If you were buying one today, which would you go for, and why?

I'm in that very same position. I can get the 2011 sooner than the 2012, (obv), but I'm not certain I want to wait that long... It'd only be $100 more per month...

 

2011. Dont lease.

2012 facelift doesnt look as good as the 2011 to me. Im not sold on the MCT tranny.

 

Why not? I get bored of cars easily - and they are dated after 4-5 years...

 

Then a lease is worse. A lease will keep you stuck for 3 years. You will have to come up with a big down payment to keep the payments low.

Buy the car and finance it for a long term. 60-72 months at a low interest rate. You can sell the car whenever you please, even after 1 year if you wish. You will also not lose your down payment. You will also be able to negotiate a better deal.

If you negotiate the car properly and don't pay MSRP you can turn around and sell the car 1 year later for exactly what you purchased it for give or take 1-2K.

 

+1 to propain!!!
Spend your money wisely...

Dunno where your're from, justpetef.
If you're in Canada, let me tell you this...

I just got the Canadian pricings for all 2012 C-Class Sedans yesterday, for the C63 the AMG Performance Package Plus (APX) is only $6000 (with extra carbon fiber trim [$2,500 worth] and TPMS included in the package compared to the APX for 2011 model that costs $7800 [ouch!!! for who just recently bought a 2011 C63 with APX in Canada]).
$1,800 cheaper for the same package + $2500 carbon fiber trim and $XXX(?) TPMS for free => at least $4,300 cheaper if you really like to opt this package for your C63... OUCH!!!

The Premium Package (MPP) for Canadian C63 stays the same at $5200 compared to the 2011 model's, the rear window sunshade is taken out and put into Premium Rear Seating Package, but the Passive Blind Spot Assist, Driving Assistance Package and the 115V Power Socket are included in the MPP.

2012 C63 base price increases to $65000 by $1100 compared to 2011 base price.

I don't have the 2012 US pricings on options, hope guys buying a 2012 in US can get some free options for less money like the Canadian model.

 

You buy what appreciates, you rent what depreciates.

Buy a house, collectibles, land. You rent cars, computers, and anything else that is a bad investment. You may buy a Black Series or SLS. You may not rent a house or apartment. Of course your position in life necessitates certain decisions like renting an apartment or buying computers.

I am a leaser because I like new cars. Every three years. Some cars are better than others as far as buying. Found a C63 for sale, a 2008 for 40k (asking) on a full jame car, which if you bought was 80k plus with tax. So you do the math...you can give the car back after using 40K worth of payments or watch your equity disappear from 80 to 40. Same thing but you are tying up equity in a car that could probably be used elsewhere, like buying property or whatever.

Of course this all hinges on the three year car guy like myself and the OP. For those who plan to enjoy this car for longer than, yes, better to buy!

 

You may buy a Black Series or SLS? Take a look at what a 2008 135K CLK BS sells for today with very little miles on it.

You are buying the car when you lease it too, but you are only buying the depreciation plus the taxes on the depreciation amount.

Same thing if you buy and sell the car in 3 years. If you purchase smart you will be ahead of the game every time.

You dont buy a house either, you are renting it from the bank unless you purchased it in cash. Not a smart idea due to lack of write offs.

When interest rates are high you lease a car because you can get more car for less money. When interest rates are low you finance one.

Trust me I go through cars like water. I had a 2009 C63 with 12K miles on it and I sold it for a 2010 C63. Couldnt do that if I leased it. I also bought my 2009 C63 at the end of the year for 52K brand new and sold it with 12K miles on it for 50K. I had a 3 year loan with $15K down on it. My payment was $1100 a month. When I sold it I had a balance of $24,000. Remember I got 50K? After paying off my loan I had 26K in my pocket. I took 15K and put it down on my 2010 C63 leaving me 11K. I deposited that into my account. 12 months of $1100 a month cost me $13200 in payments. Minus the 11K I deposited the total cost to own my 2009 C63 minus gas and tires of course was $2200.

Even If I didnt put down 15K I would have been ahead 15K at the time of the sale. My payments would have been $1600 though. So my total ownership cost would have been about $4000.

