konigstiger

Has anyone actually taken advantage of this offer yet? If so, some questions;

(1) Was your initial inquiry made to MB or your dealership?
(2) They're already in '04 production, when is delivery promised?
(3) Coupon's value is 3250, the nav option is priced @ 2125, were you able to add additional options with the remaining 1125?
(4) Was it, in fact, a "no-out-of-pocket" transaction? In other words, is this why there's an 1125 difference between offer & cost whereby the balance is used to offset acquisition costs (i.e.: sales tax, registration, etc.)?
(5) Was there any mileage cut off mentioned as it applies to the car you're trading?
(6) What, if any, general cost increase was mentioned for the '04 replacement?
(7) Were you aware that MB is giving the dealer a stand alone $500 processing fee for the trade?
(8) New warranty & tele-aid upon delivery?

And, of course, any other helpfull info to aid in getting the best deal...

MB-JIM

The $3,250 coupon has nothing to do with the cars that are being exchanged. If you have ther coupon it is simply a discount on purchasing one of the MB models on the list. Any trade-in will be the same as any other new car purchase with a
trade-in. The new car purchased must be delivered to you by Dec 31st.

jposhea3

here's my view, as a coupon-expecter....

1) make your best deal on an 04. Put their head in a vise and turn the crank, whatever. you should be able to get close to invoice in major markets (a buddy noted today he was quoted invoice + 500-1000 for an 04 E500 with a couple of options in NYC area)

2) presumably item 1 will occur in the dealership where you obtained your original E class sans-NAV. If so, then start lobbying early about a price on your trade-in. Just like buying a new car from scratch, the *trade* and the *buy* are separate transactions. If you feel a screwing, sell the car in the private market. Searching online shows reasonably equipped E500s with 6,000-15,000 going for 55-59k used, so do the math and don't get taken. It's just business.

3) once you sort out item 2 and item 1, take your magical $3,250 coupon to the dealer in #1 and use it along with whatever cash you net from step 2, and whatever you need to cover any remaining gap (ie a loan) between what you got for selling your 03 and what it's going to cost you to buy your 04

and life goes on. :-)

seems pretty simple to me. Unbundle the transactions so you don't get buck fever and lose your focus on the deal.

It's still just about buying a car at a good price, and selling a car at a good price.


-james

abhansali

Does the $3250 work like a "coupon" or "cash voucher", or is it just a discount off MSRP? If it is a discount off MSRP, it is pretty useless, because you can get a better deal than that on an '04 E500 by negotiating (like jposhea3 said).

MB-JIM

You simply negotiate your best deal and use the voucher as a cash payment on the deal. It's not an either-or.

Rock72

why do i get this feeling that the car dealer will say "ohhhhh, you're using the voucher??? sorry, no deal...we need to renegotiate if you're using the voucher."

...maybe it's just my perception of car salesmen.

Rock.

jposhea3

i'd say it wouldn't happen because
1) mb is supposed to be a premium non-scuzzy brand
but more important
2) the coupon is issued by MBUSA and they're the ones who are going to be honoring it, so it's a passthru to the dealer.


i expect.
:-)

konigstiger

Exact replacement of my '03 with an '04 equipped with nav slated for an October delivery. Spoke with MB to request a coupon and was told to speak to my dealer. Sales manager was a bit reluctant (??). The conversation was heard by a visiting MB Montvale, NJ rep who was more than happy to assist. Talk about being at the right place at the right time. So far, the offer on the table for the '04 will mirror the '03 deal @ 1100 under invoice. By time of trade my '03 will have about 9000 miles. Thus the 3250 coupon (3250 - 2125 nav = 1125 surplus) will allow for minumium out of pocket cost relative to tax, reg, and '04 increases(s). No absolute figures have been exchanged yet given the explanation that '04 increase(s) have not been released (??). However, in addition to the 3250 the dealer will also receive a $500 processing fee from MB. Rest assured this will enter into the negotiations to get as close as possible to my no-out-of-pocket goal. Hell, I might even push to add the electronic trunk closer within the established parameters. After all, I'm a repeat customer.

