E55 KEV

We have debated this topic many times before and there are still some members that 'think' or 'want' the W211 E55 to base price at $85k or more. Some say I am dreaming because I have stated for many months the the price would be close to $73k in the US.

Of course I don't have the actual figures but some illogic has been placed on the price because the car has a supercharger with much more HP and performance or because in Australia or Japan the car is much higher due to tariffs I believe. Some want to believe that the car will cost 10k - $15k or 10 - 15% more just because of the kompressor and added HP. That increase is more related to the cost of adding an aftermarket supercharger to a Mercedes.

I thought that I ending this debate by posting the German price of an E55 at 75,500 euros which is $74,114 usd. Still some members say I and others in agreement are dreaming.

The US price increase did not go up 10 or 15% on the C32 with adding a supercharger, more HP and more performance over the car it replaced. The C43 cost more in 1999 at $53,000 with moonroof. The 2003 C32 is $50,400 with moonroof.

A C32 with moonroof in Germany is:

49,250 + 1,110 = 50,360 euro (which is $49,330)

A C32 with moonroof in USA is:

$50,400

So the trip over the Atlantic Ocean only added $1,070 usd to the price and the C32 is actually lower priced than the car it replaced - the C43.


The 2003 SL500 R230 only increased $2210 over the 2002 SL500 R129.

My posts all seem logical and not based on any dreaming!

AndrewK

The figure for the German E55 is 87,500E base, but that may be with the VAT. Can anyone clear this up?

stephens

Andrew
You are correct. The price in Germany includes sales taxes.
E55 Kev is using flawed logic, that because the pricing on some previous Mercedes new models did not increase
e.g. C43 -C32, R129 - R230 that the pricing of the E55 will correspondingly not change.
This ignores the simple fact that in ALL the countries that have released E55 pricing, it has significantly increased over the outgoing model.

JustinTRW

In the C32 vs. C43 price issue, what was standard and what was not? Just trying to compare apples to apples.

stephens

JustinTRW
The C43 C32 is not a good comparative. I am not sure of standard equip, but the C43 was a V8 basedon the old C class. The C32 is a supercharged V6. The W211 E55 is optioned pretty much the same as the W210.
I think it wiould be great for you all if the E55 does come in sub 75K, but given the current model lists close to this on road Iin my opinion I don't think so. However, as they say, opinions are like arseholes. Everybody's got one.

stephens

E55 Kev
I don't think your price of 74K as a base is that far off the money. I am guestimating a base price of $77K which would equate to around $82K driveaway if I understand US taxes etc.

JustinTRW

Yeah, he was trying to use this in his argument, and I didn't think it was a good premise.

Brian Yee

What's there to agree or disagree about?...Bottom line is the price will be what ever MBZ feels the particular segment/model should represent in terms of marketing exclusivity and will be priced accordingly. I don't necessarily think value for the $$$ or some esoteric "affordability pricing scale" is high on the list for AMG. Like the saying goes: If you need to ask, speculate, guess, etc, etc...

E55 KEV

Riddle me this - Why would Mercedes pricing consensus reflect for the C32 be less than the model it replaced and the SL500 be close in price to the outgoing model and then all of a sudden the E55 be $10-15k more than the old one.

That logic make no sense. With that logic I guess the 2003 supercharged CL55 and S55 models will also be $15k over the 2002 models.

E55 KEV

Here are the price for the 1999 C43 AMG:
$53,000 (moon roof standard)
$595 Destination
$600 Metallic Paint
$1,190 C1 Package - Xenon, Washer, Wipers
$1,595 K2 Package - CD Changer/Phone

2002 C32 AMG:
$49,900 (Roof Standard)
$645 Destination
$870 Xenon
$375 Washers
$200 Auto Wipers
$440 Sunshade
$205 Ski Sack
$2,080 Comand
$640 Metallic Paint
$1,795 K2 Package - CD/Phone

So a 1999 C43 with roof is $53,000 and a 2002 C32 with roof is $49,900.

E55 KEV

If the C43 vs C32 comparo is not logical enough for some lets stick with the price increase with the SL500.

2003 SL500 is $86,665 and the 2002 SL500 was $84,445. Price difference is $2210. That is a increase of 2.63%.

The 2002 E55 was $71,350. A 2.63% increase would be $73,226. I'm I still being illogical?

