E-Class pricing
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Milwaukee, WI
1992 Ford Taurus with 13" rims
E-Class pricing
How many people have negotiated the price of their new 03’ E-Class? I was wondering what would be fair to go for (price wise). So far, just speaking with the salesperson; he is offering $500.00 off sticker. I ordered my car a while back before the pricing was in, so I am just now negotiating. Since the car is brand new, and I will be buying it the day it arrives, the dealer will keep all of the “dealer holdback”. Now I believe this is 3% of total MSRP, correct? With my calculations (and the sticker of the ’03 E-Class I ordered, $54,075) they stand to make a little over $5,000 on the car. So I think that $2,000 off sticker isn’t ridiculous. But then again, maybe it is? What are your experiences? BTW, this is my 4th car in as many years from this dealer, and I always deal with the general sales manager.
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I think it is a little regional right now. I am in Texas and I have talked to about 10 dealers from Houston / Austin / Dallas. After significant headache, I found one dealer that is giving me $500 off with a non-refundable deposit of $2500.
However, I talked to a dealer in NY and he is giving $1K off and a couple of other people in the forums have indicated around $800-$1K in that NY/NJ area.
Basically, they have the fat in the car (by my calculation about 1-1.5%), but they can get rid of the cars easily so they don't want to budge right now. My feeling is that in 1 or 2 months, the negotiating will get better. I have been to multiple dealers where they have a car on the lot that was spoken for, but then the customer backed out. Since they have waiting lists, they can get rid of the car by going to the next person on the list, but those waiting lists will run out soon.
Keep one thing in mind, if you wait a few months, you may not get the $500 promotion on the Navi system and $450 off promotion on the E4 package (if you are ordering those). In that case, you may save $1K more a few months from now in negotiating with the dealer, but lose the promotion from MBUSA and basically pay it back for the options.
That is why I am going to place my order this week with the dealer giving me $500 off.
However, I talked to a dealer in NY and he is giving $1K off and a couple of other people in the forums have indicated around $800-$1K in that NY/NJ area.
Basically, they have the fat in the car (by my calculation about 1-1.5%), but they can get rid of the cars easily so they don't want to budge right now. My feeling is that in 1 or 2 months, the negotiating will get better. I have been to multiple dealers where they have a car on the lot that was spoken for, but then the customer backed out. Since they have waiting lists, they can get rid of the car by going to the next person on the list, but those waiting lists will run out soon.
Keep one thing in mind, if you wait a few months, you may not get the $500 promotion on the Navi system and $450 off promotion on the E4 package (if you are ordering those). In that case, you may save $1K more a few months from now in negotiating with the dealer, but lose the promotion from MBUSA and basically pay it back for the options.
That is why I am going to place my order this week with the dealer giving me $500 off.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Milwaukee, WI
1992 Ford Taurus with 13" rims
Ok, just back from the dealer. Wasn't what I wanted, but they offered $700 off sticker, All-Weather mats, and paint sealant. From 1-10, what kind of deal do you guys think I got?
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MB
wow, thats a good deal, the best i have heard so far, but the paint protectant isnt any good, all weather floor mats is good, and 700 off is really good too.....i say go for it, i havent heard of a deal so far....i rate this a 8 for now
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Wesam, what is your location. If you are in NY/NJ, I think you can get $1K off. If you are in Texas (like me), you have done pretty well, because I can only get $500 after talking to pretty much every dealer in the state.
Apurva
Apurva
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From: New Jersey, USA
W211 & Q7
700 is not bad
according to the discount on 2002 e ($3000) and the life cycles of e models (change every 6 years)
here is the possible discount for the e models (depends on the options, packages, and dealers)
1st year discount 0 to 500
2nd year discount 500 to 1000
3rd year discount 1000 to 1500
4th year discount 1500 to 2000
5th year discount 2000 to 2500
6th year discount 2500 to 3000
you may find a "volume" dealer and a "super" sales who can sales 20+ mb cars per month and this kind of dealer or sales can give you a disount to the next category. for example, this is the first year of w211, if you can have a discount between 0 to 500, it is normal. if you are lucky and find a "right" dealer/sales, then you may get a discount to the next category, 500 to 1000.
here is the possible discount for the e models (depends on the options, packages, and dealers)
1st year discount 0 to 500
2nd year discount 500 to 1000
3rd year discount 1000 to 1500
4th year discount 1500 to 2000
5th year discount 2000 to 2500
6th year discount 2500 to 3000
you may find a "volume" dealer and a "super" sales who can sales 20+ mb cars per month and this kind of dealer or sales can give you a disount to the next category. for example, this is the first year of w211, if you can have a discount between 0 to 500, it is normal. if you are lucky and find a "right" dealer/sales, then you may get a discount to the next category, 500 to 1000.
