2012 E63 Gas Guzzler Tax

gh429 -
I wont get it until late Dec/early Jan but I'll give updates once I do.

also, my E55 typically does an avg of 16-17mpg but granted of the 25 miles per day I drive 60-70% is on freeway (though with really bad traffic so not always at speed)

6.2AMG -
There have been lots of articles claiming the 2012 E63 would not have the gas guzzler tax... and until I actually configured the car it did not show up... practically as I was walking out the door the dealer manager comes over with a single sheet of paper (basically the reconfigured build slot) saying "hey this thing has the Gas Guzzler tax on it)... which I was dejected after I had just got them to drop $2k of the MSRP which was a really good deal considering they would have had no issue selling the car.

ERC4:
The prices were exact. there are 2 Mercedes dealers in Portland and each one has a E63 build slot. The dealer I am buying from had their slot in 11/11/2 Half so it was far enough in the future to allow me to configure the car how I wanted.

For reference here are the details and option pricing:
Base Price: $88,900
197: Obsidian Black (same as my 2005 E55)
801: Black Premium Leather - $1370
P30: AMG Performance Package - $7300
U70: Red Brake calipers - $1000 (forced to buy them as part of Perf Package config)
230: Parktronic - $970
298: rear side air bags - $420
471: limited slip differential - $2030
610: Night View Assist PLUS - $1780
797: 19" AMG 10 Spoke Alloy wheel - $500
P09: Driver Assistance Package - $2950
SPC Special Order - $250

By the way, it appears what would normally be a "premium launch package 2" in an E550 is included in the standard build of an E63... I need to go double check that though.

in my research, the only site that seemed to let me "build" a 2012 E class Sedan was the AOL.COM site. Although it is not completely accurate with what happened at the dealer.

Thanks
Russell

thanks for the additional info and article.

I too agree that it is possible that they just have not done the work needed to get the final EPA stuff done. Afterall, even the process of ordering it at the dealership is not even refined... They are charging me $1000 for the red brake calipers when every article I have read says they are included in the $7300 package. So, at the end of the day, when the car arrives in ~4 months, I'll know what it actually costs and whether it ends up with the Guzzler Tax I guess

As for when the car was annouced, it was before that article you posted. But there are articles in July that state they expect to not have the Guzzler tax.

from: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG First Drive - Motor Trend

Final EPA certification is still pending, but AMG engineers expect the 2012 E63 to hit 15/22 mpg in city/hwy EPA cycle (14/21 mpg for the wagon). It may not sound like much, but these figures represent a 22-percent improvement over the last generation (13/20 mpg), and should be enough to keep E63 from incurring the gas guzzler tax. What's even more impressive is that fuel economy doesn't change when the AMG performance package is selected. This means the E63 should be the most powerful and efficient vehicle in its class

Click to expand...

P.S. - My E55 is my main mode of transportation and drive it 99% of the time (though only 52k miles in 6 years). It is a great joy to drive and I LOVE the seats and the feeling of sitting in the car. Frankly, its that joy of driving it that made me go for a 2012 E63 versus a 2012 E550... At the end of the day, I want to be 100% satisfied with what I am driving and dont want to feel like I made a mistake. Never have I felt that way about my E55, its been a great car. Given I have to pay $30k more for the E63 which loses most of its resale value quickly it was not the easiest of choices