I AM JUST ABOUT TO PULL THE TRIGGER AND BUY THE '08 R350-I NEED HELP FIRST
My local dealer is trying to persuade me to order the 08 R-350 for a Fall delivery. From what I have read on some other forums this is quite common for Mercedes vehicles.
Here are my concerns and I hope you (or anyone else) can help me:
1. How can you order a vehicle for which you don't know the price?
2. Won't the dealer feel that he has you locked in and the negotiation of the deal will be very, very difficult now with respect to price?
3. How much deposit should you have to leave for this type of transaction?
4. Is the deposit refundable?
5. Do you know if there are any new exterior colors as choices for '08?
6. I am also getting mixed advice from MB dealers on this: I drive 25,000 miles per year, should I lease or buy? One dealer is telling me that I should just pre-purchase my miles upfront and still lease. Another is telling me that leasing is not an option for me because I drive too many miles. Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?
7. Also, doesn't it cost more to insure a leased vehicle than one you own?
8. I am panicking since so many people seem upset that the car is built here in the US rather than Germany. So what does that mean exactly? Is it an American made car? Are all the parts flown in from Germany? Is it a mixture of parts?
1. You can order it if you feel comfortable. There won't be a hugh different compare to the 07 model
2. You can work on a % off the MSRP before ordering.
3. Depends on the dealer. When I ordered my P-Car, my dealer only asked for $500.
4. In CA, it is fully refundable.
5. No, I don't know
6. You really should buy. I don't think you will get a good lease deal base on that high mileage anyway.
7. No, they are the same (that's what State Farm told me)
8. if both the factory in Germany and US based on the same guidelines, there is nothing to worry.
I have a R320CDI on order for August build. Personally, I prefer to order a car. That way, you get exactly what you want. With the R class being a low production car that most dealers stock in limited supply, your choice of colors and options are limited with dealer stock. When I ordered mine a couple months ago, the colors were all the same as '07. Some of the options have been re-packaged for 2008 model year. The big difference is that there will be a rear drive (no 4 matic) version that will be available for the R350. I had to put $500 down for a deposit. I also negotiated a percentage discount off the "unknown" price. I seriously doubt that the price will increase, if any. Mercedes is trying to get the sales up on the R class in the U.S. That is why they are "re-packaging" some of the accessories for 2008. A significant price increase would do nothing to increase sales. The Alabama plant was recently recognized by Mercedes in their internal rankings as their #1 plant. That is quite an accomplishment after the tough start that plant had when it first opened and built the original ML. Finally, having ordered another benz (SLK350) and waited 8 months, there is nothing like that day when you get to pick up the car that you ordered just for you! Try it, you'll like it.
My local dealer is trying to persuade me to order the 08 R-350 for a Fall delivery. From what I have read on some other forums this is quite common for Mercedes vehicles.
BenzIdol - Still shopping? or already ordered an '08?
Here are some pointers:
- Since you are buying an R350 (not a CDI), there should be plenty '07 R350s stocked on the dealers lots. Your huge discount is buying one of these and should be offered at least 10% from MSRP. Better equipped cars can be negotiated for 12% plus.
- Changes on '08, there are 3 major changes: 2WD on the R350, 7-seat configuration available, and AMG exterior with 18" wheels. So if you must have one of these 3, then order or wait for '08. I doubt you can get a huge discount on '08 as you would on '07. At best . . . may be 3 to 4% from MSRP, or less for '08 pre-orders.
- If you order an '08, the "must-haves" are: Navigation, BiXenon, Parktronic, and Backup Camera (this was only available in the PPII on '07).
- Purchase is always much better than Lease in most circumstances. It is even more so for your anticipated 25K miles/year. MB finance interest rate has been extremely low, hovering between 1.9 % - 2.9% for up to 72 months.
Good luck !
I have read elsewhere that the best possible discount for a pre-order '08 is 12% off the MSRP!!! And to buy an '07 now, you can get as much as $10K off MSRP????
Are there dealer incentive or dealer cash on the '07 R350's now?
Also, regarding the facelift of '08 models, I can't believe MB is doing it just 2 yrs into production. Usually facelifts come at 3 or 4 yrs later right? Anyhow, apparently '08 come with the AMG pkg standard. Does anyone know if the front/rear headlamps are also "facelifted"??
I have read elsewhere that the best possible discount for a pre-order '08 is 12% off the MSRP!!! And to buy an '07 now, you can get as much as $10K off MSRP????
Are there dealer incentive or dealer cash on the '07 R350's now?
Also, regarding the facelift of '08 models, I can't believe MB is doing it just 2 yrs into production. Usually facelifts come at 3 or 4 yrs later right? Anyhow, apparently '08 come with the AMG pkg standard. Does anyone know if the front/rear headlamps are also "facelifted"??
Tks!!
Where have you heard/seen these:
- 12% on '08?
- $10K off (equivalent to almost 20%) on '07?
I think you are OFF!!!
Last month MB offered $5,000 (~8%) marketing incentives to dealer on '07 R500. This month MB is offerring $2000 (~4%) marketing incentives to dealer on '07 R350 and R320. The best you can do is adding these incentives to 7% markup from invoices, which will give you 11-12% off on '07 R350 and R320. Work much harder and you may get up to 15% off on '07. You'll have better luck with R350s (which there are plenty on stocks) but much less with R320s which are are getting much scarce right now.
How did you guys find out what the factory to dealer incentives are? I have used Edmunds in the past to find out such things (which has been right on). However, they didn't show any factory to dealer incentives when I was looking last month. They were only showing factory to consumer incentives.
They are availabe in Automotive News, the "automotive industry" trade news magazine that comes out each week. It has all the consumer AND dealer incentives. You can also see each weeks production of all the manufacturer's plants in the United States and Canada. As of last week, the R500 was the only R class with a dealer cash incentive.
Hi, If you are putting 25,000 miles per year then you might want to consider getting a certified pre-owned car 2007 with low miles. MB then gives you 5years/100,000 mile warranty with the car. You can search for the model and options you want nationwide on the MB website. Guarantee you it will save you a lot of money.
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