What discount should I expect on pre-orders?
 

Hi everyone,

I am thinking of crossing over to the Benz family. I am trying to preorder a c63s. Debating between this and the new m3, which is a lot cheaper and handles better. But I love to styling of the c63s better and the interior is beautiful, even though I have seen reviews that its not really a "driver's car" compared to the m3 which does better on handling. M3 also has a manual transmission which is a plus.

In my experiences with BMW, you negotiate on a price, come to agreement, then they order it for you. Mercedes is telling me that they order the car for you, build the car and ship it, then they negotiate on price. There is no commitment even if you walk away. I've never done this before. Wouldn't MB lose money if everyone is custom ordering cars, then walking away if they can't mutually agree on a price?

I have priced it out to about $84k with options. What has people negotiated? Can I expect 6% off msrp? 7%? 8%? 10%?

They also told me there is a fleet discount of $2,000. This doesn't sound like it matters much because you can always factor the "fleet discount" into your targeted price. So does that mean whatever price we negotiate, they subtract $2,000 from the final price? Obviously, they would add to their targeted price by $2000 so they don't lose money right? i.e. if they want to sell me the car for $76k, they would price it at $78k so after fleet discount, it comes to $76k.

I'm in California.

It'll help if we know what country and city/state you're from.

In California.

Can't speak for a C63s but for a C450 I put $1K deposit to place a custom build and I've negotiated 7% off MSRP in writing. This doesn't include any potential incentives that may be available at the time of delivery(end of Dec.)
I've read, on this forum, up to 13% off MSRP for the C300

Thanks knowledge. The rep didn't tell me that we can negotiate price in writing before the vehicle is delivered. He said that due to the different incentives, we can't discuss price until AFTER the vehicle has been delivered. This is a strange practice.

I am worried about all the reliability issues that people tell me that they have experienced with the AMGs. It gets pricey after warranty is up.

Has anyone negotiated a c63s?

Thanks, I sent my rep this link, for a c450 coupe when they come out.
Hi Bernard,

For you, absolutely. We've worked together in the past and will not lose you on price.

What is your ideal configuration?

Best Regards,

Jearond Abad

It would seem to me that by negotiating a discount after the car arrives at the dealers is putting them in a strong position to play tough ball, as you will be itching to get your hands on it after maybe a long wait. Would you really be prepared to walk away at the last minute after sitting in your potential new car and then having to start again with a new order? I would say probably not and the dealer will know that.

It seems extraordinary that they expect you to order a car that you have no idea what it is going to costing you.

In the UK the price is agreed before the order is taken. In my case the discount was 19% and took 5 months for the car to be delivered.

I can see the case where there is a wait period, such as ordering the car specifically. I did with my c300, I wanted airmatic and got it. I explained in detail in another thread. In summary.

Dealers do not like ordering, they will push to sell off the lot because they carry the cost of them while in the showroom. With order, they don't have to buy it first. If you order and they don't want to deal, tell them you will also service the vehicle with them. But do get it in writing before a contract is printed, and avoid the extra dealer provided services.

I received $4k off my 2016 C63.