W205 Discount challenge!
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 600
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From: Sunshine State
2015 C300 RWD
I couldn't get the Souther Florida dealers to 'deal' much, not very aggressive. I reached out to every dealer in the state trying to do my due diligence not to overpay. IF interested in contact info for dealer in Florida who did is, please send me a private message.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 327
Likes: 20
From: USA
2015 C300 RWD Sport Premium
I couldn't get the Souther Florida dealers to 'deal' much, not very aggressive. I reached out to every dealer in the state trying to do my due diligence not to overpay. IF interested in contact info for dealer in Florida who did is, please send me a private message.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 600
Likes: 4
From: Sunshine State
2015 C300 RWD
It was harder to find dealer who would apply discount heavily to an order. I was about to leave the state and make a deal with some of the other dealers people had used on this board. Interested to hear what you find as well.
Last edited by floridadriver; Oct 10, 2014 at 05:17 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 362
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From: In a box
2019 C43 Sedan and 2020 Volvo V60 CC
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2014
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W205
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Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 82
Likes: 7
2015 C300 4matic
Would be interesting to know what percentage people are paying for financing as well, and whether or not they have a trade in, since often make up for big discounts in these other two areas.
Last edited by Silver; Oct 10, 2014 at 02:57 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 362
Likes: 10
From: In a box
2019 C43 Sedan and 2020 Volvo V60 CC
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 500
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W205
No trade-in; financing but didn't put in the application since the car will not be here till end of the year/new year. I could get financing on my own if I want so it has nothing to do with the final price.
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
GLK250
If you're in one of the $3k discount markets you can get a base C300 @ 36mo/10k for $360 before taxes ($345 if you're willing to put in a $3500 security deposit). Add ~$9 for every $1k of options.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 362
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From: In a box
2019 C43 Sedan and 2020 Volvo V60 CC
I'm not trading in a car but seeing as I've never owned a Mercedes before I'm going to lease for 36 months to see how I like the experience. If it's good I'm sure I'll up the ante a bit and get another one but spec'd out differently.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2015 C300 4Matic Sport
Just got my car yesterday but it took about two weeks to pick it up.
Went to multiple dealers looking for a specific build but they all said I had to custom order it except for one dealer. He found one in Washington and I'm in California. Exactly what I was looking for except for a few low priced extra options.
The MSRP on it was $50,535. He gave me $45,984. So it's 9% off from MSRP. I noticed from getting quotes from multiple dealers that the difference in invoice price to MSRP price is between 5.5%-5.7%.
I straight out asked them to give me invoice price which they all did. I got quotes from 8 different dealers in the bay area. They will not offer invoice unless you ask. By the way, I only communicated through email which made it easier to price shop.
Once you have invoice pricing, then haggle your way down.
Went to multiple dealers looking for a specific build but they all said I had to custom order it except for one dealer. He found one in Washington and I'm in California. Exactly what I was looking for except for a few low priced extra options.
The MSRP on it was $50,535. He gave me $45,984. So it's 9% off from MSRP. I noticed from getting quotes from multiple dealers that the difference in invoice price to MSRP price is between 5.5%-5.7%.
I straight out asked them to give me invoice price which they all did. I got quotes from 8 different dealers in the bay area. They will not offer invoice unless you ask. By the way, I only communicated through email which made it easier to price shop.
Once you have invoice pricing, then haggle your way down.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2015 C300 4Matic Sport
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
GLK250
For the deal that you got, if you use the 7% invoice, after the $1500 incentive dealer profit comes to $421 before holdback. If you use the 6% invoice, dealer loss is $75 before holdback.
Anyone else able to share their MRSP & invoice?
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2015 C300 4Matic Sport
I read somewhere that Mercedes Benz holdback was 1% of MSRP. So in my situation, holdback would be $505.35 for that car?
Few of the dealers that I did have contact with offered any incentives, the only one mentioned was the $500 discount if you are a USAA member. The dealer I bought it from called it a volume based incentive. I've never heard of that before.
Apparently, there's also dealer invoice and factory invoice. I guess I wasn't specific when I asked for invoice pricing because it looks like they gave me the factory invoice which is the higher of the two, I think.
Few of the dealers that I did have contact with offered any incentives, the only one mentioned was the $500 discount if you are a USAA member. The dealer I bought it from called it a volume based incentive. I've never heard of that before.
Apparently, there's also dealer invoice and factory invoice. I guess I wasn't specific when I asked for invoice pricing because it looks like they gave me the factory invoice which is the higher of the two, I think.
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
GLK250
I read somewhere that Mercedes Benz holdback was 1% of MSRP. So in my situation, holdback would be $505.35 for that car?
Few of the dealers that I did have contact with offered any incentives, the only one mentioned was the $500 discount if you are a USAA member. The dealer I bought it from called it a volume based incentive. I've never heard of that before.
Apparently, there's also dealer invoice and factory invoice. I guess I wasn't specific when I asked for invoice pricing because it looks like they gave me the factory invoice which is the higher of the two, I think.
Few of the dealers that I did have contact with offered any incentives, the only one mentioned was the $500 discount if you are a USAA member. The dealer I bought it from called it a volume based incentive. I've never heard of that before.
Apparently, there's also dealer invoice and factory invoice. I guess I wasn't specific when I asked for invoice pricing because it looks like they gave me the factory invoice which is the higher of the two, I think.
