Purchase: Order or Off The Lot?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 34
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From: NYC/NJ/PA
2014 C300, 2016 C300
Purchase: Order or Off The Lot?
Does anyone know if it would be more competitive to lease a car off the lot or to structure a lease based on a vehicle that would be ordered? From my line of thinking, a dealer would probably offer a better deal on a car sitting on the lot since the hold-back would be greater compared to an ordered car?
I'm asking because I'm looking to switch my lease very soon and thought about ordering my car, but if there's a car on the lot that is already available and has some options I'm not interested in (illuminated star, rear spoiler, heated steering wheel...etc) but is more competitive in terms of pricing, then I might just go with one that's off the lot
I'm asking because I'm looking to switch my lease very soon and thought about ordering my car, but if there's a car on the lot that is already available and has some options I'm not interested in (illuminated star, rear spoiler, heated steering wheel...etc) but is more competitive in terms of pricing, then I might just go with one that's off the lot
Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 139
Likes: 16
From: Detroit area
2015 S550 Coupe; 2025 EQS 450 SUV
Plenty of threads on this, but the dl;dr is roughly:
As you intuited, something that's sat on the lot for a while is likely going to give you a bigger discount. That said, some members seem to have gotten 10%+ off on custom orders. Depends heavily on the dealer.
Have a look around at the kinds of W205s that you find on the lots in your region. These cars generally have the same kinds of options - Premium, Multimedia, sunroof, etc. - in various combinations.
Certain options like Interior and Driver Assist are quite rare, especially with the C300. If you really want several of those rare lot options in particular, that's when a special order becomes very desirable.
Of course, if you look desperate for those options with your dealer, that's when they might think that you're a captive audience. But it's actually easy to put together a build sheet and send it to many dealers for a quote, so don't think that special orders put you at the mercy of a specific dealer. The key is to agree a price in writing as early as possible. If you wait until it's arrived, they can exploit your excitement to finally drive it.
As you intuited, something that's sat on the lot for a while is likely going to give you a bigger discount. That said, some members seem to have gotten 10%+ off on custom orders. Depends heavily on the dealer.
Have a look around at the kinds of W205s that you find on the lots in your region. These cars generally have the same kinds of options - Premium, Multimedia, sunroof, etc. - in various combinations.
Certain options like Interior and Driver Assist are quite rare, especially with the C300. If you really want several of those rare lot options in particular, that's when a special order becomes very desirable.
Of course, if you look desperate for those options with your dealer, that's when they might think that you're a captive audience. But it's actually easy to put together a build sheet and send it to many dealers for a quote, so don't think that special orders put you at the mercy of a specific dealer. The key is to agree a price in writing as early as possible. If you wait until it's arrived, they can exploit your excitement to finally drive it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
I went into a dealer who'd accepted my offer of 10% off MSRP via email but decided against that car after the test drive. I asked if they would do the same for a build and they did.
Had to wait a couple months but in the meantime MBFS had bumped the residual a bit and saved me a little more, plus I got exactly the car I wanted.
Maybe I could have done better on an inventory car somewhere else but I was happy at 10% on the build. I think the window has closed on 2016 allocations since my 3/21 build and dealers tend to be aggressive at model year end since it improves their next year's allocation numbers.
Had to wait a couple months but in the meantime MBFS had bumped the residual a bit and saved me a little more, plus I got exactly the car I wanted.
Maybe I could have done better on an inventory car somewhere else but I was happy at 10% on the build. I think the window has closed on 2016 allocations since my 3/21 build and dealers tend to be aggressive at model year end since it improves their next year's allocation numbers.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 295
Likes: 19
2016 C300
it all depends on the dealer and your negotiation/interpersonal skills.
in my case, i have NEVER seen a w205 in person before i went to pick up my car.
i've done everything via internet and phone conversations while sitting at work. i work 6 days, so going to the dealer to sit down and negotiate was not an option.
so i called the first dealer and requested a quote based on the options i researched online (heated steering was a MUST along with sports package). As you know sports steering wheel does not come with heated option. so they had to order one for me.
before placing a deposit, i called another MB dealer and told them same thing. and from there i let them duke it out for the best deal. I let them pull my credit to show them i was serious. i ended up with 11% off of MSRP + 3 year pre-paid maintenance + all season floor mats. car was custom ordered.
i leased the car, but i might buy it when lease ends.
in my case, i have NEVER seen a w205 in person before i went to pick up my car.
i've done everything via internet and phone conversations while sitting at work. i work 6 days, so going to the dealer to sit down and negotiate was not an option.
so i called the first dealer and requested a quote based on the options i researched online (heated steering was a MUST along with sports package). As you know sports steering wheel does not come with heated option. so they had to order one for me.
before placing a deposit, i called another MB dealer and told them same thing. and from there i let them duke it out for the best deal. I let them pull my credit to show them i was serious. i ended up with 11% off of MSRP + 3 year pre-paid maintenance + all season floor mats. car was custom ordered.
i leased the car, but i might buy it when lease ends.
