Mr. J

Yep, and the column tilts upward when you open the door to make it easier to get in and out of the vehicle.

mo11

Cool, thanks!

fstclyz

I'm looking to buy some OEM 19" split 5 spokes ('16 c450) in black if anyone has a set they want to sell.

foxberry

Hi all,


Have owned a Lexus IS350 for the last 10 years, but it's time for a new car now...after going back and forth for weeks & weeks between the C450 AMG & a few Audi models (new S4, new S5, CPO S6) I just put a deposit down on a C450 AMG Sport that my dealer has on the lot (I need to transfer some funds between accounts prior to actually making the purchase, which will take a few days). Some quick questions:

This is the only C450 this dealer has in their inventory. They did not have the "glut" of C450 inventory that I have read in this thread that many other dealers have, which seems to have enabled many on here to negotiate anywhere from 12%-18% off MSRP. After about an hour of haggling, my dealer was only willing to go down to the invoice $$$ (from $64,000 to $59,000), plus a fleet discount, even though I told them that I am looking hard at new S5s, new S4s & CPO S6s. Now that I actually have a deposit down, anyone think I have a good chance for success for getting into that 13%-18% range off MSRP if I march in on Monday and telling them I am pulling the plug on the deal and going with Audi, unless I can get a similar substantial discount as others have been able to get on this departing model??

Anyone regret the C450 purchase with the change to the C43? I don't really care too much personally about nomenclature & badging & such, as long as our car is not "orphaned" down the road from a MB support standpoint. I am a "buy a car and keep it for 10 yrs" person, not a "lease a car and give it back in 3 yrs" person. I have zero experience with MB, so I'd love to hear other C450 owners thoughts that have a long history with MB that plan on holding on to the C450 long-term.


Thanks!

tmoneyC450amg

I bought the C450 when it first released last Sept. No regrets whatsoever, great car and no problems even though I received one of the first batches that came out the Alabama mill. I was however blindsided by the release of the C43 less than a year later because I'm like you, I bought the car planning to keep it for 10+ years and I felt cheated by MB but once I got past that, it's not really a big deal. The only real difference I see btw the two models is the 7G+ tranny vs the new 9G tranny.

It's a helluva beast on the road. Enjoy!

Mike5215

I come at it a little differently. I prepare a spreadsheet with the deal I want, not pie in the sky, just whatever the prevailing discount is, and I email it to the sales manager as an offer. They can take it or leave it or counter.

I've always had to travel to get the deal I want. I got the deal I wanted from a store 5 hours away so that's where I went. My wife and I made a mini vacation out of it.

You can download the spreadsheet I use to formulate offers here:

Www.carbuyingsite.wordpress.com

Save the spreadsheet with a new file name to be able to plug your numbers in, and replace the data I already have in there with your own.

During the actual deal, use the spreadsheet to verify the F&I guys numbers and keep them honest.

Mr. J

Where are you located? It may be worth it to shop other MB dealers. If they won't give you a least 10% off from MSRP, you should walk away. Check the inventory of all the dealers within 200-300 miles of you. Find another C450 that has the equipment you want call them and ask if if they will deal. Tell them you'll be ready to sign tomorrow if they will give you 15% off. If you apply enough pressure you should be able to get 12-15%. The 16-18% discounts are unicorns, but 12% is still leaving a little profit on the table for the dealership.

autopal

On the other hand, this deal from his local dealership is roughly 8%, so he needs to ask himself how much more would he need in discount, for it to warrant travelling 200-300 miles, and if, in his mind, is there any worth to dealing locally and building a relationship. I am not saying he should, or shouldn't, just another perspective. On a side note, I was in the car industry for many years, and it always amazes me how many customers would grind the salesman for the last possible dollar, and then go in the finance office, and, within 10 minutes, drop thousands of dollars on expensive and sometimes unnecessary add ons, products that the dealer is making well in excess of 50% profit.

Mike5215

8% is a little light on a C450. The dealer should be equally concerned with building a relationship (although I think that whole concept is a fallacy and every deal is like starting from square one regardless of who you're buying from.)

15% to 20% on a discontinued model close out is about average. I doubt he'd have to travel far to do better than 8%. Sounds like this dealer isn't sitting heavy with C450s and isn't especially motivated yet.

Spot on about the F&I office being a trap for inexperienced buyers BTW.

foxberry

I'm in central NJ. I am totally willing to tell the dealer that I am shopping that price, as I think I can do better elsewhere...it will suck if they tell me to go right ahead...I don't really WANT to invest the time to shop other dealers, LOL...I'd be very happy if they gave me 12% off MSRP, plus the fleet discount.

Mike5215

In that case prepare a counter at a 12% discount plus fleet, let them know you're not shopping around, you want their car and you two are very close. See if they'll wrap it up.

Mr. J

Hell NJ has MB dealers up the wazoo. Its not like you're in BFE Idaho or something. Look at the inventory of nearby dealers and see what's out there.

Biggreenogg

+1
That old line about drive a little save a lot was definitely true in my case.

Biggreenogg

+1
That old line about drive a little save a lot was definitely true in my case.

Artem

Hi everyone!

First of all, I would like to say a huge thank you for all of you. Like your posts, comments and reasonable arguments both for and against something.

I suppose I am the only Ukrainian on this forum. I assume that probably there is Ukrainian/Russian forum for c450/c43, however, according to my information, there is only one c63 has been ordered in Ukraine, officially. My c43 sedan is a second AMG (yes, I treat it like "little amg" ,rather than big c300) car in whole Ukraine. Thus, I doubt that there will be a lot useful and interesting information on other forums.