You're actually the second instance I've seen of dealer quoting the '6% invoice' instead of the '7% invoice', so I'm wondering if it's a national change in policy instead of individual dealers simply trying to pad profits.
Last edited by alexkhane; Oct 11, 2014 at 06:08 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,346
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From: North/Central NJ
GLC 63 S AMG / Corvette C8 / Jaguar SVR
Some info on latest deal that I was able to get from a relative.
54,735 MSRP C400: 15K miles a year, 1st month due at signing...
$689 a month for 36 months. He was giving me all $3000 back (that is the deal for October $3K dealer cash) PLUS $1000 UNDER invoice.
Invoice is $51,811... - 1000 under = 50,811 - 3K dealer cash = $47,811 selling price. (13% off)
Similarly, if I wanted a C300... 51,735 MSRP... same type of deal... it was almost $100 less a month.. $599 a month, 15k year and $599 due at signing.
FYI... the C400 has standard money factor... .170 and 58% residual at 36 months... the C300 is .166 MF and the residual is 2 pts better at 60% for 15K yr.
So bottom line is.. and I believe this is a very good deal that I don't know if most can get..
$100 a month right now between similarly optioned C300/C400. That is a lot for a $3k difference, but with the residual 2% less... and MF is a touch higher, that is why.
I am not biting yet. $699 for a C class... no chance, I would do that. Even at $599 for a 4cyl engine ... not a chance.
MF will come down eventually... he thinks winter event will increase the bettering of these deals... that should start in Nov. He said his dealership isn't selling a lot of C classes because people coming in that are paying $450, $500 on the old c class are getting sticker shock.
54,735 MSRP C400: 15K miles a year, 1st month due at signing...
$689 a month for 36 months. He was giving me all $3000 back (that is the deal for October $3K dealer cash) PLUS $1000 UNDER invoice.
Invoice is $51,811... - 1000 under = 50,811 - 3K dealer cash = $47,811 selling price. (13% off)
Similarly, if I wanted a C300... 51,735 MSRP... same type of deal... it was almost $100 less a month.. $599 a month, 15k year and $599 due at signing.
FYI... the C400 has standard money factor... .170 and 58% residual at 36 months... the C300 is .166 MF and the residual is 2 pts better at 60% for 15K yr.
So bottom line is.. and I believe this is a very good deal that I don't know if most can get..
$100 a month right now between similarly optioned C300/C400. That is a lot for a $3k difference, but with the residual 2% less... and MF is a touch higher, that is why.
I am not biting yet. $699 for a C class... no chance, I would do that. Even at $599 for a 4cyl engine ... not a chance.
MF will come down eventually... he thinks winter event will increase the bettering of these deals... that should start in Nov. He said his dealership isn't selling a lot of C classes because people coming in that are paying $450, $500 on the old c class are getting sticker shock.
Last edited by InTheBenz0; Oct 13, 2014 at 01:58 PM.
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
GLK250
Ok, so another case of 6% invoice.
If you calculate MSRP of $54735 under the 7% formula, you get invoice of $50969, so the final price you got is $158 under the 7% invoice. Last I heard, MB holdback is 1% of MSRP, so either:
1) Invoice for C-Class has increased to 6% off of MSRP and holdback's increased from 1% (or volume bonus is high enough) to allow dealers to sell at nearly 2% below invoice and still make profit, or
2) Invoice is still 7% off of MSRP, but MB has changed it's policy and told managers to pad invoice at 1%. The manager in turn pass along this inflated invoice to their sales force, and then are accepting 'below invoice' deals that don't really dig into their profits as much as it might seem.
Maybe I'm being too suspicious, but I suspect it's option #2. If you don't mind me asking, is your relative a part of sales or management?
Also, is the 0.00170 MF with Autopay? Last I heard the Tier1+ standard MF is 0.00195 with possibly a 0.00015 bonus for certain markets. If it's now 0.00170 straight up, you could reduce that with MSDs and get the MF down to 0.00100, which would mean the $3k and 2% residual difference between the C300 and C400 would only end up costing ~$25 a month.
If you calculate MSRP of $54735 under the 7% formula, you get invoice of $50969, so the final price you got is $158 under the 7% invoice. Last I heard, MB holdback is 1% of MSRP, so either:
1) Invoice for C-Class has increased to 6% off of MSRP and holdback's increased from 1% (or volume bonus is high enough) to allow dealers to sell at nearly 2% below invoice and still make profit, or
2) Invoice is still 7% off of MSRP, but MB has changed it's policy and told managers to pad invoice at 1%. The manager in turn pass along this inflated invoice to their sales force, and then are accepting 'below invoice' deals that don't really dig into their profits as much as it might seem.
Maybe I'm being too suspicious, but I suspect it's option #2. If you don't mind me asking, is your relative a part of sales or management?
Also, is the 0.00170 MF with Autopay? Last I heard the Tier1+ standard MF is 0.00195 with possibly a 0.00015 bonus for certain markets. If it's now 0.00170 straight up, you could reduce that with MSDs and get the MF down to 0.00100, which would mean the $3k and 2% residual difference between the C300 and C400 would only end up costing ~$25 a month.
Last edited by alexkhane; Oct 13, 2014 at 01:15 PM.
