CLK320Cab came in yesterday - WRONG CAR!!! - Benzworld.org

12-02-2001, 01:32 PM

After waiting 14 months my 'car' finally got in yesterday - completely wrong. Color of the top was wrong, it had a COMAND which I told them to take out after they blamed it on the delay (and they said ok), and it had a K4 which I NEVER EVER requested. So the dealer first said he could give me another salesman's CLK, though it had already been assigned to another buyer, and he could guarantee it if I filled out the 'paperwork' there. I didn't because I was wary. Then he told me that a car much more similar to my specs was coming in in two weeks (he showed me the vista, so I believe him), and he said he could give me that one 100% if I signed the 'paperwork' - that car was assigned to one of that particular salesman's other clients. If he could REALLY guarantee it I'd do it, but I don't know what to think. Really, I just want the car I ordered 1.2 years ago, but I'd settle for hte other one - he wants a response quickly (obviously), what do I do?

12-02-2001, 01:36 PM

BTW, it was Downtown LA Motorcars.

12-02-2001, 01:51 PM

12-02-2001, 01:58 PM

I asked him the same q and he wasn't able to show me a sample 'paperwork' contract. He did show me a sales contract, though, and told me it would oblige me to buy the car and then gave me a story about how the customer wins and it's to protect me and not dealership and guarantee I get the car and blah. To surmise, it's a friggin' sales contract - even though the car a) is scheduled for somebody else and b) isn't in the lot yet and c) I told him I am not sure about lease/finance/cash since I need to talk to my accountant. I think he said they'd write it as a 'lump-sum' contract and could 'change it' later. I'm irate, to say the least, and am already drafting a letter to teh regional manager with whom I spoke several times. I'm pretty sure they screwed up and sold my car to someone else and are now trying to sell me someone else's car... I'll be happy with 'other guy's' car if I can DEFINITELY have it within the said time (4 weeks) and at MSRP... but am still pissed. PS - The reason it took so long, 6 months ago, was because of probs with the COMAND - 'it's a conflict with Russians trying to scramble American GPS signals and the software needs to be redone', so one of their guys (not my sales guy, their finance guy). I kid you not. But I do want that car !!! Now !!! :)

12-02-2001, 02:01 PM

BTW, I told the regional manager about that 'russian GPS' bullshit and he was MAD, as was the sale mgr, so he told me. But I still don't have the car.

12-02-2001, 02:16 PM

I suggest you get a copy of that contract, have a lawyer read and get back to them.

12-02-2001, 11:03 PM

Step back and look what's happening here. They're offering you two different cars that belong to other clients. Care to guess what REALLY happened to your car? I'll bet you that your car (or your allocation) was given to another client (for whatever reason) and the car they tried to pass off as 'your order' was actually just a canceled order that they thought you might take. Get your deposit back and then go to another dealer and put a deposit on an '04 CLK cabrio.

12-03-2001, 10:22 AM

he's been waiting for his car for 1.5 yr and u're telling him to wait for another 2???? Will u do that????

12-03-2001, 02:40 PM

I waited 1.5 years for BOTH of my last two cars, so don't think I don't understand. My point is that buying a '02 W208 could mean you'll have excessive depreciation for the first year or two because of the new model arriving. Granted, the risk is lower with the cabrio than with the coupe, but it still exists. If it were me, I'd wait another 20 months and get the new CLK with the slick retractable hard top and know I'll be able to sell it for more than I paid for it after I drive it off the lot. Of course, that's just me. Regardless of what you decide, don't settle for less than _exactly_ what you ordered. You'll regret it if you don't. If it takes 3 months for the dealer to re-order a car exactly to your specs, then wait 3 months. Don't take a car that's 'close enough.' After waiting for a year and a half, you deserve to get exactly what you want. FWIW, I also had problems with a previous SLK order and I had to wait an additional 4 months for the dealer to re-order me another car.

12-04-2001, 05:26 PM

Talked to Regional Mgr yesterday - they're giving me the K4 for free and taking 50% off the COMAND (so basically $2500 off MSRP). I'm pretty happy now :) Can anyone tell me what the total cost in CA is gonna be now, including title, lux and sales tax? Thx!!!