Hi everyone. I use my 1987 300SDL for work. I get reimbursed from the company. It has always been on a flat per mile fee. Now, we are switching to a base per month plus a per mile fee. I have to send in to the administrators what vehicle I will be using. One of the things they want to know is the price of vehicle when new. Does anyone know what my car would have sold for in 1987? The purpose behind their question is that I'm supposed to conform to their standards. Car should be no more than 4 years old and should have had a retail price of at least $18500 when new. If I don't meet those standards then I will be out of compliance and technically they could hold my base rate. So, my second question is, What vehicle would you guys recommend? Sould be 2005 or newer and cost at least $18500 when new. I'll be working with about 375 a month to cover all fixed costs, payment, insurance, etc. They are basing their numbers on a Ford five hundred. Thanks

Well your '87 is older than 4 years so I guess that rules it out.

My rough guess on the MSRP would be 45K or more.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Pretty well same senario happened to me years ago when the rate was .10 per mile in the early 60s. Had to park my 50 mercury in mint condition at home and go out and buy a new volkswagon.
Your situation in the present economy means leasing and the tax advantages of it should be examined carefully. There were some real advantages years ago but they may or may not apply to your situation. I get about .50 per mile now with no tax problems.

First... you can send a letter to MB USA and they will send a copy of your original sticker for the car. The 87 SDL I had was right around $50K sticker.

Now for the new car game. I worked for a company for a while with the same type policy. If you mgt is lax or you are out of sight... make sure something in your home fleet qualifies. In my case I bought a car for my wife to drive and I ran up the 40K miles a year on an inexpensive (depreciation) car. The day your boss is in town drive the new car.

Chuck

The MSRP on mine was $47,580.00.

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N. Hodges
1994 S350
1987 300 SDL (for sale)

I can't help you with the MSRP.

One the car front, as a general rule we require our salespeople to drive a company vehicle. There are two exceptions for a number of reasons. We gave one of our saleswomen a similar package to the one you're talking about. She bought a Jetta TDI Wagon and made out very well, mainly because of the amount of miles she drove and her fuel consumption since she always averaged in the mid-40's w/a decent load for a Jetta (we use Wright Express Fleet cards for fuel purchases which the driver logs in the odometer reading at the pump, WEx then sends a summary with the bill that includes the mpg based on each tank purchased). We've since purchased her a company vehicle because it just wasn't big enough for her needs.

Depending on your size and/or carrying capacity requirements, I would think that you'd be hard-pressed to beat any of the VW TDI's if you put on a good amount of miles.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)