hx_guy

Oh yea, also a question.

When they came back to us at $52k for the P1 car, they said $0 down 10k miles and $727/month. I didn't even pay attention to it to see how the hell they got that but it's way way high for a car that is $52k. What numbers could they inflate to get the payment that high...the residual is set by MB right? As is the base MF?

hx_guy

Sorry for all the questions, but one more...

Does the residual on a vehicle change depending on the options? If a E350BT with P1 has a residual of 77%, should the residual on on with P1 + Parktronic + Lane assist + etc still be 77%?

ImInPA

The residual may fluctuate slightly with options, but, I doubt it would be significant.

hx_guy

Hmm, then in real curious how they came up with $727/month based on $52k car cost. Even rolling in fees (est. $2500) and using the base MF of .00225 I get about $100 less.

mjsbenz

You are based in Michigan and getting a rear wheel drive bluetec instead of a 4matic. Interesting. Must be global warming.

ImInPA

A well balanced RWD car, such as the E350 Bluetec, with a set of snow tires gets through winters just fine. And then during the rest of the year you have the wonderful dynamics of a well balanced RWD car. Folks forget that most cars were RWD not all that long ago. RWD MBs cross the Alps in the winter. I am pretty sure they will get you across town.

troymir350

Since I'm traveling and reading this on iPhone I'll assume this was directed at me. Answer: yes. You can read all the Marketing hyPe you will about 4matic. How many months a year do you need it? All is does is aid acceleration. Period. In the snow. If you add winter tires it is proven that rear drive is just as good if not better. PA notes also I see. Anyway, the Btec rear drive is more common everywhere in the world but the US. And we Americans tend to listen to marketing inleui of facts.

ttoE550

With one exception: hills in the snow. Someone posted a link to an experiment in which 4matic was the ONLY car to make it up a hill (all MB cars) even out of those equipped with snow tires. And the 4 matic, IIRC, was on all seasons. I have a big hill near my house. I cruise by all my stuck neighbors with a hearty chuckle and a wave.

hx_guy

Ok, deal is done...we got what we wanted but also didn't yet. I won't go into the whole day with what happened to dealer #1 where we left and ended up at dealer #2 but what we got was...

MSRP: $57,575 (E350BT with P1, Spoiler Appearance Pkg & Lunar Blue paint)
Purchase price: $48,650
Residual: $42,605 (74% residual with 15k/year. 10k would have been 77%)
Money factor: .0025
Out of pocket: $2455 (first month, registration, $250 doc fee, $795 acquisition fee)
Payment: $480 + $45 tax per month

About the Multiple Security Deposits, of course the salesman had no idea what that was. He asked finance, which said they hadn't done on in at least 10 years and they had to call MB Financial, who apparently said that the person in charge had left for the day (it was 6pm local time, 9pm eastern). We drew up the contract and they said we can go back tomorrow and redo it after they talk to MB Financial. I hope that is true and they don't try and pull something because they seemed pretty pissed with us.

oggie

You also forgot to mention that 4Matic would aid in black ice situations and in rain as well. Not to mention better off the line in dry too due to better traction from 4 wheels.

ttoE550

Yeah, there is a reason awd is used in many rally cars, which includes racing on ice. Also awd was used in F1 until it was banned because it gave huge advantages in the rain. Both systems have their advantages, but neither is superior and neither is inferior or a marketing gimmick.

T.H.Carrera

whaaaaaa? pissed at you guys?? a stelaership pissed? tell them to f@rk off.... ***** think they doing you a favor by selling a car? this is one reason I never feel sorry for these stealerships....

hx_guy

Yea, they genuinely seemed pretty upset by the end and actually said "Ok, $525 per month but we're not doing the MSDs." I said...what, what do you mean...and he says "We're just not going to do it" to which I said that it's a Mercedes Financial thing and doesn't affect them. He finally said to talk to finance about it which we did, but they better not come back with "It's not possible" or there will be hell. I don't see why they would care, as far as I understand it, it doesn't affect the dealer, right? Almost seemed like they just didn't want to do us any more favors, like they were fed up. He did calm down a bit and it ended well, but we still have to see what happens tomorrow.

