E220cdi 2008 - purchase now or wait?

[loukas]

So I've been looking at E220cdi's for the last couple of months, and watched their price drop into my budget range.

I've been offered the following from a MB dealer, which fits all my requirements:

E220cdi 2008 (registered in March 08 ) demonstrator saloon car
Avantgarde
Parktronic
10000miles
full leather

at £20.500 (down from £21.990)

Do you think it's a good deal? Or should I wait for another month or two? Do you expect prices to continue falling significantly, especially with the announcement of the new model?

Thanks!

 

[Dieselman]

IMO, Yes prices will continue to press down and as the new model is now known there will be discounts to clear the old one.

You could always make an offer on this one though.

 

[loukas]

Hi Dieselman, the price they quoted me was after offering them £18500 (15% off listed price)

I'm in no rush to purchase, but would prefer to buy within the next 3 months.

What type of offer to them would you consider reasonable / feasible?

 

[peterg1965]

There are some cracking offers on new ones too (PCPs) with £7300 dealer deposit contribution and cheap APR (6.8%). Depends on your circumstances - mileage, desire to 'own' the car - but worth considering. Seeing as there is a new model soon the next quarter may bring some better offers.

 

[jeremytaylor]

Merc dealers have 6-monthly targets - June and December. Wait till the new year - mid Jan or so - and there should be loads of pre-reg cars around, which in turn will knock the values of ones like this further.

 

[loukas]

Peter, I'm looking to purchase outright, rather than lease...

 

[230K]

Hi

If they have your telephone number, sit at your £18500 offer they will probably come back to you after the hols.

230K

 

[timskemp]

18k5 for an ex demo sounds good to me - at 10k down I'd be getting them to throw in the next service for free too.

Colleague of mine just got 8 grand nearly off an unregistered new Navara - don't be afraid to be cheeky - the market has been in freefall for a while, we even got discount off our motability car...

 

[peterg1965]

we even got discount off our motability car...

How did you achieve that? I thought Motability advance rental prices were absolutely fixed?

 

[timskemp]

How did you achieve that? I thought Motability advance rental prices were absolutely fixed?

Not at all. They are contractually fixed so the dealer doesn't charge more but nothing stops the dealer from giving a discount - we were offered discount by toyota and mercedes, in the end we bought a volvo though and didn't get discount on that.
We got a discount on out second motability car, and our current one was end of line and droped 1500 quid from the previous pricelist.

 

[loukas]

Merc dealers have 6-monthly targets - June and December. Wait till the new year - mid Jan or so - and there should be loads of pre-reg cars around, which in turn will knock the values of ones like this further.

Jeremytaylor, can you explain this please?

 

[jeremytaylor]

Well, Mercedes dealers, like all dealers these days are given sales targets. In Mercedes' case they have targets to reach by June and December. Pre-registering (registering a sale to themselves) will take place to help them meet their targets so they get their bonuses. The number of pre-registered cars will vary from dealer to dealer, but sales have been so poor this year, who knows what their targets are? These cars need to be sold on ASAP to reduce the dealers liability, often at way under list. A few years ago I bought one of the last straight 6 E320 CDI estates, with 300 miles on the clock and a nice spec at £10,000 under list. Of course, I was the second owner on the logbook. The availability of these pre-registered cars at good discount will knock the used values of other second hand cars. Also, come next year the car you are currently being offered will be another calendar year older.

In the good old days, Mercedes could sell every car they made without pre-registering or discounting, with the effect that residuals were the best around. At some time in the past (not sure exactly when) they decided to chase market share and to hell with residuals.

 

[loukas]

Aren't those pre-reg cars already listed on their website though?

Why would something change regarding the pre-reg cars come next year?

 

[jeremytaylor]

As the year ends, obviously they are running out of time to register the cars. A few weeks into the new year and as the level of interest becomes clearer, the prices will find their level. But its a constantly changing picture. If you have a deadline, you have to decide on whats available at the time. But if you are flexible, well you can wait and see, or just go ahead if you are happy with the price.

 

[loukas]

Happy New Year to everyone!!

As an update to the original post, I still haven't bought the car and waiting to see how markets go in the first 2 weeks of Jan, before making my decision.

Thanks for all your input!!

 

[Brian WH]

By the way, watch out for Warranty!!

On a one year old car it will only be ONE YEAR.

If you buy a new one in March, you get the new reg and THREE YEARS warranty, plus any discount on the hard to sell cars. You also may get to choose your spec as well.

Worth a thought before you jump in to a one year old, possible thrashed, demo car.

 

[Muppetz]

By the way, watch out for Warranty!!

On a one year old car it will only be ONE YEAR.

If you buy a new one in March, you get the new reg and THREE YEARS warranty, plus any discount on the hard to sell cars. You also may get to choose your spec as well.

Worth a thought before you jump in to a one year old, possible thrashed, demo car.

Don't all mercs come with a 3 year warranty from new ?
so would there not be the balance of that warranty ( 2 years ) remaining ?

 

[Brian WH]

Don't all mercs come with a 3 year warranty from new ?
so would there not be the balance of that warranty ( 2 years ) remaining ?

No it is classed as second hand to them.

I've seen them in my local dealers and queried it before.

 

[Muppetz]

But when you buy a car, you get the "balance of manufacturers warranty" don't you ?

my merc is the 1st car I bought from new, all my previous have been audi and bmw at around 6 to 18 months old, and have all had "balance of manufacturers warranty" to their 3 year age. Do Mercedes have some kind of get out clause on this ?

 

[davidjpowell]

On my old one definately had balance of warrenty remaining, as well as One Year appoved warrenty.