JayGold

I have been looking at the 2010 S550s for a couple weeks now. My dealer is willing to discount the car 22,000 and I am very close to pulling the trigger. I understand that the 2012 models will have a much more powerful engine, is it worth waiting? I dont need to buy an S550 right now, its just that I want one. It would be more of a second/weekend car. I tend to keep my car 7 to 8 years so I dont want to feel like I have an old car a year later because of the new engines Im looking at the following options, any opinions on them would be great

2010 S550
Black/Black
P2
Sport Plus One
Night Vision
Illuminated Door Sills
Rear window shades

transferred

WAIT! Unless you can save at least $20k on a new 2010 it makes no sense to not hold off, the new ones add a big chunk more power and far better mpg, since you keep your cars so long it makes sense to get the latest tech...

-Rob

epasc

But I thought the new engine wasn't coming out until a year from now. This year it's just the updated sound system (as an expensive option) and updated driver assist.

Am I correct?

transferred

I think that's right, but the op said he keeps his cars 8 years so he may as well wait 12months since he doesn't "need" it right now...

IDriveAnM5

I'm sort of in the same boat, but I will only lease for 3 years. So, I am seriously considering pulling the trigger on the 2010 S550 since my time horizon is definite.

Is that $22,000 you mentioned off sticker or invoice? Just curious, thanks.

JayGold

Its off sticker

transferred

If you can squeeze another 5 or 6 grand off the reduction it may make sense...you should be able to, see if he'll do 28k off, the fact he offered 22k off shows there's room here...

Ahmedito

What is the sticker price?

JayGold

$106,700

Ahmedito

do you mean that they give you $22,000 off the $106,700

Jan AMG

I'd wait but keep in mind that first production year can be buggy

NuMBS500er

All car will become outdated eventuly, if must have the latest model then leasing may not be bad for you. IMO.

transferred

Yes, that's what he said...with such a high sticker at least 29k off would be my aim

skrontz

The high sticker means good options, so it by no means justifies a larger discount. Well optioned cars are hard to come by, and getting $30K off still a brand new car is a major stretch.

Update: Actually, I've looked through the options for the car in question, and it doesn't appear to be that great. Sport +1 is completely useless on a MY2010 car, and you can get a good set of 20" rims for much less than $6500. Night Vision is pretty useless as well. None of the good options (ABC, Distronic Plus, Rear Seat Package, and so on) are there, so this is probably why they're willing to discount $22K. I don't think there are many well optioned cars left on the lots, unfortunately.

Dema

No reason to wait. Buying a car of first year of new engine can be risky, especially if you are going to keep a car for long. From other side $22K is great discount, however you can push the dealer lower and buy the car at high $70s.

absent

$20k difference is meaningless over the time he usually keeps his cars.
Current engine will be obsolete next year and he will be stuck with it (and very unhappy with every passing day) for the next 8 years or so.
Wait for the new car next year,pay a bit more and be a happier guy....

IDriveAnM5

If my time horizon were the same as the OP, I would probably WAIT as well. However, it isn't, and I tend to go through cars about every 3 years because I am a high mileage driver (18,000 miles a year on this car, but lease written to absorb these miles). EDIT: I wouldn't want to be in the first year of the next iteration of the S-Class either. I did that with the Audi A8 and I regretted it - got rid of the car after 10 months of B.S. glitches and problems.

With respect to the level of options on cars these days, I've been looking around dealer lots a great deal lately. In my region (Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky), 99.9% of the cars are 4Matic. Here is what I'm seeing:
Premium Package (P2 or whatever it's called these days)
Sport Normal (nobody around here has cars with the 20" rims)
Panoramic Roof
Sun Blinds
Heated Steering Wheel
Split View (which I don't think can be ordered anymore??)

I have seen ZERO S550 4Matic's with distronic or other driver aids. I don't believe ABC can be ordered with a 4Matic, so that's gone too.

Still, even though these cars don't have some of the high-dollar whiz-bang options, I'd still consider them to be well equipped. I think anything with a Sport package is well equipped though, because it's sexy. Personally, I assign zero value to things like night vision (don't drive at night much) or distronic (I like it in a loaner car, but it can get distracting because it's like playing with a neat new toy! Plus, I had it on the A8 and it sucked). I don't assign value to the panoramic roof either, but most cars are equipped with this so "meh." Things like Sport package, P2, and the heated steering wheel are important deal-breakers to me. Sun blinds don't matter that much because I can always have the windows tinted on my dime.


:-)

emilner

Mercedes has a history of bulletproof engines. Add to that the fact that the motor is already available in the CL and I think all worries should go away.

If it was me I would wait for the new motor...

