I've been waiting a few months to see MBUSA's price on the new C Class. They indicated a few months ago when the mark was at 2.00 per dollar that the new C Class would be under $30K. Now, the mark is at 2.25 per dollar, giving them more than 10% more purchasing power. They announced the price today at $29,950.

If they were not a bunch of money grubbers and wanted to be fair with their customers, they would have passed at least a little of this savings to their customers. They're going to keep every dime for their money grubbing selves.

I love MB automobiles and I don't know what I'll do. But I won't stand still to be raped by these people.

I hope everyone understands that this is in no way a reflection on the dealers. It is MBUSA that is setting this price and ripping us off. The dealers have no guilt in this.

Can anyone reccommend a good VW or BMW dealer?

Have a nice day,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

Buy used!!
I don't know the situation of the market in the states but if definately works out much cheaper to buy used in the UK. Mercedes are great for depreciation, but if you wait twelve months the savings are amazing.

I'm sorry for stating the obvious, i know you know a lot more than me about this because i'm only 18 and i'm sure your quite a bit older than me, but in my experience my dad has been wounded buying new cars. We bought a new Jaguar XJ Executive in '96 for about £32,000 when we traded it in a year later we got about £13,000 for it.

Sorry to stray from the subject of the original thread but i just get carried away!!!

Oliver

Larry, MBUSA now has the Chrysler "piece of mind" profit motive. Guess where this might be going.

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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

OliverP,

The reason I can't buy used is because the obstinate money grubbers at MBUSA have refused to give us a manual transmission Benz for a number of years. This is why I was so anxiously awaiting the product rollout in the US.

In Europe and the UK, manual transmissions are common. This is not Benz in Germany doing this, it's the money grubbers at Mercedes Benz USA.

I'm now doing some looking for what I can find in the way of an Audi or a BMW. Neither of them have refused to provide manual transmissions like the money grubbers at MBUSA.

Thanks for the response,
Larry

Lar,

I'm not making excuses for them, but are you sure it is just Mercedes who does this? Look how Japan took us to the bank in the 80s with Real Estate. They all do it - take advanatage of the currency swings. The Mark could have easily went the other way. In that case, would we complain if you they did not raise it to $32k?

Just out of curiosity, why do want a stick?

I, do though see your point.

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'89 420 SEL
'90 300 SEL
'68 Olds 88 Convertible
'84 300 SD (sold it)

The situation in Canada is no different. MBCanada has just announced the new C class prices (MSRP in CAD); AFAIK, the "Classic" version is not available in the USA.
model / 6-speed Manual /Automatic
C240 Classic $37,450 / $38,950
C240 Elegance $42,850 / $44,350
C240 Sport $47,350 / $48,850
C320 n/a / $49,950
C320 Sport n/a / $54,450

Exchange rate is approx. 1 USD = 1.50 CAD. There's a 7% Goods and Services Tax where I live.

Larry, are there taxes on top of the MSRP you've quoted. If yes, how much would that be in TX?

Thanx,
AK


[This message has been edited by Alex Kouliy (edited 09-15-2000).]

Mattsuzie,

I have held off for a long time because these ^%*&^ would not sell me a stick. My '88 is a stick, one of the very few in the US. I enjoy driving a stick. You don't have a $2,000 repair bill with a stick. I get better gas mileage with a stick. And, I just plain don't want a car with an automatic transmission. I'm enjoying driving in Europe right now, and one of these reasons is, automatic transmissions are rare here. Fuel is expensive and most people are totally content to shift for themselves. It's just my personal preference.

Also, the mark could not EASILY go the other way right now, it has momentum in the direction it's going and MBUSA knows it. They're trying to milk us. And, the more Benz buyers that stand still for it, the more they'll do it. Myself, there's enough risk in buying a new Benz as it is, I had a nightmare with my last new Benz four years ago. I don't want to have to pay more for the priviledge of being %$7^$*. I would like to replace my old stick shift Benz, but I won't do it with an automatic car, and I won't let them nail me again. As I said before, anybody have any suggestions for another brand car?

Alex,

Tax in Texas is 8%. This is another area where, relatively speaking, we have it easy in the US. In Denmark, the tax on a new car is in excess of 100%.

The tax on fuel is, of course, a big thing in Europe right now. We left Derby, England Wednesday with over 3 hours to get to Heathrow airport only 50 miles away. We ended up running for the plane because the truckers were rolling at 10MPH in protest of the 80% fuel price. I didn't blame them too much.

Thanks for the responses,
Larry

[This message has been edited by LarryBible (edited 09-15-2000).]

Larry,

Jeffsr hit the 'nail on the head'. The exec's in Germany used to roll out the cars and sell them at a reasonable 'German' profit margin without looking twice at the currency markets. Now that Chrysler is in control, the sales will be pushed or held back depending on the currency exchange rates and speculation for the future exchange rates.

