Just returned from the dealer where we saw a 2007 SL550 with the following:
Black, black leather
P01 Active Ventiled Seats, MultiContour Drivers, Bi-Xenon, Cornering Fog Lamps, Keyless Go....................................3150.00
R71 18" 10 spoke wheels
318 Wood/Leather Wheel & Shift Knob.........$900.00
396 Voice Control.....................................$500.0 0
415 Panorama Roof.................................$1920.00
731 Burl Walnut
881 Electronic Trunk Closer........................$510.00
SUBTOTAL........................................$1 01,780.00
DEST & DELIV..........................................$77 5.00
GAS GUZZLER........................................$17 00.00
TOTAL............................................. $104,255.00

The dealer immediately reduced the price by $3000.00 since there's some sort of "incentive" from MB this month. Then he discounted the car further down to $96,031.00 which amounts to a total discount of almost 8% off of MSRP, claiming it's about $1000 over his invoice.

He had to call the Pre_Owned manager at home and he's "ballparking" my 10,000 mile 2006 CLK350 Cabriolet (Nav, Bi-Xenon, Wood, etc.) at about $45,000 which is $2500 better than other dealers.

It seems like a good deal, but I hear the market for new 2007 SL550s is "soft". What do you hear is out there in a way of discounts?

he may be 1000 over the invoice but that includes the kickback money he is getting from MB, so he's really probably 3000+ over invoice. Id push another thousand out of him or so.

You should be able to get 10k off sticker..

Are you going to lease it?

No, leasing doesn't work for me since I no longer use the car for business - it'll be a trade-in (2006 10,000 mile all black CLK350 Cabriolet that's well optioned) plus cash deal.

I reviewed the numbers tonight and it's seems the dealer's offering Mercedes Benz's $3000.00 incentive (probably because they'll begin taking orders in May for the 2008 SL) plus an additional discount of $5223.00 on a car with a MSRP of $104,255.00 for $96,032. He claims he's only getting $1500 over invoice and he has to have the car flat-bedded to him from another dealer at a cost (to him) of $275.00.

Frankly, I don't care how much he makes but, by pushing this "$1500 over invoice" issue, he's causing me to look deeper into what he's really making, even though that shouldn't be any of my business. Until my CLK is actually appraised this weekend and I have a number for it to work with, there's no sense in negotiating any further...

Just purchased an 07 SL550 for $8,000 of list.
I now know the dealer incentives total $12,000 depending on inventory and monthly sales for April.

Find a stealer who has your car in inventory and take delivery this month for maximum discount.
Try for $10,000.00 off list.
Mention www.Fleetrates.com showing $12,000 off list.

Good Luck

multiowner,

I know that the particular car we're interested is somewhere in Connecticut but I'd hesitate to ever purchase another car out of my local area again other than a "collectible". We recently bought our CLK from an out-of-state dealer because, when I did the Mercedes Benz CPO search it was the only one in the colors we wanted with particular options and low mileage. Once the sale was done, the dealer either couldn't have cared less since they figured I wouldn't be a "regular" -or- they just happen to be the most inept Mercedes Benz dealer in the Northeast. If they were a local, convenient dealer I never would have stood for waiting 5 weeks for the set of manuals and 6 weeks for a second key (which came in wrong, anyway). The car had 10,000 miles on it and they didn't even do the "A" Service because, they claimed, it was 2,000 miles away (and technically, I guess they weren't wrong...).

As a professional salesperson, I don't like to waste people's time. There were a few good salespeople that deserve my purchase but, unfortunately, they never even had a chance since the nature of the automobile stealership has forced me to have no choice but to shop for the best price for the car in my general area and then, having done "due dilligence", purchase it from the next salesperson "up" at either of two convenient dealers: Manhattan (where I live) or on Long Island (where my office is)...

Go see Ray Catena MB in Edison NJ....I can guaratee that they'll take care of you as they do with all their customers. I can give you the contact info for my salesman there who I've dealt with over the past 10 years. PM me if you'd like his info.

I agree with purchasing the car close to home. Being informed as to the incentives offered to the dealers is always a good bargaining tool. Mercedes Manhattan is a good dealer who should give you a reasonable discount. A lot depends on dealer inventory.
Good Luck in your search.

Bob

I just picked up my SL 550 with P1, AMG package, and Wood Trim package for 13K off of MSRP, PLUS, MB killed 3K of my last couple of lease payments on my old Benz.

Anybody beat that??

Just purchased my car 3 weeks ago and they gave me $14,125 discount.

let me guess, you got it from Mercedes-Benz of North Haven... by far the worst dealer i've ever dealt with.

Or if he doesn't want to go all the way to Edison, go to the Union one. That one isn't that far out of the city and they are great too.

...you cant lose either way