NYCAVS

Interesting thread. I am not surprised to hear people getting 20+ off sticker for the 2010 S550.... as it seems there are always end of model year discounts, especially when a new model/engine/etc looms around the corner (in this case 1+ year).

I am planning to get a 2011 S550 in the coming months. Does anyone have any knowledge or prediction on what price one could/should get off a 2011 S550? One one hand, it's a new model year, etc.... on the other, it is largely identical to the 2010 (except for active lane assist and B&O option).

Any thoughts?

Normally would aim for invoice (? 7 % off sticker) but more may be possible?

skrontz

Why would he be unhappy with the current engine? It's proven to be extremely reliable, and the performance is great for everyday driving -- it's not a race car, after all. I believe you win 0.5 seconds on 0-60 on 2010 vs 2011 CL550, so the performance improvement is marginal. He won't be able to get anywhere near the 20K discount on a MY2012 car, and the MY2014 refresh would be just around the corner.

epasc

Plus he gets to drive his S-Class NOW instead of a year from now.

skrontz

P2 should really be merged with the base options, just like they did with P1. Buying an S Class without P2 makes no sense whatsoever.

I prioritize the options in the following categories:

1. Driving experience/handling/safety. ABC here is absolutely a must, since it takes handling to an amazing level; it should actually be called the "Sport" package. While I may not use Distronic that often (it's still incredibly helpful in relatively heavy traffic), I rely on Blind Spot Assist daily, and Brake Assist has saved my butt several times (like when some gifted person decided to suddenly turn right without giving any advance notice yesterday). So, Driver Assistance Package is also very desired.

2. Passengers' comfort. I choose Rear Seat Package here as it ensures everyone travels in comfort. I don't like any obstructions in the rear side windows, so I skip the Side Blinds (I have them on the 750 and always hate when passengers mess with them). I don't use the sunroof at all and don't like the idea of a glass panel above my head, so Panoramic Roof is a no go. I don't think a TV belongs in a car (it's too much of it in our lives already), so I didn't want Rear Seat Entertainment package either.

3. Bling. That's where the Sport Package lands to me. Prior to MY2010, it did make some sense as the fog lamps were marginally better and I liked the look (but not the shape) of the rear exhaust pipes. In MY2010, they added the chrome trim to the front and rear bumpers to nicely tie everything together with the side chrome strips; I personally find this design nuance amazingly beautiful. Similarly, the exhaust pipes are now exactly how I like them. With Sport Package, you no longer gain any difference in the DRLs/fog lamps, but you lose the chrome trim on both bumpers which is a deal breaker for me. Essentially, you're getting a bunch of cheap looking plastic (the front end looks exactly same as Sport Package on a Toyota Yaris my friend just bought) and ugly side skirts for the price of ABC and DAP. Even my sales consultant admitted that the Sport Package became completely useless in MY2010 (and you can get a lot of rims for the money they charge you for it). Now it seems like a legacy afterthought that ruins the exterior rather than improves it; I'm not even sure what is "sporty" about it.

My $0.02.

skrontz

You said it! This is why I ordered my S550 in 09/2009 (as soon as the pricing was released, essentially). By the time the new engine/model is out and bug-free, I will have been driving my car for 4+ years. No matter how long you wait, there always will be something better just around the corner. Life is too short to sit around and wait for that perfect opportunity that may never come.

skrontz

The question you have to ask yourself is what reasons would dealers have to discount the car this much this early into the model year. I would not expect the discounts to be that great this year, since they're banking on the global recovery to take hold (whether that plays out or not remains to be seen, of course). They have the entire year ahead to move the cars, so why give it away essentially at cost right now?

epasc

Agree on most counts. Some of my opinions on the options:

While I like the way Sport+1 looks on my (Iridium Silver) 2010, it's a ridiculous ripoff. I would not have gotten it except it was on the only car I could find with Driver Assist. On the plus side, the 20" rims are nice for handling (and very pretty) and anything but the factory spec AMGs is just too "tuner" for my taste.

Driver Assist is a must, and I use Distronic+ all the time. Until it causes me to crash, my amazement with its intelligence and implementation grows daily. Brake assist has saved my *** several times, and Blind Spot Assist, as you said, is just part of the daily routine. The greatest unsung feature of DA, even when Distronic is turned off, is the beeper that warns you of impending collision - like when you've looked down at radio controls at the exact moment some joker in front of you has jammed on his brakes. Absolutely brilliantly implemented.

While I appreciate ABC (I occasionally drive an S600) I don't think it's a necessity - the Airmatic drives pretty damn well and ABC is quite pricey.

Night vision is a cool tech demo, but I've tried to use it in actual driving situations and it seems like it can more easily get you in trouble than help you. I wouldn't bother. It takes driving one step too far into the realm of video games.