Topic: Mercedes, Audi weigh in on US/Canada price disparity

[The Mighty Duck]

Globe and Mail: Loonie prompts Mercedes rebate
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071027.RMERCEDES27/TPStory/National

Like BMW, Mercedes will be offering rebates for cash buyers, ranging from $750 on B-class vehicles to $7500 on AMG cars.  Of course, if one shops in the US there's even greater savings to be had.  Just like BMW, Mercedes is going at this half assed.  But it's this straight-up from the Mercedes Canada president that's even more offensive:

"The cars we sell here are cars made for Canada," he said. "The cars in the United States are not made for Canada."

Right.  Canadian cars might have a standard block heater.  I think that justifies the $10 000 price disparity too, Mr. Breitschwerdt.

But they're still doing better than Audi:

Audi Canada joined the parade with a full-page newspaper ad, complete with a letter to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, saying the Ingolstadt, Germany-based car maker is offering the best lease and finance rates in its history.

Great - so I pay a lower interest rate on a higher principle.  In the States, the base cost is lower, so however Audi tries to spin it, the car can be had cheaper.

[2JDM]

"The cars we sell here are cars made for Canada," he said. "The cars in the United States are not made for Canada."

Right.  Canadian cars might have a standard block heater.  I think that justifies the $10 000 price disparity too, Mr. Breitschwerdt.

Ok ok ok. The speedo is in MPH and not KPH. That must account for $9000 of the difference. 

[mmret]

"The cars we sell here are cars made for Canada," he said. "The cars in the United States are not made for Canada."

They really don't have any ideas, do they?

Perhaps they're just reserving that final option of invalidating warranty, though I guess the US arms could always hit back with a reimbursement program like Scoob. Not sure if the Canadian and US arms collude or compete. Maybe a bit of both.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I don't think they meant the cars are that different (EDIT: just read the story and think you all are right on the interpretation after all  ), I think they meant they're being imported FOR Canada or FOR the US and as such the pricing cannot be identical because of the Euro. Sometimes those Germans can't communicate what they intend to say well in English.

Benz is offering a discount on the B, a car they dropped the price on already for 2008 and is not even available in the US

[sailor723]

"The cars we sell here are cars made for Canada," he said. "The cars in the United States are not made for Canada."

Right.  Canadian cars might have a standard block heater.  I think that justifies the $10 000 price disparity too, Mr. Breitschwerdt.

Ok ok ok. The speedo is in MPH and not KPH. That must account for $9000 of the difference. 

Come on guys.....don't forget the French airbag stickers