[ESP AMG]

Hey guys.

I am trying to decide if to put my cla 45 amg under agility or not?

Has anyone had past experiences. Good or bad with it?

 

[outsider]

Hey guys.

I am trying to decide if to put my cla 45 amg under agility or not?

Has anyone had past experiences. Good or bad with it?

For the uninformed US folks - what's "Agility Program ?"

 

[Unkie]

It's one of MB's finance options with incorporated buy-back scheme/residual payout.
MB calculates a residual value for your car, based on your chosen loan duration (3-7 years from memory) and km's driven per year.

We have one car under Agility, and tbh, its essentially the same as financed with a balloon payment. Except that it's funded by MB itself and they offer a guaranteed buy-back option at the end of the loan period.
It's main drawcard is convenience - that it's all run and backed by MB.
But if you're not fussed, then I'd say shop around for whoever offers the superior interest rate (+ fees).

 

[ESP AMG]

yeah. i think its about $1,200 to set up and interest is about 6.5%. I do like the idea of handing it back in 4 years and jumping into something else.

i wonder if anyone has ever got a discount?

 

[Tricky]

yeah. i think its about $1,200 to set up and interest is about 6.5%. I do like the idea of handing it back in 4 years and jumping into something else.

i wonder if anyone has ever got a discount?

I'm surprised at the $1200 set up fee... Does the fee still apply if its a straight loan with balloon payment, ie the customer wears the risk on used car value rather than Mercedes?

 

[outsider]

I'm surprised at the $1200 set up fee... Does the fee still apply if its a straight loan with balloon payment, ie the customer wears the risk on used car value rather than Mercedes?

This is equivalent to a standard US lease program. Set residual value to purchase the car. Monthly payment determined by mileage.

MBUSA charges around $795 to $895 to set up the lease. Interest here, however, is artificially driven low by the government to stimulate spending.

 

[sunjoy]

1200 sounds too much. ESP, you can use other major bank car finance offer to nego with MB finance manager, most time they will match or providing close offer to you. 6.5% interest rate not too bad, but after 0.25%drop on Tuesday, you should get better offer than 6.5

 

[Captain Beaky]

Im also interested in the agility program. Have spoke to my dealer about it who sad theyre unable to offer this at the moment as Mercedes havent released the residual values for the CLA yet and they dont know when they will. Probably much closer to the delivery date.

 

[auscla45]

quote i got for agility is $390 up front cost (included in finance) with a interest rate of 6.25% The balloon/agreed value on the cla 45 is about 35k for 15k km's a year after 5 years

 

[ESP AMG]

wow thats cheap compared to mine

I am doing 4 years and it was around $40,000

Are u on corporate deal. What is your car to start with?

 

[jetcat]

Here is what I have been quoted, $390 set up fee.

3 yr, 10,000km per year, $1,749/month, $47,795 residual
3 yr, 15,000km per year, $1,771/month, $46,926 residual

 

[ESP AMG]

Is your car built yet jet cat?

 

[outsider]

Here is what I have been quoted, $390 set up fee.

3 yr, 10,000km per year, $1,749/month, $47,795 residual
3 yr, 15,000km per year, $1,771/month, $46,926 residual

1. WOW that's equivalent of $1650 USD a month. That's 2014 New S550 lease in the US. That's also mortgage for a decent home in most places in the US ( after interest deduction.)
2. 10000 km a year is like letting you drive around the block each day. Australia is a big country. 10000 km a year won't get you far !
3. And why would one consider 5000km less a year for a saving of only $22 a month ?

 

[Captain Beaky]

Bear in mind that minimum wage here is 2.5X what it is in the states so everything is relative!

 

[jetcat]

10,000 km a year is likely if it is a weekend car, but with $22 difference, 15k pa is a much smarter choice.

ESP, not yet - have to call the dealer up tomorrow.

 

[ESP AMG]

nice man. pumped for you

 

[outsider]

Bear in mind that minimum wage here is 2.5X what it is in the states so everything is relative!

I understand. But guys making minimum wages aren't buying Mercedes...Normal wages can't be 2.5x US. Plus taxes is a bit higher in Australia aren't they ?
I know things are very expensive in Australia. Friends recently visited Down Under said it is a fantastic place but expensive to live.
I am just a bit shocked by how expensive. Now I am really curious. Just to give me a sense of value, how much rent do you pay for a one bedroom apartment in a nice relatively upscale highrise say in Sydney - say for folks driving CLA45s ? I am going to use New York City and San Francisco for comparison as these are the two most expensive places to rent in the mainland US.
Also what does a recent university graduate make starting in a non technology but large corporate firm ? And about how much you actually take home say if you make 100000 AU a year after taxes ( not sure where healthcare comes into play ?)