Today is a big day for me. I have placed an order for my MB c43 sedan.
Reading your posts about the difference between c450 and c43, I can confirm that c43 is equipped with 9G-TRONIC gear box, for extra EUR1600 you get AMG Performance Exhaust system. For amg badge lovers, I will get amg badge on the gitter ( same as on the c63). The official data for an acceleration from 0 - 100 km/h is 4.7s. There are a couple of colors are missing, however you can get Brilliant Blue Metallic for EUR1200 and silver matte for EUR 2800.( debatable option)

Here is my spec:

Brilliant Blue
Standard 18' wheels ( I would love to have 19, but roads in Ukraine are good enough only for G-class or tanks)
Silver CF matte trim
De-badged, left only "biturbo amg" on the sides
Standard Artico seats ( again, really like them, regret that there is no steering wheel heating option)
AMG "extra" Performance Exhaust system ( with a control - sound button)
Keyless Go package
Parking Package
Mirror Package
Comfort seats package
Sound package
LED intelligent light system
Driving Assistant package
No memory seats ( I am the only driver for the car and in addition, they are pricey here - EUR 1000 = USD 1150)
No heads-up display ( cost saving practice)
No Command ( useless in Ukraine, you pay EUR3000 for +1 inch display, however I will miss torque display)
No Distronic Plus Package ( sorry, but I am going to play hard with this baby, I do not want a system to restrict me, and again - the system would go crazy when it sees how ppl drive here )

Deliver date: beg of October

Price: EUR69k ( including 5% discount, thanks to my dad's corporate discount, otherwise I would not be on this forum)


Btw, I am extremely jealous: you guys, have such low prices and a couple of financial instruments, which ease your "budget load". I spent a month negotiating with a leasing company and in the end just kindly asked them to f**k off. The initial conditions from these guys were : 40% upfront and 24% per annum. Wholly crap
I managed to get 20% upfront and 16%/annum, but they refused to sign a triple - party contract - me, MB and a leasing company. I do not want to go into much details, but their contract just sucked.

FYI, the car market in Ukraine has dumped by 80% in last 2 years. I think in the USA, dealer would do anything to attract my money and to make a deal with me. However, it is not a case in Ukraine.

Anyway, happy to be here.

fstclyz

Instead of haggling with the local dealer, I bought a used (4k miles) out of state, 4 month old c450 with the specs I wanted. Sticker was $65k, paid $50k. Great car and there's quite a few out there with 1k-4k miles. Saves you money and would never know it was used. Then you can buy a C43 or even the E43 next year if you choose. : )

Don't buy new when you have good deals on slightly used vehicles.

Artem

thanks for your comment) however:
- there is only one car has been imported to Ukraine, hence there is no even similar cars on the market
- everyone is crazy about Diesel engines. when the oil price has been around $30, petrol price just rocketed for unknown reasons. So ppl stick to low petrol consumption cars)
- you guys get approximately what?: $1/gallon,=> 0.25 cent liter. We get here $1.10/1 liter.

So, secondary market is not my choice) plus, warranty and other perks are probably worth the money)

Mr. J

US fuel for premium petrol currently runs about $3.00-3.50/US Gallon or $.80-.92/L. If I did the arithmetic right this should translate to .71-83 euros/L.

Congrats on your new car Artem. And welcome to the forum.

Artem

Guys,

Those of you you have NOT selected Command Online, any regrets/discomfort/drawbacks?

Thnx

Artem

I am sure you know better. But still, USD 0.35 difference/ liter is a significant gap for country, where an average monthly wage is $120.

Thank you

MJ83

Foxberry, this is my two cents based on me recent purchase with a 16.5% discount and the experience that went along with it. The most critical factor in negotiating a strong deal for the C450 is how eager the dealer is to move the car. I emailed every dealer in a 250 mile radius with a C450 I could live with, and only one would make the 16% deal. The next best offer I had was 12% including the fleet discount.

In my case, the dealer willing to come down the most had the car for 147 days, it was the end of the month, and the C43 is coming out in the fall. They were eager to get the car off the lot and add the sales amount to their monthly tally, even at a loss. Since each dealer and each vehicle will have a different set of circumstances, the best thing you can do is shop around to find the dealer most eager to move the car. I know there are plenty of dealers within a short driving range from Central NJ, so it cannot hurt to send a few emails with a flat yes/no proposal. Of course, if you are not out for the best deal and want to stay local, by all means try to squeeze out another couple percent.

As for the C43 coming out, the only significant change is the move to the 9 speed transmission. Is the current 7 speed perfect? No, but it is more than adequate. The thing is, you might be able to get invoice (or close) for a C43, but the massive $10k discount I received on the C450 made me forget all about the new model. As a side note, I took my coworker that has a newer IS350 F Sport for a ride, and he was blown away...and a bit jealous. You won't be disappointed by this car if you can get the discount you want. Best of luck.

Mike5215

I think the consensus is they get tired of looking at that big black plastic bezel as a constant reminder of where they went cheap. If it wasn't so prominent it might not be as big an issue but it's staring back at you mercilessly. Retrofitting a bigger screen later has turned out to be costly with mixed results. If find the money for the Multimedia package if I was doing a build.

Artem

Thanks for your comment. Yeah, sometimes you need find a balance among three things: budget, rationality and desire)

LOGOSDJ

What dealer in NJ are you working with? PM me the answer, if you'd like.

InTheBenz0

For anyone in the NJ/NY/PA area... Mercedes Benz of Caldwell. They have basically the largest selection of C450s in the northeast. That is where I just got mine (Car now has 475 miles )... Ron Mangano was the Sales Consultant, he has been there 13 or 14 years. No pressure and genuinely a nice guy.

I got a very good deal like many here have commented.