Venom-AMG

I'm going to purchase or lease a gl450 for my wife real soon. Please let me know what incentives and discounts are available so I can take it to the negotiation table. Thanks guys and gals

evoviiiyou

I am sure that if you wait until the last week of the 4th quarter you can buy an 08 GL450 cheaper than you could lease an 09 or 08. I just bought my GL end of 3rd quarter and compared to my business partners 08 GL450 lease I have a cheaper payment monthly than his lease for a GL450 with more options. I hope this helps.

Venom-AMG

So far I heard $10k-15k discounts on 08' models. Has anyone gotten a deal like That? TIA

stickygreen

IMO, go to the dealership as ask them how much trunk money they are given by MB and offer them whatever you feel is "fair" to pay over invoice. I personally don't try to cut into their holdback because dealership or not, a business is entitled to make at least a few bucks. I see all these guys talking about how much "below cost" they can buy their new MB's for, then *****ing about they aren't treated well in service...

I used to be in highline car sales (Rover, MB, BMW) and generally pay anywhere from $300-$1000 over invoice (minus any trunk money) depending on the vehicle & demand.

But, to answer your question, I saw as much as $12k off on '08 models last month, but dont know how incentives have changed for October. I will be paying $500 over invoice on an ordered '09 Bluetec, which I feel is a very fair price. If you dont mind paying a few thousand more, the '09 models have some rather nice upgrades that IMO are worth it if you plan on keeping the GL for a while.

oknish

I couldn't agree more that the dealer has to make a profit but I am not sure I understand what relationship is there between what you pay and service you receive. Are you saying that someone paying MSRP should get better service then someone who paid 5K less?

Venom-AMG

So would it be better for me to get the 09'? What are the differences between 08' and 09'? Thanks

Stumblefoot

Venom,

Clearly you are a sophisticated MB consumer. I can only dream of driving an AMG someday.

So, I share the following with you in all due respect... take some of your own time to search through this forum for an answer to your question first, before posting it. The info you seek is readily available. Then, if you still have some questions regarding '08 vs. '09, feel free to post and I know folks will be more than happy to help out.

This forum is full of wonderful people, but when it becomes apparent a new poster to the GL board shows up with such a basic question as yours, it's clear you haven't spent anytime searching the forum (or anywhere on the web for that matter) for an answer and think your time is more valuable than others.

Sorry to be pissy tonight, but our time is just as valuable as yours.

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Scotty B and Cablvr... enjoying an '03 Williams-Selyem Pinot from Peay vineyard tonight. Wife's special Rigatoni is on the menu tonight.

MyMercedes012

Local dealer is giving $5k off MSRP only....I loved the GL but its too much for me....

oknish

08 or 09? 320 or 450 or 550? 08's have factory incentive going on till 10/31 to the tune of ~12K.

Senor Foot - I think you would be in a better mood if you checked your voicemails

Venom-AMG

Thanks for all the replies. I have went through the 2 pages of GL forum and was unable to find the answer to the differences between 08 and 09. Maybe my search IQ is low and haven't been able to type in the correct keyword. If you would be so kind as to list me the link to that page, I would appreciate it very much. Thanks

Jjjakc

Venom,

Here is a link to some of the changes to the GL between 08 and 09: http://www.benzblogger.com/labels/GL-Class.html

Major changes to all the trims are larger mirrors (which is a huge improvement since the current one is a little too small for a big truck), an improved COMMAND system with a hard drive which can also store i think 4GB of music, an added AC power plug in the rear, new rear seat entertainment system, and the premium packages now include more things that were previously a la carte like keyless go and ipod intergration, etc. Also, the 450 and 320 now include the 19" wheels which were previously part of the appearance package. I might be missing a few more things, but I think I got the bulk of it.

Hope this Helps!

Venom-AMG

Thanks Jjjakc. So now I just have to see if the price differences justify the 09' over the 08'.

oknish

Venom - what are you looking at - 320, 450 or 550?

Venom-AMG

I'm looking to purchase a gl450 sometime in the next 2 weeks

kriskelsey2

I purchased an 08 GL450 almost 2 weeks ago in Dallas and was given 10K off MSRP. MSRP was 69950, includes P2, 19-inch package, running boards, trailer hitch, IPOD, and illuminated door sills. I probably could have asked for more than the 10K off MSRP, but dealer gave in to my trade-in requested amount and so I figured that was fair enough. Hope this helps.

Stumblefoot

Just picked it up. Thanks! I'll talk to you soon.

fq1

Is the 12k factory-to-dealer trunk money or is it an advertised price below MSRP? If the former, the 08 becomes a steal.

oknish

former, I believe.

jprescott

I'm about to pull the trigger on an 08' for 12k under MSRP. I think this ranks over the Q7 which was the other choice. By the way, I called MB finance about the buyout on our 06' R500. Residual is 42k. They came down to 25.5k without discussion. I guess the good old days of a lux car keeping value are long gone.

BeanCounter

Are you saying that they reduced your residual by $16,500 when calculating the buyout? That seems too good to be true. Since I have never turned in a leased car early can you explain how they come up with the buyout. I assume it is something like fair value less residual value plus whatever termination fees they have or is it something different like remaining payments present valued. I would be interested in knowing for future purchases/leases. Thanks.........

jprescott

Here's how I figured it out. I was on the "hunt" for a new car and combed over the Edmunds forums. Found the current auction prices for a 2006 R500. Read stories of MB finance negotiating. To be honest I did not think I had a chance in hell since Audi Finance would not budge on my A8L 10 months ago. When I called MB Finance about end of lease options I told the agent that I was looking at an R500 locally for $24,000 ( auction value is about 22k). She said right then and there she could go to $25,500 but not lower. That was it. $40,983 was actual residual buyout (I thought it was $42k) so $15,550 off up front residual. You are correct that it's too good to be true since my wife won't go for it.

jprescott

Forgot to add that MB will forgive last 2 payments and the lease end $$ for our R500 with the above deal on the GL. Lease loyalty program will forgive 5 payments. Not bad.

MB Fanatic

venom, get the 09. Better Nav, better audio, better RSE. All around a much better SUV. And better mirrors.