Trying to buy a Mercedes....

[Ron240]

Well in short it's not going well.....

I have recently been very taken by the new Mercedes CLA.....I think it is a beautiful and very classy looking car both inside and out.
I have done a lot of research into the models and my original choice was the CLA 35 in Sun Yellow, but after a lot of thought I decided that I couldn't on point of principle accept the scandalous higher rate of road tax which the premium trim spec model breaches the threshold by only £130.
I then decided on the CLA 250 in Jupiter Red which has a 224 bhp engine in top spec Premium Plus trim. This model is very well equipped as you would expect including panoramic roof, but is £4k cheaper then the lower trim spec CLA 35.
I checked Carwow and got my 5 offers, of which one was Mercedes Glasgow so within easy travelling distance.
Their offer was not the cheapest but still had a healthy 8.7% discount, so I decided to pay them a visit last weekend while I was in the area for a social event with my girlfriend. We were in her car so my S3 was tucked up at home in my garage.
We arrived and I asked for the person named on the Carwow quote. First of all he checked stock cars and said there are no 250 models available and offered me 220 or 200 models, to which I said no because coming from 300+ bhp with my last 2 cars I do not want to drop down to 190 or 162 bhp. He said in that case it would need to be a factory order and the Carwow quote price would not be valid.
I knew this was not correct because all Carwow quotes are based on factory ordered cars, but I played along and asked him to give me a price to change including my S3 trade in. He said he could not place a value on my car without seeing it, so at this point I realised I was wasting my time and left....but e-mailed a complaint later.
The manager subsequently phoned me and said they would honour the Carwow quote for a factory ordered car and also gave me an estimate of what they could offer as a trade in - "£26k - £26.5k".
Now my S3 is totally immaculate and is worth £28k on a trade in all day long, so I declined his offer.

Fast forward a week to today and I visit Arnold Clark Mercedes in Dundee. There is some sort of event happening and everybody is busy, so I end up speaking to the manager and tell him I am looking to buy a CLA 250. His first words are "I've never seen one of them" and he had to look up the price list to find it. He is only familiar with the 220, 200 and 180 models. He is actually quite dismissive of my choice....saying that they are not popular/nobody wants them....so they will not stock a car they cannot sell.
I find it hard to believe that there is no demand for the 224bhp model, but he reminds me that he knows best.
He also derided my personal choice of buying a car outright with cash rather than on PCP. I said that I think the PCP bubble is about to burst....but again he reminded me he knows best and we agree to differ.
The upshot of the conversation was that if I wanted a factory ordered CLA 250 it would be 2020 at the earliest....so naturally at this point I left.

There is one more Mercedes dealer group I can try......but it's not looking good so far.

 

[NevMan]

Well in short it's not going well.....

I have recently been very taken by the new Mercedes CLA.....I think it is a beautiful and very classy looking car both inside and out.
I have done a lot of research into the models and my original choice was the CLA 35 in Sun Yellow, but after a lot of thought I decided that I couldn't on point of principle accept the scandalous higher rate of road tax which the premium trim spec model breaches the threshold by only £130.
I then decided on the CLA 250 in Jupiter Red which has a 224 bhp engine in top spec Premium Plus trim. This model is very well equipped as you would expect including panoramic roof, but is £4k cheaper then the lower trim spec CLA 35.
I checked Carwow and got my 5 offers, of which one was Mercedes Glasgow so within easy travelling distance.
Their offer was not the cheapest but still had a healthy 8.7% discount, so I decided to pay them a visit last weekend while I was in the area for a social event with my girlfriend. We were in her car so my S3 was tucked up at home in my garage.
We arrived and I asked for the person named on the Carwow quote. First of all he checked stock cars and said there are no 250 models available and offered me 220 or 200 models, to which I said no because coming from 300+ bhp with my last 2 cars I do not want to drop down to 190 or 162 bhp. He said in that case it would need to be a factory order and the Carwow quote price would not be valid.
I knew this was not correct because all Carwow quotes are based on factory ordered cars, but I played along and asked him to give me a price to change including my S3 trade in. He said he could not place a value on my car without seeing it, so at this point I realised I was wasting my time and left....but e-mailed a complaint later.
The manager subsequently phoned me and said they would honour the Carwow quote for a factory ordered car and also gave me an estimate of what they could offer as a trade in - "£26k - £26.5k".
Now my S3 is totally immaculate and is worth £28k on a trade in all day long, so I declined his offer.

