Just got a call from the dealer, a w213 with the P3 package, Pano, 19" rims is $69k.

For a lease term of 36 mos with $2700 down, the payment will be $970.

Good, bad?

 

Negotiated price, money factor and residual? Number of miles per year?

 

E300 base price is $52,150, P3 package is $10,250. I think your total MSRP should be $62,400. An extra $7k for pano roof and 19" wheels sounds high to me. What else did you add?

 

My E300W4 build (from the PO) Build date WE-July 1

E300W4 $54,650
992 Selenite Grey Metallic $720
201 Black Leather $1,620
L3C 3-Spoke Multifunction Steering Wheel
PAF PAF Acoustic Comfort Package: Increased $1,100
596: Infrared glass (SPC)
PAF: Acoustic & Comfort Package
P03 P03: Premium 3 Package: Parking Pilot, NF $9,950
902: Heated Front Seats with Rapid Heating
897: NFC Wireless Charging
889: KEYLESS -GO
881: Electronic Trunk Close
871:Hand-Free Access
640: LED Intelligent Headlamps
608 Intelligent Highbeam Control
564: Speedlimit Assist
540: Power Rear-Window Sunshade
536: SirusXM Radio with Trial Period
513: Speed Limit Assist
501: Surround View Camera
463: HEAD Up DISPLAY (HUD)
436: Comfort Headrest/Front
432: Active Multicontour Seats
292: PRE-SAFE Impulse Side
266: Steering Assist for driver's assistance
235: Parking Pilot
233: DISTRONIC PLUS (with PRE-SAFE Brake)
P44: Parking Package & Parktronic)
P35: Lighting Package
P21: Air Balance Package
P20: Driving Assist Package Plus
P17: Keyless Go Comfort Pack
RQR 18" AMG 5-Spoke Wheels
U80 115V AC Power Outlet $115
068 Wheel Locking Bolts $150
104 Rear Deck Spoiler $350
137 Comfort Box $300
313 313 Manual Rear Side Window Sunshades $380
P09: Sun Protection Package Code (SPC)
322 322 Sport Wheel Package: Sport Body Style $650
772: AMG Body Cladding
U29: Perforated Front brake discs & front bra
P15: Sport Exterior
P14: Sport Interior
413 Panorama Sunroof $1090
464 12.3" Instrument Cluster $850
489 AIR BODY COONTROL air suspension $1900
51U Black Headliner
731 Burl Walnut Wood Trim
810 Burmester Surround Sound System $850
SUBTOTAL $74,675
DESTINATION & DELIVERY $925
TOTAL $75,600

 

$76k for a 4-cylinder??

 

Yeah, I mean, the new engine has good torque, but it's the same engine in the base C, and it's still an adjustment to think of paying 45k for a four in that car. This is what the future looks like because of CAFE, but it's not something that's easy for everyone to get on board with. Myself included. I've never been all about the HP or displacement for its own sake, but for premium money, it seems outrageous to get an entry level engine.

There's no reason to get a base E over a base C anymore, as far as engine goes (as opposed to size, luxury, etc).

 

I think that is why MB made the E class so good this time around, with a huge leap in the interior, to make people think that is a worthy trade off.

 

Yes, the car is a cool rolling computer. I took a demo drive (P1 equipped) yesterday and found the interior really nice. The car felt fine in city and highway driving and was very quiet inside compared to my E550. I'm certain that my E550 will blow the doors off of this current incarnation, but I don't drive a race circuit and I was comfortable in the experience. The seats have been redesigned to be more ergonomic and the entire cabin was more integrated in design then my current ride. The 9-speed transmission was butter smooth in shifting up and down to the point where I had to look at the instrument panel to see that the shifts were happening. 9 gears allows for lower ratios to make up for the engine not being a monster. The RPMs at 70 mph showed 1900 on the tach (my E550 shows around 1750 at the same speed).

For a price comparison: my 2013 E550 MSRP was $76,500 while the car that I have on order is $75,600 with more equipment. The base price of the E550 was $60,400, the base price of the new ride is $54,650.

 

Why is everyone harping over the 4 cylinder? This is the way the industry is going. It's an improvement over the outgoing V6 in a number of ways.

It's hilarious to hear Americans gripe about a 4 cylinder where the highest speed limit in our country is legally 85. You go to Germany and see E220s going 115-120 on the autobahn daily without issue - and those cars have less HP and torque than what we are getting.

 

Sorry to bother you with all this

 

lol.


Yea sure it might be almost as fast as a V6 and have way better gas mileage but the drive and feel will never compare.

 

I've driven the c300 and I'm not a fan of the engine feel ... Doesn't compare to the six

Just because things have been different on another continent for a while doesn't mean we have to immediately be ok with paying $76k in the USA for a four cylinder car when I can take that money elsewhere and buy something I actually like

 

agreed.

