dbtk

I have the opportunity to do a 24 month 20,000 mile lease on a 2012 CLS550 4Matic Launch Edition. The cost is $25,350 all in with 2 year prepaid maintenance. Does this lease make sense to commit? Thanks in advance for your input.

805Benz

What the purpose of the pre-paid lease? Bypass credit approval?

What is MSRP & Selling price?

That's a low mile lease, do you plan on driving more than that?

You might be able to get a 2012 S550, 24 month lease close to that price or just a bit more.

dbtk

Tax benefit.

$89K MSRP $77K selling.

Have 5 other cars and barely drive 30K miles total amongst them.

2012 S = same lease arrangement. however, older technology and less emotive (and already had an S550 and CL600 new body styles, but older engines).

805Benz

$25,350 all paid. I assume it includes taxes, lic, ect...

Roughly that sounds like a fairly good price considering it's a short lease. I am not sure how the pre-paid factor would apply on the money factor but compared to a normal 36 month leases that I have seen (on a lower MSRP), it seems good.

If you know the details of the lease you can use a lease calculator to give you a rough idea.

http://www.leaseguide.com/calc.htm

The selling price has a really good discount, over 13%?

Please PM me the dealer with these types of discounts.

dbtk

805Benz,

Yes, all ttaxes, licensing, etc. included. Your calc is spot on. Thanks. PM sent.

cracker123

Thats a great selling price can you pm the dealer details.

805Benz

Thanks for the info. The inventory seems quite low online. Let us know what happens. Good luck.

K-A

Aren't you out all the money you paid for the Lease, if you total the car? I'd say that's the only real downside, aside from perhaps losing out on Interest earnings on that money, were you to go that route.

Do you save any money by paying off the Lease in full, as opposed to monthly?

I'd look into how it works if you total the car, however. I have heard many times that they will just pay off the Lease, but you won't see that money back.

dbtk

Hi K-A,

Actually at the $77K selling price the CLS LE is actually worth more than any money owed should (god forbid) the car be totaled. And my insurance comes with a gap clause to cover any difference owed to the leasor.

The benefit of a prepay lease is that it is considered an operating expense for the year in which you acquire the asset, in this case 2011, so long as it is used 100% for business during the year acquired.

Here's a pre-delivery photo. Rides great and recently spoke with Jeremy at OE Tuning about a flash to increase power by about 50hp and 70lbs. ft. at the crank. BTW, I think the CLS has more than the advertised 402hp in stock form since the S550 has about 430hp.

805Benz

Congrats!! Enjoy the ride.

dbtk

Thanks!