Ok...it's time for my first Mercedes. I have set my sights on a brand spankin new SL550. Here's my question, since I've never before bought a luxury car like this. When I go to MBUSA.com and price it, I get something like MSRP of 109,000. Is that the price I should expect to pay? With a car like this, is there any negotiating room? If there is, any tips on what to expect or ask for? Thanks.

Welcome KR There's always negotiating room with anything in life. Shop around... you could always walk out of one dealership and into another. Just look at it from the dealership's point of view... if you arrive on the last weekend of the month they are desperate to make their monthly sale's quota. Remember, it's February, the coldest month, so few people will be buying convertible cars (like the SL) in the winter, you've got the advantage. Since you live in Chicago, if it's snowing the day you arrive at the dealership that's an added bonus for you (no customers)... Also, if you find a dealership with too many SL's in stock, that will make it easier and cheaper for you too (high supply & low demand).

You should first check online car sites (ie - carsdirect.com, kbb.com) and check with "Consumer Reports" to find out the price and true cost of the car (invoice price) to the dealership. Also, if you call Mercedes Benz USA they will tell you of any incentives they are currently offering to the dealerships on the car. The incentives (or rebates) alone can amount to thousands of dollars in savings.

Always negotiate from the invoice (dealer cost) price UP (Never from the window sticker MSRP $109,000 down)... Try to get the car salesman to like you, since it's human nature to want to give a likable person a better deal... But keep in mind the car salesman needs to make a living too, so if he wants a few hundred dollars over the invoice price, that's the cost of doing business.

Be prepared to stay for a while at the car dealerships, since some car salesmen will try to hold your old car keys to keep you there and wear you down over time. If you have a used car to trade, don't talk about the trade-in car's value until you have the best price on the new car first. Also, if you've got the time to shop around online or at many Mercedes' dealerships you can get the best price at one of them and ask the next dealership to beat that price. Of course, if negotiating is not one of your best skills, bring along a good (negotiating) friend.


Good Luck with your new SL550.

You can get under invoice......shop around

Have you considered European delivery? The SL is included in the program. SL550 Roadster:

* Model Year 2007
* MSRP $89,864*

Go to MBUA for more info.

If it's any help, MB Financial has 4.9% financing available on the SL through 2/28.

Hit up Vadim, our local hotrod enthusiast and salesbuddy.

That's his contact information, let him know you heard of him through mbworld.org and "vraa" (me)

He'll give you pretty much the best deal.

The Mercedes salesguys don't work per each car, making a few hundred is nothing. They go for volume, that's where they get bonuses. Rolex watches, vacations, plasma TV's, that kind of thing.

Thanks for the replies everyone. European delivery isn't my first choice. I will contact Vadim and see what he can do for me.

maybe check with this dick dyer dealership.. they seem to discount SLs like crazy.. they were selling brand new 2006s for under $80,000 even before the 2007 came out. all his new 2007s are always atleast $8,000 off MSRP.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...88917463QQrdZ1