Fast forward a week to today and I visit Arnold Clark Mercedes in Dundee. There is some sort of event happening and everybody is busy, so I end up speaking to the manager and tell him I am looking to buy a CLA 250. His first words are "I've never seen one of them" and he had to look up the price list to find it. He is only familiar with the 220, 200 and 180 models. He is actually quite dismissive of my choice....saying that they are not popular/nobody wants them....so they will not stock a car they cannot sell.
I find it hard to believe that their is no demand for the 224bhp model, but he reminds me that he knows best.
He also derided my personal choice of buying a car outright with cash rather than on PCP. I said that I think the PCP bubble is about to burst....but again he reminded me he knows best and we agree to differ.
The upshot of the conversation was that if I wanted a factory ordered CLA 250 it would be 2020 at the earliest....so naturally at this point I left.

There is one more Mercedes dealer group I can try......but it's not looking good so far.

Jeez @Ron240, how hard can it be to buy a car The mind boggles at these dealers and the b@llocks they can come up with

 

[Ron240]

Jeez @Ron240, how hard can it be to buy a car The mind boggles at these dealers and the b@llocks they can come up with

Exactly my thoughts!
Whatever happened to "the customer is always right"
It seems to be now that the customer knows nothing and we will tell him what he wants.

 

[SaraS3]

I've got my eye on the cla 35 estate when I've had the s3 a bit longer. I was told that the dealers are getting them in December but there are very few to go around as demonstrators and dealers will be lucky to get one. I would definitely have to test drive it though as I've just driven an a35 and the ride was much too hard for me. I don't know if the cla 35 will be such a hard ride as the a35. Dealer couldn't tell me. I keep buying cars and then see one I like more so must keep the s3 longer than my last 4 or 5
I bought my last car Mercedes 250d from Arnold Clark Perth, 50 miles on, 6 months old with a big discount. I would do that again if one came up when the cla35 has been out for a while

 

[Ron240]

I just remembered another part of the conversation I had with the Arnold Clark manager yesterday.....
He said there was uncertainty regarding what will happen after Brexit and they are expecting car prices to rise by up to 10%, so I said if that did happen it would have a significant effect on car buying in the UK. He said No it will make no difference at all, people will still buy cars like they always have.....to which I replied maybe not with fleet sales but private buyers will be put off, but again he said no they will not.
When discussing the CLA 250 which he says nobody wants because people buy the lower powered models or jump straight to the CLA 35, I mentioned that the 250 is available in Europe with 4matic AWD but it is not offered in the UK because it would place the car too close in many respects to the CLA 35(a fact that has been stated by motoring journalists), he said No it is because people don't care about all wheel drive in this country.
I found the man quite arrogant to be honest.....and if he couldn't sell me a car there and then he just wasn't interested.

Due to a variety of reasons in the past 10 years I have not wanted to deal with Arnold Clark, but thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt this time. Unfortunately it looks like I was right so I will never again consider them for future car purchases, and will do my best to dissuade others from doing so.

 

[NevMan]

I just remembered another part of the conversation I had with the Arnold Clark manager yesterday.....
He said there was uncertainty regarding what will happen after Brexit and they are expecting car prices to rise by up to 10%, so I said if that did happen it would have a significant effect on car buying in the UK. He said No it will make no difference at all, people will still buy cars like they always have.....to which I replied maybe not with fleet sales but private buyers will be put off, but again he said no they will not.
When discussing the CLA 250 which he says nobody wants because people buy the lower powered models or jump straight to the CLA 35, I mentioned that the 250 is available in Europe with 4matic AWD but it is not offered in the UK because it would place the car too close in many respects to the CLA 35(a fact that has been stated by motoring journalists), he said No it is because people don't care about all wheel drive in this country.
I found the man quite arrogant to be honest.....and if he couldn't sell me a car there and then he just wasn't interested.

Due to a variety of reasons in the past 10 years I have not wanted to deal with Arnold Clark, but thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt this time. Unfortunately it looks like I was right so I will never again consider them for future car purchases, and will do my best to dissuade others from doing so.

He sounds like a seriously arrogant and ignorant so and so. Hilarious

 

[NevMan]

Oh yes, and nobody in the UK cares for 4x4, so why have BMW, Merc etc etc followed Audi on this front

 

[quattrogone]

And of course people in this country never venture abroad let alone go anywhere the Alp's
I often found large dealerships an absolute bunch of %$*@'s when it came to buying new or nearly new cars when I was in my 30's

 

[Jassyo06]

Exactly my thoughts!
Whatever happened to "the customer is always right"
It seems to be now that the customer knows nothing and we will tell him what he wants.

