"The Don"

Anyone know the best prices on the new 09 SL 550's? To Buy or Lease? What is the most off? I got my 07 SL for $1159 per month, only taxes up front and I'm looking to get the same deal, but my salesman is telling me I got away with murder last time!!!

Any ideas?

Thanks

DeLorean00

Did you purchase or lease last time? And the sales people should be bowing to you, Mercedes has way too many cars right now and needs to unload some.

Rook3300

I imagine that if you want to buy, they'll deal. If you want to lease, they'll bend you over the nearest waist-level object (most likely the SL550's trunk) and put it to you. Since the US is ONE of their markets (granted, their biggest one) they are not in the same position as the domestic car makers and can move their inventory to almost anywhere in the LHD world. Also, with a lease they have to buy back the car and sell it again 2-3 years down the road. With the current car sales woes, I doubt many dealers are looking forward to that.

As an additional, from what I've read, Chrysler and Jeep have closed up their leasing programs for non-commercial buyers. GM has rewritten their leasing terms and only Ford is continuing to lease as they were. That should give some idea as to how bad it is out there in Car-salesland.

Rook

mikeinsf

I don't understand why someone who's able to come up with the dough for a new SL is parsing the difference between a couple hundred bucks a month. I wish I had your problems.
If it weren't for the "crash" in the used market on these, I wouldn't be driving mine today. That, to me, is where some who's looking for deals should be heading. I'm guessing your reason for wanting a newer one may be because of the redesign, so used (ahem, sorry, "pre-owned") isn't an option.

Rook3300

Just to add a little perspective, I had priced a lease on an '09 model this past summer. (I thought the lease would be ok next to the price I would pay for it used -- turns out it is not.) His quote of only $1159 with just the taxes up front is definitely quite a deal. Most leases for this car hover around $1500 to $1650 with multiple thousands up front. Granted, if I were making enough money to cover a $1200+ lease, I wouldn't nitpick myself but it does boil down to saving more than just "a couple hundred". Which counts even if you DO have that kind of money.

Personally, I would just stick with the '07 and enjoy the looks + engine premium combo you get with that model year. Unless your lease is about to be up, then shop around as much as you can to get a good lease deal. If you cannot, then just pick up a "pre-owned" '07 for much less than it would cost you to buy it from the dealer outright.

Though I am very happy with my SL500, I do sometimes yearn for the extra horsepower of the 5.5L engine.

Rook

"The Don"

You guys are funny. Did I ever say I was a millionaire? To me, every dollar counts, so I'm always looking for the best deals and I'm looking to BUY right now and want the payments to no more than $1200.00 per month. Do you think this is possible with a balloon finance?

StephenK

With this economy, call multiple dealerships and make the offer. I know the dealer I deal with in Jacksonville, Florida, will deliver almost anywhere. You have your number see who bites, don't ask us go to the ones who count.

Rook3300

If you're looking to buy a 2009 SL, there's basically no way to get that payment down to $1200 without putting about $30K down and getting a 6% interest rate or better, financed at 6 years. A lease would be your best bet, but it would be very difficult to find a lease that low again.

On the other hand, I have seen 2007 SL550's for sale at about $55,000 which at %7 for 5 years would give you a payment of about $1100 or so.

About the only advice beyond this is to just call around and visit as many MB dealerships you can to find the best deal. I hope any of this helps.

Rook

"The Don"

Spoke with this dealership in California and they told me I have the lowest price in the country and there is no way to get this rate again adn I should extend least and wait. Residual has dropped to 49%. When I leased it, it was around 67. Oh well, I guess I will extend the lease for now, the 09 is not that much different, only more plastic on the sides and those cool head rests!!!