Mercedes Benz is now under the control of the 'good ol US of A' and the capitalism this great country was founded on! If the dollar is down, the profit is decreased and the cars will set in Germany. If the dollar is up, the profit is increased and the cars will be piling up on the docks like Toyotas and Hondas were back in the 80's. Back in '83, I bought my Mitsubishi at a CA dealer and claimed my car at the dock the next day!

Now that Chrysler is in control, I forsee the prices going even higher in the future. Chrylser has a true 'luxury car' and they will soon want 'luxury prices' even for the E-class.

If you are like me, you do not have a money tree in the back yard. I guess we will have to wait a few years for these models to show up on the used market.

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William
76 240D (W115) - 550K miles
78 300D (W123) - 200K+ miles

Larry,

Using the price and exchange rate quoted by Alex, You could pick up a 6 speed Classic for around $25,970 US, the GST will tack on another $1,820 US. Of course then you are stuck with paying the import fee, but you can request a rebate on the GST at the Port-of-Entry, since you aren't a Canadian citizen/resident.

Just a thought. Plus that'd be a nice break-in run from anywhere in the Great White North back home to the Republic.


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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5

[This message has been edited by MikeTangas (edited 09-15-2000).]

Larry,

What I meant was that the economy can swing on a dime due to what is happening around the world, i.e, wars, interest rates, currency crisis, Opec, asia, Brazil, etc. Everything ties together. No one know what direction any currency will swing 100% , then everyone would be trading currency.

Ford owns Jaguar and Volvo. Has this occured with buying them too? What proof is there that MB is withholding cars due to the falling Mark? Is this a fact or a hunch - just wondering. If the price is set, the price is set (in dollars). If, and I mean if, the Mark strengthened, would MBUSA raise the price, or would they be honorable and keep the price set? Isn't this negotiable? Currency can flucuate as much as 35% daily (ask Thailand), so it is slightly impractical to float the price on a weekly basis. A 10% swing is not that much. Like I said, it could swing the other way and we would gripe about that if it went up. It works both ways. The people who buy new during a strong dollar get screwed while the weak dollar buyers get a bargain. It is all timing and luck, unless I am wrong and Chrysler really has a scheme going.

As for a manual MB, that is very good question. Why are there little to no manual MB trannies in the US? What is MB afraid of?

What model Benz did you buy in '96 that would up to be a lemon?



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'89 420 SEL
'90 300 SEL
'68 Olds 88 Convertible
'84 300 SD (sold it)

Hey Larry, how 'bout an update on the 300E..

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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

I agree that the price on new C class cars seems, at a minimum, excessive. The cars come packed with electronic "features" that also add to the future expense, so I will probably buy a used E400/420E. I was under the impression, however, that the MB/Chrysler merger put MB in control, and that it was a number of Chrysler execs that were sent packing, while MB Germany appointed a number of key execs. Also, MB site lists Chrysler as one of it's divisions.

Regarding the DM going the other way, a lot of economists are saying that it is very likely within the next 2 years, given the growth of the US balance of trade deficit and the shakiness of the Japanese economy. One Nobel prize winning economists has anticipated a 45% devaluation of the dollar relative to the Euro and Yen! (Still, anyone ever meet a rich economist? ) One wonders if the Germans have inflated the price now to cash in in advance, while having an opportunity to look like the good guys if the don't raise prices when/if the dollar weakens. Still, the C seems pretty expensive when compared to a '95 E420!

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JCE
87 300E, 65k miles
Smoke Silver

[This message has been edited by JCE (edited 09-15-2000).]

Larry,

Oliverp here, I forgot my password because i keep it at work so I had to register again.

Anyway, I have to say I disagree with the comments made about manual transmission being readily available in the UK. The only manual transmission we are offered is on base model 'C' and 'E' class models. Literally every other model comes with auto transmission, and there are no options to get manual, or at least the options are not published in the main dealer books.

But hey, i'm lazy and love the auto box!

Economics 101

a) Cars are priced at what the market will bear.

b) This car is a value at that price, as they will sell every one they make. The price will go down if they don't sell, and up if they do.

c) Corporate profits are what makes capitalism work.

d) This car is a marque driven by capitalists. You may prefer a Trabant, I don't. Not even a Zil limo for that matter will make me change my mind.



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GParker
'99 E430

Does the name of the corporate beast have anything to do with who's running the show?

ie. Daimler Chrysler Corp.

As I understood it, when all of this hit the news, it was Chrysler that bought the parent company of MBZ ie ., Daimler Benz. All of this word game stuff is really confusing, because you really don't know who's calling the shots. Has anyone seen Lee Iacoccia in a SLK??
BTW see what brands I'm driving now. Keeping it all in the family..

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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

[This message has been edited by jeffsr (edited 09-15-2000).]