New guy....with the urge
Kansas City is a weird market, we only have two MB dealerships, and they are owned by the same people. We don't really have any competition here and the dealer loves it. Same for the BMW dealership.
So this morning, I tried to do the deal. After the salesman blowing smoke up my behind about how desperate they were to get rid of these 2011's with the vastly superior 2012's coming in, I had assumed I could get close to some of the other deals that folks on this forum have been posting.
To keep it short, no. At the end of the day, the offered to sell the car to me for $1000 OVER invoice (their bottom line) and they way low-balled me on the trade. And yes, I do understand how they bid used cars and was not unrealistic with what it was worth....they simply low-balled me CRAZY LOW.
So when I rejected all this and they refused to talk further, I asked the sales dude what has changed? He told me the new car manager was affraid he would run out of E350's before the 2012's arrived and was confident that people would not wait and would absolutely have to have a E350. Therefore, he wasn't going to let it go without maximum profit.
Gents, I have been buying new cars for over 20 years, and this was a first. I have never had a dealer tell me he was concerned his lot would be empty so therefore was tanking the deal.
I'm not mad, I love my CTS and in many ways its better than the current E350...I just am a car junkie and wanted a trade.
The good news is that now I can focus on getting a 2012. I can get it exactly the way I want it and fly somewhere to pick it up if necesary...So you can expect to see me around for awhile
Kansas City is a weird market, we only have two MB dealerships, and they are owned by the same people. We don't really have any competition here and the dealer loves it. Same for the BMW dealership.
So this morning, I tried to do the deal. After the salesman blowing smoke up my behind about how desperate they were to get rid of these 2011's with the vastly superior 2012's coming in, I had assumed I could get close to some of the other deals that folks on this forum have been posting.
To keep it short, no. At the end of the day, the offered to sell the car to me for $1000 OVER invoice (their bottom line) and they way low-balled me on the trade. And yes, I do understand how they bid used cars and was not unrealistic with what it was worth....they simply low-balled me CRAZY LOW.
So when I rejected all this and they refused to talk further, I asked the sales dude what has changed? He told me the new car manager was affraid he would run out of E350's before the 2012's arrived and was confident that people would not wait and would absolutely have to have a E350. Therefore, he wasn't going to let it go without maximum profit.
Gents, I have been buying new cars for over 20 years, and this was a first. I have never had a dealer tell me he was concerned his lot would be empty so therefore was tanking the deal.
I'm not mad, I love my CTS and in many ways its better than the current E350...I just am a car junkie and wanted a trade.
The good news is that now I can focus on getting a 2012. I can get it exactly the way I want it and fly somewhere to pick it up if necesary...So you can expect to see me around for awhile
With the 2012's coming out, you should be able to get a killer deal on a 2011. I think I got somewhere near 8-9K under invoice on my car last November and I seen a couple even lower than that here on the forums recently. I think you will probably be able to save even more than that with the release of the 2012s.
Kansas City is a weird market, we only have two MB dealerships, and they are owned by the same people. We don't really have any competition here and the dealer loves it. Same for the BMW dealership.
So this morning, I tried to do the deal. After the salesman blowing smoke up my behind about how desperate they were to get rid of these 2011's with the vastly superior 2012's coming in, I had assumed I could get close to some of the other deals that folks on this forum have been posting.
To keep it short, no. At the end of the day, the offered to sell the car to me for $1000 OVER invoice (their bottom line) and they way low-balled me on the trade. And yes, I do understand how they bid used cars and was not unrealistic with what it was worth....they simply low-balled me CRAZY LOW.
So when I rejected all this and they refused to talk further, I asked the sales dude what has changed? He told me the new car manager was affraid he would run out of E350's before the 2012's arrived and was confident that people would not wait and would absolutely have to have a E350. Therefore, he wasn't going to let it go without maximum profit.
Gents, I have been buying new cars for over 20 years, and this was a first. I have never had a dealer tell me he was concerned his lot would be empty so therefore was tanking the deal.
I'm not mad, I love my CTS and in many ways its better than the current E350...I just am a car junkie and wanted a trade.
The good news is that now I can focus on getting a 2012. I can get it exactly the way I want it and fly somewhere to pick it up if necessary...So you can expect to see me around for awhile
Aside from my new E350, I've ordered my last two new vehicles and actually did order the BMW 535i I wanted this time (except the dealer screwed it up). Im 100% in favor of ordering a car, only the Conquest cash and the fact the dealer had exactly what I was looking for made my deal possible without ordering. I passed up three other Mercedes they offered / could get because the options were off here or there, then this silver one showed up - perfect match. This is too much $$$ to spend getting something that's not quite right.
I told my dealer upfront that whatever the deal on a 2011, this close to the 2012s, it would have to be a deal only a moron would refuse. The fact that I have 5 MB dealers in the state helped I'm sure.
Last edited by Imothph; Aug 29, 2011 at 03:00 PM. Reason: Cuz I kant speel so good