BM2BZ

you know what you should do tomorrow, just gather all the info and run to dealer #3! tell them either match or beat dealer #2's deal and they get your business. tell him/her what kind of so-called service you had received from dealer #2 and tell him/her you'll never go back there. i swear he/she will treat you like king and most likely you'll even receive better treatment in the service dept down the road!

mjsbenz

A great deal HX Guy. You did very well. The programs on the BlueTec are very strong.

Check your cash due on delivery. Seems a bit high to me. That is where most dealerships make up their profit shortfall by loading on excessive Doc Fee, prep fee, etc.

I am taking delivery next week on a E350 4 matic ($63,694 MSRP/ monthly $645 for 33 months/12K a year) and my cash due is $1899. Maybe your state registration is very high. But your 1st month will be lower than mine.

Check and compare the numbers.

mjsbenz

I would not call the 4 matic technology as marketing hype. It is all about safety. I have driven RWD cars with snows. Heck..I had 4 snows on our Mustang convertible. And winter tires do transform the capabilities of a RWD car. But 4matics work and the level of enhanced safety is worth every dollar when my wife, my kids (and even my own) lives are at risk. As to the comment on the benefits of RWD handling on a E350, as opposed to 4matics, you need to read the technical "hype" to get the facts right.

aeggroup

I just got E Bluetec one month ago. MSRP 59,080. Diamond White, P1, Sport, rear spoiler. Lease is for 24 months/ 10K a year. Zero due at sign in. Monthly payment is $570. Dealer bought my leased E class, which had another 10 months left.
I think your deal is just Okay, but not great. You can do better than this with Bluetec. BTW...ask them for one pay lease ( if you wanna do it) You can save good chunk of money using that.

hx_guy

What was your sale price on the car?

A higher residual will get you a better payment. If I had done 10k miles instead of 15k, the payment would have been $450/month(inc tax) with no MSDs.

hx_guy

Arizona's registration fees are crazy. The breakdown of the upfront fees were:

First month pmt: $525
Doc fee: $250
Acquisition fee: $795
Registration: $885

Total: $2455

mjsbenz

Agree that the Arizona registration is very high.

Registration fee in NJ is $309.

troymir350

Ok, I wasn't trying to start a battle on this. My point was that 4matic or any awd system is only used a fraction of the time the vehicle operates. Is there occasion it's great to have: of course. But, rear drive with traction ctl, stability ctl, and anti lock brakes using winter tires is plenty in MOST scenarios.

And, 4matic has limits related to speed. And black ice and hills will be a white knuckle experience for most any vehicle. Check my past vehicles. R, ML, and GLs I've had in places that I definitely would not go with this E for sure. But, in the miles I drove all those other vehicles I didn't need the 4matic all that often. Even in Michigan.

aeggroup

I don't have papers infront of me and don't remember the numbers now, but when I did my deal I was focused only on lease payment, because I know I will not buy out this car for sure. Another part of my payment is 6 remaining payments, that were on my previous lease. It was actually 10, but I know MB forgive you 4, so 6 was still remaining. So, if I'd get my lease without it - I think it would be at least $70-$80 less. But the bottom line is - if you fell comfotable with your payments and you think it's a fair deal - get it. The car is super and you will forget about $10-$30 extra per month after 3 days.

mjsbenz

[QUOTE=But the bottom line is - if you fell comfotable with your payments and you think it's a fair deal - get it. The car is super and you will forget about $10-$30 extra per month after 3 days.[/QUOTE]


+1. And that is all that counts.

mjsbenz

Can you provide the actual savings either here or a PM to me.

I am taking delivery next week and will be asking for them to run "one pay" and since I have no real understanding of what the potential saving should be, it would be great to get your information as a bench mark.

Thanks in advance

aeggroup

PM sent.