If you lease for 3 years you will pay $900 a month at least with 7K down. Thats if you get a sweet deal. Most leases dont take as much off MSRP as a purchase. Lets do the math now for the lease. Lets just say you were able to get out of that lease in 1 year. Not gonna happen but why not. Your first years ownership cost is $17800 and you have nothing to show for it when you trade the car in. But in reality you are really locked into a 3 year contract with no way out of it so you can imagine what your total ownership cost comes out to. Almost 40K and nothing to show for it at trade.

Use your money wisely.

 

I generally like to lease but MB leases are not so hot so I went the lightly used route for my C63. I think it depends on your goal. My goal is to get the lowest payment possible with nothing down and leasing is usually the best way to do that. I've gotten out of several leases after only a year or so without taking a hit. I usually use swapalease but you have to make sure the leasing company will remove your name completely as some still make you liable.

 

Huh?

Maybe the CLK was a bad idea, I am not up to terms with resales of all cars, but the point is if they are making 120 Black Series, that car should retain its value better than other cars, or perhaps cars like a GT-R or certain other exotics.

Of course you need the bank to buy a house, most people do, but homes, iIn Canada anyways, appreciate in value. That was my point, whether you invest in property your money grows. Cars? They are a bad investment, anyone in finance will tell you that.


If I understand correctly, you bought a C63 for 52K, is that before tax? If it is it was probably closer to 60 on the road. Afetr one year...you were left with 26K? How is that good? You put down 15k plus 13200 in payments andthat cost you 28k and you were left with 26K? Unless I am missing something you spent 28K in 1 year. Your numbers don[t add up.

 

Do you have any more information (IE: Interior leather color options available, exterior color etc)?

 

Leasing is for whimps.

 

A car is not an investment, its a consumable. Food is also a bad investment. Your just gonna eat it and and turn it into you know what. Your only choice is to NOT buy a car or if you must do it smart. A lease is the same as a purchase because you are still taking your money and making the same payments you would if you bought it. The lease however locks you in. How are you helping your wallet?

I bought my C63 for 52K out the door due to tax savings from another car I traded in. I dont know if this applies in Canada but if you trade in a car in the US the value of the car trade is taken off the new car puchase and you only pay taxes on whats left. The car I traded kept my taxes down to little to nothing on the new purchase.

I put down 15K and financed 37K over 3 years. The payment was $1100 a month at 4 percent interest. After 1 year and 12K miles I sold (Traded) my 2009 in and bought a 2010. The dealer gave me 50K for my trade. At the point of sale I only owed 24K or so. The dealer gave me 50K. 50K minus 24K leaves 26K in my pocket after paying off what was left on my loan. I then took 15K and put it down on my 2010 leaving me with 11K. I took the 11K and put it into my bank account.

26K left after paying off my loan
15K down payment moved to the 2010 C63
--------------------------------------------
11K in the bank
13,200 in total payments for 12 months
----------------------------------------
-$2200 Total cost to own the car for the year.

 

How much was your trade-in?

 

Edit: sorry.. 49K

I paid $300 in taxes at most.

 

I leased my last car, a G35, then decided to buy it out at the end of the lease. It was such a hassle to get someone to buy it, that this alone was enough to make me say "never again" - so the leasing thing isn't really a question, just a statement - I was wondering if there was some other factor - but there was not... In any case, I'm not interested in owning cars anymore, I will only lease from now on and just write it off per my business. No big deal... and then get a new car every three years - whichever one happens to strike my fancy - the type of car I decide to get will dictate my payments - pretty simple.

I've decided to get the 2011 instead of the 2012 - I like the exterior better, and I want it now!!!! (instead of end of September) - so that ended up being the deciding factor. Should have it by the end of next week! I'm like a kid on Christmas eve.

 

++++1 HAHAHAHAHA!!!! LOL

I bought my 2010 C63 Fully LOaded CASH. No interest, no payments, no monkey business. It's my car, I will keep it in the stable forever, and its exactly to my specs.

But Propain talks logic and is correct on all accounts from a lease/finance standpoint. But I can understand the "owning a new car every 2-3 years" idea as well...

 

You'd think the level of intellect on the MB forums would be slightly higher than others... apparently not.

