I made my first trip to Fletcher Jones Newport Beach yesterday to talk to a salesman a friend of mine recommended about ordering a 2007 SL55. This is my first new MB purchase, and I'd like some advice. Here is a quick breakup of what happened:

1) Salesman -- didn't know much about the car except minor stuff like how to use the roof and how the cup holders worked. Initially tried to show me a car in Iridium Silver, when I went in trying to see ANY car in Diamond Silver. After I told him thats not Diamond Silver, he said thats what they're calling it these days. Of course, I strongly disagreed, he found a SLK in Diamond Silver on the lot and I checked it out. I'd like to believe he claimed ignorance on the 07's to try and sell me one of the 06's on his lot. When I told him where he can go to see the 07 and specs, he still seemed confused. We sat down to discuss options, he never mentioned the AMG 030 Perf package. He also told me the Distronic would bring the car to a full stop, which it won't because the car has Distronic, not Disktronic plus.

2) From the start, he mentioned that unlike other MB dealers, FJ never marks up on MSRP and would sell the car at MSRP. He mentioned this to me 3x and I've been told by 3-4 people on this site that I should be able to get the 07 for a little below MSRP (how much below, I don't know). FJ also seems to have a reputation for being arrogant due to their location, so maybe I won't be buying the car from them, or maybe its all talk right now.

3) $2k Fully Refundable Deposit -- since they don't have 07 pricing yet, when do I find out pricing (haggle on pricing, etc.)? The salesman told me deliveries would be late Sept, early October, which is directly opposite someone else on here that ordered a 07 and was told delivery in May/June. My strategy is to maybe put $2k down at 3 dealers, let them get the cars, then use each one as ammo against the other to get a good deal and get 2 of my $2k deposits back.

4) Options -- There are some options I'm not sure about.

- Ventilated Seats: Just a novelty, and something more to break?
- Distronic? I rarely use cruise control.
- Same with keyless go -- just a novelty?
- Hands free voice control -- he phone they're giving with the hands free for $1450 is so old, I'm sure it has a hand crank on the back the charge it up.
- Bi-Xenon -- I rarely use high-beams, so whats the use of bi-xenons? Is it just a straight bulb replacement that they do, or is the entire lens different? I'd hate for it just to be a bulb and they're charging $800 for it.

What I am sure I am getting: Panoramic roof, AMG 030, blue illuminated door sills (unless the AMG's come with this automatically?)

5) Test Drive -- Latest about 5 mins, onto the freeway, off the next exit, turn around. Not exactly enough to really get a feel for the car, drive it with the top down, etc., but I'll have plenty of time to do this as there are 3 dealerships within 20 mins of my house, not to mention even more within an hour.

6) Extended Warranty -- I was extremely dissapointed to learn that there is no 7yr/100k mile warranty, only 6yr/100k mile. I'd like to keep this car at least 3 years into the next major change on this car.

Being 26 and this being my first MB purchase, I'd like some advice from the audience here. I'm fairly certain I won't pay MSRP, the model even with new bells and whistles for 07, is still a 2002 release.

Thanks in advance.

 

My quick response in advice?
Get the Ventilated Seats, Keyless Go, and Bi-Xenon Lighting - they are all fantastic features and one shouldn't plunk down $130K for a car without them IMO (and I have several SL55's).

 

You might want to also test drive an SL600 before buying the SL55. The 600 accelerates a bit more quickly while the SL55 corners and brakes a bit more quickly. I wouldn't trade my SL55 for an SL600 but there are SL600 owners who feel exactly the opposite.

I have the ventilated seats and find them very useful. I also have the hands-free voice and bi-xenon headlights and find only marginally useful.

Good luck!

 

I think the difference in the acceleration is marginal in terms of actual times (.1 second to 60?) but the SL600 seems to do it with less effort (smoother with less growl), while with the AMG it feels like the engine wants OUT from under the hood.

- Keyless-Go is awesome. I didn't realize how much I liked it until I got my E55 w/out it.
- You'll hardly use the Distronic here in SoCal.
- Problem w/ the Pano roof is you can never get 100% out of the sun.
- Ventalated Seats are nice, but I have not found them to live up yo their billing.

