C32 AMG, C55 AMG (W203) 2001 - 2007

Help with 2003 C32 Decision

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Old 07-18-2008, 11:07 AM
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2009 GT-R
Help with 2003 C32 Decision

I am curious about opinions on what to do with my 2003 C32. I have a balloon coming due on 9/4/08, and need to decide if I want to keep it, or turn it in and walk away. The balloon is $20k. I actually received a letter from MB financial saying the balance was $10.5k, but when I called to talk to them about it, they claim that the letter is incorrect, and the balance is $20k. I am trying to decide how to proceed. As I said, I have a drop-dead decision date of 9/4/08. My C32 has ~50k miles on it, and is in good condition.

Side note: I have a 2009 Black Premium GT-R on order that should arrive Oct./Nov. timeframe, and I have additional cars to drive so I will not be out of a car between turn-in of the C32 and GT-R delivery.
Old 07-18-2008, 11:20 AM
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02 w203,85 w123
20K! Yikes! Well,u kno R,50K on a Benz is barely 'broken-in'...So u probably wouldnt miss her once u got the GT-R,but u obviously could keep the C for years to come w/so little mileage on her. Interesting dilemma...Let us kno ur decision once u make it. (and pics of the GT-R once u get her!)
Old 07-18-2008, 11:27 AM
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to me, $20k is a lot of money for a C that's close to 6 years old and 50k miles. especially when you have other cars in your stable- and a beauty of a car on the way. seems like a no brainer to me. then again- i am fine having a motorcycle (kakasaki), daily driver (ford focus), and a good weekend car (my benz).
Old 07-18-2008, 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by ArsnlKen
20K! Yikes! Well,u kno R,50K on a Benz is barely 'broken-in'...So u probably wouldnt miss her once u got the GT-R,but u obviously could keep the C for years to come w/so little mileage on her. Interesting dilemma...Let us kno ur decision once u make it. (and pics of the GT-R once u get her!)
The $20k thing annoys me especially after getting a letter saying $10.5k.
I am going to contact my attorney about this.
Old 07-18-2008, 12:34 PM
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02 w203,85 w123
Man,that does really sound high;plus since they sent u the original letter w/the "incorrect info", I wouldnt be surprised if u had a good case buddy!
Old 07-18-2008, 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by RLPIII
I am curious about opinions on what to do with my 2003 C32. I have a balloon coming due on 9/4/08, and need to decide if I want to keep it, or turn it in and walk away. The balloon is $20k. I actually received a letter from MB financial saying the balance was $10.5k, but when I called to talk to them about it, they claim that the letter is incorrect, and the balance is $20k. I am trying to decide how to proceed. As I said, I have a drop-dead decision date of 9/4/08. My C32 has ~50k miles on it, and is in good condition.

Side note: I have a 2009 Black Premium GT-R on order that should arrive Oct./Nov. timeframe, and I have additional cars to drive so I will not be out of a car between turn-in of the C32 and GT-R delivery.
Sorry, I'm a bit slow here. When you say "balloon", do you mean the residual payoff for a lease or is this a loan with a balloon payment. Either way, what does your original contract say the final payment should be?
Old 07-18-2008, 08:50 PM
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ballon

i think its the final payment to the lease payment
Old 07-18-2008, 09:26 PM
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i say keep the C32 for the daily driver and use the GTR as the race car. The GTR is a great but not as comfortable as the c32 for daily driving.

if you can only pick one..gtr all the way.
Old 07-18-2008, 10:19 PM
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02 w203,85 w123
Originally Posted by TemjinX2
i say keep the C32 for the daily driver and use the GTR as the race car. The GTR is a great but not as comfortable as the c32 for daily driving.

if you can only pick one..gtr all the way.
+1! Any MB I get WILL NEVER leave my posession once I have her(obviously not counting upgrades) & u dont want a daily driver to be ur GT-R! Thats for the little boy weekend-racers! (That cant hang w/EITHER!)
Old 07-19-2008, 12:34 AM
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Originally Posted by c32 dan
i think its the final payment to the lease payment
It's the final payment to own. I need to dig out my original contract to verify the final balloon amount. MB is saying $20k. I also have the option to just turn in the car free and clear and walk away. MB has already sent out and independent inspection company to verify the condition, and it passed with no problems.

