ua549

Too many friends have gotten less than stellar service from AutoNation dealerships of various brands, not just MB's.
Fortunately where I live I have several alternatives.

NYC-Style

He may have just been telling you what the system/computer is telling him...and at that point what else can they tell you? I'm thinking if he tells you that the price will correct and go down in a week or two and it doesn't then you'll really be pissed. If what folks are saying is true...then I'd just call when the correct prices are in the system. The quick answer is to just call another dealership and give them your build info and see what number they come back with. Good luck and don't give up your order slot...

Germancar1

OMG come on guys, this threads needs to be closed. All MB's have a placeholder price before the actual price makes it to the system. What is there to keep talking about here? Mass confusion and the dealer should really be ashamed of themselves for being so ignorant.

M

ngerstman

I started it and I couldn't agree more. End my embarrassment! Thanks. Regards. Ned.

Germancar1

I really blame the dealer, total incompetence. They know full well the E-Class isn't going to go from 52K to 100K for a mere E43. 100K is E63 money.


M

kotsumu

I would pay 100k for one in my garage right this instant (actually I wouldn't, but you get my point). Dealer called me, mine won't hit production till Feb. Sucks, I was promised a Nov production date.

ngerstman

That sucks! I bought one that the dealer had in the que for December. I haven't heard any update, but wouldn't be surprised if its pushed back. I need a car so may have to consider other options if that's the case. I've been tossing around an Audi s8, a 2014-2015 cpo for less money, different mindset but potentially compelling, 520 horses, a luxury rocket! Thanks. Regards. Ned.

ua549

If the Audi has the 3 litre gasoline engine, it also has just discovered emissions cheating software that has yet to be resolved.

ngerstman

That's a good point regarding Audi, I thought the issues were more around the Diesel engines. The s8 has a 4 litre engine. Thanks. Regards. Ned.

ua549

My bad. It isn't the 3 litre engine. The cheat is with the adaptive automatic transmission. If the wheels are straight ±15° co2 emissions are reduced from normal.

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/11/14/v...ion-anomalies/

stealth.pilot

Yes he's working you. He's charging you E63 money.

ngerstman

They corrected the price in the system on Saturday, now the $72,000 I expected. Of course fully loaded with p3 and some other stuff, $89,000 msrp. They are still telling me late December and we'll see how much negotiating I can do. I fear they won't move much as an early delivery e43 will be a hot commodity. But if they don't give me a decent discount, I'm prepared to go to plan B, bring my e550 to Florida and buy a cpo Audi s8 for NJ. Still pretty unhappy with Mercedes for not offering a 6 at a reasonable price for the new e, would have been happy with the e350 engine tweaked to 330 hp or thereabouts. Shouldn't the msrp of the e300 have gone down with a 4, look at the historic pricing difference in Mercedes to move up in engine, usually $6,000 or more. Not treating their customers fairly. Thanks. Regards. Ned.

stealth.pilot

I wouldn't pay MSRP. It's too much. Plus BMW launched the M550i with a V8 at a similar price point so I think this E43 is not going to fly off the lots.

ngerstman

Did you negotiate a final price yet on your ordered e43 and if so how much off msrp? The 5 series BMW is getting long in the tooth and I'm assuming the similar price point would be before options, so apples to apples I would assume a much pricier car. BMW interiors are awful, IMO. Thanks. Regards. Ned.

dadesidon

Just got my updated pricing back - $72,400 is base. Fully loaded around $84k. Dealer is giving $1600 (2 percent) off the $84k.

stealth.pilot

I agree with you. I think what they are doing positioning the only 6 cylinder as a premium priced AMG product is very cynical. I think when people cross shop this against the 2018 540i which starts production this month, you will see a huge difference in value. Mercedes is going to lose share with the W213 purely due to engines and pricing.

Given the waitlist - you are talking mid Q1 for a P3 package - I think you should cross-shop other options.

stealth.pilot

No I cancelled it when they told me they couldn't do the Designo interior on the E43.

Then when the M550i was announced I put down a deposit on that instead. I think the interior is very high quality - not quite as nice in design as Mercedes, but it does have better materials (e.g. ceramic controls instead of metal, optional merino leather upgrade over nappa, etc.). I personally know the guys at BMW Individual (having bought 2 custom specced M5 Individuals and one 550i Individual) so I know I will be able to do a custom leather interior and paint finish with BMW. Dealer thinks I can do a European Delivery in May or June and I will pay $1000 over ED invoice (same price he gave me on all my previous BMWs).