RE: FJMB. I've bought 3 MB's from them in the last 4 years. My advice is go to MB of LN and Caliber, get your best price from them and then ask FJ to beat it. I've done that w/ 2 of the last 3 cars I've bought from them.

~ Ian

 

Ditch the pano roof. Why bother.

 

I live with over 300 days of clear skies, 70F+ weather. Along with that comes smog and the fact that I might not want to keep the top down all the time, so thats why I plan to have the pano roof.

 

At what point does this occur? They have no prices for the 2007, so do I just put my $2k down at all 3 dealers now and wait for prices to be released and they'll call me up? Better yet -- wait until all 3 have my car, and take my $2k back from 2 of the 3? After all, they'll all haggle when they're sitting with a car on the lot?

 

I guess the easiest way to explain why I prefer the 55 over the 600 is all "fluff" .. things that have no functional value (except the 030) whatsoever -- exaust tone, AMG/Kompressor badges, AMG 030 package.

 

Feb build spots avail for '07, revised SL55 at dealers in SF region. No '07 SL65 build spots yet avail AFAIK. Note that strong rumor is that 63 engine will be dropped into SL and S-Class AMGs near end of CY06, so resale value of '07 SL55s is perhaps at increased risk.

IMO, optional blk nappa leather is critical option; std SL charcoal leather/leatherette is a two-tone material w/a cheap, pebbly look. 030 package presumably provides cf dash/door inserts and a thicker-looking steering wheel (per AMG website). I've found keyless go to be a fairly worthless toy...even the most naive LA chicks prob wouldn't be impressed. Parktronic is only other critical option. Panorama roof looks cool from outside when car parked/those some 20-30 rainy days/yr in LA.

Prob w/discts on 55 is so many variants of car in terms of options....rare to see a new car sitting on dealer lot w/colors and options you want, esp if one's picky (which you prob should be for a fast-depreciating $150K discretionary car). And ordering car leaves little leverage for any disct. Also, given the poss need for warranty svc on these complex cars, may not want to "hold up" a dealer for a few bucks more disct if one expects to be given VIP treatment when svc issues arise.....common sense, right? Any smart, well-run dealer will prioritize his best mechanics/loaner cars/lemon law resolution w/MBUSA, etc for the guy who buys a lot of new 55/65 at MSRP over the lowest price shopper who got his 55 for a ?5% disct at MB of Podunk......

 

Also, find a salesman at a dealer who pals have bought their Mercs from...and continue to buy their Mercs from....never walk in off-street, w/o a referral of some kind....make sure svc dept at this dealer is one of best in area....tell guy what color/options you want; propose a modest disct and be willing to buy at MSRP if needed w/explicit understanding that you value svc priority; will buy future MBs from guy and refer pals if pleased w/expce....and you'll prob see quiet, future discts......it's a 2-way street: good salesguys tend to be your "sponsor" within dealer, esp for svc and any future discts; they'd rather sell cars to a rolodex of previous, reasonable custs than the random C-Class wannabe from inland OC.....

 

Personally I would buy a used low mile SL65 for the price you will pay for the 07 55 but as far as options I have never used my distronic once,love the keyless go,like the vent seats and would go with the bi xenons just because when selling I would hate for that to be a deal breaker. The Pano roof didn't come on my silver arrow package but I would have liked that as well.

 

I'd just wait v. putting a deposit down anywhere. Patience is going to get you the best deal I think. If you show them you're serious (I let them run my credit report at ONE agency) they'll call you the moment they have an unspoken for car on the lot (and I'm certain when they roll in they will have plenty as it's not an entirely new model). Caliber and Laguna Nigel will get them in at the same time - you can then start the pricing over the phone.