 

I'm certain that when the L6 is released to the US at the end of 2017, the price will increase $6K+ for the privilege increased hp. A lot of foreign manufacturers are now going with the 4-cyclinder turbo-charged engine for their gas programs. Volvo has an engine that produces 340hp using supercharging and turbo charging. It is the wave of the future except for those vehicles in the ultra luxury / high-performance segment. The acoustic insulation in the E300 made the engine extremely hard to hear at all except when full-throttle acceleration.

 

I'll be interested to drive it and compare with my dads 2016 e350

 

Its not that you have to be immediately okay with like a 4 cylinder. LOL.

You have to understand that the times are changing. 4 cylinders aren't what they used to be. Engine technology along with a 9 speed transmission (this can't be overstated enough when talking about feel) has gone leaps and bounds what it was just 5 years ago.

You have to understand the segment.

BMW 528
Audi A6 2.0T.

These are the competitors. Both are 4 cylinder cars. Coming from 2 E350 4matics, although stepping down 2 cylinders doesn't sound like something i want to do... driving the demo at the Benz dealer near me last friday quelled any issues I had worrying about the 4 cylinders pep. Sure its not as much power as the E350 V6, but remember the car is utilising the power MUCH MUCH more efficiently with the transmission. (The gear will likely always be at its most efficient spot versus the older E350's transmission which would require more engine power to churn it).

Also understand that you saying $76grand for the E300 is somewhat disingenuous even if you can spec it that way. The amount of $76k e300's they will sell is likely to be less than 1%. The majority will fare in the mid-60's.

If you can follow what i'm saying lol.



Just some food for thought. A 528xi (4cyl) loaded up the *** costs $81,000 loaded. Just cuz you CAN load it that way doesn't mean anyones buying it like that.

 

Interesting comments regarding '16 E350 being more powerful than '17 E300. Per MB's own web, 0-60 for '17 E300 clearly states 6.2 sec, while '16 E350 (when it was still listed a week or so ago) 0-60 was listed at 6.5 sec.

As far as price, yes high $70s for a 4-cyl is steep (same price as my '14 E550), but in 70s Lotus Esprit was a 4cyl (selling for much more adjusted for inflation), and secondly there were '16 E350 listing for mid $70s when fully loaded. Most people did not buy fully loaded E350 (as difference to E550 before 2015 was just over $5K and difference to E400 from 2015 was even less). I would assume that by far majority of W213 E300 will buy "base" (non-P3 and/or even non-P2) cars, listing for about what most W212 E350 were while offering much more progress.

 

4 cylinder engines are great for fuel economy but I always associate them with economy cars not luxury brands. The E class feels more like a splurge to me and better paired with a higher performance engine like a TT V6 or V8 that you can't get in an economy car. That's one of the reasons I didn't like the C300 when I drove it. I would rather save $10k and get an Accord that I can use conventional oil and regular gas in.

That said I expect the 4 cylinder will be the best seller as most buyers value fuel economy so long as they find the performance adequate.

 

No argument here, but the car is more than the engine. The combination of the 9-speed transmission and the 4-cylinder engine works well and feels smooth and drives well. I look at this engine like low interest rates on bonds (something to get used to). If you only look at the engine then your assessment on price is understandable. I, for one, value the high tech and the design. I would NEVER again buy a Japanese designed car, but, then, that's me.

 

The engine would be less of a problem to me if it weren't also powering the smaller, lighter C300. The E300 doesn't look like that great of a deal for those of us who care about driving our cars—even luxury cruisers like a Mercedes—when the C is now as big as a W124 and using the same engine, especially in a couple of years when it gets the new 9GTRONIC. The E used to be the car that perfectly balanced the extremes in the sedan lineup—smaller than the S, more powerful and comfortable than the C. Now it's just a big C. If Caddy is getting 272hp out of their turbo 4, and BMW, 248 (and likely underrated), the same 241hp propelling the smaller car as a truly classic, large-car Mercedes just seems like a cynical admission that the car will be built to the lowest-common-denominator, the 0.9% lease special buyers who don't care much about how a car drives or know what's powering it. I get that that's the way this business is going…but I can still complain about it online.

 

Improvement over the V6 in many ways, except power, where it's down significantly, and it's not like it has a huge advantage in torque like a diesel does. No.. this engine is a failure from the get-go.

 

I agree with the whole car analysis. I will certainly give the E300 a try when the time comes. I am into the high tech also (actually more than I am into engines), but the gap is closing with the non-luxury cars with each model update. With these 6-7 year model cycles, you've got to blow everyone away with the tech because it's only a year to two before your competitor debuts a new model that leapfrogs what you have.

 

It has the same amount of torque with a flatter torque curve at a lower RPM. To the average buyer who doesn't understand HP/Torque (aka 95% of who will be buying an E class) it will feel just as powerful if not more. Plus points for loss of the grating exhaust note of the 3.5. Hardly a failure.

 

You dont need to be a car enthusiast to hear the sound of a 4 cyl with direct injection, reminiscent of a diesel, at idle

 

Have you heard the 3.5 idle?

All direct injected engines clatter at idle - you're hearing the fuel hammering in the lines from the piezo injectors pulsing.