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Super Member
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I would expect that your deal is pretty good then because WI is not a huge market IMO like NY/NJ.
Did I say there was something wrong with paint sealant....I really don't know anything about it?? Is it something we should have done?
Did I say there was something wrong with paint sealant....I really don't know anything about it?? Is it something we should have done?
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Nashville, TN
2013 G550
Car dealers negotiate, sell and move on to the next deal. Unless you call their spouse a bad name, they expect it and respect you for negotiating.
I really dont understand the comments related to paying full price to get in good with the dealer if something goes wrong. The seller should provide value and goodwill to the buyer.
Three - five years ago, people were paying above sticker for lux cars. Today, people with money / willing to spend money are in short supply.
Anyway, In denver -- I bought the only e-class off the lot and got $600 off, all weather mats and a key chain. I told the salesperson that i knew it was a new model, that they only had one and that i was not going to ask for 2,000 off but that I wanted a 'goodwill' discount. Back and forth, back and forth for about 5 minutes. Done. Never even did the manager thing.
BTW, the sales guy said that if I ordered one they would take $1500 off.
I really dont understand the comments related to paying full price to get in good with the dealer if something goes wrong. The seller should provide value and goodwill to the buyer.
Three - five years ago, people were paying above sticker for lux cars. Today, people with money / willing to spend money are in short supply.
Anyway, In denver -- I bought the only e-class off the lot and got $600 off, all weather mats and a key chain. I told the salesperson that i knew it was a new model, that they only had one and that i was not going to ask for 2,000 off but that I wanted a 'goodwill' discount. Back and forth, back and forth for about 5 minutes. Done. Never even did the manager thing.
BTW, the sales guy said that if I ordered one they would take $1500 off.
Last edited by skymast; Oct 9, 2002 at 09:34 PM.
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bmms8,
My next door neighbor has being buying MBs since 1975, it is the only car he drives (he has 2 right now, I believe both are E430s). His opinion was that sales and service are independent at most dealerships, so there is probably not much advantage to sticking with your local dealer, plus in my case Dallas is only 3 hrs away (not a lot for Tx) so if something major happened, I could drive up.
As an example, I tried to get the local dealer in Austin to match the $500 off, but he gave us this thing about how for $500 I will get free loaner cars from him during service, etc and otherwise we would not get this and so it would not be worth it for me to save $500 from Dallas. My wife called up the service dept at the dealership to find out if this was really the case, and the service manager told her that they stopped giving loaner cars to anyone, they now have a van to drop you off and pick you up, and they do that for anyone regardess of where you bought the car. So bottom line, the salesman and the service don't really know what each other are doing.
My next door neighbor has being buying MBs since 1975, it is the only car he drives (he has 2 right now, I believe both are E430s). His opinion was that sales and service are independent at most dealerships, so there is probably not much advantage to sticking with your local dealer, plus in my case Dallas is only 3 hrs away (not a lot for Tx) so if something major happened, I could drive up.
As an example, I tried to get the local dealer in Austin to match the $500 off, but he gave us this thing about how for $500 I will get free loaner cars from him during service, etc and otherwise we would not get this and so it would not be worth it for me to save $500 from Dallas. My wife called up the service dept at the dealership to find out if this was really the case, and the service manager told her that they stopped giving loaner cars to anyone, they now have a van to drop you off and pick you up, and they do that for anyone regardess of where you bought the car. So bottom line, the salesman and the service don't really know what each other are doing.
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skymast,
I agree with you. But in Texas, I think all the dealers are talking to each other or something. I went to my local dealer 3 times, even opened up my checkbook and told him I will give the deposit now if he gets me $1K off (I would have lived with $500). He went to the mgr and got nothing.
I went to Houston to 2 dealerships including Greenway (4/5 largest dealer in the country), and got the same thing. Same in Dallas, San Antonio, etc (over the phone). Finally, one dealer in Dallas gave me $500 if I put down a non-refundable deposit (which is okay with me, since I am buying the car). I don't know why it is so hard here in Tx to negotiate, I think they all are talking to each other and not budging.
I agree with you. But in Texas, I think all the dealers are talking to each other or something. I went to my local dealer 3 times, even opened up my checkbook and told him I will give the deposit now if he gets me $1K off (I would have lived with $500). He went to the mgr and got nothing.
