TwinCam

Walked into my local Mercedes dealership, owned by AutoNation, checkbook in hand to purchase a 2014 S class. If you I are not familiar with AutoNation, they own 267 dealerships and account for 11% of Mercedes sales in the US. The dealership personnel are professional, but very disciplined. I had talked with a salesperson over the phone who waxed enthusiastic about the great deal he could give me on the new S class and how he wanted my trade, a pristine 2010 loaded E550 sport, which the dealership just serviced and has 13,000 miles on it. Well, the great deal on a $119,000 car was full MSRP list. If I ordered it for delivery in June, full list price. My trade, a whopping $29,000. The dealership would honor $1000 off list, under the USAA new car program (this costs the dealership nothing as Mercedes corporate reimburses the dealership). It was noted that the $1000 was already subtracted from my trade-in. The salesperson was very courteous, answered all of my questions, but no deal on the car. So I walked. Perhaps I would do better at a non AutoNation dealer. Any thoughts? TC

ggold10270

After several negative experiences with AutoNation, I will no longer deal with them. Sales or service.

Kratos-TM

Can't speak on the trade, but as far as MSRP, that's the best you gonna get. Not many dealers out there taking a dime off of the price. That's just the way it is right now.

I ordered my car through an autonation's dealer (Mercedes of Houston North). AutoNation owns both MB dealerships in Houston TX.

TwinCam

I suggested a $2,000 discount for a car ordered now, to be delivered in June, but the dealer wasn't interested. I was surprised that the dealer would turn down such an offer. The current shortage of new S cars is understandable since they just started arriving at the dealers last month; however, to turn down an offer for late in the model year was unexpected. Thought they would say "if you don't mind waiting 7 months, maybe we can do something".

Chucky300

My thoughts on discounting are just my opinion.

When any new product comes out, there will be a premium for it. Plain and Simple.

In this case, it is pay full asking price. I don't think anyone should be angry at a dealer for not willing to negotiate.

In a free market, we, the consumer have the choice not to purchase until the dealer is willing to negotiate.

There is competition we can go to, other dealers, other manufacturers.

None of us "have" to buy the car the moment it comes out. It is our choice. It is our choice to pay fair market value or turn around.

TwinCam

Don't get me wrong, I am not angry at the dealer. Just surprised, this has not happened to me before. The dealer must expect the car to be in short supply all year if they are not interested in taking an order for next June. The dealer talked to me on the phone before I came in and said he was interested in giving me a good deal on a 2014. I told him what i was interested in paying and he set up an appointment with me to discuss the deal. Full MSRP is not a good deal in my book. Should the car remain in short supply and the full MSRP remains the market price, I will order a 2015 in June and pay the MSRP. The dealer could have saved me some time by saying he would not budge off list price.

Chucky300

Most dealers are sold out. I didn't mean you in general or referring to the feeling of anger. I guess what I meant was discouraged. Truth is - when you go to a store, and u see brand new merchandise, you can't negotiate with the lady behind the register. Gotta wait till its marked down.

Same for Cars that just come out. Most dealers are sold out of the S Class. Current owners got lucky, and paid MSRP (or stupidly paid more... yes my opinion of course).

ajm0623

twincam - i got the same story (probably from the same dealer - you can tell by seeing in my sig where i live - they are 2m away from my home). i buy a new car from them every year; this year i bought three new cars from them. and over the years have forged a very favourable relationship with them; i really like these guys. so much so that the g/m, the sales manager and my main man s/a (who i would recommend to ANYone) got together one day i was in just to visit and chinwag a bit and told me - unsolicited mind you - that i should not expect any break on price on the 222 ("no matter how much we love you, andy!" haha). i never asked as i am not in the market now (3 new ones is enough this year), and they knew that i was not buying any more this year, but made a point of telling me that no one will be getting anything off of msrp on this car as it is now their bread and butter and will make the margins they want. i appreciated their willingness to tell me that so as to manage my expectations even though they know i am not buying until next year. now i tell you all of this as this is their modus operandi for the foreseeable future. doesn't matter who you are - this particular dealership will hold the line. want the car? buck up. hope my little anecdote helps.

