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Mercedes Benz E-Class Prices Paid and Buying Experience

1933 messages,  Last post on May 16, 2013 at 2:46 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 92 of 194

#905 of 1933 Current Conquest Incentive Clarification by skeefy

Jul 14, 2011 (10:32 pm)

Hello to my fellow edmunds petrolheads,
 
My wife and I are considering a purchase of a 2011 E-Class E350 Wagon (options below). I'm trying to get at what I should pay for this car. I'm aware of the $4,000 "Conquest" program that would be available to me since we are BMW owners right now.
 
However, when I view online pricing guides (paid reports from consumerreports.org or free data on truecar.com - link bottom), these make no mention of the $4k Conquest incentive. I'm guessing their data is out of date, and that I can take their "target price" and drop $4k from it. So instead of $58,783, I'd ideally pay $54,783. ** OR ** would folks recommend starting from, say, dealer cost...then giving them $800 for their efforts then subtract $4k to get to: $56,279 + 800 - $4,000 = $53,079?
 
I want to ensure that when I go out to my local dealer with this proposal that I will be in the ballpark and not wasting everyone's time.
 
Many thanks for your thoughts!
 
[2011 E350 WAGON - Sport, Capri Blue, Premium 1 pkg, Wheel pkg]
 
http://www.truecar.com/prices-new/mercedes-benz/e-class-pricing/2011/7FBCE2F4/?z- ipcode=94549&optionInfo=6808463,6808452,6808448,6874416,6808481,6808477,6808484&- incentiveInfo=&colorInfo=846260,845960

#906 of 1933 Re: Current Conquest Incentive Clarification [skeefy] by abacomike

Jul 15, 2011 (5:42 am)

Replying to: skeefy (Jul 14, 2011 10:32 pm)
The conquest incentive is not mentioned in any of the pricing info sites. What I would do is go to your Benz dealer, get your best price on an E350, then lay on them that you also expect the $4000 incentive.
 
Don't go in and announce the incentive to them up front. YOu will find that many of them will not bring this up with the hopes they can get you to buy without knowing about the incentive, which means they pocket the $4000 for themselves.
 
Always go in; get your best price; then lay on them the incentive and that you are aware of it. IF they "hem and haw" that they know nothing about it, walk out!

#907 of 1933 Re: Current Conquest Incentive Clarification [abacomike] by ex007

Jul 15, 2011 (4:57 pm)

Replying to: abacomike (Jul 15, 2011 5:42 am)
While I would generally agree with not mentioning incentives until the end, there is a very real reason for doing so upfront: according to multiple sources, each dealer was only given so many Conquest incentives and when those are gone, they can no longer offer the discount. When I did my search, it was about 50/50 on the dealers that had incentives left and those that didn't. No sense wasting time with a dealer if they can't get you the discount.

#908 of 1933 thoughts by fatcat71

Jul 16, 2011 (10:09 am)

I have a question for you guys and want to test my logic. To buy a new E350 4matic with Prem 1 with the USAA discount in the Northeast I'm looking at somewhere around 47K. The dealers around here all have 1+ 2010 E350 4matic CPO and they are asking in the ballpark of 45K for these cars and all of them have at least 12k miles, some as high as 25k. Now, why would anyone pay the same price for a CPO that they could for a new car, so I have been lowballing the CPO cars sometimes shy of 40K, but I can't even get anyone to negotiate with me. Am I missing something. How can a CPO car, 2 years old with 25K miles only be 3k less than the same car brand new?? Ever heard of depreciation??
 
Also, does the invoice prince change? I'm thinking that the 2012 model will start to arrive soon and that the dealers here have a glut of the 2011 cars on the lot, so I would think that they might be motivated to move some cars, and would like to try and really cut a deal on any car they have sitting on the lot.
 
BTW, Abacomike, what was the additional 1500 rebate for???

#909 of 1933 Re: thoughts [fatcat71] by abacomike

Jul 16, 2011 (10:22 am)

Replying to: fatcat71 (Jul 16, 2011 10:09 am)
First of all, not everyone can qualify for the USAA discount. You, or an immediate family member must be a veteran. Secondly, you need to have an insurance policy of some sort with USAA and/or accounts with them.
 
