wsboxer1

Hey guys,

Long time lurker and I love the site.

So I currently own a 2012 C300 Sport with 22k miles. It is a very base model with no heated seats, nav, or sat radio. It has electric seats the controls are only on the side of the seats....not even on the door itself.

My dealer is offering an exchange program and is saying they can put me into a 2013 C300 sport with 18k miles, heated seats, sat radio, and normal door controls. Still no nav but that is fine with me. I think we are going to land on about 5,000 I'd need to pay in.

Do you think it is worth it? I know the new year gets a little better mpg, has the ECO button, has a bigger engine with more torque and HP. I know it is up to me but didn't know if 5k was a reasonable price for those upgrades and about 4k less miles. All reviews say the 2013 is a marked improvement. My dealer wanted about 7k but I asked for 5k which he is checking on.

I know the w205 is coming out next year and it will be a least a few more until used models of those show up so that is something to think about. Really on the fence here as I'd like the spunkier engine but 5,000 is nothing to sneer at for me.... I did drive the 2013 vs 2012 and did notice the throttle response and engine pickup difference.

Thanks for any input you guys have. You guys are awesome and I have learned so much from these forums.

Thanks!

JaredP

I would say it's worth it, if you were to drop another $1000 and tune it to 320hp. Otherwise I would say go for a w205.

wsboxer1

Well I think the w205 is going to be quite a bit more than 5k tradeup. I have thought about a performance tune but not sure if that is going to void the warrenty or not. Also its an extra 1k. Would like to settle into the c300 just not sure if 5k is worth jumping up.

mb_21

Do you think it's worth $5k-$7k for heated seats and 20hp increase? IMO nooooo! If the 2013 had NAVI I could understand, but I really can't justify paying that much money for a small change.

Now let's say they try to upgrade you to a 2012-2013 E350 for $5k-$7k that would make sense.

But still keep in mind you will have to pay sales tax, title, and dealer fees all over again.

aamirani

You have to remember it also has 4K less miles as well though.

spyked

I personally would have a hard time paying $5k for what amounts to seat functions (heat and memory), an extra speaker, and a split folding rear seat. It just doesn't make sense....a premium package on a new car costs half that.

Keep in mind....your 2012 is the last year of a well sorted out yet simple engine (M272). The 2013 has the newer DI engine. With a stop/start system. Both new technologies that we don't know if MB has mastered yet. Do you want to be the beta tester? The M276 (I think that's the new engine) has already had issues that require labor intensive work.

For my money, I'd request an upgrade to a C350. More power (makes the new engine easier to risk) and RWD.

alsyli

No, I don't think it's worth it at all. The 2012+ models was a marked difference from 2008-2011. Aside from the engine (which may or may not be worth the $5000 to you), there's really not much that's all that different btw 2012 and 2013, unless the car has the extra sports package (not just the Sport trim). Does the extra HP really make that much of a difference for you in day-to-day driving? And how often do you adjust the seats that the position of the controls makes that much of a difference?

I also don't know if you'd see that much of a change in fuel economy. My C250 isn't all that better than the C300 (non 4matic) that my parents used to have. Perhaps the stop/start makes a big difference, though? If you don't drive in heavy-traffic conditions, though, you might not see much of a change.

The 2013 you're looking at has fewer overall miles, but it has more miles per yr, and 18,000 mi is a *lot*. I personally wouldn't go for a car that had that many miles in just one yr.

JaredP

If you aren't going to tune it, then no deal. The M276 is capable of 320hp. If you had a 2011 and upgrading to a 2013, I would say the $5000 would be worth it. ECO isn't really a reason to do the upgrade either, it's nice but the economy difference is very little, 5% maybe. Also the "beta tester" argument is pretty weak, The engine has been out for 4 years, and is MANY MB vehicles.

Performance is pretty big for me. I would definitely pay $5000 + $1000 for a Kleemann tune for nearly a 100 horsepower increase. The warranty would be void, but it's really nothing you have to worry about. It's almost impossible for the dealer to find out.

spyked

The M276 has not been running on U.S. fuel for four years. Who knows what kind of intake deposits it will have.

wsboxer1

Thanks everyone. Still waiting to hear back. Ill need to double check but I believe it has the premium one pack. Also, being in MN the heated seats are nice for use and resale.

