K-A

I used to have a modded '98 GT, that thing sounded and felt fast as hell, funny thing is that weaak 215 HP V8 motor would have been slaughtered by my V6 E, lol.

220S

For me it felt that way because of the beige (almost white) interior. And the metallic brown/black was a little bit flashy in bright sun.

I guess because where I live, I see a lot of beige interior (esp white on beige) E350s driven by women. The exterior AMG style add-on cosmetics I had no issue with, it was just the overall package.

After all, the Saks editions are directed towards women buyers ("Key to the Cure" campaign.) The color combos are designed for what women would prefer and the advertising is aimed at women. The 2009 Saks car was the S550 in Diamond White metallic on Sahara Beige. http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Promo/keytocure.jsp

And sure, going back to 1982, the V6 is quick. But that was the issue for me. It's now 2010.

That V6 is outdated as I think we all pretty much agree. New V6s coming very soon from MB now.

werewolf34

Happy to pick up anyone's 'girly' saks edition for a good price...

Nickelmania-Dal

K-A, I think my 82 GT V8 had around 170hp. Made a lot of noise but not very fast. I believe 0 to 60 in 6.9 seconds. It was a no option car. I paid around $8700.00 new. This car was sort of unusual as it had the low front end. Low front end only made for 1982 with the exception of the 1979 Indy Mustangs.

Nickelmania-Dal

220s, I guess your right. "Saks" does sound girly and "Key to the cure" are female issues. Never really thought about until you brought it up however if your are just looking at the car, IMO I dont see "girly car"

Frasmat

Sorry bro but the Lexus is a good car. In time you will adjust. Best of luck with the business hopefully thinks pick up

Nickelmania-Dal

Update: MB called me today and ask me to pay up on my remaining balance for being over on the miles. I ask them for a pay out of 12 months. He said he could do 4 months. I also ask for .20 a mile instead of .25 on miles over. He said he would talk to his manager and see what he could do. Thats a step in the right direction!!

skiahh

I though leases had a pre-agreed upon purchase price at the end of the lease?

Nickelmania-Dal

I have one more update. Mercedes Financial cut me a deal today. They lowered the charge for my miles over from .25 to .20 They said they could only do this deal if I would pay them in two weeks instead of 4 payments. I was pleasantly surprised!

OceanView

I recently turned in my 07 E350 and when I tried to negotiate a buyout, MB Financial only offered a 10% discount off the residual. They would not discount any further.
Going through the dealer was a few grand cheaper but I would have to basically pay that to get the car CPOed. I think both Mercedes and the dealer are not really interested in selling you your existing car to you. They really only care about selling new cars. After all, new car numbers help them more than selling you a car that they sold before.
It's all about the numbers...

K-A

I never really payed attention to this post the first time around.

Can you elaborate on this? That's total of them.

So because you responsibly payed off the full amount of the 39 Month Lease, they said you can't have the option of buying the car? Isn't it in the contract that you have a Purchase option?

Barry45RPM

Yes, they can purchase the car... at the agreed upon price in the contract at the inception of the lease. These guys are trying to buy the car at a lower price than was agreed upon 3 years ago.

Remember, that when the lease was created, the predicted residual or purchase price of the car at the end of the lease was artificially inflated to make leasing the car at the lower monthly leasing rate compared to purchasing the car back then at a higher monthly purchase rate the smarter deal.

These guys cars were great, enoyable cars, and now they want to buy the cars at a price thats lower than what they agreed to 3 years ago. The time to negotiate the lowest purchase price on a car is when it is brand new, sitting on the lot costing the dealer money every day it sits there. Wanting to buy it now tells MB Financial and the dealer that the car is a good one and will require very little money to make ready for resale.

I can't fault the guys for wanting to keep a great car, or trying to buy it now at a "used car lot " price... but you can't get the great price getting into the car and also getting out of the car by paying LESS than the pre arranged ficticious from the start, 3 year old predicted residual value price.

If MB holds to their end of the deal, there's a better than average reason to expect these guys to lease another new MB, because it makes "more sense" than staying with their old car at an inflated used car price.

I chose to buy my car 3 years ago gambling on the fact that my car was a good one and I would want to keep it longer than the 3 year auto loan I took out back then. I paid a higher interest rate than they did (because Leasing is cheaper for 3 years), as well as a higher monthly payment. Now I have no more payments and I get to drive my car 2 or 3 more years with my MB Extended warranty. I'm no genius either... If I knew I'd have loved this car as I do, I would have bought a 3 year extended Warranty instead of the 2 year one, and kept the car an extra year.

You roll the dice & you take your chances.

Dema

What's your dealer? Why didn't you try other one. I am in a similar situation and if I couldn't lease P2, leather, parktronic, folding seat under $700, then no Benz for me as well. I can get better deal for 535i.

K-A

You could get it for under $700, you'll just have to put a pretty nice down-payment.

Dema

My current down $3000, I assume it is pretty nice, since most people put 0 plus registration. I will update you after visiting dealer if I can negotiate a good lease deal.