Has anyone been in this position with MB, and was able to negotiate a better deal with them than what is due in final payment?
Old 07-19-2008, 01:38 AM
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07 E550, 02 C32, 91 300E
Originally Posted by RLPIII
It's the final payment to own. I need to dig out my original contract to verify the final balloon amount. MB is saying $20k. I also have the option to just turn in the car free and clear and walk away. MB has already sent out and independent inspection company to verify the condition, and it passed with no problems.

Has anyone been in this position with MB, and was able to negotiate a better deal with them than what is due in final payment?
Yeah we actually re-leased our 91 300e back in the day since they gave a pretty good deal on it, then purchased it at the end of that lease. So you could have that as an option. Not sure if they still do that though.
Old 07-19-2008, 02:32 AM
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well if you imagine not having the car at all, would you even be in the market for a c32 right now?
that's the way i'd look at it, as well as searching comparables to see how prices are, but also keeping in mind that you know the car (unlike another used one).

i'd turn it in i guess.
Old 07-19-2008, 02:57 AM
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C32-sold
Originally Posted by ArsnlKen
Man,that does really sound high;plus since they sent u the original letter w/the "incorrect info", I wouldnt be surprised if u had a good case buddy!
diddo
Old 07-19-2008, 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by RLPIII
It's the final payment to own. I need to dig out my original contract to verify the final balloon amount. MB is saying $20k. I also have the option to just turn in the car free and clear and walk away. MB has already sent out and independent inspection company to verify the condition, and it passed with no problems.

Has anyone been in this position with MB, and was able to negotiate a better deal with them than what is due in final payment?
So, this is an end of lease option. I do not know the specifics of lease laws in Texas, but here in California, they do not allow "open ended" leases (meaning, the buy-out is not specified in the original contract). If you have a closed end lease, you will have the exact "residual" amount listed on the contract.

If the car is worth more than the residual (balloon, as you called it) then you win. If the car is worth less than $20k, give it back and let MB take the hit.

Don't even bother spending a dime on an attorney until you re-read your contract. It will be money down a rat-hole.

Last edited by ScottW911; 07-19-2008 at 01:26 PM.
Old 07-21-2008, 04:40 PM
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See attached letter. This is the last letter I received from MB.
I had some trouble sizing to get it to upload, so hopefully it's readable.
Attached Thumbnails Help with 2003 C32 Decision-mb-letter-smaller.jpg  
Old 07-21-2008, 04:46 PM
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02 w203,85 w123
U got the hammer!

Well,w/that document in hand,if u dont have an open & shut case then this aint America anymore! Give em hell!
Old 07-21-2008, 04:56 PM
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OK, so you do not have a lease residual here. This looks like a loan to me. You do not have the option of turning the car back to MB.

I am going to repeat myself here. This letter probably means jack. What does the contract say you owe at the end?

Your best option would be to just check the box to pay it off and send in the check as Payment-in-full. Hopefully, they just cash your check and you don't hear from them again.
Old 07-21-2008, 05:28 PM
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07 E550, 02 C32, 91 300E
Originally Posted by ScottW911
OK, so you do not have a lease residual here. This looks like a loan to me. You do not have the option of turning the car back to MB.

I am going to repeat myself here. This letter probably means jack. What does the contract say you owe at the end?

Your best option would be to just check the box to pay it off and send in the check as Payment-in-full. Hopefully, they just cash your check and you don't hear from them again.
I agree, check the contract that you signed when you purchased the car, since it appears this isn't a lease but rather a loan like Scott said. Wouldn't hurt to check the box like he said either.
Old 07-21-2008, 05:37 PM
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Originally Posted by RLPIII
See attached letter. This is the last letter I received from MB.
I had some trouble sizing to get it to upload, so hopefully it's readable.
Here is where you should be going to find the real scoop it you can't find your contract:
https://www.mercedesbenzfinancial.co...LoginAction.do

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