Hoopa70

Hey guys, My wife and I are on the fence about picking up a C300. It will be our first MB and we are excited. The car is a certified pre-owned 2008 with 12,000 miles. It has the premium 1 package and no other options. We live in the Northeast (MA). We have looked at a few other makes and models, but keep coming back to this car. I think the only thing we need to make up our minds is the value of the car. The dealer is pretty firm on the price. Having never bought a MB, is that common? Also, before I throw the price out there I am curious what the experts here would value this car? We don't want to pay the full nut only to find out we could have done better.

Thanks for the help!

Azn_C300

$27-30k. Dealer will mark it up closer to the 30 range, but you can find 08s in the mid 20s. Book value is in the low 30s, but quick jaunt through autotrader, cars.com, etc will give you a better idea of what going rates are for similar models. MB depreciation + recession sucks for owners, but rocks for used buyers.

Sportstick

Had to make a couple of assumptions for the Edmunds.com used car analysis. I assumed an automatic rear wheel drive luxury model, silver in color, for Worcester, Mass zip code, in "clean" condition. Edmunds.com shows a buy at $32k dealer certified, $30k dealer uncertified. An automatic sport model would be less than one grand lower. Go to their site and try it yourself!

http://www.edmunds.com/mercedesbenz/...008/index.html

Hoopa70

will do and thank you
I did forget to mention it is a 4matic, black and a sport model.
I assume the number that edmunds throws back at me is a fair price from the dealer?
The history on the car is a dealer demo.. basically a loaner for people who had their cars in for service. I would say it is in brand new condition aside from the odometer and the lack of "new car" smell.
On a side note, the more i look around this site, the more excited i get. There are some beautiful cars in here, and I like the way some of the 300's look all modded..

Hoopa70

Sportstick,
According to the edmunds it comes back as $35,245 as CPO. Could that be right the sticker new was about $37k. Now that we are throwing numbers out there, the dealer is asking $31,900. Looks like a fair price, wondering how much wiggle room i have from there?

Sportstick

Edmunds tracks history. There may be more recent incentives from MBUSA to the dealer, especially if its a dealer-owned loaner, so never stop at their first offer. On the down side, there is anecdotal data that loaners are not treated all that well by their temporary custodians...don't just look at cosmetics. Ask for percentage brake lining remaining, measure tire tread, etc...see if the car was more "used" than 12000 miles would suggest.

Here's another thought....surf around and contact some dealers on what they can do on a leftover new 09. Luxury car sales are down for all major brands...you may find some highly motivated salespeople, although choices are likely quite narrow by now. I bought my new 09 rwd 6 speed for $32k last November, as a point of reference.

Hoopa70

Sportstick,
Thanks again. we have been searching around both online and at the nearby dealerships. The car in question is one of several that they are unloading. Obviously, I do need to do my due diligence on the vehicle's history regarding the "loaner" factor. If all checks out fine, I am comfortable with the fact the fact that it is a CPO and has a lot of warranty left. Out if the cars they have available, this one has the least miles and appears to be the cleanest. the others had scuffed rims, a torn sidewall, small interior damage, broken driving light lens, etc. It's odd because this one was towards the back of the line-up.. perhaps bacause they hadn't detailed it yet.
As far as the leftover new one goes, they have a beautiful 09 350 with 20 miles on it with incentives and my wife will not budge because its RWD and the wrong color, silver--- she wants black. Kills me, because it is clearly a more well equipped car, brand new, and close in price with a better APR%.At the end of the day our payment would be about the same. Sometimes they just don't get it..

Sportstick

The color thing...yeah....been there...had to find an Indium E for my "boss". Anyway, try making a deal with her...you'll get black if she'll keep it clean...its almost impossible to keep black clean for more than a day!! Silver almost never looks dirty. With Blizzak WS60 winter tires, my rwd does great in the Michigan winters...but its not Boston (if that's where you are).

Hoopa70

yea, thanks again. She's not having it. (the silver or the RWD). I just tried again to no avail. As far as black, we already have one black rig, so another isn't a big deal I guess. I actually love the black look, just hate the up-keep.
looks like it's back to the dealer tomorrow to try and nail this thing down.

Sportstick

Good luck on your Benz!
Welcome to the forum!

Doanster

There is still $3k MB->dealer cash on the 4Matic, so I'd see if your dealer or another dealer can locate a new black '09 for you. MSRP is ~$38k for your spec'd car so with zero haggling you're already at $35k. Haggle some more and the delta for getting that new car smell and peace of mind (not a demo) is well worth it IMO.
Doesn't hurt to see what's still avail in terms of new '09s.