JustinTRW

Out of curiousity, what's the premium of a SL55 over the SL500? There seems to be a $27k difference. I think that is the reason why most people are skeptical of a mid $70k base price. Price points are also a factor of competition, the C32 had to be priced where it is to compete with BMW.

I don't know we'll see. There hasn't been such a large jump in hp to provide past data.

E55 KEV

We think alike! I was already working on this debate from that stand point.

The SL500 is $86,665 and the SL55 is $113,915. That is a 31.44% increase for the AMG upgrades.

The E500 is $55,515 and if you add 31.44% to that price for AMG ugrades it would be $72,968. Yes $72k. Again, logic prevails.

JustinTRW

Very interesting!

However, should we consider percentages or should we consider monetary value over the base model? Most AMG models seem to be around $15k above the base, which would work into your math. Considering SL55 is $27k more than the base, then we could see the E55 being in the low $80k range. I hope you are right.

What is everyone's dealer saying anyway? I remember when my father had a deposit on the E46 M3 that they were telling me the new model would be only slightly more expensive than the outgoing model (E36). Well, the car is around $10k more. The ratio of price from the E36 to the E46 is almost the same as the ratio of horsepower from the E36 to E46. So basically what I just tried to say is that the price per horsepower remained essentially the same. Speculation at its best!

Fast Eddy

Good thinkig Kev. E55 for mid $80k ?? That is insane. If next M5 with with SMG is less and it will be less than that who gives a ff about E55? I can't understad how BMW can bring new 7 to the market at the price of S430. But there are always people like jr88 ---who will pay more than $90k for S430 with the silly lorinzer kits and 20" wheels with absolutly no peformance to back it up.

YOur thinking is good however how much does AUDI RS6 will go for when it f5nally comes here? Ithink the price I have seen is $86k+

E55 KEV

I believe that the folks who speculate that the next US E55 will base price at $85k are comparing the Audi RS6 reported price off Mid $80k. However, I previously posted this on another thread about the Audi RS6:

"Motor Trend (Oct 02) listed the base price as $65k in their Buyers Guide. Road & Track (Oct 02) listed the base price at $66,050 in the "New For 2003" article..."

I doubt that both Car Magazines would make a typo error on the same car. Take that new reported RS6 price and the price of another competitor - the Jaguar S-Type R which has a base price of $62,400 and fully loaded at $67,495 with Navigation and Mercedes can not justify a US E55 price of $85k.

KrispyK

Ugh, can't we just get a definitive answer from someone at MBUSA? I enjoy speculating for awhile, but man, I, too, would like to know what MB will decide.

Having said that, I was wondering: did they ever release an R129 SL55 (previous gen SL, in case I got the numbers wrong!) in the US? If there were such a car, comparing those prices to the R230 SL55 would give us an idea, no?

jl88

Speculating is I suppose fun, but in the end, a complete waste of time, but hey, i have all the time in the world.

I wouldn't be surprised if the increase cost of a x55 is not a percentage increase, but instead a set cost.

SL55-SL500 = $27k

E500+$27k = $82k

That's why they didn't put a supercharger on the CLK500 because it would've costed $80,000.

But yea, we'll all find out in a few months.



Fast Eddy, if you're gonna talk *****, at least get it right. I spent $80k on a S430, and another $20k in mods. I'm also buying a SL500 in a few months and plan on doing another $20k in mods. Jealousy is a motherf*cker, eh?

E55 KEV

Only a waste of time if the reader is not interested. If that were the case 90% of the content on this board would be a waste of time. It is all about dialog & debate. Much of what is posted is about future things. Just think 2 years ago it was speculating superchargers and 470Hp in the E55, SL55, etc. People post a lot of speculation whether it be about the E55's price, whether the 2003 S350 will come to the US or when will the direct-injection engines be available.

The subject of price is important to some readers. Yeah some may buy an E55 for $85 or even $90k however, some will not. More may buy if it is $73k. This information may help someone with a future purchase especially with todays economy and terrible stock market. An E55 is not a car you buy on a whim. It usually takes some planning because you can't just walk into a dealer test drive it and buy it that day. The new E55's on the lot belong to someone that ordered it months prior and those that want one may have to wait for 6 months or more.

So planning a big purchase like this it important if you get your fund together and then discover you are short by $15k.

