by "E90M3" (e90m3)
Published 12/05/2017 at 12:32
by "E90M3" (e90m3)
Published 12/05/2017 at 12:32
Tags: unnecessary car shopping with E90M3
STARS: 2
Today in unnecessary car shopping with E90M3, we take a look back to the year 2015. Wanted to buy a new C250 coupe in 2015 but for some reason you didn’t? Well you no longer have to live with that regret because Mercedes-Benz of Hilton Head has you covered. That’s right, they still have a brand new 2015 on the lot , which they’re asking $40k for. What makes this even better?
That’s right, it was built in July of 2014 . You know what else happened in July of 2014? I got my M3 . That means this thing has been sitting on the lot almost as long as I’ve had my M3; assuming that it took about 8 weeks to get there and it was built in early July.
If you’re still in somewhat of a shock, what’s better than one leftover 2015? Two leftover 2015s! That’s right, they’ve got two 2015 C250 coupes! 44k for a 2015! Hot damn.
But wait! There’s more. You might be thinking there is no way they have a third 2015 C250. You would be correct; however, they’ve got another 2015. That means at this one dealer they have three 2015s .
At least this GLA250 was made in 2015.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
12/05/2017 at 12:37, STARS: 2
B-b-b-b-b-b-BASE! (Models)
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 12:41, STARS: 0
Two of them have AMG wheels so they’re not the most basic models ever.
"LOREM IPSUM" (lorem---ipsum)
12/05/2017 at 12:45, STARS: 0
They could half the price and I still wouldn’t even have the slightest desire to own it. 1.8L i4 in a mid size Mercedes? lol. Nope.
That said, not a bad looker.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
12/05/2017 at 12:45, STARS: 0
Isn’t it bad business to have cars on the lot that long?
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
12/05/2017 at 12:46, STARS: 2
But relative to the Merc pecking order: C class (base), GLA (base base), 250 (bbbbbbbbbayzz)
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
12/05/2017 at 12:46, STARS: 0
That first one is one of the biggest crack pipes I’ve seen in a while.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 12:48, STARS: 0
I was there in February doing some actual car shopping, and I asked what the best price they’d do on them. I believe it was still like 35k. I was like, I might do 20k on it. I almost want to call and see what kind of deal they’d try and put together. As much highway driving as I do, I wouldn’t have minded one.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 12:49, STARS: 1
Believe so, I believe they have to pay taxes on inventory. So come January 1, they’ll be paying taxes on this for the 4th year in a row.
"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
12/05/2017 at 12:49, STARS: 1
Generally speaking, certainly. I’d bet the dealer bought these vehicles so they aren’t paying floorplan interest on them any longer. Otherwise they’d have been paying over two years of interest on three vehicles. Oof.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 1
I like to offer balance. Also yeah, huge CP. Maybe if it was 20k and came with a 4 year warranty since you don’t know what’s going to fail after it’s been sitting in the South Carolina sun for 3.5 years.
"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
12/05/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 1
Except the c class isnt a mid size? Its still a compact
"LOREM IPSUM" (lorem---ipsum)
12/05/2017 at 12:53, STARS: 0
Next to a smart though, it gets much more mid size feeling.
"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
12/05/2017 at 12:53, STARS: 1
A compact that weighs over 3500lbs.
"fintail" (fintail)
12/05/2017 at 12:54, STARS: 0
I can see the C coupe doesn’t have lighting package, so it likely doesn’t have much else either. GLA appears to have it (I am too lazy to run the VINs).
"fintail" (fintail)
12/05/2017 at 12:55, STARS: 1
I like the basic site that gives no data about options, just as basic as that standard lighting package C coupe. I would have expected more from a dealer in an affluent area.
I suspect those are original MSRPs - one should have been able to get 10% off when new.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
12/05/2017 at 12:55, STARS: 0
At a quick glance, these things seem to run in the 25-30k range — which is still to high for this car IMHO. As Zoidberg points out, it’s a base model - mainly for people who just want that 3 pointed star above all else.
If it’s really new, the clock hasn’t started ticking on the new car warranty at all — so you should get that. Which you’ll need, for the reason you mention...
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 1
Damn, I didn’t realize they still commanded that kind of money. Then again, I was looking for older sedans when I was thinking about getting a Benz. I guess badge snobbery has its price.
