampa, FL with 2500 miles, also totally loaded asking $38,956. The thing about this vehicle is being CPO, the warranty is extended to 100K miles and an extra year though for a lease, it would be turned in well before the warranty expires. I also found a CPO 2007 C350 with all options for 29K and 20,000 miles. I wonder if I shouldn't just buy that one, let my wife drive it for a year or two with hopes that the features everyone (including myself) feels are missing from the W204 will be added. The sales person had no knowledge or wouldn't share what she knew about future updates.

Baron Samedi

If, as you say, you can handle the higher payment, don't put down $7,500 as a cap cost reduction. You're just giving them your money to lower your payment. Unless you need the lower payment, it makes no sense. Put the minimum down and keep your cash.

Philip LeBlanc

Good Point... I have made the decision to buy the 2007 C350 and drive it or a couple years. It is CPO with a 100K transferrable warranty until Oct 2011. When the new C has the features I want, I will then buy or lease that one. Thanks for the insight.

blastit

my advice to you if you are leasing is to put 0 down and just make the paments. yes it is higher but after the 36 months whether you put money down or not the total dollars spent is the same. just open up a seperate account and use that striclty for car payments.

Cloud9

Totally agree. On a lease put 0 down as little as possible. There's a great website that helps you calculate if a lease deal is "shrewd or not." It's pretty interesting.

http://www.shrewdlease.com/index.php

tanktube67

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