Hi,
I have just received a letter from my local stealership stating that as from the 1st May 2003 Mercedes Benz has announced that there is to be a price increase between 0% and 3.5%. This rise affects all current vehicles in transit, future stock and forward orders. The price change will be implemented on all vehicles delivered after the 30th April 2003.
Remember I am only the messenger for the message. Sorry about the "bad" news.
Cheers,
Ian

 

Wait a minute... all this talk about high supply, low demand... bad economy... cars on the lot not moving... huge stock inventory... deals below invoice to be had... problems with quality... problems with the built-in technology... decline in reliability... and they decide to RAISE the prices? How does that work?

Is MB just stupid, or are they trying really hard?

-NavNut

Hmmm... or are they really still in the position where they can increase price and that increases demand... kind of like when people don't want to hire you as a consultant if your rate is too low... thinking you must not be worth anything at all if you're not charging an arm and a leg? I don't know about this... with all the talk about Chrysler diminishing the MB brand, I don't think they can afford this experiment... maybe I'm wrong...

 

In Taiwan, MB increased 10% top up to the MSRP due to European currency risen. So I guess 3.5% is not bad. Since MB is meant to be luxi and fame staus, people are still lining up for it in Taiwan.

 

Iank, thanks for the U.K. new. Any U.S. increases have not been reported.

 

Now how could they raise the price of a vehicle that I've already put down a 2K deposit on, ordered and has been built and just awaiting a ship when I have a Purchase Agreement that sets forth the sales price? Has anyone else heard this?

 

The MBUSA site still has base price for an E500 as 55,570.

 

Because Mercedes has facilities in the US exporting cars to Europe (The M Class, and Chrysler products) there is less need to adjust prices when currency fluctuations occur. I suspect this is why Great Britain and Taiwan are getting stuck with a price increase and the US is not.

 

Wouldn't suprise me. The Euro is a lot higher than anyone expected and I doubt they would have expected it to maintain its value for this long so any hedging activity would be mute by now.

 

STKLAW, Hold on to your horses!. That is a report for the United Kingdom. No one said price hike in the U.S.

 

Yeah, after reading them closely I figured that out after I posted. I feel like Rosanne Rosanna Dana if you are old enough to know what I'm talking about.

 

NEVERMIND!

 

What's all this I keep hearing about youth-in-asia... I think the youth-in-asia are just like the youth everywhere else...

We miss Gilda... she is definitely remembered... she was awesome... Rosanna... Emily... Irene, was it... All incredible characters...

-NavNut

(I did the same thing by the way... I didn't notice the UK part, and being US-centric... heck... being California-centric and self-centered, I thought it was for us too... Well, the world does revolve around California doesn't it? I think the center of the universe is somewhere around Sunset, isn't it? ...NEVERMIND!!!...)

 

US price increase or not, an MB dealer in my area did tell me that May 30, 2003 is the last day for ordering an '03 MB. And as much as I'm salivating to get one today (E500/sport or E55) with my birthday in June/Father's Day etc., I am probably going to bite my lip for now and order an '04 and keep reading all the great threads on this site (211).

 

You are a much more patient man than I. If you order one June 1 when will it be delivered to your dealership? Will you get as good a deal?

 

no order past 5/30? but they will have 03s arriving until September I thought?

 

As of last week dealers can enter orders for 04's. I guess MB doesn't keep the overlap open that long.

 

stklan - I have a feeling I won't be able to get as good a deal on an '04 just because the dealer's position will be that they are just coming out and a hot item.

nyca - '03s will arrive until September. Remember that when you order it takes 90 to 120 days for delivery. My guess is that they may be building '03s until sometime in July but I would love the inside story on what day MB starts manufacturing the '04s.

dksny - were you able to order your '04 for less than MSRP? If yes, how much did the dealer bend? my dealer did tell me that I could order the '04 now and that they have all the necessary info in their computer system. he also told me I would probably be paying MSRP. Thanks