AmgBoy

I agree jealousy is a mother fuc*er......and so is Fast Eddy!! Why he hased to give you a hard time about your car and its mods is rediculous to say the least!!

By the way I think your ride is sweet! Also have you changed the offset of your tires yet, how is the car riding?

-AmgBoy

amg55

The AudiWorld site reports RS6 is supposed to be above $80K.

stephens

Price of the RS6 is scheduled to be mid $85K from what I understand. It is WAY more expensive than both the M5 and Jag.

E55 Kev I hear what you are saying from the budgeting perspective, it is easy at times to lose sight of practical issues. To me the new E55 is a bargain as there is no comparable car on the market at any price.

Your price logic however seems to ignore what I have been saying. I am not sure if I have explained it properly. I was going to drop the issue until I saw your comment on budgeting and realised that for some this is more than a cerebral argument.

You are right about price increases on previous models ie C43 -C32, Old SL to new etc. This has happened in Europe, Australia and New Zealand as well. So far we agree, what I am saying is that these same countries that have seen the same price movements on previous models have seen a dramatic increase on the new E55.
Based on this and the fact that a MB owned dealerships advice three months ago that worldwide pricing on E55 was going to increase by around 15% (which as it turned out for NZ, Aust and Europe was correct), you can expect the same in the USA.
This has nothing to do with taxes tariffs etc, it is about comparative price increases.

Sure MB USA may choose to lower retail margins for competitive reasons, but remember the US only buys approx 500 E55's a year. I am not sure what AMG's annual production capacity is, but with the new SL etc supply me the limiting factor, which means that if MB USA are going to be able to sell every E55 they can get their hands on at any reasonable price, they are going to go for maximum margin, not price competition.

People who think the new M5 is going to kick E55 butt are in for a surprise IMO. It may be able to match the E55 in HP, but the E55 will DESTROY it in torque. On the street torque is what counts.

Lastly Fast Eddy
Is there a special reason for you being such a ****? I have seen you post many times, but never constructively.

E55 KEV

Stephens, all excellent points. The E55 is a unique car and you and I know it. Importing only 500 units per year is a really low number but it is based on demand for the products. Quite frankly there is not a large market for AMG cars in the US and the E55 is no different. After all the hype & hoopla wore down I believe dealers had a somewhat difficult time moving E55's at $71k and that may play a big part in the upcoming pricing. If customers are not motivated to buy E55's at $71k they are surely not going to be more motivated by $85k prices.

Just from my personal observations of people in the USA they are only concerned with 'BIGGER'. Most buyers spending $75k on a Mercedes would not buy a E55 but opt for the 'big body' S430 and if they were spending $85 they would more likely buy the S500. The new S350 would probably sell well in the US - It lets people 'slum' there way into upper class status and images. Very few are concerned with what is under the hood or zero to sixty.

Previously you stated that the E55 is always below the pricing of the S500. That is true, but it is closer in price to the S430 in he US.

The 2001 prices:

S500 $78,950
S430 $70,800
E55 $70,300

The price increased by less than 1.5% for all these models to:

The 2002 prices:

S500 $80,200
S430 $71,850
E55 $71,350

If 1.5% is a good guess for yearly increases then the prices would be close to:

The 2003 prices (Speculated 1.5% increace):

S500 $81,400
S430 $72,900
E55 $72,400

An increase of 10% from the 2002 E55 would be:

$78,485

An increase of 15% from the 2002 E55 would be:

$82,052

An increase of 20% from the 2002 E55 would be:

$85,620

I seriously doubt that the W211 E55 would be more expensive than the S430 in the US and the price of the upcoming 2003 S430 is more likely to be around $72,900.

stephens

E55 Kev
W211 E55 is more expensive than S430 by and slightly cheaper than S500

I have included a table below of current model comparative pricing.
........Europe NZ Aust
S430 $73K $206K $199K
E500 $58K $170K $154K - Avantgarde
..E55 $87K $225K $220K

KrispyK

Well, I for one am going to start packing lunch, stop going out on weekends, stop buying any new clothes and be generally frugal in every possible way. As it stands now, I would be able to afford an E55 if it were in the lower-to-mid 70k's (before taxes, etc.) but it would be a stretch at 80k+. Nevertheless, I really want the car, and oh well, skipping a few meals might do me some good.