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CLA Lease Quote / First time Dealership Experience

10K views 38 replies 14 participants last post by  maksim 
#1 · (Edited)
I went to my local Mercedes-Benz dealership yesterday. It's a Ray Catena dealership located in Edison, New Jersey. I'm a 22 year old, fresh graduate, and this is the first time I'm actually going to a dealership looking to purchase a car. I currently drive a '98 SLK and it's been having some problems, so I'm looking to graduate (no pun intended) into a CLA-class. Anyway, I walk into the dealership (surprised to find a girl that I went to high school with was the receptionist) and I found the CLA.

The CLA is a good looking car. I'm about 5'11"-6' around 250 pounds, definitely not skinny, but not completely overweight either, I guess I would call myself chunky. Anyway, I fit in the driver's seat really well. Nice and roomy, comfortable to drive and sit in. I adjusted my seat to the way I would like it, and then I went to the back seat to see how much room was left. Got in the seat behind the driver, and to my surprise, I actually fit quite well. Leg room was alright, I had a little space to work with. Head room was alright, my hair grazed the ceiling here and there. Definitely wouldn't be comfortable to be in during a long drive for someone my size. But nonetheless, I was impressed that I fit in the backseat. Trunk space, I was impressed. I wasn't expecting a big trunk, but I was surprised and it is a pretty decent size. The overall car was great. Design, interior, everything. Honestly, I instantly fell in love with it. Pretty good experience so far, right? Well, here's where it takes its turn.

I soon was then met with a sales man that already knew my name (and I was surprised when he called it out. I'm assuming that the girl I knew from high school told him my name). He introduced himself and asked if I had any questions. Ask him a couple of questions, but his responses were kind of brief and he just didn't seem interested. He stood around while I looked at the car some more, and he wasn't really engaging me in any kind of conversation. Then, in the middle of me taking a look at the car, he left to answer questions for a couple that looked like they were in their mid-30s and looking at a C-class. That kind of made me upset since I had some further questions of the car. It seemed like the salesman didn't take me seriously. He was probably thinking "what's this 20-something year old doing in a Mercedes dealership? Probably can't even afford one and he's wasting my time".

I finally wanted to discuss some prices, and I approached the girl that I went to high school with saying that I was working with this guy, but he's helping someone else now. She went on the intercom and called him over. We then went to his desk and he asked me what my timeframe was. Told him probably in the next month or so. He sat down, printed out a page of a quote that he did for someone else earlier in the day, gave it to me, and said, "This has some options in it. Take out whatever you don't like, and add in whatever you do like, adjust the price and that'll be it." Then that was it. It's as if he expected to give me that paper and walk out. He really didn't take me seriously. I proceeded to ask him further questions about leasing, trading in my car, etc. He answered them, but was very abrupt. I pretty much had it with him, and I didn't want to deal with him any more so I just got up and left. Here's the quote that I got from the sales man:

CLA 250
- Premium Package
- Sport Package
- Spoiler
- Nav
- Pano sunroof
- Xenon headlights
- some other options

Car + destination came out to be $39,8xx. $2200 due at signing for taxes, title, registration and I'm guessing first month's payment (This is $0 down). $499/month (with taxes) for 36 months at 10k miles. Residual he gave me was 66% (although I know it should be 67%) and money factor was 0.00162. Tried to negotiate the price down a little, but the salesman wouldn't budge. (Also while I was looking at the CLA, I overheard a family trying to negotiate the price down on a lease too, but that salesman didn't budge either. It's a brand new car, wasn't really expecting them to discount it by that much.)

The CLA is a great, entry level car. It looks great and the interior is every bit a Mercedes. But for $499/month, I might as well go with a C-class or 3 Series. I couldn't pull the trigger because 1) I don't think I should be paying $499 a month for a car that starts at $29,900 and 2) because the salesman that I had never took me seriously, and wasn't doing his job. I don't expect a salesman to wine and dine me, but he should show interest in selling a car, and should have the initiative to answer all my questions, and take me seriously.

Overall, my first experience was okay. Great car, high pricing, poor customer service. I apologize for the long story, but just wanted to share my experience with everyone.
 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
There are 3 dealerships close/in Denver. I had visited all if them and the attention is not the same everywhere. Sometimes it is sad that a Mercedes Benz dealership have people that don't know how to introduce themselves, how to speak correctly or how to sell n expensive car. Westminster is a great place. The people that work there really know how to make you feel good. And, the most important, they explain you everything. I'm 24, and just moved to the US, so I can really understand you. Go to a different dealership and get what you want! And forget about him.
Thanks for the input! Yeah, this dealership is about an 8 minute drive from where I live, and they also have a service center right next to it, so I would really like to buy one from them. Also, my dad bought his E-class from that dealership a decade ago, and he got great service. I know there are probably good salesmen in that dealership, I just interacted with someone who is a bad salesman. The next nearest Mercedes dealership is about 30 miles away. Might give them a try, or maybe go take a look at a BMW 3 series.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Great review! I'm also 6'2" 250lb and fit nicely in the car.
I hate getting in the tight 3-series or ATS.
Your quote was much better than mine at Prestige Motors. I just might drive down to Edison in a month or so.
Thanks! Yeah, definitely give them a try. Hopefully you'll get to interact with a good salesman :)
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Ayobonus: I told you you have a good honest lease offer. It is as good as it will get. Other dealers may charge you more and be just as indifferent. You never know.
Part of the reason is your age. They figured at 22, you probably don't have tier 1 credit or make minimum of $80k a year to qualify for the lease. He would be surprised when he finds out
you are employee #1 at Twitter and about to make $100 million next month when Twitter goes public...:)
Yeah, I figured I could try again in a month or so once the hype isn't so high.

Do you have to make at least $80k a year to qualify? I wasn't aware of this.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Sort of the rule of thumb with cars is you need to make twice of what the car is worth to be able to afford it, but that is old school thinking. You can get them to budge though. Just go into another dealer and lie. Ive been able to get an extra 1000 for my car and 1500 off of my cla by going into different dealerships and lying about what the other dealer was going to do for me. I know, but hey at the end of the day you need to look out for yourself.
Hm, I'll keep that in mind. I don't necessarily make twice the amount of the car, but I've done the math and it is possible for me to own one. But I agree about going around and see who can do the best ;)
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
They may want to charge you a higher money factor or have you come up with more cap reduction. Insist on the best deal and be prepared to walk away. See what they would do.
Gotcha. I'm definitely looking for the best deal, and I'm not afraid to walk away if I don't get a good deal. I'm in no rush to get the car, and I'm willing to go around to see who will work with me.
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
@ayobonus: i'm in the same boat with you, a young person just graduate. I got in even worse deal today with my local benz dealer. maybe for first time ever, I move to bmw.
link to my cm: http://www.mercedescla.org/forum/8-cla-purchasing/2669-2014-cla-lease-rates-16.html
Wow, that's horrible. Yeah, it's definitely not worth the price that they're asking for. I'm currently waiting it out/looking at BMW. There are some good offers that BMW have right now. Also, BMW has a program where they offer a $1000 incentive for recent college graduates.

I've been a long time Mercedes admirer/driver, but switching to BMW doesn't sound too bad.
 
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