K-A

Went to a Dealer to check out the CLS again with a friend (nice, but I still like the E, and even if I wanted to fork over CLS cash, my tall a$$ doesn't comfortably fit with the limited front headroom).

They asked if I was interested in "getting into the same car for less". I said "why not", although I am/was attached to my car.

I won't take any W212 interior aside from Black/Almond with Burl Wood, and I need it in White. So fortunately, they had that, but VERY unfortunately, no Pano.

This car had a higher MSRP than my last car (even sans Pano, as it has the wheel Package, roof and deck OEM Spoilers, P2, and 115V Power Outlet), and I got it for no significant cash exchange (just first month payment + a few hundred bucks). My payments are $50 less a month, although I signed a 33 month Lease, while my previous 39 month Lease had only 26 months left on it. Only issue I have is that at a $32K buyout/Residual, I was considering buying my last car after the Lease, with this one and its $38K buyout, that won't happen I'm sure.

Seemed like too good a deal to pass up. Only thing that I have to do is re-Tint the windows, and taillights, etc. (make it look like my last car).

I will say, a LOT of my problems with suspension seem to have disappeared with this car. It rides more solid (sans the Pano), and it feels noticeably lighter and more nimble (I guess Pano is really heavy). I also don't know if the '11's got a more refined suspension, or if it's due to having no Pano, but this thing seems to handle bumps and rough patches better. Also, my old car had Pirelli's, and the new one Conti's (bummed me out, 'cause I always like P's).

Unfortunately, I don't have the 2010's nice Alarm "Chirp" anymore.

This car has the updated Command (yay! Lol), and this car has the 3-spoke beefy steering wheel (I still like the 4-Spoke, but the fat grip and feel on this one just rocks).

It also has the new twin spoke AMG wheels, which I know are more sought-after, but I really love the Standard 18" "blade" wheels that come free, just a bit more luxurious. But overall, it's a wash, as each compliment the car differently.

Oh! And it seems like this car has the new 5000K Xenons! Woohoo! They seemed slightly more "diamond crisp" over my 2010's 4300K Xenons.

Anyway, these "we'll take your car for, and give you a new one for the same or less" are true. I'm saving a good couple grand on this car, and am in it for only another 6-7 months after my last Lease would have been up.

reckrab

I don't think I could even consider trading my car if I had spent 11 hours detailing it! LOL

K-A

F@$*, don't remind me. LOL.

They kept wanting me to do a straight swap for my car (with same payments, just newer car), and were dumbfounded when I said that it wasn't worth it. I said "for emotional purposes" LOL. When the numbers just stacked up in its favor enough, I had to let my car with one years worth of blood, sweat and tears on its way. Oh well, car enthusiasm is never ending, maybe it ain't the cars that we love.... It's the pleasure that they give us, thus they are simply revolving doors!

NorseWagon

Soooo, is the Navigation part of the COMAND system now up to snuff with the latest from Japan and Korea as far as advanced tech and user friendly...?

Did MB USA happen to have special lease incentives when you walked in to the dealer, or was the lease "rates" higher when you signed the lease on your 2010..?

K-A

Yeah, I got my 2010 before the 2011's came out, so I got it before MBUSA started really pushing the incentives. For example, the "Official" MBUSA Lease rates, for a P1 base car right now, is $599 a month, with 4,xxx down, and when I got mine, that same car was $689 a month with a similar down (even though the 2011's have a higher MSRP than the 2010's).

So I definitely was able to work off of the better Lease incentives now. Basically, instead of being in a car that I was paying 2010 rates for, I got in one for 2011 rates. Since I had such a hefty down payment in my previous car, I was adamant in not paying a dime down on this one, but I settled for a different of a few hundred or so dollars (because I cut my Lease month short by a half).

What I was more pi$$ed about is all in the last 3 weeks, I got my A Service and Registered my car (over $750 right there). Also, literally just before I went to the Dealer, I filled my car up with $65 worth of gas (wasn't planning on buying a new friggin' car!).