As for the price I said 5k all said and done. That is after all taxes and fees and all that stuff. Still on the fence and leaning toward passing thanks to the info here. I am not a big rebel and will probably wait to tune until after the warranty is out. Just my comfort level I guess. Also this was one of their loaner cars which explains the 18k miles in a year.

Thanks for the help and advice!

Edit. Looks like it is Premium 1 and sports pkg. Mb TeX seats and such with walnut trim.

alsyli

IMHO, I definitely wouldn't get a loaner....

2nice4me

have you looked into getting into a used E350? My lease is up on my C300 and buyout is around CAD $29.5K, I went with a 2011 E350 with 35K KM's for $35K.

jcbutta

Uh, loaner car? No way!!! When my dealership gives me a loaner, I beat it into the ground. I would never buy a loaner.

xaran

Do what makes you happy you have to make the payment. it has never made sense to me to make a monthly payment on a car I did not like.

That said to me its not worth the difference of 5000 for heated seats and 1 year newer unless you are doing it for the new engine and then it only makes a big difference if you are going to do a tune to unlock all those lost ponies. So for me I would not make the trade.

xacoffeemx

+1

wsboxer1

That's funny, my friends and I are the total opposite! Since it's a nice loaner we treat ours pretty carefully. Sure it is not ours but we're responsible for it. Most the the used cars they have at the end of the year are the loaner cars coming into the used selling pool.

I guess another question is....how crazy can you beat a car in 18k miles over a year

Still no word on the offer yet. I am assuming they found a buyer but wanted me on the line in case they needed to close another deal before year end.

Thanks for everyone's input. I suppose if you're having to choose between different Mercedes' either choice ends in your favor...

sinape62

Not worth it. Instead ask for the same deal for a c350... get them to work on getting the price lower for the C350. If you get them to lower the price but still can't get them to meet your price, then say "how about making a deal on a new C300?"

The current deal as you describe IMO is not a good one...you could do better. Basically, what I'm saying is use the bait and switch on them... "Go for the gold standard", get them to drop the price on the gold standard". If the deal is good on the "gold standard" go for it. If not, negotiate by saying if you are willing to knock off "x" amount on the C350, give me the same or better deal for a c300.

Word of advise go find out on KBB or NADA what your car is worth. Askbthe dealer for high KBB, and stick to it. Negotiate on a C350 (gold standard) and take of fromthere. They will play the numbers game and lower the price of the new car and won't budge on the trade in... or give you what you want on trade in and won't budge on the new car. I did this when I traded my 2012E50 for a brand new 2013 C63 AMG. No money down, got almost top dollar for my Eclass (ended getting $36 when i was asking $40k)... Got the C63 for $48K. 5 miles on the odometer. Negotiated it over a one week period. Stick to your guns. Let them make money on someone else, not you. Be willing to walk away and go to another dealership and let that dealership know this... (politely). This was my purchase from this dealership, I told them I amna repeat customer... but if you want me as a life long customer you need give me 40k for my trade as I did not want to put a down payment. Best of luck PM me if you like.

wsboxer1

So just an update on where I am with this post and would appreciate anyone's input.

I went to look at a C300 Sport with the AMG package. 18 inch wheels red stitches seats, and the multimedia package. Has 14,500 miles


Test drove it and it feels and looks awesome. I would be trading in my 2012 C300 sport with 22k miles (mine does not have premium or multimedia packs). They offered me 26,500 for it. I am already financing 10k.

Basically where we left it today is that it would cost me 9,000 more to upgrade. Keep in mind that is after everything is set and done. Taxes, fees, plates, everything. I believe that puts the car somewhere in the 34,000 dollar range. This is a certified car.

Do you all think that is reasonable? I set out expecting to do 5-6k. I am wondering if the dealer can drop it down that much or if that is just expecting too much. An extra 9k is quite a bit to upgrade.. It does have cool toys and it looks great but still. Thoughts? Should I stick to my guns? I told him to make that number 6-7k and we'd be in business. That probably puts the car in the 31,000 range. I think this car has been on the lot through the holiday season so its not like it just hit the floor. I can easily wait on it until they really need to move it.

Sorry if I am sounding unreasonable. Would love to trade up but anything over 6k out of pocket is a lot of money to me. We can't have it all but it sure doesn't hurt to try.

Thank you for all the continued advice and Happy New Year!