Merc C-Class - price drop before new model

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Shellyb1

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Hi

Considering a newish car and considering the C200 Automatic.

I am aware that the new model is coming in June but I don't need the latest, just want comfort/safety/speed and auto.

Would I be able to negotiate a better deal on current model just before the launch or after the launch of the new one?

Sandown motors is running a "special" on current models and I am going to have a look. Can I negotiate on the dealers prices?

I am quite a noob with cars, so advice appreciated.
 
IMO, buying an 'old' shape car new, just before the launch of the new shape is dom. What you save (even if considerable) is less than the immediate depreciation
 
Boris Becker said:
IMO, buying an 'old' shape car new, just before the launch of the new shape is dom. What you save (even if considerable) is less than the immediate depreciation
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Not going new but pre-owned with under 20k km on the clock. 2013 model would be the oldest I would consider.
 
I think you will be able to get a great deal. One of the guys in the office received a massive discount on an older model just before the new one launched.
 
rpm said:
I think you will be able to get a great deal. One of the guys in the office received a massive discount on an older model just before the new one launched.
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Most likely on a brand new car though
 
i was at clearwater mall the past weekend and the merc stand there had the outgoing model edition C --with about 80k extras included going for R405k.
if ou check autotrader, some of the 2013 models are still asking those prices!

if you dont want the latest, get the edition c. it looks alot different than the outgoing model although it is the same. its got a differnt styling pack i think its amg, but wheels are new and so are some of the interior bits..

btw- new one is priced at 419k base... just fyi...
 
Those Edition C models do look great. Checked around Carfind and Autotrader and many different options available. Most I have seen have the Avantgarde styling though.
 
It would depend on intention. If you intend to hold the car for many years i.e. buy & hold for yourself then the discount might be worthwhile. If you intend to sell it soonish then its a bad choice...the discount is likely to be less than the hit you take from it being "outdated".
 
HavocXphere said:
It would depend on intention. If you intend to hold the car for many years i.e. buy & hold for yourself then the discount might be worthwhile. If you intend to sell it soonish then its a bad choice...the discount is likely to be less than the hit you take from it being "outdated".
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Planning on keeping it for 5-7 years. Currently on year 6 of my polo and it still does great for me.

Test drove the following (both automatics)

2013 Edition C - C200. 24470km on clock, no park distance, no media interface, no xenon, standard styling (not AMG or Avantgarde). Has leather/suede seats and SatNav. R350k.

2013 blue efficiency Avantgarde, C180. 28000km on the clock, has park distance, media interface, intelligent lights (xenon), sunroof. According to salesman, it should go for R380k but he will give it to me at R350k. Showed me a price and the profit they would make on the vehicle and they supposedly making only R1200 on it.

Was quite happy on the performance on both if them.

The xenon is something I really want but mileage is more than I want.

Compared this to what is available on autotrader and carfind. There is one on autotrader in Pretoria that's an Edition C with low mileage. Will need to get details though.
 
Don't want to be "that guy", but also consider the A4 (and maybe an A5 Sportback). A new model of that will also be coming out shortly so you can get a decent deal on one of those.

Between those two you mentioned, I would definitely say to go for the Avantgarde. The price is the same, with negligible difference in mileage and more extras in (except SatNav, which is nice to be honest). The most important thing for a car in my mind however would be Xenon and DRL, the first for the improved vision at night, and the latter for your own higher visibility to the other road users.
 
Shellyb1 said:
2013 Edition C - C200. 24470km on clock, no park distance, no media interface, no xenon, standard styling (not AMG or Avantgarde). Has leather/suede seats and SatNav. R350k.

2013 blue efficiency Avantgarde, C180. 28000km on the clock, has park distance, media interface, intelligent lights (xenon), sunroof. According to salesman, it should go for R380k but he will give it to me at R350k. Showed me a price and the profit they would make on the vehicle and they supposedly making only R1200 on it.
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2nd one sounds like a much better deal to me. Blue might come in handy with the shtty petrol prices and buying a merc without xenons seems a little silly to me.

That R1200 figure is bullsht though & I'd be a little mistrustful of a sales person as a result.
 
Remember they also make commission on any finance deal. No way he will let you have the car with him only making R1200. More likely he is making R30k or more on the sale, plus about the same on loan commission.
 
I would not deal with that Salesman if they're lying like that to try and get you to make the sale...
 
Just to chuck a Spaniard in the works, with regard to the salesman - that is highly likely - on a run off model, we sell some cars at a loss in order to get rid of the stock.

R 1200 means that they still have a tiny bit in it, and his comm is certainly not worked out from it.

Just to explain how Mercedes works on sales:

Each dealership is given a 3 month target in which they have to sell x number of cars.
If they sell x number they get a percentage calculated on each car, back from the factory at the end of it. If they sell more than x they will get paid out on the higher number, however, if they sell less than x, they don't get a cent apart from the profit that they made on the cars that they did sell.
As a result, it is quite common for some cars to go at cost or below cost in order to reach the target.

No need to say that you don't believe him "just because" he's a salesman.
 
Fazda said:
As a result, it is quite common for some cars to go at cost or below cost in order to reach the target.
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I have a great relationship with the sales manager of a local dealership who calls me when my current car is 6-18 months old and he urgently needs a sale to make factory target. I then hand my current wheels back and just refinance the new car as a new deal. It is a sweet deal and have done it 3 times.

To the OP - don't forget that buying a run-out model is a wise move in that you are scoring extra kit, extra discount and the run-outs have some of the best build quality as the production line has long ironed out the issues....
 
Thanks for all the feedback.

What I have "settled" on is the current F30 BMW 320D -2013, pdc, navigation, sunroof, sports interior, xenon, auto with under 15000km for R390k.

Far better value than the current outgoing merc.
 
Shellyb1 said:
Thanks for all the feedback.

What I have "settled" on is the current F30 BMW 320D -2013, pdc, navigation, sunroof, sports interior, xenon, auto with under 15000km for R390k.

Far better value than the current outgoing merc.
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Beautiful. Congrats!
 
Shellyb1 said:
Thanks for all the feedback.

What I have "settled" on is the current F30 BMW 320D -2013, pdc, navigation, sunroof, sports interior, xenon, auto with under 15000km for R390k.

Far better value than the current outgoing merc.
Click to expand...

Nice. Congrats
 
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