Edit: forgot to add in the cost of the automatic. Either way, I'd still see what's still out there.
(sorry for the appended edit. Typing/editing with the iPod is a pita when it comes to forums )

Hoopa70

Thanks for the replies. I am back on the hunt this a.m. I plan to explore all the options and see whats available for leftover 09's before we pull the trigger.
What type of $$ does the 4matic add to the equation?

Sportstick

Used, it looks like about $1500 on Edmunds.

Doanster

Let us know what black cars your dealer still has or can locate.
I was mistaken in my last post... 4Matic cars come w/ 7A by default so you don't have to add in the cost of the auto transmission.
Remember the current incentives: 4Matic: $3k, C300: $4k, C350: $5k.
If 4Matic is your wife's absolute requirment (like black is), then it's a moot point. If not, you have all sort of scenarios available due to the increasing incentives.
All in all, most of us who've recently purchased new have gotten ~$2500-$3k under invoice for an '09. Knowing this, if you still want the CPO'd car, you should heavily negotiate.

Hoopa70

very good, thank you. I am trying to get more info. but work is getting in the way..
edit: doesn't look they have the right car new in stock, so I can't really explore that.
the car in question is about 5100.00 off the 08 sticker before negotiating.
the new 09 350 is $7250 off the sticker why can't my wife make this easy..... argh

Doanster

"They" as in the dealer you're working with only or they actually tried to do a locate for surrounding areas/states? If they haven't even tried a search, it'd seem to me that they're really trying to get you to buy the CPO. I'm just always very weary of demos. Yes, it's still under warranty, but the high number of different drivers is worse IMO then getting a one-owner used car.
Good luck w/ the search and negotiations (both w/ the dealer AND the wife! ).

Sportstick

Near Boston?

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...2&aff=national

BEEPbeepZIPtang

lose the wife...get the car you want...happier in the end.

Mercho82

I would stay away from demos and loaners. Those cars gets so much abuse from their custodians as one of the members stated. I have even heard from members of this forum how bad they threat their loaners. Just a thought! I would take advantage of the 09 incentives. Your wife rather a used MB c300 4matic over a brand new C350????? dude no offense but there must be something wrong with her brain.

Hoopa70

Sportstick,
I am close enough to boston, what would I expect to pay for that car out the door?
BEEpbeep,
It's not that easy and i don't even want a new car.... she does.
Giovapal,
No doubt, she is difficult... To be honest, I can see her point about wanting the 4matic for winter driving and I do like the black better than the silver, Buuuut, I would still buy the new silver 350 all day long..


anyone got some socks i can borrow? Cold feet are setting in. Might be time to step back re-think this.

Sportstick

Invoice is probably around $34-35k...incentives to dealer run $3-4k....I'd offer $30k and probably be happy up to $32k for BRAND NEW, automatic, 4WD, black............and a happy wife. I paid $32k for a similar car last November, minus automatic and 4MATIC, so end of year close-out pricing should be better.

Do this right, and you won't need the socks

FraKctured

You're in the zone on this one. 4Matic is not an option in the Northeast. Global warming is making things really cold and icy.

Pull the trigger on this one.

Mercho82

Come on now!!!!! Are you saying that everyone in the Northeast has a 4wheel drive????? so what about FWD??? thats bull, most of the cars are not even RWD they are FWD

Doanster

Hoopa - the car in question is a flat black model w/ P1, iPod, and Burl Walnut Trim. MSRP comes out exactly to the advertised $39,910. Invoice is $37,178. So, IMO and recent experience, you'll be able to get ~$35k w/ little to no haggling. However, we're now getting close to the end of another month since I bought my car, which means more 2010's are on the lots so you may have more negotiating power. It never hurts to start lower and see what they come back with. You *could* also wait until Oct. 1st to see if MBUSA ups the ante with higher incentives. Lastly, I wouldn't listen to the wise-cracks about the wife or non-AWD! $30k+ ain't a drop in the bucket (at least not for me), so you're right to take a step back and think about your options.

Giovapal - no, not everyone in the NE has AWD/4WD, but for *his* family, that's what they prefer. You're always very quick to chime in w/ harsh comments (read: 135i is a "gay" car, Lexus sucks!). I don't live in the NE, but have a buddy who does. I used to not understand why he'd pay for "nice" winter wheels (OZ, BBS, etc.!) and hella expensive Nokian WR's until he described/sent pics of the first NorEaster storm. People actually switch to full winter wheel/tire setups for the MONTHS between fall/winter and spring.

DomizBenz

Hello all,

I'm a newbie to the community and just picked up my new white '09 C300 in AZ with a MSRP of $43,110 and got it for $32,753. They had a lot of incentives and rebates. I know you are in the Northeast and prices change depending on regions, but might be a reference into negotiating a good deal. Also if the wifey ain't budging just get a 4matic badge and affix it to your C-Class, she wont know the difference.. LOL