Hi all been a long time lurker picking up a trick or two along the way. I’m going to be in the market in June (lease ends) for a new car. I’m currently coming from a 2016 Honda Accord ex which I got for 215 month and 2000 out of pocket. Didn’t know anything about hacking a lease at that point just used the old fashioned technique of walking out the door. Anyways I was looking for an E300 but wanted to keep my payments to a minimum. I would be okay to put 2000 out of pocket. But want the payment to be 550 or less per month. Also there’s some options which I really like which would be the luxury styling as well as the digital instrument cluster. Im located in NJ and have no idea of this is possible for a new MB and if I should start searching now or when it comes closer to my lease end. Also I saw the 7 series and Lexus LS’S were going for about the same or a bit more than the E class Benz… which is something I would also be open to if the price is right. Was also looking at the levar but from what I read is that they just lease terrible even though the msrp is very comparable to the e class. Anyways my main thing in a car is comfort as NJ especially north jersey roads are bed as well as sound isolation. Anyways any advice or guidance would really help as I’m just very confused on if I’m being realistic at all or not. Thanks everyone in advance.
What you’re looking for is essentially a 60k+ car for $600/month including tax. That is not happening. You can probably manage a decently equipped C-class but you are far from flagship sedan territory. 7s and LSs are $800+/month and that’s with about 8k in security deposits.
Thanks I can definitely max out security deposits. The thing is I’ve seen many e class leases go for 400-600 I’m fine paying 600 as long as the car is equipped the way I want it. Also saw many leases on swappalease below 600 so that’s where I kind of decided my budget from.
The main issue is the digital instrument cluster. In order to get the pricing you want you will need to do a loaner '18 model and even then I doubt you could get it with the instrument cluster. FWIW, my lease on my current E300 is up in September but I’ve been keeping my eyes out for a good deal on an E400/450. (I’m looking in South Jersey as well)
I have seen some '18’s that have been discounted into the high 40’s but none that have the digital instrument cluster.
This is what I’m getting for a bare bones, minimum options, new 2018 e300 on 36/12k. Even if you put 7k down as MSDs, you’re still over 600/month. You might be able to find a high mileage '18 loaner but that will definitely not be equipped the way you want it.
Yeah I feel your pain. I’ve literally seen fully loaded e classes without the cluster. Idk why Benz does that but that’s the biggest problem I’m having too. I thought that going for a loaner e43 would be about the same if not more the the residuals are horrible and they lease terribly at least with what I’ve seen even though the new e53 sedan is out.
I wouldn’t mind getting into the e450 but I think the payments would be significantly higher as when I confisgured one adding luxury styling it automatically adds air suspension which if I remember correctly is a 1300 option and read many reviews saying it doesn’t really make a difference.
I saw this one
Pretty much exactly how I want it just don’t know if it would be hackable
Also wouldn’t they be more hackable now since the 2020 is coming out and it’s a major overhaul
That car is sold, look for those cars that are highly discounted, the bigger gap between msrp and the actual sale price, the lower your payment. This is why loaners are so cheap to lease, the numbers go off the msrp but since its a loaner they usually hold a 10k+ off msrp sale price.
You still have s while before the 2020 comes out. The luxury styling isn’t as popular as the sport. Couple that with the need for a digital cluster and you’ll have slim pickings. Good luck though. Great car… we love ours.
You won’t see new 2019’s going for anywhere near the 4’s, and prolly not 5’s either (at 0DP taxes in pmt). Swap a lease is not representative of new car deals. I got a basic 2018 loaner (P1) with 2300 miles for $600 incl tax, plus 10 MSDs, including fleet discount. I’d guess a great deal would be in mid 500’s, but would likely be a loaner that’s been on lot for awhile. Good luck, and let us know how you make out.
Saw this looks hackable but have no clue if it would be
Just email 20-30 dealers along the east coast with what you’re looking for, if you’re flexible on options, want a loaner or not, etc. Then see what they come back with. When I searched for mine It took a lot of time and effort doing the above. I almost gave up… then at the last minute something worked out.
Here is a loaner from a dealer I got mine at. Doesn’t have your wants but they are aggressive with pricing at least.
That’s not leasable. It’s was titled privately.
E300 loaners are a dime a dozen and definitely can land you in the $400s with the right discounts and or MSDs. You can do even better if you have fleet. Don’t deal in NY state if you want to do MSDs, they can’t offer them there.
Does this look hackable I don’t see any mods and it’s dealership owned it’s exactly what I would want
No one knows, you need to figure out the MSRP of the car first. Also go to Edmunds and find out RV and MF
Yeah the thing I kind of wanted to know was would it be time smart to start now or closer to the end of my lease also if anyone has any idea if Benz would swallow the 800 fee to return the car to honda and possibly a couple monthly payments
Fwiw Noor, this is my local dealership and I have struggled to to get reasonable pricing. Could be bad luck with sales reps, but I would keep expectations in check. I was Quoted ~900 a month there for an E450 and ~800 for a 2019 E300 and ~700 for a 2019 C300. It’s a long hard walk down from those numbers.
I once negotiated a E Class ($65K MSRP) lease for just over $600/month for 36/15K with zero drive off, but that was on the previous generation model back in 2013. I didn’t end up going through with the lease, but it was negotiated with Fletcher Jones MB in CA, the largest MB dealer in the country.
I know this isn’t very helpful for your situation, but it was possible in the past.
There is no out of brand lease ahead at the moment. If they “Swallow” the 800, it will be by adding that to your sheet and “taking it out of the car.” Effectively, they will claim they have discounted your car to account for the 800 bucks but the reality is that they would have discounted it that much anyway so you’re still out the money.
It’s a gamble out there right now, but I would be tempted to at least wait until March. You will have one less payment and there may be better incentives at that time. Sedan’s are selling less and less due to the current trend of SUV’s, so I would expect supply to stay available for the short term.