KyleE

I was pretty set on the C63 for my 4 door daily driver, however with the economy in the toilet and AMG cars tanking so fast, I am switching lanes.

I've seen some E63's going for MID $50's with only a few thousand miles recently. It may be a good time to go for something like this rather than a new AMG C63. Additionally, I was looking at an E350 (since it is just a daily driver) but to make the drives more fun, and since E63's are priced so well, it may make more sense.

But I have a few questions:

1. How much more can the cars depreciate?
2. Any specials on new cars in regards to leasing or financing?
3. I drive about 30k miles per year, so is leasing even an option for me?
4. How is gas mileage in the E63? I drive about 80 miles a day.
5. If the E63 isn't the right car for me, What can I swing for a daily driver that would be similar?

I originally wanted to be about $700/Month, but seems like the E63 would be significantly more. Any insight?

Thanks guys!

-Kyle

nismorg

1:- I would suspect the E63 may drop to High 40z to low 50z in the next 3-4 months

2:-There maybe deals out there towards the last week of 08, but usually MB does its best lease deals in march time frame.

3:- 30K miles a year, your lease payments will be very high or a big downpayment will be needed.

with Mid 50s price, good credit, you'll be in the $980-1060 payment range

jangy

I wouldn't pay $1000 a month for a $50k car. You can lease a newer car cheaper than that.

Your budget is about right. $700 for the C63 and $1200 on the E63 right now and that is with standard lease rates, NOT 30K miles per year. Your miles will definitely eat the most of your value away. even if you lease it and then flip it, the miles may come into play. Your only option then will be to get another MB so that MB will eat the overage on your then current lease. I have leased my last 4 MBs and have never bought it at the end or turned it back in. I have ALWAYS ended up in a new one before the lease ran out and so the miles didn't even come into play (other than for negotiation jesturing).

sack5000

A three year lease at $1,200 per month is $43,200 in lease payments at the end of which one has nothing. The price has come down so much, purchasing the car seems better choice. Add a CPO (if possible) and you should be good.

A C

The San Francisco Chronicle had an ad in it this morning - I think from Fletcher Jones in Fremont advertising $30,000 off a new CLS63 or E63.

That brings the purchase price down into the low 60's and that is going to put a lot of price pressure on anyone looking to sell a used model.

However these numbers are far and above your 700 a month target.....

KyleE

That was just a hope, but would extend it to $1k if needed. Just don't want to pay a ton and have these cars end up being worth 20k in a few years.

Either way, seems like that is an awesome deal!

prodigymb

i'd lease, with resale prices the way they are and the economy sucking.....i would not finance that much.

KyleE

What would a lease run on an E63 with like a 60k sticker then? You think you can grab one for 60k new? Usually they have a 90k sticker, and with 30k off...

jangy

Actually, you have about $10K in MB good faith money IF you lease / buy another MB. Call MB finance and ask about it. It has nothing to do with any incentives on any models. It is an MB finance thing.

In my mind, i look at how much a car costs me over time, INCLUDING opportunity cost of sinking the money. Interest rates, the economy, position of bthe dollar, etc. ALL make it very hard to pay cash. So, I am left with either finance it or lease it. If I lease it, I pay $1200 per month for three years. At that time, I can either buy the car and continue with the $1200 payments OR just get a new one and still pay $1200 per month. Either way, my car budget is set and I just do whatever the environment offers.

jangy

Loaded E63s are going for $1200/month for 39 months with $3500 down (includes first month). I know of 2 that went this month in SD at that price, since I helped.

A C

Jangy - I'm assuming those are 09s. What would it look like if you tried to lease one of the left over 2008s?

36mo residual or a 2009 is 56% based on $93k = $52,080.
$30k discount (if they let you lease it) would bring your cap cost to $63k.

Problem becomes they will charge you for a 4 year residual seeing as the car is already a year old - guessing that drops to 48% or so, roughly $44k.

With 205 MF the base payments without tax would be $691. Not bad for a $90k car.

Does anyone have specifics on this? My E350 is up in March and I need to start deciding what to do.....

Also, what is the $10k good faith money?

jangy

If you have a current MB finance loan or lease, they will give you a deal to renew it with MB. It is actually a loyalty programme or whatever, but it is how my finance guys get the cost down.

It is true that an '09 will have stronger residual, but an '08 will have more incentives, making it a wash.

I'll be honest, i have not seen ANY new ones go for under $1000/month, but maybe you can try. When I say $1200/month I mean the whole check.

KyleE

$691! Thatd be awesome! I'd be in the store tomorrow picking up a leftover 2008.

If you guys can give me some ammo to go to the dealership with, I'll call my salesman tomorrow and pitch it at him and see if he'll do a deal.

pmb600

Another idea since you mentioned even an E350, maybe you can pick up an E550. The V8 non-AMG E-Class is always a tough sell and with the new body coming out, you probably could get one for a steal. Mileage in the RWD E550 is pretty respectable and the car is sick fast. Get one with the AMG Sport Package (all 2009s have it standard) and you are gold. The 2009 also has the updated nav and I can say it is FANTASTIC.

I keep kicking myself every day, the main reason I stuck with a 350 back in August was because of $4 gas. If I had known how low gas would go (I know it will go back up eventually) I would have gotten the 550 in a heartbeat. Lots of great extras on the 550 in addition to engine.

KyleE

Any ideas on a 550 lease or finance currently for a new one?

nismorg

I think the current winter event rates on 550s are $649 w/ $5400 down or 3.9 for 36months.

rmeltz1

Kyle - I just traded into a new 2008 E63. The sticker was $98K. They knocked $18K off the price and I was able to get 4.9% financing for 66 months. They have a good lease offer too but I typically do over 20K miles a year so financing made more sense for me. The incentives are super for the 2008 models right now through year end. I do 51 miles a day r/t to work. All freeway and I'm getting 19 MPG. I get 24 MPG on my stock CLS550 as a comparison. The AMG is a solid car and sounds incredible. Did I mention the power!

Lawrenzo

Where did you find these rates? I didn't see them on the MBUSA site

Also, is this for 2009's or 08's?

pmb600

E550s are never on any advertised lease, you would have to get this from a dealer to get an exact payment.

nismorg

This was in our local paper few weeks back.