SUV Deals Lacking at Mercedes Dealerships But 70% Offer Free Satellite Radio

Daimler AG, the world's second-biggest maker of luxury cars, was the subject of a Tickermine survey this week after its stock recently dropped 3.8 percent. Our researchers approached 30 dealerships around the country and asked which Mercedes model was selling best, are there good deals on SUVs because of the high gas prices and are these dealerships luring in customers by offering free satellite radio? Seventeen respondents or 57% cited that the C Class Mercedes sold best and nine of these cited the CLK 350C specifically. Some other models cited included the S550 (nine respondents, 30%), then the GL 550 SUV and AMG were each cited twice or by 7% of those polled. Twenty one respondents or 70% reported no good deals on SUVs, surprisingly. Only nine respondents or 30% had some in place such as the 2008 ML350 SUV for $549 a month on a 33 month lease. Another dealership offered 3/9% APR financing for 66 months for a 2008 ML350 SUV. 21 respondents or 70% however were offering deals on free satellite radio. Only 9 or 30% were not.

Audi Dealerships Say The Audi A4 Sells Best

Audi, the luxury auto brand owned by Volkswagon was polled by Tickermine this week after stellar reports of the company’s double digit growth. This was triggered by demand from wealthy customers in both China and Russia, the company said and Audi has grown by 2.9% to 86,700 vehicles in April. Our researchers consulted 27 dealerships across the country and asked which Audi sold best, does this dealership offer any special deals to counter the US's high oil costs and does this dealership offer any specials on free satellite radio? The Audi A4 was the most popular model, our survey says, (according to 10 respondents or 37% of those polled). Other models cited were the Audi A3 (five respondents or 19%), the Audi A5 (four respondents or 15%), the Audi TT (three respondents or 11%,) the Audi Q7 and Audi R8 (both with two respondents or 7%) and the Audi A6 (one respondent or 6%). Three respondents or 11% of those interviewed said they were offering specials as a result of high oil costs but most respondents (29 people or 87%) said they did not. Satellite radio however was being used for bait. Eight respondents or 30% said they did not offer free satellite radio to customers. But 19 people or 70% said they did.

The Volkswagen Jetta Sells Best According to VW Dealerships

The Volkswagen Group, the German company behind the Volkswagen beatle, is having a bumper year in spite of a mercurial auto market with deliveries of 568,000 vehicles worldwide reported in April. This is a 10.5 percent increase on last year. Tickermine surveyed 27 dealerships nationwide this month and asked which model sells best, are their specific deals on trucks or SUVs and are their deals on satellite radio? The Volkswagen Jetta was the best selling model, our respondents say, with 10 mentions or 37% of those polled. Eight respondents or 30% cited the Volkswagen Beetle, 2 respondents or 7% of those interviewed cited either the Volkswagen Gulf, Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Passet Sedan or the Volkswagen Rabbit. And one respondent or 4% said their best seller was the Volkswagen Toureg. Free deals on satellite radio are not a popular marketing tool at Volkswagen dealerships, our survey show. 23 respondents or 85% said they did not offer satellite, only 4 respondents or 15% said they did.