It was 1.9 from MB Finance back in 2009 when they were running year end (and model end) deals. I'm guessing they'll be offering big incentives once the 2012s are coming into inventory.
But don't listen to me, I've never financed a car. But they did offer a low rate when I bought mine. YMMV.
When I got my car, the deal was 1.9% for up to 60 months from MB Financial, I would think you can get better than the 3.95% for 84 months from MB Financial, so long as you have very good credit.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
I was going to take the 1.9 when I got my car but if I had put the money in the bank I would have gotten less interest than 1.9, so I just didn't feel like giving MB my money. Plus I have a habit of forgetting to mail my bills and therefore have to keep any payments limited to phone and utilities only.
And I hate credit and I hate debt of any kind. 
With interest rates so low it's kinda crazy to be giving our money to the banks. I get only around 1.5% on a special access bank account and even less than that on a daily use account. And then they go out and collect almost 4% on a car loan for 84 months. That's a crime. Wait, maybe I should be a banker and be able to rob without penalties.

It was 1.9 from MB Finance back in 2009 when they were running year end (and model end) deals. I'm guessing they'll be offering big incentives once the 2012s are coming into inventory.
But don't listen to me, I've never financed a car. But they did offer a low rate when I bought mine. YMMV.
1.9% is a manufacturer incentive, not a bank rate. The way those work is you usually get that or cash off.
You always secure an approval somewhere else before you walk into a dealer. You can always go with the dealer if they give you better numbers, but you hold the ace in the situation.
I was going to take the 1.9 when I got my car but if I had put the money in the bank I would have gotten less interest than 1.9, so I just didn't feel like giving MB my money. Plus I have a habit of forgetting to mail my bills and therefore have to keep any payments limited to phone and utilities only.
And I hate credit and I hate debt of any kind. 
With interest rates so low it's kinda crazy to be giving our money to the banks. I get only around 1.5% on a special access bank account and even less than that on a daily use account. And then they go out and collect almost 4% on a car loan for 84 months. That's a crime. Wait, maybe I should be a banker and be able to rob without penalties.

WOW...you must be a young man. In the 80's, car loans could run 18%-20% for people with GOOD credit. Complaining about 4% is really bizarre. Not saying I like to pay with credit, but somethings it makes sense. Remember, credit is just a tool, nothing more, nothing less.

btw, yes, the 1.9 was an incentive from MB, but the point being is why not try to get the least interest rate on borrowing money whether it's in the form of cash or a car? Unless you are planning on more loans from your bank and just want to get a relationship going.
I'm no finance person, but I just always feel it's good to watch the cost of doing things, no matter what it is.

Anyway, as I said I don't know much about finance. I did borrow for real estate in the past but that's all paid off now, so I'm no longer in the credit market. I don't keep up with it except I know that my bank will use my money now and not give me a lot back for doing so... I got more return in the 1980s....