What's for you wont go past you mate?
Why the downgrade lol

 

[Ron240]

Why the downgrade lol

I know your feelings about the Mercedes A Class.
Actually it would technically be a downgrade, with the direct equivalent to my current car being the CLA 35.
This is originally the car I wanted but I can't stomach the likely £480 tax at first renewal if previous price rise is repeated.
I would like to get a CLA 250.....but who knows if it will actually happen.

 

[Jassyo06]

I know your feelings about the Mercedes A Class.
Actually it would technically be a downgrade, with the direct equivalent to my current car being the CLA 35.
This is originally the car I wanted but I can't stomach the likely £480 tax at first renewal if previous price rise is repeated.
I would like to get a CLA 250.....but who knows if it will actually happen.

Hang on to your car mate....too early on in r the cla life span

 

[Ron240]

Further to my visit to Arnold Clark and the arrogant manager who told me he had never seen a CLA 250 and nobody wants them.....well I've just recently found out that Mercedes have dropped the 220 petrol model which leaves the 250 as the only 2.0 litre petrol option aside from the AMG models.
I would love to go back and see this person and rub his nose in it, but I vowed at the time never to set foot in that showroom again.

 

[HOGG]

But you can break a vow of to rub his nose

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[SaraS3]

There is a black cla35 at Southampton if you decide to pay the tax. It's £37500. I think he said it has less than 200 miles on. Autotrader says 500 miles. I'd been waiting for them to come out as I wanted to go back to Mercedes. . The dealer sent me a video but it looked small and plain. I'm going for c43.

 

[Ron240]

There is a black cla35 at Southampton if you decide to pay the tax. It's £37500. I think he said it has less than 200 miles on. Autotrader says 500 miles. I'd been waiting for them to come out as I wanted to go back to Mercedes. . The dealer sent me a video but it looked small and plain. I'm going for c43.

It all depends on how much you want to spend on a car because the C43 is a significant step up in every way.....especially price! You will pay upwards of £12k more for an equivalent spec C43 Coupe compared with the CLA 35
For the record the CLA is certainly not a small car, it is over 9" longer and 1.5" wider than an S3 Saloon.
I would only have the CLA 35 in one colour - Sun Yellow, and the C43 would need to be Brilliant Blue.
The C43 Coupé is an awesome car with IMO one of the best interiors in the business.....but unfortunately I just can't stretch to one.

 

[SaraS3]

It's the estate that I want to go back to and the cla 35 estate looked small compared to, stay the c class estate and I've had 2 c class estates and loved them. I did only see the cla35 on video though. The s3 saloon isn't practical for me. The c43 estate pre reg I'm getting is less than a new cla 35 (both premium model and the c43 is the new 2019). I realise the fuel consumption is higher but I use a merc specialist for servicing so make a great saving there. The insurance has come out the same as the s3 as I do very little mikeage. I've lost on the s3 with only having it a few months but sometimes life's too short so I thought go for it. The sun yellow was the only colour I said I wouldn't have when I was looking at the cla

 

[Ron240]

I didn't realise it was the estate versions you were talking about, so I am genuinely surprised that you think the CLA looks plain.
I think the CLA Shooting Brake is a very striking looking car, and by comparison the C43 Estate looks quite plain on the exterior.
Of course it's all subjective so we buy the car we want.....or at least the one we can afford.

 

[Bryant1998]

Think different Merc’s look very different depending on colour, my mates got a cla220 in navy and it looks very plain, but in white/silver or other lighter colours where you can see the body shape better they look great, so many lines on the body.

C43 is very nice but had one fly past me the other day, saw it coming as it was bright yellow lol, not a very impressive sound at all (on 19 plate) maybe he wasn’t in sport mode? Very underwhelming considering it was bright yellow with all the amg stickers and trims to match!


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[Ron240]

my mates got a cla220 in navy and it looks very plain

Just for clarification is it the brand new facelifted CLA he has?
I agree about lighter colours being best though......I wouldn't have a dark one.

 

[Bryant1998]

Just for clarification is it the brand new facelifted CLA he has?
I agree about lighter colours being best though......I wouldn't have a dark one.

