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Mercedes-Benz C-300 2008

266 messages,  Last post on Aug 18, 2009 at 8:25 AM

You are in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Coupe, Hatchback, Sedan


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#201 of 266
Re: C300 '09 Lux impressions? [be325] by avatar1
Aug 18, 2008 (7:15 am)
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Replying to: be325 (Aug 18, 2008 5:40 am)

I agree the lux rides better than the sport. Sounds great to hear you are enjoying the car and the dealer is treating you well. Herb Chambers is the dealer here in MA, they are usually very customer responsive.
#202 of 266
Re: Lease 2009 C300 Luxury Sedan [christo2626] by ghstudio
Aug 19, 2008 (7:28 am)
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Replying to: christo2626 (Aug 12, 2008 4:23 pm)

Don't fall for the low monthly payment with a large up front cost trick. If you want to compare lease deals, add up all the costs...initial down payment, any dealer charges, origination/bank fees and the monthly costs over the life of the lease...then divide by the number of months.
 
If you are quoted a $300 monthly payment on a 24 month lease with $4800 down, then your real monthly cost is $300 + (4800/24) = $500 a month.
 
Dealers just love to advertise and quote deals with low monthly costs and high down payments....because most just look at the monthly payments. Don't fall for that...be a smart buyer.
#203 of 266
Re: Lease 2009 C300 Luxury Sedan [ghstudio] by 604doc
Aug 19, 2008 (8:03 am)
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Replying to: ghstudio (Aug 19, 2008 7:28 am)

Plus, it's not a good idea to put money down to reduce the cap cost on a lease. If you drive off the lot and the car is totaled, the insurance will only pay off what's owed to the bank. Your down payment would be lost.
#204 of 266
Re: Lease 2009 C300 Luxury Sedan [604doc] by ghstudio
Aug 19, 2008 (8:51 pm)
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Replying to: 604doc (Aug 19, 2008 8:03 am)

Insurance doesn't work that way.....insurance pays the fair market value of the car at the time of the loss. It doesn't matter if you own it outright or you owe someone for a loan or lease.....What they pay has nothing to do with the down payment.
 
However, if you lease the car and you total it, the "fair market value" paid by the insurance company may be less than you owe the leasing company. This is covered by the gap insurance provided in most leases. But, if you've paid money up front, then that's used to pay the gap....not the insurance.
 
Hopefully, you won't total your car, so it doesn't matter...but if you do, you will likely lose your total up front payment.
 
The other reason not to make an up front payment is something that most folks leasing don't know about. It's called "multiple security deposits"....and it's a much better use of that money. In return for your loaning the leasing company multiple security deposits, they will reduce the money factor on the lease. Yes, Mercedes leases have this option. It's a security deposit so you get the money back at the end of the lease.
 
You have to work out the numbers with your dealer....but in general, multiple security deposits pay you 8-12% on the money you loan (not the entire lease) by saving you money on each payment because of the lower Money Factor. That's far better than you can do keeping that money in a bank. The only reason you wono't get the money back is if you have damage to the car when you return it, but you have to pay for that no matter if you have multiple security deposits or no security deposits.
#205 of 266
Re: Lease 2009 C300 Luxury Sedan [ghstudio] by avatar1
Aug 20, 2008 (2:58 am)
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Replying to: ghstudio (Aug 19, 2008 8:51 pm)

I just spoke to my ins company. They will actually pay off the lease and pay 100% of your down payment in the 1st two years of the lease. After that, it's prorated, but this is a new program with Liberty Mutual. 604doc is right about the Money Factor, the higher your upfront payment, the lower the money factor is with Mercedes. The deal I just wrote reflects that.
 
As an aside, I told the salesman I liked the grille from the sport model better than the luxury model, but I liked the lux model overall better than the sport. He offered to swap the grille and now I have a lux C300 with a sport grille. This is what I wanted. I personally felt the sport version's ride was harsh compared to the lux version.
#206 of 266
Re: Lease 2009 C300 Luxury Sedan [avatar1] by ghstudio
Aug 20, 2008 (6:15 am)
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Replying to: avatar1 (Aug 20, 2008 2:58 am)

Once again...there are two types of upfront payments. One is a capital cost reduction which does not reduce the Money Factor and exposes you to loss of your money if you total the car. The other is to make multiple security deposits which you get back at the end of the lease and do reduce your money factor as well. I assume that avatar1 used multiple security deposits.
 
Warning...many dealers (and most sales people) don't even know that they offer an option for multiple security deposits. If you run into one of those dealers, find the finance manager and have him pull out his literature and learn about the program.
#207 of 266
Re: C300 '09 Lux impressions? [avatar1] by jamieh1
Aug 21, 2008 (3:52 pm)
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Replying to: avatar1 (Aug 17, 2008 2:58 pm)

Hello avatar1,
BUY the C300 and NOT 328xi.
In terms of style and sophistication, you can't beat Mercedes. BMW is nice but the style is outdated and "square" meaning it looks hard and not sophisticated.
I bought the c300 6 months ago and I have to say I am very impressed with the car and I LOVE IT. No regrets whatsoever. I got one with the paranoma sunroof, 6-disc CD changer and the multimedia package with the 7-inch screen navigation for only $37,000 OUT THE DOOR including taxes and license fees.
So you should try to bargain yours down to around that range. $40,000 is a bit too high.
Good Luck.
#208 of 266
Re: C300 '09 Lux impressions? [jamieh1] by avatar1
Aug 21, 2008 (5:48 pm)
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Replying to: jamieh1 (Aug 21, 2008 3:52 pm)

I picked up the C-300 tonight and I have to tell you I am more than impressed. This car has every option and I am still slogging my way through the NAV manual. The ipod interface is better than I thought and better than the salesman said it was, he didn't know how to work it. I am so glad I didn't get the BMW but I am glad I test drove it. I think the deal I got was good, I neglected to mention they handed me a check for $2325 to pay off my lease on the Acura I drove in with. So all in all, I am quite happy with the car, the dealer and the finances. I am saving over $175 a month over my last lease and this is by far a superior car.
#209 of 266
Need help to find memory board music by sawyerc
Sep 03, 2008 (11:42 am)
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for the stereo system there is a memory board that acts as an adaptor for a memory card. I have been to several electronics stores AND asked the MB service department about how/where to get the board. No one seems to have a clue as to what exactly or where I can buy one from. Can anyone give me more details like an exact description of what I need and where to buy from?
#210 of 266
Changing Navigation settings by sawyerc
Sep 04, 2008 (3:27 pm)
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Replying to: sawyerc (Sep 03, 2008 11:42 am)

Can anyone lead me to a forums that discusses some of the more technical aspects of the Mercedes C300 class? I have question about the navigation system and other audio file type questions. For example I would like to change the voice on my nav system and maybe "adjust" my voice command system. Thanks

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