npa201

I'm potentially buying an on the lot C450 this week. It is fully loaded except for parktronic. Unfortunately, I will not be able to wait for the C43 if its getting a rebadge. What do you think this does to the acceleration of depreciation of existing models? Anybody with c400's have a sense? I wonder what happened with ML going away or when Infiniti renamed everything with a Q.

How much should I try to negotiate off just on this news for the car? Originally I was hoping for 6-8% based on what I've read on the boards. Could it be closer to 10%? This will be a purchase not a lease (although perhaps I should lease it now....)

BenzC400

I was offered $43,000 for my C400 as a trade for a similarly equipped C450 after a year of ownership. C400 sticker price was $63,000. I'm glad I didn't make the trade.

jorgetav

FYI - When valuing my C400 for a trade-in last month, the dealer used the discontinuation of the C400 as a reason for a lower value. Obviously, it really ticked me off.

topsider

yeah ridiculous

INS1GNIA

Sadly it is, all going downhill .

Zand3rs

Care to explain?

Zand3rs

heh now whats this ?

topsider

must be a preproduction test car?

chem1441

my heart can't take it....

bdajeha

Correct me if i'm wrong, but so far the information only says a namechange is coming?
That's pretty much the same as 250 CDI became 250d, or?

There are a lot of hardware differences between the 400 and 450 on the other hand, so it's not really the same situation?
Or am I missing something?

Xtrema

Really, owning non-limited production German car is horrible. Just lease and make sure the residual is high so you just toss the keys back when you are done.

I have yet to see how owning a German is cheaper than leasing once you calculate the depreciation.

I rather keep my $70K in the bank and invest with it than buying a $70K German car.

AKnapp

I'm not sold. Here's my front page thoughts on the matter: https://mbworld.org/articles/benz-re...mercedes-amgs/

ddeliber

Interesting.... So if I read this right, there will be one normal Mercedes (C300) and two AMG C classes (43 and 63) available here in the states. Three if you include the C63s (if there will be one in 17).

Sure its not that big of a deal, but it seems like they are catering a bit too much towards a niche market vs their bread and butter. Especially on what I believe is their largest volume selling class. Don't get me wrong, I want a 450 or 43 and I'm not really interested in a C300, but I would think they would offer more to choose from for the masses that want a C.

AMGAffalterbach

If they do this they will be making a terrible, terrible mistake. They better make the M276 DELA30/DELA35 more competitive then, I would change my brand allegiance (lol) but at least Audi is guilty of the same thing.

DapperStyle

Where did you find that? I just suspect it still says 450 because the rebranding hasn't taken place it probably will be for sale as the SLC43.

Zand3rs

sold my "old" AMG E55 sedan to buy a 450 because in my eyes the new C class is perfect for me. I had some issues with the branding at first as well but when i floored it on a huge excluded area where we usually build our tracks on for meetups and stuff i got blown away. Yeah its no AMG but it is a really potent car and i got sold. Does not feel like a standard factory car in any way.

Do i think it deserves the AMG badge? Yes. Does it matter what i think? No.
AMG is a brand that will have its portfolio grow with new models and this is not the last time this will happen. The more cars their brand can sell the better. If it means skipping 1 or 2 of the steps that makes a AMG, sure. It is going to happen sometime anyway.

I never owned a last generation 400 but i have heard reviewers say that the 450 is a step up in performance and handling from the 400 and if they just tweak it a little more i would say that this is exactly what they have done.

Arthrodesis

I really doubt there is going to be a lot of changes from the c450.

I am expecting: -Minimal power increase or none, - 9 speed auto trans, -minimal price bump

I am not expecting: -Race start, - hand built engines

kuba.95

R.I.P AMG.

stealth.pilot

I don't understand the numbering. They are going to call the 362hp the C43, while the 350hp CLA is called the CLA45.

Shouldn't the CLA45 have a lower number than the C43 to denote the fact that the CLA45 has less power and a lesser engine?

supersky3k

Check out this video it confirms the SLK changed the name to AMG SLC43

supersky3k

Yup, it's never an good idea to trade in any cars. I'd say keep the car and enjoy it for 7-8 years to make it worth the value you've paid. There is always going to be better car coming out each year.

AMGAffalterbach

I don't get this either, if they're doing this they need to revamp the entire numbering scheme just like they did the nomenclature when they made their cars all look the same.

sinape62

Sorta Agree with you Kuba.

But what is really seems to be happening is Mercedes Benz itself is dying as everything will may end up as an AMG. Case in point: I just looked up MBUSA.com and looked at the C class sedans: C300, C300 4matic, C450, C63, C63s.

The C300 variant is the only Mercedes Benz C-Class left... Everything else is or will be and is now an AMG.

I'm not hating on the C450/C43, it's probably a great car... It seems the people in marketing feel they can't compete without leveraging the AMG name. Their way of growing market share... No hate, just debate.

sinape62

Said differently, but my point exactly.

ddeliber

I agree with your your point, just not your choice of words. As I mentioned earlier having 0 trim choices for what the vast majority of people actually buy de-values the MB brand. IMO dying is a bit of an overstatement, but rather they make people think it is not good enough. Also, IMO 4Matic is an option, not really a trim level.

AMG sport is fine, as it is really a sport trim and adding AMG makes it sound better to many. However, full blown AMG43 screams "I am a sports car tuned by demigods, regular drivers need not apply" even if it just the badge. My point here is not that of an AMG purist screaming it is not a real AMG, but more that MB is saying MB isn't good enough and people that don't want a sports car aren't what we are looking for. I think that it weakens the brand and they will sell fewer cars as a result. Think I don't need an AMG or an //M, I guess I'll just get a 340i.