 

[auscla45]

a 1br apartment in sydney with harbour bridge views are 1k/week (but that's towards the high end)
a 1br apartment in melbourne is about 400/week
a 3br suburban house on avg in melbourne is about 400/week too i'd say (for nothing fancy in a not too fancy suburb)
take home pay on 100k is about 60-70k, but if you have investments you may be paying less tax, which effectively increases that amount. health care is paid for in taxes
depending on field, i'd say an accounting grad would start on about 50k fresh out of uni? it's a competitive industry, a investment bank would pay over 100k for investment banking grads, IT/engineering at a investment bank or mining would be about 80k
most students would have a student loan too, which they will need to pay for as part of their tax, hence they pay a bit more tax than everyone else.
not everything in Aus is double the price compared to the US, but cars are. I was recently in LA and thought that taxes there were a lot higher than Aus, maybe because you had to manually add tax on top of everything, the tipping culture also did my head in, although after adding tax and tip, i think most things were still a bit cheaper than Aus.
there are a lot of award rates, penalties and unions in Australia which drive up labour. Construction workers can make 100k+, unskilled labour can pay over $20/hr for an adult in retail, in fact i'd say most electricians, plumbers and builders are on 100k or above.

 

[Tricky]

a 1br apartment in sydney with harbour bridge views are 1k/week (but that's towards the high end)
a 1br apartment in melbourne is about 400/week
a 3br suburban house on avg in melbourne is about 400/week too i'd say (for nothing fancy in a not too fancy suburb)
take home pay on 100k is about 60-70k, but if you have investments you may be paying less tax, which effectively increases that amount. health care is paid for in taxes
depending on field, i'd say an accounting grad would start on about 50k fresh out of uni? it's a competitive industry, a investment bank would pay over 100k for investment banking grads, IT/engineering at a investment bank or mining would be about 80k
most students would have a student loan too, which they will need to pay for as part of their tax, hence they pay a bit more tax than everyone else.
not everything in Aus is double the price compared to the US, but cars are. I was recently in LA and thought that taxes there were a lot higher than Aus, maybe because you had to manually add tax on top of everything, the tipping culture also did my head in, although after adding tax and tip, i think most things were still a bit cheaper than Aus.
there are a lot of award rates, penalties and unions in Australia which drive up labour. Construction workers can make 100k+, unskilled labour can pay over $20/hr for an adult in retail, in fact i'd say most electricians, plumbers and builders are on 100k or above.

Pretty much spot on.

 

[outsider]

a 1br apartment in sydney with harbour bridge views are 1k/week (but that's towards the high end)
a 1br apartment in melbourne is about 400/week
a 3br suburban house on avg in melbourne is about 400/week too i'd say (for nothing fancy in a not too fancy suburb)
take home pay on 100k is about 60-70k, but if you have investments you may be paying less tax, which effectively increases that amount. health care is paid for in taxes
depending on field, i'd say an accounting grad would start on about 50k fresh out of uni? it's a competitive industry, a investment bank would pay over 100k for investment banking grads, IT/engineering at a investment bank or mining would be about 80k
most students would have a student loan too, which they will need to pay for as part of their tax, hence they pay a bit more tax than everyone else.
not everything in Aus is double the price compared to the US, but cars are. I was recently in LA and thought that taxes there were a lot higher than Aus, maybe because you had to manually add tax on top of everything, the tipping culture also did my head in, although after adding tax and tip, i think most things were still a bit cheaper than Aus.
there are a lot of award rates, penalties and unions in Australia which drive up labour. Construction workers can make 100k+, unskilled labour can pay over $20/hr for an adult in retail, in fact i'd say most electricians, plumbers and builders are on 100k or above.

Very interesting indeed. The salary scale is very similar. Rent is similar as well in Sydney compared to SF and NYC but cheap in Malbourne. What's troubling is one would pay about the same for a CLA45 as rent in Melbourne. That's insane.
You are right about sales tax in US. Everything you buy except for food from grocery store has sales tax added on it. So your take home money goes less far. Yes and we tip well. Standard is 18-20% at restaurant.
I think cars are cheaper just because US is a country where public transportation is secondary. Everyone drives and owns multiple cars. It's a land of automobiles so perhaps accounts for the lower price.
Still think the affluence in Australia is greater. I was in Los Angeles last month visiting and ran into two young couples ( 20's ) both spending a month vacationing in the US. They are spending 7 days in LA, 5 days in Las Vegas, 7 days in NYC, 5 days in Orlando and 5 days in Miami. That's a huge and insanely expensive holiday but they told me they do it every year ( didn't ask what they do for a living.)