Secondly, used car prices have skyrocketed. I have looked at Manheim, which is the auctions, and prices have been unbelievable.
 
I would buy the new car, not the used car, for sure. I paid under 47K for mine with the discounts.
 
Hope this "food for thought" has been helpful.

#910 of 1933 Re: thoughts [abacomike] by fatcat71

Jul 16, 2011 (10:32 am)

Replying to: abacomike (Jul 16, 2011 10:22 am)
Can you tell me what the second 1500 discount was for?? Also, if you use the USAA buying service they get you the car for 49K, and then you print a coupon and take to dealer. So, I'm guessing that you do not use the buying service but just tell them you are entitled to the discount at the dealer.
Also, does anyone know then the 4000 rebate for USAA ends, some places say July 31, and others say August.

#911 of 1933 Re: thoughts [fatcat71] by abacomike

Jul 16, 2011 (11:42 am)

Replying to: fatcat71 (Jul 16, 2011 10:32 am)
I brought my ID number from USAA to the dealership. They applied for and received the $4000 coupon from USAA via and email from them.
 
I believe this is good until August 31, 2011. Check back on this forum site to about 2 weeks ago, I believe the date was listed there.
 
I received an additional $1500 because I was a loyal customer of theirs. I've purchased 5 Benz autos from them in the past couple of years, so they said I qualified for an additional incentive, which they had.
 
USAA will show you the actual vehicle invoice cost when you look it up after you have built your car the way you want.

#912 of 1933 thanks by fatcat71

Jul 16, 2011 (11:58 am)

Thanks for the reply. I see that some local dealers have 2011 CPO E350's and are asking the same price for the car as if it was new. I don't understand the logic at all except that you get an extra year of warranty. Can't see anyone buying it thought, because they told me you cant lease it, and the interest rates on preowned are about .5% higher then buying new.

#913 of 1933 Re: Conquest Program [abacomike] by gosox1

Jul 16, 2011 (6:15 pm)

Replying to: abacomike (Jul 05, 2011 9:00 am)
Hi, this thread has been insightful, only wished I had read it earlier in the buying process.
 
We picked up today 2011 E350 4matic that was $58,525 MSRP and got $8200 off, plus a service coupon.
 
The GM did clarify to me that the Conquest was $4K this month (give copy of registration). I could not get any loyalty discount as well, (stated prior as ~1500) as we were told it was one or the other and that the loyalty was for someone financing thru MB. We do have a MB, but not purchased at this dealer.
 
With other dealers I mentioned wanting both program discounts, but only got conquest discount.
 
Say Abacomike, I know that you said you've bought a few MBs from same dealer, i was wondering if you give them a trade-in or something that helps them get to your great purchase prices?
 
Thanks.
 
p.s., The car is elegant and all, but I think the variable assist steering and heavy weight and feeling of not so quick acceleration make it a pure luxury car and not as sporty as BMW/Audi lines. Next time, I'll get the E550

#914 of 1933 Re: Conquest Program [gosox1] by abacomike

Jul 17, 2011 (9:30 am)

Replying to: gosox1 (Jul 16, 2011 6:15 pm)
I do trade my vehicles, but they give me $1500 to $2000 over Manheim because they sell my preowned cars on their lot ( I only put on about 6,000 miles per year) and I buy a new one every year. So I get the USAA discount (invoice less their incentive, which was $4,000 last month) less $1500 because I do finance with MB Finance along with 1.9% APR which is their buy rate). They gave me $44,500 for my trade ( I only paid 48K for the car when I bought it).
 
They just give me their very best pricing (they beat all the other dealers here in South Florida by thousands) because I buy a car from them every year and refer many associates and friends to their dealership.
 
Hope this helps understanding how I get the best pricing. I would assume not everyone can get this at their dealership. But I have seen pricing on this forum that comes pretty close to what I get. I just seem to get a great upfront deal along with high trade in values since they can sell the vehicle on their lot and they don't have to wholesale it.
 
They sold my trade from last month for $48,500, and gave me 44,500, or $4000 over what they gave me. They had to get the car certified, which costs them about $1500 or so. What I don't understand is how they can sell my year old car for a little more than I paid for my new 2011. I know the used car market is booming (prices have risen an average of 15% on used cars of the last year.
 
Good LUck

Messages Page 92 of 194

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