sfrolich

Hi, I recently put a deposit on a C55 at the local dealer and I'm wondering what you have paid (or are going to pay) for your C55. I'm trying not to get ripped off!

Thanks much,
Scott

Nickerz

My C55 is due in September and I haven't decided if I'm going to buy or lease. My CPA says either choice is a good write off for my company but I've also read where some claim only about $100 more (montly price) if you buy over 5 years vs. lease for 3 years. So now I'm considering buying and even then I can sell it when I want and write off the depreciation.

Anyone else have some stats on their "deal" for their C55?

Nick

djx18

I payed around 59,000 63,000 (estimates) total with tax. I got lighting package, premium package and navigation.

sfrolich

So it sounds like you got the car for MSRP? I suppose I should have asked that in the first place.

Scott

djx18

Yea they did not mark it up at all. I know the owner of the dealership went to the same school with the son of the owner so no way I was getting a mark up. He hooked me up with the showroom model. They werent planning on selling that car to any one till later on but I got it.

tototisha

I just picked up one today. Paid no penny less than MSRP. $61500 with brilliant siver/black leather, navi, premium, lighting and 3M scotchcal.

sfrolich

Anyone else buy a C55 at MSRP?

Thanks, Scott

pam

Ordered the car mid-July. Dealer allocation is for production in late August (I expect delivery early October)
Paid MSRP + Gas Guzzler + Dest. Chg for Brilliant Silver, Charcoal, Lighting Package ($57390) + Tax
I'll be leasing. How is it that you can write it off 100% if you buy? I thought that was only possible with SUVs over 6000 lbs GVW. The standard depreciation is not as effective as a lease, I thought, but I will ask my accountant.

Nickerz

Actually, I won't be able to write off 100% if I buy or lease. Only if I can show that this car is used 100% for my business. However, some of you other folk get away with things like this (lol). Let me know what your account says as mine said either way is beneficial for tax write offs.

Nick

BMoney

If you lease what kind of payments are you guys talking about?

pam

I haven't finalized it yet, but I am thinking around $1100 with no down, 15K miles, 3 years, and taxes, title, etc. rolled into the lease. In IL we have to pay tax on the WHOLE car, even tho we are leasing only 50%. That sux.

freakinfreak

$1100/mo? That sounds insanely HIGH. You could lease an S430 for about $900/mo.

Prasith32

since sept 11 it is definitely better to buy than lease.

I bought my c32 and I got a good writeoff on my first year

you can write off depreciation and interest on the loan. Also insurance and any car costs (like mods etc )

I have another car that is my personal car so this is strictly for entertaining clients and ahem "motorsport research". It turns out that I entertain most of my clients at the track

pam

Depending on how much you put down, the lease payments will be less. The 1100 is with no money down. I'll have to look into how I could write off as much as leasing if I bought. I thought that car payments are not deductible.

smgC32

what percentage is MB using for residual value? What is the current money factor MBUSA is using. $1,100.00 is an awful lot for a 55-60K car. You could make a deal on a E55 for that or take you pick of other cars in the 80K range. Wow. MB is expecting that the car will be worth less than 30K after three years. Not such high expectations.

pam

I went to the MBUSA site and plugged in 0 down, 3 years, 15K miles (only option I ordered was the lighting package)
Comes out to $1100 + change/month. If I put down $5000, payment drops to $900/month. I am leaning toward zero down, b/c I can deduct the whole thing that way (I don't think the down payment is tax deductible)
I haven't comparison shopped yet with some of the other leasing companies (my car won't be here for 2 months.

Nickerz

Back in March Laguna Nigel called me up re: a C32 as Chase Manhatten was running this special deal for 2% interest ON A LEASE!!! and approved credit of course (required FICO score 740+). I was upset at the time b/c the C32 was being held by another dealer b/c they had someone also interested in the car but now I'm kinda glad it didn't go through b/c I'm waiting for my C55! I hope another promotion comes along like that one...which I doubt it will.

Nick

smgC32

You could lease an A8 loaded for less than that, or a new S Class. But I understand that you want a C. Unfortunately, the residual is so bad on these cars that they have to charge so much for the lease. At 1,100 per month, thats $13,000 per year, or $40,000.00 out of pocket after three years of ownership with no asset upon expiration. With a purchase price of about $60,000, that means the car is worth about $20,000 in three years (in this example). What is the residual value quoted? You are better off in these types of situations to just buy the car cash and hope it is worth more when selling in three years.

Most '02's are selling for low to mid 30's, while '03's are selling for mid-high 30's. At $60,000 purchase price for an '03 with 17,000 miles and 1.5 years of ownership, the cost to own this car if I were to sell now is 22,000 if I could get 38,000. If we divide 22,000 by 1.5 years, the cost of ownership to date would be about 14,000 per year, or $1,166.66 per month, which is about what MB's quote is.

After one month of ownership, I asked the dealer what they would give me for my car. They said $45,000. A 15,000 hit off the showroom floor, which by the way is not unusual for an exotic. It will be interesting to see if the C55 holds its value better. The same dealer sold a '03 C32 with 2,000 miles for the same price as a new C320 to a customer who was very happy to drive a used car! The C32 is the best bang for your buck used car deal around.

knepster

After that analysis it seems like the C55 is great for instant impulse, but to get rid of after ownership--you take a HUGE hit. With that said I will be cancelling my order and looking to a M3, better residuals.

Nickerz

I'm pretty sure you had already made the M3 decision before your C55 finding.

Vader13

I told everyone and got flamed,, The C55's are over 60K at the end of the day.
12 k more gets you in the E55?
I am not putting the C55 down, but for real it is not worth more than 52K.
The depreciation on those cars will be nasty.
Remeber it's still a C Class.

knepster

Great car, but not at 60K when there is a lot out there at that price, heck you can get into a slightly used 911 with options for that, 2002-2003 models.
Terrible residuals, I though Audi's were bad.

MiamiAMG

I paid 60K for my C55, & i paid 59k for for my C32. Practically the same price, but I got much more with the C55 than i did with the C32.
A bone stock E55 costs 80K+ not 72, that would be a CLK 55 coupe.

just my .02

Vader13

It depends on who you buy from I guess..
My C32 came loaded except for bi xenon, I payed 51K for it.
I put a depost on a E55, the price of the car is 72.900
It is not loaded, but I don't give a **** about most of that crap.
I like to drive, period.
All those little soccermom or nerd mods mean nothing to me.
My NAV was the first thing to go out of my C32.
Oh I replaced the stock stuff with a 1000 watt system..lol

pam

My partner and my bro-in-law both leased a new M3 (within the past 3 months) and their lease (also no down, 15K/year, etc.) is just under $1000/month ($960). The residual is around 60% after 3 years, while I believe the C55 is going to be around 50%. I think that is the difference, but if you can deduct your lease, your cost on an $1100 lease is only about $700 a month tops. My current car (2000 Volvo S80 T6), which I bought, after paying for all the crap that's gone wrong with it lately, I have spent just about $700 a month all told over 5 years, and that includes the value of my trading it in, and the minimal tax advantage I get from depreciation.
At least that was my rationale for convincing my wife to let me place my order for the C55!