He had a 67 plate one I think, it’s not the newest shape that was released with the cla35/a35 models. Personally I think the shape he has, but in white, is nicer than the new ones regardless of colour, imo...


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[Ron240]

He had a 67 plate one I think, it’s not the newest shape that was released with the cla35/a35 models. Personally I think the shape he has, but in white, is nicer than the new ones regardless of colour, imo...

Yes the new shape came out a few months ago on a 19 plate, although the old shape is also available on a 19 plate.
It just goes to prove how different we can all be regarding personal opinion on cars, because I think the new model looks vastly superior both inside and out. It has been likened by the motoring press to a baby CLS.
To my eyes the old one while still nice, looks slightly out of proportion to the rear.
The new model is the one that has really caught my attention so much that I would love to own one. I think it's a beautiful and stylish looking car.
My preferred colour if I was getting a CLA 250 would have been Jupiter Red which as a bonus was free, but unfortunately Mercedes have discontinued this colour leaving Polar White as the only no cost option, which luckily enough was my second choice.

 

[cuke2u]

I had an A250 CLA on order, cancelled it in the end as I didn't seem to be getting a build date. From looking in autotrader there appears to be none new you can order through there either so something's up.
I agree with you about the looks entirely..

 

[Evil Derboy]

My only experience of Merc was when I placed and order for a CLS. Not sure what I was thinking at at the time but fancied a big family barge. Got a snooty call from them a couple of days before I should have gotten a collection date to say that they had run out of 9G gearboxes at the factory and I would need to extend my current lease to wait for it.

Cancelled it and bought a Maserati a few days later. I do fancy an AMG at some point but they didn’t exactly leave a good impression with me either.

 

[Bryant1998]

Yes the new shape came out a few months ago on a 19 plate, although the old shape is also available on a 19 plate.
It just goes to prove how different we can all be regarding personal opinion on cars, because I think the new model looks vastly superior both inside and out. It has been likened by the motoring press to a baby CLS.
To my eyes the old one while still nice, looks slightly out of proportion to the rear.
The new model is the one that has really caught my attention so much that I would love to own one. I think it's a beautiful and stylish looking car.
My preferred colour if I was getting a CLA 250 would have been Jupiter Red which as a bonus was free, but unfortunately Mercedes have discontinued this colour leaving Polar White as the only no cost option, which luckily enough was my second choice.

Yeah that’s very true mate, I see a lot of different cars, of every price range and power range, on my 40k+ miles a year up and down the country and there’s probably less than 10% that I would consider owning!
Personally the shape my mate has, with all the extras like pan roof, upgraded lights, amg pack and the right choice of colour & wheels, looks miles better than the new one (with exception of the new cla45, which I still wouldn’t want to own)
Funnily enough I don’t like the rear of the new one and much as I do the old one
That red would’ve been another fantastic colour, black wheels/windows/trims etc would go great, same can be said for white!
Don’t get it twisted I’m not trying to say the cla is ugly cause it’s definitely not, comparisons to the cls are accurate as it’s just the ‘a’ version of the ‘cl’ series, hence its elegance and gorgeous curves, can’t wait to see your pictures


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[cuke2u]

They have now introduced model changes for the CLA and at last the configurator is working again. The 220 petrol engine has been dropped, along with an electric passenger seat and Patagonia Red has also been introduced. At last a change from the limited black, white, silver, grey and blue's...

 

[SaraS3]

That red is very nice

 

[Ron240]

Patagonia red looks nice in the pictures but will need to see it in the flesh so to speak to see if it is worth the additional £795 that it costs.
It is a metallic finish compared with the discontinued Jupiter Red which was a free colour.
Prices have risen by around £600 from what I can see.
Yes I mentioned about Mercedes dropping the 220 version back in post #12, and it is a sensible decision IMO. They should drop the 180 version as well while they are at it and just leave the simpler choice of 200 and 250 for the petrol models.
The 180 is in my opinion for the size and weight of car an underpowered 1.3 litre engine with only 136hp and 200Nm.

 

[Gazwould]

Looks nice , I can remember the days where most cars were red until the oil based basecoat faded , migrated through the oil based lacquer or something .

Then came Mercedes Fire Opal and Mars red
( something like that ) with it's lacquer peel issues .

This chap went in to buy a S205 in the very pleasant metallic blue colour but ordered a metallic red .