I went to Houston to 2 dealerships including Greenway (4/5 largest dealer in the country), and got the same thing. Same in Dallas, San Antonio, etc (over the phone). Finally, one dealer in Dallas gave me $500 if I put down a non-refundable deposit (which is okay with me, since I am buying the car). I don't know why it is so hard here in Tx to negotiate, I think they all are talking to each other and not budging.
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Posts: 392
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From: Nashville, TN
2013 G550
abhansali
Absolutely -- Sales and Service are two different beasts and typically don't even associate with each other.
I was buying a 2002 911 in August / Sept. Texas was the only place that had inventory and the only dealers that would negotiate ( and i called EVERYWHERE). Maybe Mercedes dealers are different but I would look for a dealer that has some inventory, even if you are going to order. Good Luck!
Absolutely -- Sales and Service are two different beasts and typically don't even associate with each other.
I was buying a 2002 911 in August / Sept. Texas was the only place that had inventory and the only dealers that would negotiate ( and i called EVERYWHERE). Maybe Mercedes dealers are different but I would look for a dealer that has some inventory, even if you are going to order. Good Luck!
Last edited by skymast; Oct 9, 2002 at 09:44 PM.
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skymast,
I think that is fundamentally the problem, because here nobody has inventory. Every one I talked to had a few cars waiting to be picked up and 1 or 2 that they were not sure were spoken for. But every dealer I talked to said that the cars that are not spoken for would be gone within 3 days, so no incentive to discount.
I think that is fundamentally the problem, because here nobody has inventory. Every one I talked to had a few cars waiting to be picked up and 1 or 2 that they were not sure were spoken for. But every dealer I talked to said that the cars that are not spoken for would be gone within 3 days, so no incentive to discount.
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Dema,
But keep in mind (I think I mentioned this in a previous post), if you are getting the Navi and E4, then you are getting $950 off the MSRP because of MB promotions. I would think these promotions may go away by Feb, because the Navi promotion is only there since the Navi is currently delayed (scheduled to arrive in Feb or Mar), and the E4 promotion is there for the launch. If these go away, and you save $1K from the dealer, you are dead even with paying MSRP today, but you waited until Feb.
Just food for thought.....if you aren't getting Navi and E4, then it doesn't matter anyway.
But keep in mind (I think I mentioned this in a previous post), if you are getting the Navi and E4, then you are getting $950 off the MSRP because of MB promotions. I would think these promotions may go away by Feb, because the Navi promotion is only there since the Navi is currently delayed (scheduled to arrive in Feb or Mar), and the E4 promotion is there for the launch. If these go away, and you save $1K from the dealer, you are dead even with paying MSRP today, but you waited until Feb.
Just food for thought.....if you aren't getting Navi and E4, then it doesn't matter anyway.
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BTW, I don't know if this is accurate or not, but the dealer told me that E4 is free on the E320 if you get the E5. This is another promotion right now. But on E500 it is $100 no matter what. This seemed very wierd, anybody have different information?
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Broke Acura
Abhansali
Abhansali, I live in Austin as well, maybe you and I get form a team and get a discount! I spoke to a dealer/friend in Houston and he said they are selling at MSRP no matter what. I don't know what they are so tough to deal with in Texas. Who is your rep in Austin?
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Actually send me your email, since your email feature is turned off. apurva_bhansali@softexinc.com
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From: California
i535
Originally posted by abhansali
Dema,
But keep in mind (I think I mentioned this in a previous post), if you are getting the Navi and E4, then you are getting $950 off the MSRP because of MB promotions. I would think these promotions may go away by Feb, because the Navi promotion is only there since the Navi is currently delayed (scheduled to arrive in Feb or Mar), and the E4 promotion is there for the launch. If these go away, and you save $1K from the dealer, you are dead even with paying MSRP today, but you waited until Feb.
Just food for thought.....if you aren't getting Navi and E4, then it doesn't matter anyway.
Dema,
But keep in mind (I think I mentioned this in a previous post), if you are getting the Navi and E4, then you are getting $950 off the MSRP because of MB promotions. I would think these promotions may go away by Feb, because the Navi promotion is only there since the Navi is currently delayed (scheduled to arrive in Feb or Mar), and the E4 promotion is there for the launch. If these go away, and you save $1K from the dealer, you are dead even with paying MSRP today, but you waited until Feb.
Just food for thought.....if you aren't getting Navi and E4, then it doesn't matter anyway.