They were brand new when I looked at them in February and they were still there when I went to drive that turbo Porsche.
"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
12/05/2017 at 13:01, STARS: 0
This is nuts. Maybe the reason they’re still on the lot is because of the pricing? I get that it’s a new car, but give someone a reason to buy the damn thing. Or, worst case, make it a demo/loaner.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 13:02, STARS: 0
Now that you mention it, they are lacking somewhat in detail. Although, this felt like the area where they’d try to get you into the dealer.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 0
Too old to be a demo, a loaner might be a good idea though.
"fintail" (fintail)
12/05/2017 at 13:05, STARS: 2
It smells very lazy to me. I wonder if MBUSA keeps an eye on this sort of thing. For brand enthusiasts, this is a bad image.
And like you mentioned, I would be somewhat leery of a car sitting outside in that climate for years. I’d want extra warranty along with a depreciated price.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
12/05/2017 at 13:07, STARS: 1
That’s still a W204, which goes back to 2007. You can get a W204 for a fraction of that price by just going back a few years. The mid-20's pricing was specifically for 2015 models with lower miles.
All the more reason why that price is CP.
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
12/05/2017 at 13:27, STARS: 1
Maybe the 2017 models are just 2015 models that sat in the sun too long. That’s what they look like.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 13:35, STARS: 0
I could see that.
"atfsgeoff" (atfsgeoff)
12/05/2017 at 13:36, STARS: 0
Damn, I didn’t realize they still commanded that kind of money.
As evidenced by these cars still sitting on the lot after 3 years, obviously they don’t.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 13:37, STARS: 1
If they sold it for 20k and gave me a good enough warranty I’d be tempted to call that a good deal.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 0
We were more talking about the used ones still going for 25-30k.
"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
12/05/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 0
yea, and? that whole class is heavy. my IS250 is 3600lbs. Audis A4 is 3626.
its in the ball park.
"Danger" (dangerray)
12/05/2017 at 13:54, STARS: 0
This seems really surprising to me. Don’t dealers get financially dinged when cars sit on the lot for too long?
"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
12/05/2017 at 13:55, STARS: 0
My point is that the classes are pretty much made up names now, and that is mid-class weight with a tiny engine.
"fintail" (fintail)
12/05/2017 at 14:01, STARS: 0
Maybe for someone, just not for me. I’d rather spend a little more and find a loaded 6cyl model, even if it had more miles. But at 20K for effectively a new car, I can see the logic.
"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
12/05/2017 at 14:05, STARS: 0
it still makes just over 200HP and a lot of torque for its size. it moves fine.
"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
12/05/2017 at 14:05, STARS: 0
but next to an s-class, it feel much smaller.
"m-b-w loves his SUBAROO" (m-b-w)
12/05/2017 at 14:36, STARS: 0
The Volvo dealer that my mom leased her S60 from in December of 2014 still has a few cars on the lot that were there when she got hers...
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 14:39, STARS: 0
Personally, I would go with the brand new car with less options than a better equipped one for the same price. In this instance at least.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 14:41, STARS: 1
I’m not really sure, I believe someone said if they bought it outright, it wouldn’t be too bad.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 14:42, STARS: 0
Maybe tomorrow we can play the game where we try and find the car that’s been sitting on a dealer lot the longest.
"fintail" (fintail)
12/05/2017 at 14:45, STARS: 0
I’d at least want lighting, maybe better stereo,pano, probably COMAND, etc. A basic C can be somewhat basic.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 14:47, STARS: 0
I’m not well versed enough with Mercedes to know what exact options I’d want; if this were a BMW that would be a different story. I would want the upgraded stereo at least, and a way to plug my phone it.
"E92M3" (E46M3)
12/05/2017 at 15:16, STARS: 0
Based on RBM’s current inventory, they will still have plenty of 2017's in 2019. The must have 500 vehicles between their dealership, and their storage lot.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 15:19, STARS: 0
They always seem to have a massive inventory; however, they have the ATL market to cater to. Given the fact that they only have 2 2016 vans on their lot, they probably have a high enough turn over rate to avoid 2017s on the lot much longer.
"m-b-w loves his SUBAROO" (m-b-w)
12/05/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 1
I like that idea!