 

Oh GTF out of here with your 4 posts telling me this kind of snide talk. I don't come here to impress your osh kosh bgosh wearing neewbie ***....

 

oh pumpkin

 

OK, that makes even less sense now.

Leasers and buyers will never agree but , to me, it looks like you had 52K, put 15K down, spent 13200 in payments and who knows how much your trade was. In one year, you may have lost 2K in price diff but you spent 13200 plus your trade and 15K down.

You started with 50 and were left with 24K. That sounds like a big waste of money to me.

 

Sounds like you are really bad at math.

52K purchase. 15K down. 37K financed. Keeping up so far?

What do you mean who knows?? I told you how much..

Sold the car for 50K. Still keeping up? Owed 24K on my loan after making payments. Still keeping up? Now do very simple math... What is 50K minus 24K? 26K.....

Now take the 26K that is in my pocket... Still keeping up? Now remove the 15K I originally put down on the car and put it toward the 2010. Whats left? Simple math here.. 11K.

Now estimate my loan.... Still with me? 37K at 4% interest over 36 months. $1100 a month in payments. Still here? 11K X 12 months = $13,200. Simple...

Now remember that 11K?? Still keeping up? 13,200 Minus 11K is what??? $2,200. My total cost to own the vehicle.

Now I can see why you lease... "Here, take my money because I don't know how to manage it on my own, thank you"


How about I do it this way for you...

I bought the car for 52K. I put down 15K. I spent 13,200 on payments.

15K plus 13,200 = 28,200 out of pocket in 1 year. Did I somehow pay more?? No.

I sold the car for 50K. I owed 24K. I didnt buy another car and put it all in my pocket and walked away. How much did I put in my pocket? $26,000 and I got to use the car for 1 year.

I started with $28200
I ended with $26000
---------
$2200


Don't know how to make it any more clear for you to understand...

 

Propain, I think you also need to mention that the 2009 or 2010 you bought was due to the "trunk money" that many USA members took advantage of, I dont remember exactly but I do believe you guys were getting at least $10,000 off MSRP, this is something that doesnt happen as you all know the AMG cars depreciate faster than a 1988 Hyundai Pony did. So, in this case, if it werent for MBUSA not giving these cars away , you would be still paying for that 2009 and watching the resale plummet. The deals for once were in the consumers favour. If you were now to trade in your 2010, you would get raped to put it mildly....if you havent figured it out, I am all for leasing, drive it, kill it, warranty all the time, hand back the keys and move on....I would only buy a car that I would keep for more than 7 yrs, then the buying makes more sense. If I get the itch every three or four years(which I do) then lease it is for me......Warren Buffett whom you all must know(one of the richest in USA) swears by "never buy a depreciating assett", as it becomes a liability.....and I choose to believe in this guy, everything he touches turns to gold.

 

Is there no one who owns a business here?

 

I said purchase wisely in my first post. I don't and never will pay MSRP. If I sold my 2010 today I would get about 48K for it easy. I have already priced this out and its far less than I owe on it and I would still get my 15K back and some money toward the payments I have made. I would not make out the same as I did before but my total cost would be FAR less than a lease ever would be.

A purchase can become a liability just as much as a lease can become a burden if you no longer want it anymore.

If everyone listened to Warren Buffet there wouldn't have been a housing collapse. Everyone would have just rented apartments. Guess what most homes in the country are? A depreciating asset.

I drive it... (As much as I want which you cant) I kill it as much as I want and I sell it when the warranty expires just like a lease. I have ultimate freedom to do whatever I want with my car at any moment. You don't.

You as a lease holder are responsible for any damage done to the car and will pay for it on turn in. You will also pay for going over mileage. I know so many people who continue to pay and let their leased car sit in their driveway because they cant put any more miles on it.

Any damage done to a purchase will hurt my resale value as well. The big difference is I get something back if I purchased properly and didn't pay top dollar for a depreciating asset.

You will also need to pony up another down payment for your next lease after trade in. If you choose zero down payment you will pay a very big payment but at least you only lose that money.

I'm sure Warren Buffet doesn't recommend putting money down on a lease rental to lower the payment. If you put nothing down than a lease would make more sense to me. However the payment would be so high you might as well just have purchased it.

 

I do. You gonna tell me about write offs now?