Oh well. I think I made the right move. I know I did, because I'd be kicking myself for staying in a $50 a month more expensive Lease, just because I was attached to my car, or because I might have wanted to take advantage of the cheaper residual value in 26 months, and I'm sure I won't mind staying in this car for another 7 months (since I'm now in a 33 month Lease).

Also, before someone asks, I didn't wait for the 2012's because I really had no intentions of getting out of my car, and because if I did, I wouldn't want to pay a penny more. I have a feeling the 2012's wouldn't have the crazy incentives that the 2011's do right now.

Oh, about the Command, I gotta play with the Navi more. It's really the exact same thing. Just seems a very very tad bit more refined, and quicker, but literally, almost unnoticeable. I'll update when I play with it more.

hyperion667

way to go KA........but I am disappointed that you gave up your other car......lol...

enjoy!

K-A

Haha, Hyp, I had your "voice" in my head when I was letting the car go!

I'm kinda depressed I let that car go. I dunno why, because this one is the exact same thing, practically. I do miss that Pano, SO freakin' nice. However, the seemingly MUCH better and more solid/light on its feet ride (without Pano) makes me feel that it's worth it. I'll probably wrap my roof in black, to get that look back, if it's not too expensive.

RNBRAD

So you jumped into the same car, without a pano (and white at that w/o pano. seriously?), without the rims you like, several thousand less residual, and 7 mo longer lease to save 50 dollars a month? Seriously to save $50? Not a good trade on paper but you bit on the "same car for less". Not a good decision here unless you are one of those people that like the car trading experience or that if you had wrecked the car or it was giving you some problems. But to say you did it to save 50 dollars a month, you have to be out of your mind or your finances are horrible!! I personally would of paid 50 more a month for the Pano.

P.S. Enjoy your new car!!

aeggroup

Hey....Congrats with nice swap....enjoy your "new" car
I was trying to do the same in NY, but I'd like to get diesel - no success till now. Still trying .......

golfster

Congrats, K-A!

ESIX3POWER

KA - congrats on the swap and I'm glad that you're happy with your decision but I have to agree RNBRAD. You mentioned that you would have liked to buy out the car at the end of your lease but you just swapped into a car with a 6K increase in residual ! Not only that but the $50 you save each month will more than go into the extra 6 months of payments that you added onto your lease. I just don’t see where the positive out weights the negative in this swap. Good luck man.

clkwork

congrats, that doesnt sound like a bad deal at all

K-A

It's a little more complex than that. First off, this car, even sans Pano, is $500+ higher MSRP'd, and the wheels are technically "upgrades", as they're the more "rare" AMG split 5-Spokes that come at a premium.

The amount more that this car will cost me in 32 months is about $2K more than what my last car would cost me in 26 months. Or, to put it another way, it's almost $2K less than what my other car will cost me in 26 months time. All in all, the numbers add up in this cars favor. Only problems with it, are that if I wanted to get out of the Lease early, I would be better off with the last car, and if I wanted to buy it out, I'd also be better off with the last car.

Also, working against it are that I have to put in some mod money, which is still minimal, and the savings still weigh in this cars favor.

And $50 a month for the exact same car, really isn't really chump change IMO, that comes out to $600 a year, or $1800 for 3 years.

Now, an issue IS the residual factor, as now I'd be crazy to buy this car out. However, that will force me to probably sell my "beater" and drive it for work-horse stuff.

BTW, for anyone interested, the car MSRP'd at $58K and change, and I got for $48K and change. My last car was $56K and change, and I got it for $52K and change.

Worst case scenario, I know I didn't make a bad fiscal move. However, at the end of my Lease, I'll have to have a different game plan.

Oh, and thanks for the nice wishes everyone!

P.S: The Pano rocks, but I gotta say, the ride difference without it is relatively substantial, so far.