"m-b-w loves his SUBAROO" (m-b-w)
12/05/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 0
I like that idea!
"fintail" (fintail)
12/05/2017 at 15:59, STARS: 0
It should have USB and Bluetooth standard, at least I think so.
I like a premium car to have some toys. If not, and it isn’t a sporty or performance model, what’s the point? But I know badge flaunters often only care about what is on the outside.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 16:06, STARS: 0
As long as it still drives the same. Really all I care about in a car is how it drives, whether or not I can play my music, and what it’s like to spend 7 hours in. So drive train, stereo, and seats; anything other than that and it’s a bonus.
I know a lot of people just care about the badge on the back, but I really don’t. If someone made a car that drove like my E9Xs, I would have no problem buying that car, even if it is a Hyundai. However, they then to be the same price, so why not just get the BMW? That’s why I didn’t get a FoST, or a BRZ, well that thing has a terrible armrest, or something else like that.
"SpeedSix" (speedsix)
12/05/2017 at 16:21, STARS: 0
Interior volume-wise, they’re on par with compact cars, hence the traditional term of compact executive car.
"hike" (hike15)
12/05/2017 at 16:54, STARS: 0
There’s an FCA dealer in PA that has 3 new Dodge Avengers in stock
"Joe6pack" (joe6pack)
12/05/2017 at 17:26, STARS: 0
So for anyone in the biz, what do dealers do in this situation? Hold till sold no matter how long it takes? Auction? eBay? Loaner fleet? How much of a discount will they realistically give?
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 18:23, STARS: 0
Literally no idea, I think they still wanted in the upper 30s when I was there back in February.
"fintail" (fintail)
12/05/2017 at 21:26, STARS: 0
In a BMW, I would want sports seats for sure, and some other toys. Maybe I am jaded by the hellish traffic in my area - when your average commute speed is 10mph, the toys can be a nice touch when road feel doesn’t matter as much. As a fun or road trip car, of course, it is different - but a lot of the badge seekers don’t do that and don’t care, as their prior car was a Camrolla and the next one could be too.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/05/2017 at 21:49, STARS: 0
I drive 37 miles each way to work. It takes me between 35 and 45 minutes each way. I thought about getting a Benz for that reason. Get something to soak up miles in comfort.There really isn’t anything else out there around 20k that fit what I was looking for like a C-Class or a E9X.
I sort of wish there was something cheaper out there, but even the base Mercedes and BMWs are much nicer than the comparable Korean/Japanese car. People may buy them for just the badge, but you get a whole lot more than just the badge on even the basic models. That doesn’t change the fact that people buy them for the badge. Now, when I get into a cheap car, I’m reminded you get what you pay for.
"fintail" (fintail)
12/05/2017 at 22:03, STARS: 1
I have a 4 mile commute on surface streets. In the morning I probably average 10 minutes (I go early), but the afternoon can hit half an hour on a bad day. Fortunately, I take numerous 250+ mile road trips, which is good for the car and for me. For a car to mile up, a W204 might not be a bad idea, they seem to be reliable, and they will have the MB feel.
I know what you mean by cheaper. I have been driving MBs since I was 18, I would rather drive a used (and uniquely or highly equipped) MB than a new mainstream car. They just feel “right” to me, especially at highway speeds, and the overall build quality. Many people don’t get it, and that’s fine, they spend their money on other things.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
12/06/2017 at 05:13, STARS: 0
funny you should mention them, we ended up getting 5 or 6 new Skodas that had been sitting around in a holding yard for two and a half years.
we just gave them an oil and filter change, new centre caps for the wheels as the old ones were faded. change the brake fluid and batteries, put on as demos and we’ve sold all bar one.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
12/06/2017 at 07:55, STARS: 0
I guess it does happen, that’s a lot different than them sitting at a dealer lot for 2.5 years though. I can’t believe these aren’t deeply discounted. Did you guys discount the cars at all?
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
12/06/2017 at 07:57, STARS: 1
yes, mind you we got a steep discount from Skoda Australia as they wanted them gone
"E92M3" (E46M3)
12/06/2017 at 08:38, STARS: 1
Hey, look at that! I was only off by 7 vehicles. Now that I think about it, I guess 40 cars a month isn’t that hard for them. If they keep 40 of each model in stock, they’re likely to have a combination that a buyer is looking for.