New SKL 200K...help..

[DrLM]

Hello guys,

Thinking of buying a new SLK 200 and I need some advice . This will be my 1st MB car.I dont know whether to place the order through a UK main dealer or go to Germany and get a better deal.I know that UK dealerships are not very friendly :twisted: and there is no way I am going to get a disc! If I get it from Germany, it will be RHD and UK spec.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

 

[jberks]

horses for courses, but ....
Dealers are patchy - true - but certainly mine has improved dramatically since they moved to a new site and they know they have come in for stick all over so I suspect things are improving.

One small word of caution though. If the car is fine then great, but I bought an Audi back in 99 when imports were all the rage. I didn't want to wait 6 months for delivery, so I went to a dealer and wondered at the time whether I was doing the right thing. 2 days after delivery, the engine blew. Rare I know but it happens. I was able to throw it back at the dealer and insist on an immediate replacement car, with a loan of their demonstrator until it arrived. Without the local selling dealer to go at, i'd have been in the hands of a local dealer who I'm sure would have done what was necessary, but I would have had no leverage whatsoever.

In any case, the sales team are generally ok and with plenty of dealers out there you can pick a salesman you like. Once back in Blighty you're stuck with the dealer network anyway. Unless you are saving money, or drive to Germany regularly, I wouldn't bother.

 

[Retired]

I bought my car in Germany (E240 estate, full UK spec) back in 1998. Its been regularly serviced by the same UK dealer. I had a couple of very minor problems fixed under warranty without any trouble.

More recently the car has begun to suffer from the E class rust problem. This has been dealt with without any hassle.

When the car was a couple of years old I considered buying a new Mercedes in the UK. My dealer told me they would take the car in part exchange at normal valuation as long as it was to UK spec.

When I bought the car I saved about £7k. I haven't found any downside to buying in Germany.

Would be interested to find out what saving are available today.

 

[jberks]

As i understand it, the savings are minimal these days. MB sorted that when they dropped the prices here and at the same time, banged on a £1500 supplement for RHD. They did this around 2001 so your savings in 98 make sense.(and hence why I considered importing one myself in '99) People who bought mercs in 01 actually recieved vouchers against a new one. My aunt got £3k off a new CLK convertible because they'd dropped 3k off hers a few weeks after she bought it.

I fully agree that in the normal course of events, there will be no problem, but in extreme cases, like my Audi, it will make a difference. Plus, if there is no saving, why take the chance?

 

[DrLM]

Thanx for your replies guys. Ive got a friend in Germany who said he can get me a new SLK 200, RHD and full UK spec for about £25k.Thats about £3k off the list price!! Its definitely worth considering, dont you think?

 

[zishan03]

Thanx for your replies guys. Ive got a friend in Germany who said he can get me a new SLK 200, RHD and full UK spec for about £25k.Thats about £3k off the list price!! Its definitely worth considering, dont you think?

Is that including all the VAT and taxes you would have to pay when bringing the car into the UK and registering it here?

 

[jberks]

Is that including all the VAT and taxes you would have to pay when bringing the car into the UK and registering it here?

Very valid point!!
If it is, then I'd agree, well worth the effort!

 

[DrLM]

It includes VAT.Any ideas how much the rest might cost, ie taxes and 1st reg?