~Ian

 

Keyless Go - LOVE IT
Pano Top - great, lets in lots of light on rainy/winter days
A/V Seats - also great for driving with the top down when it's hot (but the trick with the A/V seats is to remember they are NOT A/C seats...it only circulates air through the seat to lower heat and humidity from your back...every person that hates them doesn't understand them, including my brother-in-law who has put his car in the shop 3 times to have them fixed because "they just don't get cold." I may not be "cold" when I have the top down and it's 95 degrees here in Atlanta, but my shirt isn't wet and stuck to me when I get out of the car either.

 

As far as the dealer goes...walk away.

They want to sell what you are looking for, so remember you don't have to buy it. Make them work with you, not the other way around.

 

It's all about the AMG branding. Adds a lot to the desirability of the car.

 

(and resale value)

~ Ian

 

This may be slightly off the topic but........about these sales people, I can't understand for the life of me why these MB sales people(or any other) don't know the product that they sell. When a bulk of the MSRP's of these cars are in the 100 K + range.......you figure that a little extra training or learning should be in order! I had a local sales person tell me that the main difference between the SL600 and SL65 was that the 65 had a turbo charged engine and the 600 did not! Do you believe this crap? I guess he just figured that I would want to spend an extra 50 grand for a turbo charger!....lol. Shouldn't he at the very least know which engines are in what cars?
This is pretty much the same all over the country! Another crazy thing that I've found is......while shopping the internet for an S65, they misadvertise them like crazy! I've spoken to many dealers around the country that have no idea if "keyless go" is a standard feature or not. It's the same way with "parktronic"!
The ultimate thing that really gets me going is........when these people advertise the car as "FULLY LOADED"! Ha....what a joke this is. My idea of "fully loaded" would be everything except maybe the "Designo" package. That's it! Fully loaded should have all the options. I've found that they rarely do!
Well, thanks for letting me get that off my chest and.......good luck to you in your new purchase!

 

I agree with you fully. Most of us on this board could sell the cars better than they could, which is why, we are the ones buying them, and they're the ones selling them. If they had our brains, we'd be working for them, and they'd be buying the cars.

Seriously -- I got the shock of my life, but apparently, its not a unique experience. I had another call from the same salesman today .. "If you don't order it now, you might have to wait a YEAR to get it, the demand is that high for these cars." ... yeah, ummmm OKAY .. Then I told him, "I know the cars will be on lots on April 15th" .. "I think I just got a fax w/ the schedule, let me check, but I'm almost certain its Sept/Oct" .. "oh, you're right .. it is April 15th"

Everytime I talk to the guy, my family complains I smell like bullsh*t b/c the guy's been feeding me tablespoons of it every minute.

 

I would never own an SL without the pano roof. It opens up the interior. One of my favorite options

 

I agree pano roof is very nice to have.

 

The weather here is either top down weather or steamy August stuff. My SL is in its winter lock up at present. I looked at the pano roof, not for me.

 

I'm over to FJ in a hour to get my E55 serviced... Lets see what story they give me. I have 10 bucks down that it's different than what they're telling you - how different it remains to be seen. Demand is NEVER that high for mid model year cars, particularly in a price range that encourages leasing.

~ Ian

 

Tell'em you want to buy another SL55, and see how much off MSRP they'll offer

Thanks for the help.

 

The '07 SL55 is getting a slight facelift and an increase in hp, so the demand for it will be slightly higher than normal.

However, your shady salesman is giving you a later delivery time because they probably have a few orders in already for their "regular" customers. The first batch of cars is scheduled to arrive in April.

Take into consideration that since they are #1, they will have a lot of customers who want to be first in line, so they don't have to come off of MSRP. Those people will pay that price...and more.

Someone else on this thread said it best, patience is going to get you the best deal. If you want one of the first ones, then be willing to pay MSRP. If you can wait till later in the year, you may have more room to negotiate.

But the last thing to consider is that the '08 SL will be an SL63, and there's no way you'll get a deal on those and the waiting list will be long. So is saving a couple of grand worth dealing w/ the timing game w/ the '07? That's your call...

 

I wasn't too sure about Pano roof until I got. Loved it. Dynamic seats. Unlike someothers on the board, the keyless go was something I could do without.