acuraddict

Moderators, please don't move this thread...its just a hypothetical question, not truly "up for sale" just yet.

My wife and I are expecting twins in August. This is amazing and exciting and life changing, and very very expensive! So I'm seriously thinking about getting out of my TL and buying a pre-owned Mercedes E 420 or 430 (97-98).

Anyone interested in buying out my lease/residual? Oh and remember, I've got new Michelin Pilot Sports on the car.

-addict

bustedbyu

good luck on your expected twins. i bet you never expected 2.

19jake19

What kind of payments are we lookin at here?

acuraddict

Well, theoretically the buyer would pay the buyout on my lease. I got the car for $1200 under msrp as the selling price. It was a great deal for a navi model with the protection package included and 35% tint...of course I just added the Michelin Pilot Sports as well. I'm going to call American Honda today to see what the payoff would cost.

neuronbob

I know it's not on topic but....Congratulations on the twins!!

acuraddict

Thanks Neuronbob!

Skeedatl

Anyone considering would need to know the terms of your current lease like the residual, current payment and what your lease term is.

But given that it's Navi, even if you take a hit on it, Navi's are in such short supply in SoCal that you can't be that upside-down. It's probably so little that you could roll over the difference into your next car. Perhaps talk to your local Mercedes dealer if you're planning on buying your pre-owned ride from them. They probably have a lot of room to negotiate, especially if the Benz you're looking at isn't Starmark Certified.

jimthegreek

Since im selling my car as well, I have the a-spec kit, wing, and wheels and Navi as well, same color combo as yours too.. The most ive been offered is 34200 private party.. So without those, probably around invoice is what you can sell it for, which is around 32000.

acuraddict

The payoff amount on this lease is $33,769 through 3-30-04. Remember what the car has on it, and tell me what you think.

acuraddict

ahem

Norse396

acuraddict,

Congrats!

1blkowl

Congrats on the twins!! Have you considered an MDX?

1blkowl

Sorry, did not read your signature, you already have one!

jrudd

I don't think anyone would pay more than 30-31.

SilverBulletCLS

Congrats on the kids.

But hate to tell you that you will not get what you owe on the TL. I would say no more than 30-31k. All cars loose value.

Jss1

I'd be careful buying a used Mercedez. My brother in law had one and the repair bills were unbelieveable. All of course out of warranty. You might wind up losing money on your TL sale and being hit with huge MB bills. For example a motor for a 1997 E420 is $13,000 as per this:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...edes_misc.html

jimthegreek

You have to take into consideration that the vehicle is a color that is hard to find, WITH navi, and he's in Los angeles. The demand for this vehicle in Los angeles is higher than other parts of the country, and people here are still paying almost full msrp for the vehicle. I think he'll do rather well with the sale of his vehicle...

My car sold for more than i thought it would... Guy should be picking it up this weekend.... He had a car on order at a local dealership and decided to buy mine instead of waiting for another 2 months, and having to do everything to it once it gets in....

acuraddict

Well, my wife has convinced me to keep the TL. I'm trying to look at ways to cut our fixed expenses now that we know we're having twins, and my thought was that we could do without two Acura lease payments. She knows how much I love this car, and she doesn't want me to give it up to save $200 per month at best.

Here's a funny side note:

I stopped at a large BMW Mercedes used car lot on La Cienega yesterday to look at the E classes. The manager came out to help me and started raving about my car. "Oh man, nice TL! I'm trying to get one of these for my wife. Oooh, you've to the navigation system in there!"

It dawned on me; the guy runs a business that is nothing but BMW's and Benz's and he wants to get his wife a TL. Talk about Irony!

By the way, I've had two people email to say that they want the car and are willing to buy out my lease. One guy offered to send me a check immediately for a down payment to lock it in.

Thanks for the repsonses, and for the good wishes!

jimthegreek

Good, now whoever that was, can contact me and buy mine instead

JeffS

Glad to hear you are keeping the TL. It isn't worth selling it for what you would "save" by purchasing a older used car. Although, I was contemplating your car though if the price was right.....