Hi everyone!
My wife's 2014 E550 with 9K miles is coming of the lease this December and I am struggling with finding adequate replacement...

If you had to find a replacement for one, what car would you end up with?

Your thoughts and suggestions are HIGHLY appreciated!

 

Maybe a 2016 CLS550?

 

only way is up...E63

 

CLS is an option but that hideous vertical monitor stuck on top of the console is not easy to overcome :-)

 

Probably the most expansive option, but if everything else fails, will go for it... ;-)

 

Why not just buy the E550? 9K miles is nothing.

 

Yeah, with just 9k, it's probably worth more than the residual or at least offer it for sale here in the classifieds. So the step down would be the E400 or maybe up to the E43, both of which aren't out yet.

 

I feel for you OP. Hard to replace that one. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

 

Buy it or wait for e43

 

Buy it

 

Yeah with 9k it's pretty much a new car. I don't think anything will be a replacement of significant value over what you already have IMO.

 

Thank you all so much for your advice and suggestions - highly appreciated!
It really boils down to either keeping the E550 or waiting for the W213 E43 (although I am not a huge fan of the new E-class).

Will probably end up buying the 550, considering low mileage and overall excellent condition...

 

What's the residual on it?

 

Residual in the end of the lease (12/27/16) is 48,264.30
MSRP was close to 80K - car is fully loaded...

 

I haven't done my homework, but that seems like a really fair price for that.

 

Buy it for sure!

 

I checked nadaguide and even with just 9k, the only options it lists is the driver assistance package and the rear entertainment system. Retail for that is around 47k. Sounds like you got a really good lease deal. I'm told you can negotiate the purchase price somewhat at the end of the lease. Maybe you can pick up a leftover E400 or maybe it'll be out by then.

 

I don't know if this is possible, but if your wife likes the car, can you re-lease it? Like previously mentioned, 9K is still new-ish.

 

Just keep in mind that in five months (when the lease is up), the trade-in value of the above E550 will be in $35K-$37K max (FYI: its under $39k now), so I would not do a buyout unless you can somehow get a CPO certification (it normally costs MB about $2K to certify) for the car which will give you an extra year of warranty. Paying $48K now maybe OK, but not IMHO in five months. Personally, I would order W213 E43 as you get closer to the lease end, then just extend your current lease month to month until W213 E43 arrives.

 

What does trade in have to do with anything relating to him buying it out? I'm just curious as you don't buy a car from a dealer at trade in price......


The buyout price is very fair based on what I see these things go for at dealers around here. They can't keep 2014 sedans on the lot here and I know of a 2014 with 24k on it that MSRP'd at ~70k that just sold for $47k at the dealer I bought my 2013 at. I could see that car fetching $49k here all day long (there's a lesser optioned one with 2k miles for $53k, but it's certified and several between $46-48k certified with 30-40k miles). But, these are pretty uncommon in MA. KBB/NADA etc. don't always reflect the reality of what cars sell for. Is it a smoking deal at the buyout price, no, but is it a fair price? I think so. Plus the peace of mind of knowing it was well cared for counts for something!


I also would not CPO a car you owned, and in 2-3 years have put 9k on. The benefit, to me at least, of CPO was the unlimited miles. I'd just extend the warranty for the cost you'd pay to certify it.

 

OP's lease is up in 5 months, not now. OP is in CA (with the most generous E class rebates in the States, which effect both new and used markets). At the end of December, 2016, OP's car (even with such low miles) will be worth less retail as a CPO than the buyout price (without CPO).

Trade-in does come into play, if for some reason OP changes mind after driving W213 E43 in early 2017, in which case OP could be out more than $13K in a month or two.

IMO, OP should have bought the car in the first place, instead of leasing, if it was known that car will accumulate hardly any miles.

 

Here's my thought process on buying at lease end:

1. Do I want to keep the car?
2. What's the buyout?
3. What can I buy the same car for elsewhere? (Not trade in value)
4. What value do I put on knowing I owned car from day 1?

If 1 = yes and 2+4>3 pretty easy call.


It would be very hard to find a 9k mile loaded E550 to start and then I'm guessing dealer premium would make the cost elsewhere pretty steep. Your also looking CPO because finding that car not on a Mercedes dealers lot would really be a shock.

Book value on that car is tough because even though it books at X good luck finding one. If somehow that car makes an auction it's going way above book. Book on that car is just a guess because the sample size is likely non-existent.

 

I get that aspect (value 5 months from now) - but I think at least here in MA it would sell for that much if sold by a dealer. No idea on CA though.

 

I noticed the CPO prices for the 2014 moving down in the last three months. I suspect that will continue with the new E class model being released.

 

9,000 miles! Nice. I wish I had such dilemmas. My wife's 2016 Escalade ESV already has like 10,000 miles...and she's had it for less than four months! "Go for the upgrade" is policy for anyone spending your money for you...so I say go for the upgrade!