davezaristo

Hi,

I am currently shopping for a new e-class, either gas or diesel and the best deal I got so far is $9k off MSRP from 2 dealers on anything on the lot...Has anyone gotten a better deal? I am looking to lease so I am leaning toward the diesel since it has a high residual value...has anyone done a comparison on whether gas or diesel is a better deal from a leasing perspective rather than outright purchase? Any input is greatly appreciated..thanks!

CedarZ4

You'd have to give us the MSRP, but $9k is typically considered a good deal, and is lower than invoice.
Does it include any other specials, like conquest or loyalty discount?
I only got a $7k (which includes the $2k conquest) discount on a $67k car.

As for diesel vs. gasoline. If I'm not mistaken, diesels are more expensive in terms of outright MSRP. However, will typically have a lower leasing price because as you have stated, holds their value better and residual value is better than a 350/550.

davezaristo

sorry, forgot to provide the MSRP since that determines how much profit is in each car...both cars (diesel and gas) are around $60k since I am looking for a P2 car and the discount includes all the discounts i can get, either the loyalty rebate (since i am returning a lease) or the conquest cash since I have a BMW also...

newyorktoLA

Screw all of you; I'm so jealous!!!! I got 8K off my 2011 at the end of the year and thought it was an awesome deal.

CedarZ4

MB invoices are 7% of MSRP, which is $4,200 on an MSRP of $60k. They also have factory incentives, which I believe is around 3%, so a total of 10%. That means $6k off of your car would be considered a good deal. Now, add on Loyalty or Conquest (can't use both if I'm not mistaken) which = 2k, so that means $8k. You got $9k, which means you are in fact, getting a good deal!
Not to say you can't get better (some people have gotten 10K) but those were in the '11 models. If yours is the 2012 and you can get $9k, you're doing well.

As for Amaycg, $8k is also a good deal! Like I said, my $67k car (special order, which means it spends no time on the dealer floor which means even more money since no interest for them to hold the car) and I only got $7k off (including conquest....)

K-A

Anything over $7K off is in the "great deal" ballpark.

I got $10K off, after hours of negotiation (actually, not negotiation, simply me trying to politely leave/play hard to get, saying that I wanted to keep my 2010 E350 anyway, and them literally trapping me in there) on a 2011 P2/AMG Wheel Package/Spoiler Package E350 that MSRP'd at $58K. It was a great deal, and the Lease deal is very attractive. However, I got hit by the "early-adopter fee" on my 2010, which set me back quite a bit, though giving me slight equity to roll into my 2011 E's Lease.

newyorktoLA

Wait, K-A, you leased your 2011? What about all the mods???!?!?! Oh, and which dealer?

CedarZ4

I don't know about great deal off of $7k, but that seems to be the average saving on the Es, which put you on a good deal. You can do better, but certainly aren't being played.

Despite the fact that 7k would be invoice if not lower, that's what the Es are going for right now.

Like KA said, if you want to save an addition 1-2K, expect to be in there for a few hours. Me on the otherhand, would rather save myself from the frustration and time and pay the 1-2k difference Was in and out in under an hour.

K-A

Yeah I Leased it. The mods I did are actually not too excessive, just some tinting and wrapping that is pretty easily reversible (I still cringe at the thought of them pulling the roof wrap off, harm free to the paint.... but apparently it's a pretty much 100% safe process with these new wraps) that give a good visual impression IMO, without really modifying too many things. I haven't actually put any thought into it being a problem when/if I return them the car, lol. I'm sure they'll probably take it as it is, but if it were a problem, I'd probably take it somewhere, get them pulled off, then take it back. My biggest concern right now is returning the car with a massive Miles overage, since I'm starting to lean toward not getting a second car. By the 7-8 month mark I'll be at about 10-11K Miles (10K is my yearly allowance).

I got it from M-B of Long Beach.

CEB

Buy miles now. AFAIK, MB refunds you any unused miles if you buy them during your lease term and it is cheaper than buying them at lease end.

bigigg

I returned my C class with an aftermarket front lip,rear spoiler,lowering springs, painted the interior aluminum trim gloss black, no problems at all, and i didnt even roll into another vehicle.

bigigg

CEB your sayin MB refunds $ if your under your miles at lease return?

K-A

Do you have any links/info to this? I've actually called MB Finance and the operator on the phone (who sounded like he had no idea in what he was talking about) said that M-B does NOT offer discounts on Mileage if you buy it in advance. I.e, it would cost you the same .25 per overage?

bigigg

If this is true then i got ripped off.. i had a 39,000 mile lease, returned the car with about 25,000 miles. The car was immaculate! And on top of it all i was charged $600 because i didnt roll into another vehicle. I was very upset with MB at the time.

Tomshark

I dont know about the validity of discounted miles purchased pre-lease end but i think you misunderstood the post.
I believe he meant any purchased and unused additional miles would be refunded, not the lease contract miles.

Although the whole thing sounds a little counterintuitive ( from the MB standpoint )with the ability to buy discounted miles during the lease.

bigigg

Yes i agree, doesnt sound rite.

newyorktoLA

I have a 7500 miles/year allowance, which gave me the $400/month lease price. It's been 3 months and I'm at 4300 miles...OOPS! I'm going to trade in the lease early (6 or 8 months off the 24 month lease) so hopefully the mileage will be under 15,000 by then. If not, oh well haha!
ALSO: Miles purchased in advance are only .20c/mile, which is five cents cheaper per mile than paying afterwards.

CEB

Correct. You don't get miles back from your original lease terms, but two dealers have independently told me (without my asking) that miles bought after the lease inception, but before lease turn in are refundable in the value of the unused miles.

MB does screwy things - like applying lease terms to maintenance, so it is certainly something to ask about.

I hadn't considered leasing before because I currently drive lots of miles, but that may change as of next year, so a lease may actually now work for me.

CEB

Everyone I've spoken to has said 20 cents per mile prior to lease end and 25 cents at lease end.

I'm not sure what "before lease end" means - probably 6 months.

CEB

I'm going to the dealer tomorrow and I'll find out. MB does sell miles at 20 cents prior to lease turn in though, but I'll check the rest.

threeMBs

[quote=CEB;4972961]I'm going to the dealer tomorrow and I'll find out./quote]

Is it the same dealer who claimed they never heared of non-export waiver?

CEB

[quote=threeMBs;4972981]Nope. Following that exchange I figured those dealers were pretty clueless.

davezaristo

yes, this is for a 2012 and i m planning to do a 2 yr lease with 12k/yr and the quote i am getting right now for payment is around $550 including tax (8.5% tax rate here in SF), with first payment and DMV (~$1100) for drive-off. My friend told me to go in on Xmas eve and he said he will try to do even better than the 9k off msrp on cap cost..this is my first diesel ever and yes, it will be lightly modded with springs and a set of HRE sitting in my garage..:P

davezaristo

yes, i m in the same boat on my c350, in which my lease is due at the end of sept 2012 and i only got less than 5k left...thank god for the 8 payment accelerated program to turn in the car early and get a new e for $50 more a month than what I am paying now..

nkole

Davezaristo, your payment at $550 (including tax) seems much too high. Assuming a $60K car with at $51K purchase price, 77% residual at .000225 MF for 24 months at 12K miles per year the payment should be closer to $450 a month.