CEB

...now that the 2010's arrival is imminent, would the group agree that $900 under invoice and 1.9% for 66 months for a C300 4matic, PII, MM, pano, is a bad, decent, good or great deal?

It is either that or a 328i xdrive for $500 under invoice with 1.9% for 60 months.

I'm buying one or the other on Monday...

Discuss.

TIA

shag

No Pano on the 328iX (unless you're getting a Touring).

I used to be a BMW fanboy (E46), but have been disappointed by the E90. The facelift looks very good but the interior is meh (and as much as I hate admitting to using them, the cupholders suck). Not only that, overall interior storage sucks compared to the Merc.

I've converted to Benz not too long ago and have not looked back since. Many people in my family drive Mercs now (W203s, W204, R129, W124, etc) and have not been disappointed (except for the earlier W203s).

But it's your decision - test drive them both and see for yourself. Keep in mind that the 3 Series is a driver's machine and may have a wow factor upon driving, but look at the overall picture - for me the W204 was a better ride.

CEB

..just happens to have the pano. I can take it or leave it. Apart from that, they are pretty similar. The 328 has more power, while the C300 has a much tighter turning circle (35.4 ft vs 38.6)

Both cars drive quite nicely and, like you said, the ride on the C is better, but the 328 is quite a bit more sporting.

Each has its upsides and downsides. Finding a C with leather (as opposed to "MB-taxi" err MB tex is next to impossible.

I had initially posted this just for the price check, but car opinions are great too - thanks.

I sold my R32 in March and have been driving a relative's RL since then, but she is returning to the US next week so I have to make up my mind now.

I've been agonizing over this decision for months and have narrowed the field down (from TL AWD [uglier than a Pontiac Aztec], A4 [nice car, lousy dealers], G37x [drives like a much larger car, cheap looking plastics,a bit noisy over bumps]) to the 328 and the C300.

As a side note, I rented a B180 BlueEconomy last week and found it to drive quite nicely. We fit 5 people in it comfortably and it had plenty of power to merge onto the highway...

joshg1001

anything under invoice is a steal

giovanni821

Go for the C. Nicer looks, nicer ride and better dealership experience. If you haggle you can do better than $900 under invoice. Does it have to be a 2010? How about a 2009? 2008? BTW the 3 series is EVERYWHERE!!!!!!

CEB

....since 2010s haven't hit my dealership yet.

It is easy to say "you can do better if you negotiate" but what is your target and where are the dealer "comps?"

While Edmunds TMV is usually high, it does usually have the ballpark figure right and I've not seen C300 selling for much below invoice. There doesn't seem to be any trunk money (unless it is well hidden) on these cars yet.

What should my target be and how much is the trunk money.

For those of you that don't know about trunk money - that is money given to dealer by the manufacturer to clear cars.

In general, invoice is roughly what the dealer pays before manufacturer incentives. Some incentives (like the 2-3% holdback) are known to consumers. Then there are sales incentives based on the number of cars sold vs targets. These sales based incentives vary by individual dealership and have convoluted calculations generally understood only by the GM at that particular dealership.

Finally, there are those "let's clear these cars" incentives that are usually not too well advertised. For example, '09 E's carry $10k in "trunk money."

Without any incentives and the sales volume incentives, the dealer can't sell a car much below invoice and still make money as the holdback is all there is.

So, I guess my question is "are there any manufacturer to dealer "let's move these things" incentives - like the $10k on the E - for the C300 4 matic?"

Sportstick

Good luck with your decision...you can probably predict our preferences! I've had both during my life and now have a C300 Sport 6 speed.

I'm entertained by the language...in Detroit, (I'm a big 3 retiree...actually not so big anymore, but still hanging on with "3") within the industry, incentives provided directly to the dealer are called, somewhat un-creatively, "dealer cash"....no other slang term really ever took hold here, and that money may wind up in the consumer's pocket, the dealer's pocket, a dealer advertising fund, or scraped together to help close some difficult deals with none for others, etc. If the money is a publicized consumer rebate, the colloquial term for us is "cash on the hood", so I had a chuckle that money has worked its way into the trunk...apparently in a reference to its hidden nature. Just sort of interesting.....

CEB

..."trunk money" may be a Audi/VAG term and you're right - it does refer to the hidden nature of the money.

So, is there any cash, in, on or around the C300 in any way? Because the dealer is offering a relatively steep discount under invoice (coming close to the holdback,) I'm thinking that there is some cash in the pipeline somewhere.

While I don't want to screw the dealer, I don't want to wake up tomorrow and feel that I got screwed.

Last month there was $6k in the E - now there is $10k in the E. Accordingly, you should be able to get one for about $14k under MSRP without much trouble. I was in a dealership two days ago where a guy was getting a "great deal" at $6k under MSRP. I walked out of that dealership after telling the customer about the $10k, but I don't want to be the guy who misses out on a manufacturer incentive....

Sportstick

The new Automotive News comes out tomorrow, post office willing. I will check the incentive report and see what they show and get back to you.

2tonOfun

Really?

Trust me, you can not "screw the dealer" but he will screw you so hard and so fast if he has even the slightest chance.

I got mine for 3.5k UNDER dealer INVOICE and while I have no illusions of "screwing the dealer" it was prly the first time that I purchased a car from a dealer, where I didn't fell like I was screwed.

I say screwing the dealer should be your goal. Good luck with that.

CEB

...thanks

Sportstick

Actually, I realized my subscription allows me to access their web site, so here's what they currently show.

Mercedes-Benz C Class:
Consumer Incentives: 2009 models 1.9 - 2.9% financing
Dealer Incentives: 2009 models $0 - $2,000

It doesn't indicate if the dealer has to participate in the financing (taking some burden of buying down the reduced APR), so if you're a cash buyer, you might get more than two grand from the dealer, plus whatever of his gross he's desperate enough to give up. Good hunting!

AMGTTV8

the only trunk money is on a c350 - nothing for 300..

CEB

...but I figured that I'd ask here as well...

CEB

I appreciate it. Can I ask a question for my brother-in-law? He's looking at an E wagon and there is $12k in trunk money - is there also the 1.9/2.9% financing on the E wagons? There isn't anything on the MB site or on Edmunds...

Sportstick

Yes, Automotive News shows for July the same financing for 09 E as for C, plus up to $12,000...but here's my question...if its a wagon, how can it be "trunk money" ???

CEB

I guess that would make it "cargo area money"

Funny that all the sites talk about the sedans but no mention of the wagons.

Thanks

justthinking

from what I have heard, you can get around $14k to $15k off MSRP for the 09 E-class w/ ease..

BenTrovato

If you're happy with 900 under invoice, then go for it. Keep trying every dealership until you find one that is starving for business. Some dealers are doing very well and won't give you a discount, others need business like there's no tomorrow. I would go for at least $1,500 under invoice and one option thrown in.

pg2373

Couple weeks ago, I sent an email for a quote. MSRP was 46,640 I think. STealership sent email back and said he would sell it for $44,400. I emailed back and sai "not even close to what I was looking for". HE asked me what price I was looking for and I told him invoice minus any rebates/incentives. Needless to say, I never heard back from him. I guess I'll be driving my 08 Altima until the 2010's come out so I can get more off.

Sportstick

Today's Automotive News reports customer incentives for 2009 E and C remains at 1.9 - 2.9% financing....

but dealer cash (ok...."cargo area" money) for E Class is up to $13,000 and for C and S Class (reported on same combined line), $0 - $5000 depending on model.

CEB

...Does that mean that I have to get an E now????

len56

328i doesn't have more power, the difference is 2 HP, which is practically nothing and definitley not noticeable.