Obviously the M550 doesn't enter production for a few months, so I will continue to keep an eye on what Benz is doing. If the E63 is priced under $100k base I may consider that instead.

ua549

The E43 my be a single year model just as the GLE450 was. I expect that the 2018 models will have the new I-6 engine along with new model numbers.

Germancar1

Yep and the replacement for the E43 will be the (rumored) 490hp I6, E55 which will make quick work of a M550i. These are AMG cars, not just a regular E550 or E400 anymore.

M

stealth.pilot

E55 sounds fantastic. Whether it makes quick work of M550 remains to be seen. Usually V6s are good up to 70mph, but V8s are much stronger beyond that. I notice that when I compare the 560hp Flat Six Turbo in my 911 vs the 560hp V8 Turbo in my M5.

ngerstman

I ordered mine with p3 and the dealer keeps insisting that the car should be here in late December. I got one of the e43s that the dealer had early ordered from their queue, they had early ordered 4 and I got one of them. Miami Mercedes is huge, incredible inventory of high end Mercedes in showroom. I am a bit intimidated by the potential overly complicated interfaces, that scares me a bit, they have never done a good job in that area and this is all menu driven with little mouse pads on the steering wheel left and right. They had an e43 there yesterday to look at, not to drive. Beautiful 20 inch rims, I ordered one with 19s, hopefully they didn't make 20s standard, I want a comfortable ride, too old for overly stiff suspensions. Thanks. Regards. Ned.

dadesidon

How likely is this? I don't want to drop $83k in a car that's a one year model being replaced by an additional 90 hp for the same price.

ngerstman

It appears that Mercedes is abandoning one of their key demographics, the aging baby boomer who wants a luxury sports sedan with lots of power but a well controlled comfortable ride. That's why I own an e550, I wanted the power but not all the over the top AMG stuff like overly firm suspension and the idiotic march toward ever larger rims, let alone putting on run flats. I and most people buy these as an every day ride and I don't drive on the Bonneville Salt Flats or the Auobahn, I drive on generally crappy US roads. While I still begrudgingly have my order in for the e43, I would have just preferred if they offered the engine as an up option by itself and let me build the car from there. A few posts seem to believe that the i6 won't show up in the e for at minimum 2 years. Regards. Ned.

mjsbenz

Ned.

I do not think MB "is abandoning one of their key demographics". They have significant market research resources with people who study the various segment very closely. The demands of each segment evolves and I am confident MB USA and MB Global are focused.

There are many market influences including Global market considerations (needing 4 cyl in China) and technology advancements that we all would like to have.

I think you and several others on this forum have dismissed the E300 as a low performance engine and then felt compelled to upgrade to the E43 AMG (lite). I think you have done yourself a significant disservice by rejecting the E300 because of the fewer cylinders as opposed to looking at the big picture. You will be paying a significant premium for an E43 for driving the local roads of NJ and NY. And the E43 will not be an E63 or E55 (which I doubt is happening).

I just drove from NJ to Manhattan for a quick errand and returned, all within 3 hours. On the streets on Manhattan, there were 2 E300 "black car" car service vehicles and a another nicely equipped E300 with Pano roof with MD plates. Interesting the car services are now putting the E300 into service in Manhattan.

The E43 is not for me. IMHO, the E43 is totally unnecessary and not needed if you drive in the Metro NY NJ area.

ngerstman

We'll agree to disagree. There are lots of people, some who have driven the e300, some not who have no interest in a 4 with 240hp. I'm sure that the e300 is adequate for many drivers but there are lots of boomers who grew up on ever larger hp engines and just like the ride and feel of 6's or 8's. I have no doubt that I would find the e300 adequate but I'm looking for the next level up from adequate without going to an AMG type vehicle. I am very far from being alone in feeling this way. For around town the 4 is just fine, but for passing power on the highway it just doesn't have the same feel as a larger engine, it just doesn't lift up the car and move it, the 4 kind of scoots it and howls a bit. I test drove it and for local driving was very impressed with acceleration off line, but the highway felt a bit soft if you like to mash your car every now and zen. I feel that there is a large hole in the e lineup with the e300 and then nothing till an overpriced e43 dressed up for who I'm not sure. Regards. Ned.