 

[cuke2u]

Many cars had fading base colours, Peugeots for one, fords for another, and also many with peeling lacquer coatings. Metallic red isn't top of anyone's list apart from me it seems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_colour_popularity

 

[cuke2u]

Patagonia red looks nice in the pictures but will need to see it in the flesh so to speak to see if it is worth the additional £795 that it costs.
It is a metallic finish compared with the discontinued Jupiter Red which was a free colour.
Prices have risen by around £600 from what I can see.
Yes I mentioned about Mercedes dropping the 220 version back in post #12, and it is a sensible decision IMO. They should drop the 180 version as well while they are at it and just leave the simpler choice of 200 and 250 for the petrol models.
The 180 is in my opinion for the size and weight of car an underpowered 1.3 litre engine with only 136hp and 200Nm.

The 180/200 engine combo are Renault versions and are probably there because of taxation in countries such as China that have a 1.5l restriction. I test drove a Jupiter red CLA, pretty dull and boring colour. But yes, like many metallic colours it needs to seen to judge upon pops and sparkles. Why I like my A4's colour is because it doesn't just had silver flakes but small black ones as well. Unfortunately though Audi have dropped it for Tango(boring) with the MY2020 A4...

 

[Ron240]

Just reviving this thread because it is still current to me.
Some of you may know I ordered a CLA 250 Premium Plus in Polar White back in January. The deal was agreed for April delivery which if delivery took that long would have meant an increase in VED of £330, but luckily the car was delivered to the dealer on 24th March.....which unfortunately was the day they closed for lockdown.
Now with Scottish car dealers anticipating a reopening date of 18th June I will be expecting a phone call around this date.
Whether I go ahead with the purchase will depend entirely on the dealer honouring the original deal.
I received a voicemail from the dealer about a month ago saying my car was in stock but not available to pick up until they reopen.......so will let you know what happens.

 

[Pinky1959]

So did you go back and rub the managers nose in it ?
Or go to another dealer and if so which one ? (I am just being nosey ),

 

[Ron240]

So did you go back and rub the managers nose in it ?
Or go to another dealer and if so which one ? (I am just being nosey ),

Hey no problem with being nosey.
No I vowed never to darken their door again!
I placed my order with Edinburgh Mercedes, which was an altogether more pleasurable experience.
As I said though the end result remains to be seen......

 

[SaraS3]

I can't see them losing a sale because of £330 even before Covid 19.
It's good that you are cool about it though so they know you are happy to walk away. I doubt they would want that.
I think you will get it

Just out of curiosity, did they guarantee your part ex price? When I was going to order new (when I thought I wanted a hybrid), they said the part ex would be lower but couldn't say how much or give me a firm delivery date. It put me off ordering when they couldn't guarantee how much cash they wanted from me.

 

[Ron240]

Just out of curiosity, did they guarantee your part ex price?

This is the part that will make or break the deal.
I placed the order at end of January and my part ex. price was agreed for April delivery, but we are now 2 months beyond this date so I don't know what will happen.
I still want the car, but the ball is in their court.

 

[Ron240]

Was speaking to my dealer today and we agreed on an additional amount to pay of £250, which I thought was fair under the circumstances.
When arranging the change to my insurance I am due a small rebate(I pay annually) which I was expecting, but curiously my compulsory excess has jumped from £150 to £350.
My S3 has just turned 2 years old so an expensive second service is due, but I wont need to bother about that now. The downside is that I believe Mercedes servicing is even more expensive than Audi.....but at least I wont need to bother about that for a full year.
I pick my new car up a week tomorrow, but will still be sticking around here because it is definitely one of the friendliest car forums I have been on.

 

[SaraS3]

Great news. I'm sure you will love it

 

[Nitro_CR]

Was speaking to my dealer today and we agreed on an additional amount to pay of £250, which I thought was fair under the circumstances.
When arranging the change to my insurance I am due a small rebate(I pay annually) which I was expecting, but curiously my compulsory excess has jumped from £150 to £350.
My S3 has just turned 2 years old so an expensive second service is due, but I wont need to bother about that now. The downside is that I believe Mercedes servicing is even more expensive than Audi.....but at least I wont need to bother about that for a full year.
I pick my new car up a week tomorrow, but will still be sticking around here because it is definitely one of the friendliest car forums I have been on.

Interesting thread reading through Ron. Glad to see you finally managed to secure a CLA250! Have you picked it up yet and if so, any pictures?

Edit: Just seen your new thread from car collection, looks great!!