Mercedes Offers “Spring Event” Deals

May 4, 2009

Mercedes likes to be careful about not looking like a discount car brand. So when it offers promotional deals it doesn’t want them to look cheap hacks or price discounts. This sometimes results in a somewhat confusing array of offers, rules, and restrictions that are a bit unusual, but nevertheless good deals — for Mercedes.

For May 2009 Mercedes is offering what appears to be two different low-interest rate loan deals.

One is a 0.9% APR across the entire model line for 24 months, 36 months, or 66 months (a little strange!). And this can be combined with any discount contribution that the dealer is willing to make from his factory-to-dealer cash on certain models (C350, CLK550, CLK350, E550, E350, and S550 4MATIC). The dealer cash ranges from $2000 to $6000, depending on model.

The other option seems to be a 1.9% APR which is combined with two months payments on certain models, up to a maximum of $1300 or $1500, depending on specific model.

There are also special lease deals (all available until 6/1/2009) on specific versions of the C300, ML350, ML320, CLK350, SLK300, SLK350, GLK350, R350, R320, GL450, GL320, and GLS550.

The Mercedes lease deals are based on a reduced lease price, low money factor, and high residual. Most of the leases are based on 36 months (a couple are 39 months) and 32.5K miles per year. Normal due-at-signing charges apply — down payment, first month’s payment, and a lease acquisition fee ($795). Although these are genuine good lease deals, you should not lease unless you understand how car leasing works and how to determine if you are a good leasing candidate. The following web site can help: LeaseGuide.com.

Of course, the low APR loans and lease deals being offered by Mercedes require that customers have good credit. Be sure you can live with any restrictions the deals might require.

You can get free price quotes on any of the above Mercedes vehicles from Edmunds.com. The quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.