dgmcdermott

you say you got your replacement for 1100 off. What kind of deal did you get for your old car??? Mine here is only offering auction price ($42000)($53000 sticker)

jposhea3

the only possible response to an offer like that would be "why are you suddenly committed to losing me as a customer, and anybody else I can tell"

mco

I would be very suprised if the dealer gives you a great deal on your tradein. I suspect you will owe close to $10,000 even with the coupon. Best of luck!

jposhea3

i think we all shall see....definitely the nav's not worth $10k :-)

if they dealer won't be smart, then try the private market, or live without the nav I suppose.

-j

nyca

here is what some others are saying about the effect of these nav replacement cars being traded in:

http://www.mbnz.org/forums/messages....16&id=3&view=t

drb

There was a time, pre mid-90s when MBs retained their value. I think this is a myth the general public has yet to discover. Being someone who trades every 2 years, I've noticed the gap between new and trade in values for Es widens every year. The drop in 03s from $53k to $41k is steeper than prior years. Consider some of the factors....
1. the supply of used Es has grown significantly in the last few years considering the flooding of new cars in the US market over the last 5 years.
2. there are many more models today than in the pre mid-90s.
3. the cars are no longer built as well as the tanks of the past.

I remember, in the 80s, the local dealership would have 20-30 used cars on their lot most of the time. Today, that lot has been expanded both out and up (they stack cars 2 high on a mechanical system), and there will be 100-125 cars for sale at any time. I've noticed this at other MB dealerships in the area.

etenn

I have asked my dealer to give me a price on trading my replacement '03 E500 with an '04 with the same options.

The prices are not yet available but it will be interesting to see what trade-in value he will put on a late build E500, low miles with navigation.

konigstiger

The 1100 off invoice mirrors the deal I made in Feb for the '03. When you send 10 prospects and 6 of which become buyers in follow up to your purchase it helps. As far as the '03 trade I'm sure I'll get a good deal. But if not, several neighbors are interested and I'll sell privately. As soon as actual '04 pricing is learned the dance will, no doubt, begin. Of course the deal won't come in @ absolutely no "out-of-pocket" cost so I'm willing to eat minimal depreciation. Time will tell...

etenn

Keep us posted. We want to hear how the dance turns out.:p

BenzBy2

I have taken advantage of the $3250 from M-B. I had ordered my E500 last Fall (Early Sept.) and took delivery in late November. During my negotiation with the dealer I had indicated my interest in the Navigation and Voice Activation options, but I was told that they were not available at that time, but if I later wanted these options I could upgrade to them since the vehicles were being built so that they could be retrofitted. We all now know the eventuality of this saga, and when the infamous two letters came out in April I began closing a deal on a brand new C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan model that my wife had just discovered (came out in late Feb.) and for which she had been smitten with "I want". I got it for $1700 off list with all of the options she wanted (C1,C2,C3,C4, Auto, CD, COMAND). After we drove off with our second Benz in six months, I called the Sales Manager about the Nav I didn't get, and what were they going to do in view of the letter from M-B. He went to bat for me and after a couple of followups he called to tell me that I would be receiving a check from them (indirectly from M-B) for the $3250. Sure enough in about two weeks after that the check came in the mail and I have earmarked it for all of the mods and adds (including the Nav I really wanted) for both of our cars (his and hers). We have been very happy with both of our vehicles and to date we have only had one gripe per vehicle (my windshield and headlight washers and her gas gauge) which were promptly fixed. Other than that we have been very pleased and I certainly welcomed the offer from M-B which put $3250 in my pocket.

etenn

I am amazed and very impressed that they sent you a check for the $3250. after you have taken delivery.

fvv

I received the $3,250 voucher and when you calculate the trade-in price offered ($46K) and having to pay the sales tax/luxury tax again it would cost me $14K to get the car I ordered.

MERCEDES SUCKS!!