Trip

I got 3.5% off sticker on an ordered car being delivered in 20 days or so. I decided to pass on the S63 and wait for the car I ordered exactly how I wanted it.

Kratos-TM

It amazes me when I hear of the rare stories of people getting 3-6% off MSRP on this car. Blows my mind.....guess there are still a few dealers who will negotiate no matter what the market demands.

Congrats Trip....

Chucky300

Was thinking the same thing. Why discount when there are 5 others willing to pay MSRP+ to replace the buyer asking for the discount.

Congrats Trip.

LovinMercedes

For so many years we have been getting invoice plus. Got to be willing to be on the other side every now and then.

oswiff

I think it all depends on the dealership.

I have bought 10 cars from my dealer in 2 years. Some really expensive and some not (relatively). From the time my dealer brought up the new s he said it wouldn't be my usual discount. I will get some off the car but it wouldn't be close to any of my other cars.

However, last year I went to a local dealer just to look at color chips and such for ordering a g63 and a s/a wanted my business despite knowing nothing on me and offered 2k off without me even saying I would order with them. He said they would do that to earn my business.

I also went to a range rover dealership to look at the new range rover just cause and they were the opposite. They said no discount and the wait is a year for the v8 supercharged. That's before I even got to open the door of the car.

So I feel like dealerships can be all over the place and it really just depends on how lucky or badly you want the latest. I want the newest and "best" so I just take it in the chin knowing I could probably do better if I had a shred of patience.

Kratos-TM

Indeed Oswiff. There will be deals out of this world and dealers begging me to buy if I could wait till summer 2015. But fortunately (for the dealer), I can't wait that long...... LOL

Chucky300

You'll not feel so bad once you drive it. lol. trust me.

TwinCam

Hey AJM, yes it is the same dealer and I appreciate your insight. Nice people and the dealership is only a few miles from my home ...I have purchased a number of new cars from them. My complaint is they led me to believe over the phone that they would negotiate a discount on the car and they never had any intention of moving off the MSRP. They had me bring in a copy of my "build your own" sheet so we could discuss the deal I proposed ($2000 off list). It would have been better if they had told me from the start that they had no intention of discounting the car.

ajm0623

completely 100% agree with you, twincam. smacks off dishonesty on the surface. and that is not what i know of these topboys. hit me up on a private message if you want to discuss more in depth. happy to share with you what i know of them and their people. cheers.

Tomshop

It really depends on your relationship with the dealer. If you are a first time customer you shouldn't expect much off until production catches up with initial demand. Most dealers that have long term customers will give some level of discount to them.

TwinCam

See AJM above. No S class discount for you at AutoNation!

mrmiami

Got 3% off my 2014 S63, G63 and S550. From an autonation dealer

newtrita

It's funny guys I had a really frustrating experience with Santa Monica mb, I was looking to buy a coupe version of the c63 because I loved the 4 door and wanted another one, anyways I saw a 2013 loaded nicely I made an offer online. The price was something like 70k and I offered 60k to see what response I would get. They gave me a call and asked me to come in and have a talk. I went in, the person who was going to show me the car disappeared somewhere and the guy who showed me the car basically didn't want me there he said we can take off 250$ and he didn't even want me to drive it so I left and took my money elsewhere. This happened a month ago... 2013 model 250$ off lol.

torontowino

I cant see buying new. The depreciation is pretty steep. I will likely buy a 15 month old car with between 6 and 10k on the odometer. Anybody want to predict market value?

Kratos-TM

This car is for enjoyment, like a reward for being successful. The tactics about depreciation should be taken to the "mules"....daily drivers that are cheap and bought to go from point A to B. Wait till someone turns a cheap car back in early, buy it for a lot less, and beat the crap out of it everyday until it flops. Rinse and then repeat....


But for your weekend luxury car, it's all about throwing your money away to your labor-reward, nothing more. After-value is a minute detail.

torontowino

That's funny. Sorry, but I work too hard to "throw it away." My dime my way, your dime your way.

Kratos-TM

Well don't buy a car of this magnitude then. Because there are plenty of cheap options to get you from point A to B. Putting more into a car pass that purpose is for luxury only.


And obviously I don't mean "throwing away" literally. You are getting something for the money. But a car's value is in the driving it, nothing else.....worst investment on the planet.