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Originally Posted by MB-SV  Sell it before MB discontinues it. |
If MB discontinues R class , my car will be a rare vehicle and I love it.
Here is a C/P written by Sheri.
WHY BUY THE R-CLASS & THERE ARE DEALS TO BE MADE!
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I am 49 yrs. old and have been feeling the wear and tear on my hands/joints for several years now. I had been driving a 2002 Toyota Van bought new for almost 7 years and truly did enjoy it. I kept the vehicle way longer than expected but I HATED the way the new vans put the gear shift on the dash. It hurts my wrists for hours and sometimes days putting my wrist in that position to shift gears. So, I just hung on to the older van and recently decided that I just could not bring myself to "do a van" again.
If I HAD to buy a van, because I still need to haul people, it was going to be an Odyssey this go around. I TRIED to like the cross-over vehicles, but they are too small to start with and I am not fond of the mini-SUV look. After a few glances, you can't tell the difference between a Saturn VUE, Lexus cross-over, Vera Cruz, or Murano. They all start looking alike in two blinks...and definitely alike with two drinks.
That being said, I did some serious research and found that the vehicle that most fit my needs (mentally and physically) and budget was the R-Class. It's unique and has some bells and whistles that I could afford. And boy, did I get some FANTASTIC numbers when I started working the dealerships.
I've perused this site and see some cursory numbers and not very helpful info. I want to help someone out there that is looking right now. I want to see the R-Class stick around awhile because there is a huge need for this vehicle. The marketing sucks and I feel MB needs to hire me! Let me tell you why you will love this vehicle and then I'll tell you the deals I worked.
You'll love this vehicle if you have "TWEENS". Those teens that are not licensed to drive alone, so you still have to haul them and their high school buddies one or two more years. These teens are too big and cool for a kiddie van. They've outgrown the 'soccer mom's van' and they, too, want to look grown up if they're still going to have to be chauffeured by Mom or Dad. Tweens love the R-Class's room and hauling ability in the cargo area. Musicians love this vehicle better than vans!
Why you'll love it! You'll love saving your wrists and joints by just having to tap with your finger the steering column wand to change gears. No having to reach forward and shift some knob on the dash in an awkward position and have your hand hurt for hours or days because you grabbed the gear shift knob wrong. No unnecessary carpal tunnel pressure to shift into reverse. Just tap the wand on the steering column.
You'll love the ParkTronic feature. It's an idiot proof system. Get too close to the wall or object and the lights and sounds definitely get your attention to help avoid vehicular damage.
My favorite feature of the Premium Package 01 is the automatic lift gate. OH, MY GOODNESS! No more unnatural, painful jerking of my wrists and thumbs to shut a back lift trunk door. Just press the key fob for about three seconds and the trunk will either open or close. It's just too perfect. If I had bought an Odyssey with this feature, I would have had to by a $40,000 Touring trim level which was about $5K more than the EXL with Nav & DVD. I wanted the electronic lift gate more than I wanted DVD/NAV and having a MB is a deal sealer when you actually compare bells and whistles, safety, style, warranty, and cost.
With the back seats folded flat, there is a huge amount of space for those trips to the warehouse clubs, like Sam's Club. TONS of room for hauling large packages, etc. I have a MB rubber hexagon mat that covers all of the cargo area when the back seats are down and it's WONDERFUL! I'm thinking of purchasing the other mats for the front and middle floors.
Now about price. I live in Jacksonville, FL, area. I was willing to travel up to 350 miles to pick up a vehicle. I had also decided that I was willing to buy Certified Pre Owned (CPO) because with MB, you will get a warranty up to one year after the original warranty expires (4 years, 50K miles) then add an additional 50,000 miles. So, keeping in mind of when the vehicle went into service, I kept excellent track of all vehicles available for sale in our area and surrounding areas. I checked several online sites for dealers, individuals, and even on eBay. Cars on eBay are 'leaders'. Call those dealers and work a phone deal.
I was shooting for a R-320 CDI, low miles, newest year. I really wanted to keep any purchase I made under $40,000. I know this sounds unbelievable, but I promise you, what I am about to write is the absolute truth. IF you want a deal on an R-Class, now is the time to make them. It's the end of the year and the '09's are coming out. Just keep yourself flexible.
On June 11, 2008, I went into our local MB dealer to test drive an R-350 and R-320 CDI. The salesman was from Europe and drove an R-Class, too. He "SOLD" me on buying diesel, so that was my preference. I was willing to buy the gas model R-350, but was not going to be impatient. I also looked at the price on the MSRP sticker and then the added dealer sticker. I read all of info about leasing and prices that was being promoted in the store. I believe the R-320 had a $55K + price tag. There was no way I was going to pay more than what I was willing to pay for an Odyssey Touring that had everything I wanted except for the style. So, price-wise, I was comparing dollar for dollar.
We never sat down to discuss numbers, because I was on a mission that day: test drive the new Sienna, Odyssey, and R-Class vehicles. R-Class won hands down and I began my search.
Bottom-line: when the local guy realized that I was actually a SERIOUS buyer AND serious about competing for the best price car; I seriously told him my WANTS. Do NOT expect to GET what you WANT unless you TELL someone. Tell God. Tell the salesman, but tell someone that can do something for you.
It came down to timing. The local guy couldn't get below $41,200 (NOT including tag, 6% tax + $50, and title) for a R-350 on Thursday, 24 June 08. I had found online from a Pensacola MB dealer, a 2008 R-320 CDI, w/ 11,300 miles, Premium Pkg 1, heated seats, IPOD, Voice, glass moon roof, -pano roof, 6 CD, Harmon/K stereo, for $45,500. I got them down to $38,900 and had them add the blue tooth cradle ($500 gizmo) and had them make it CPO/100K warranty for another $795. So, out the door $42,200 and some change. PLUS, they guaranteed me a price on my van, sight unseen, which made me very happy. I got the tax advantage and didn't have to sell my van myself.
Once I worked that deal, on Friday afternoon, 25 June 08, the local dealer called me back and said that he had worked a deal for a R-350 BRAND NEW, 0 miles, Premium Pkg 1, pano roof, center console, heated seats for $39,900 OUT THE DOOR! So that means that for a car that had a legitimate $52,000+ price tag, they were willing to drop it to at least $36,707. The dealer fees at this dealership are $549; add 6% +$50, and about $200 for tag and title. If you figured the tag, tax, and title on $52K, you'd be at about $55,919! So, literally saving you ABOUT $16,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My numbers are accurate and honest. I really wanted the R-320, so I went with the more expensive deal; however, the diesel engine costs about $1,000 more, plus buying the extended warranty ($795), and the module/cradle and phone gizmos make up the difference in price. And I am so pleased.
As for making the great deal on the R-350: I almost did it. We called the guy last Friday night after doing the math on whether the price difference on savings buying would offset the savings in gas mileage. Figuring we'd trade in a few years, I was going to go R-350. However, when I turned down the car in the afternoon, then thought better of it, he could not guarantee that the car would still be available. I HAD to know by the next morning, but no confirmation came. We were traveling to Pensacola to pick up my son and the R-320 if the call did not come in. And it did not.
On Monday, 28 June 08, I got a call from the local dealership saying that "our car would be there in a few hours".
So, if you're looking, tell your salesman what you wanted. The local guy was SHOCKED that we did not go for the $39,900 OUT THE DOOR PRICE, when I told him that I wanted a deal under $40K. He DID it. Unfortunately, not in time.
I hope some of this information helps you get the best deal out there that you can.
FWIW: I had two other great deals I was working along with these, but the trim levels and year model was not what I wanted, though they were very nice.
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