You sure hit a hot button with me on this. Please let me know what comes of your pricing issue.

Here goes. In June 2000, the new C Class was introduced in Germany. I happen to be in Germany then and drove one with a six speed. I came home and my Star magazine had just come in and they were saying the price would be less than $30,000 and the six speed would be available in the US. Between that time and September, when the car was introduced in the US, the DMark (pre Euro) went soft and the dollar was stronger in Germany than it had been in years.

In those two months of SIGNIFICANTLY strengthening dollar I was waiting for the C Class price. Once the price was established, it was $29,995. I was livid. The dollar had strengthened significantly, but they did not decrease the price.

The reason I got from them was, well what if the dollar loses strength? They were indicating to me that if the dollar lost strength, the price would stay the same. So, now it's time to see if that's what they will do.

BTW. I am really surprised that you had to place an order not knowing the price of the car. I ordered a new Benz in '96 and was in the process in 2000. Both times the price was on the contract when I ordered the car. Be careful and don't look the other way while they're counting money.

Good luck,