RNBRAD

Yea it's typical lease stuff. Pay now or pay later. This car your paying later, but of course the pay later is optional. However now the pay later option won't look very appealing at the end of the lease and your also starting over on a lease. Speaking of rarety, rims are an easy change but you can't ever add a pano which is also a limited 1100 dollar option. Though can't see it making it ride difference. Even if it added 150 to 200 lbs, would be like adding a passenger. I think it's the tires. Conti's have a much softer sidewall and probably one of the best riding tires out there. Will cost some handling and more prone to bend rims. But as long as your happy with it is all that matters. Then again if I was to lease, I'd probably just lease and not buy just looking for the cheapest monthly payment. I can never see myself leasing though cause it is nice having a car paid for that you can keep and not cost a dime. That's why I kept my 211 and still love that car.

park423

Congrats, although losing the pano would've been hard for me (with a white car, easier done if your original car was black) as I think the black glass roof contrasts very nicely with a white or silver color.

Now do you see the benefits of leasing...lol

Your buy price/payment is one thing but it's all hidden factors...money factor, residual %, buy-out that tells the true tale of the lease...but like you said, you're not going to buy out the car so who cares, get the lowest monthly payment possible.

RJC

Wow, how quickly things change around here, congrats!

I don't know about losing the pano especially on a light colored car (love the contrast).

Goes to show you how despeate dealers are to move the '11 350's out. If it were me I would have waited until this time next year AND gotten a left over '12, but hey, that's me. Congrats again and many many miles of smiles.

Benzinini

Congrats! Changed your mind about the roof spoiler then?

park423

RJC - good point, there must be a lot of E350 inventory out there...as much as LA is an expensive place to live, I do believe the best car deals/choices are out here too FWIW.

AF330i

Congrats on the new car ... I have the Pano on my current car & on my last car and to tell you which is preferred is tough.

The black roof looks cool but the pain in the butt of having to always open the sunshade first just to vent or open the roof I am not crazy about.

220S

Financially speaking I don't get it either.

Anyway, have fun with the "new" car but be sure to start putting some miles on it this time and get your rent money's worth (I recall that you had very little mileage on the car.)

A lot of trunk money in the existing floor models now. There's a 10k incentive to dealers on the S Class.

Wig

K-A - I don't get it either. Ignoring the monthly financial benefits for a second, your new buyout is so much higher that you now KNOW you won't buy the '11 after the lease ends. So all the care and attention you put into your '10, with the possibility of buying it, will be wasted on your '11.

You've swapped one car for an almost identical car (without your mods). At least a '12 would have had the new engine and new interior features.

Not having a go at you at all, just failing to see the point.

clkwork

If he wasn't planning on buying the car then it makes sense... it's a new car, newer model year, lower payments, and all he loses is one option. If I didn't care about the pano I would have done the same thing. Additionally you can always negotiate the residual at the end of the lease, so even that may be a non-issue. Some people just like driving brand new cars

BPhillyBenz

I think if Kevin is happy with it and it drives better (less harsh). A++ Way to go.
Now if we can get a similar deal on the 2012!!!

PS I think, your gonna dig the new wheels!!!
B.

NorseWagon

Tried to reply to K-A twice now, but sitting in a hotel room in the jungle of Brazil the connection is slow and a time-out occurs before my message get posted...Not sure this one will make it either..


Hmm, this one made it.
Is the COMAND system on the --10 and -11 much improved over the -04?

Thanks for the heads up on leasing deals, trying to put together a deal on a 2011 oil burning
ML-350 4-Matic right now. The numbers are coming together.

Too bad MB does not sell the E-Wagon with diesel and 4-Matic in this country, but the ML looks
pretty good.

petee1997

K-A I don't get this deal either but if you are happy with it, that is all that matters. How many miles are on the 2010? I would think that it would be a great car for a fellow enthusiast who wants to upgrade to a W212.
There is no doubt your 2010 is a premium nearly new car.
I also post on Rennlist, the Porsche site. When I bought my new 911 last December I mentioned that my 06 911 with 18,000kms was at a Porsche dealer in Toronto. A fellow rennlister from Montreal pm'd me for info and immediately flew to Toronto and bought the car. People like to buy cars that they feel they know the history. Your car is one of those. We have been reading about it from day one and know there are no issues and how you cared for it. Hopefully a member will snap this car up.