New E Class - Specification

[steve333]

I agree, but when it comes to cars in the UK, the consumer who dictates the price is actually the fleet market, not the private buyer who continues to get stiffed. Mercedes-Benz are chasing volume and in the UK that means deep discounting to the fleet market, which in turn destroys residuals.

It also means extremely good value for the used car buyer-especially 2/3 year old cars that flood the market when lease contracts end.

 

[st13phil]

I'd argue that used cars aren't actually good value, just that they're more realistically priced at a level the consumer is prepared to pay. The sad fact is that new cars in the UK are grossly overpriced at list - which is near enough what the private buyer has to stump up if they want a new car - whereas the transaction price that the fleets pay often represents a 20-30% discount on that list price. That's why UK new car depreciation is so high.

 

[steve333]

I'd argue that used cars aren't actually good value, just that they're more realistically priced at a level the consumer is prepared to pay. The sad fact is that new cars in the UK are grossly overpriced at list - which is near enough what the private buyer has to stump up if they want a new car - whereas the transaction price that the fleets pay often represents a 20-30% discount on that list price. That's why UK new car depreciation is so high.

Agree,but private buyers have no control of new car prices in the uk so it's either pay the price or don't buy new,i've only decided to buy my new E-clas because i will keep it for 10 years in which time it would have paid for itself against the running cost difference of the cls500 it replaced.

 

[st13phil]

Just been mousing around on a couple of the US-centric MB forums and the "sport" style grill plus lack of bonnet badge is coming in for a good deal of flak there too.

 

[V12]

10 years ago the only mercedes saloon cars with the "sport style" aftermarket grille were found in southall alongg with gold stars. That ethnic group are excellent buyers of mb...maybe mb are trying to keep them happy! Will we see gold stars next?

 

[rothbury]

I do read some rubbish on this forum.

"Take some realization of "

Weird -this sort of unusual combination of words appears in another of this guy's 4 posts!

 

[Moonie]

I'd argue that used cars aren't actually good value, just that they're more realistically priced at a level the consumer is prepared to pay. The sad fact is that new cars in the UK are grossly overpriced at list - which is near enough what the private buyer has to stump up if they want a new car - whereas the transaction price that the fleets pay often represents a 20-30% discount on that list price. That's why UK new car depreciation is so high.

Does anyone actually pay list? My father has just paid £15,700 for a new focus with a list price of £21,000 - 25% off. You can't by a 12 month old 'approved' one for that!

The lease companies can claim 100% VAT back on cars they lease/hire out, so the discount is nearly 50% of list price.

 

[Dieselman]

It looks like they are going down the BMW route of almost all cars being the silly M Sport spec called AMG in this case.

The best spec was Avantgarde which is no longer available.

Same for the 350 Saloon - now only available in AMG Sport spec Agreed.

Oh well, that's it decided that my next car most definitely won't be a facelift W212.

Looks like Neil was right.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/merc...per-merc-business-line-range.html#post1636019

 

[Dieselman]

The car industry could do something to bolster residuals, giving a 5 or 6 year 120k mile warranty would help, this would make buying a 3 year old car much more desirable for many, they could even have a clause that to get the further 3 years you have to buy from a main dealer.
But they are not really interested, they are into the numbers game these days, and they want people coming back every two to three years, as long as they get £400 a month they don't care what the start and end price is really.

Why should they, they have paid their money.

As far as residuals go, why is strong residuals a good thing and anyway, compared to most luxury consumer goods cars have very strong residuals.

 

[st4]

Why should they, they have paid their money.

As far as residuals go, why is strong residuals a good thing and anyway, compared to most luxury consumer goods cars have very strong residuals.

Proper camera gear and automatic watches are the only things that probably depreciate slower than cars. Its miraclous you can buy a car, drive the equivilent of around the world and get half your money back!!!!

 

[gIzzE]

Why should they, they have paid their money.

As far as residuals go, why is strong residuals a good thing and anyway, compared to most luxury consumer goods cars have very strong residuals.

Very true.

I think that came from the adverts on TV in NY when the X3 was launched.
It was something along the lines of 6 years warranty, unlimited milage, and a 50% buyback, this meant at 3 years old you could sell it on with warranty left and prices stayed firm.

An e class in a 2002 Glasses's guide was showing 57% retained value, today it is 42%.
Buying new? You're either clued up or brave.

I do however think motoring is cheap these days, as is most things.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Looks like Neil was right.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/merc...per-merc-business-line-range.html#post1636019

Apart from the real AMGs that will be badged MB to differentiate them from the hoi-polloi in fake AMGs..

 

[Dryce]

Buying new? You're either clued up or brave.

Priced up cars this afternoon.

Went looking for a used one. Sales person at one branch listened to me and pointed out what I could buy for cash from their national used stock and then took me to a new one and quoted a deposit + monthly number to which VAT was then added.

I've come back scratching my head to do my sums. Every traditionalist fibre in my body says buy outright and buy used so somebody else takes the depreciation hit.

The contract deal on offer just blows that logic out of the water and the car will be brand new. (Wow I get to choose the colour and trim for the first time in years). Basically over the contract period the same used car would depreciate by about the same as the contract cost and my capital will also be tied up. Just out of interest I checked for an equivalent finance deal on the used one and it is a higher monthly than the contract and involves a big final payment.

Sometimes the world just seems mad.

(One downside is that the used car cold be picked up in days as opposed to 6 or more weeks).

 

[LTD]

Priced up cars this afternoon.

Went looking for a used one. Sales person at one branch listened to me and pointed out what I could buy for cash from their national used stock and then took me to a new one and quoted a deposit + monthly number to which VAT was then added.

I've come back scratching my head to do my sums. Every traditionalist fibre in my body says buy outright and buy used so somebody else takes the depreciation hit.

The contract deal on offer just blows that logic out of the water and the car will be brand new. (Wow I get to choose the colour and trim for the first time in years). Basically over the contract period the same used car would depreciate by about the same as the contract cost and my capital will also be tied up. Just out of interest I checked for an equivalent finance deal on the used one and it is a higher monthly than the contract and involves a big final payment.

Agreed 100%

The amount of money that Mercedes are throwing at new cars just now is incredible - around 15% discount.

 

[gIzzE]

Plus if you contract hire the lender can claim the VAT on the purchase which saves you again.

 

[BigSilverEstate]

Priced up cars this afternoon.

Went looking for a used one. Sales person at one branch listened to me and pointed out what I could buy for cash from their national used stock and then took me to a new one and quoted a deposit + monthly number to which VAT was then added.

I've come back scratching my head to do my sums. Every traditionalist fibre in my body says buy outright and buy used so somebody else takes the depreciation hit.

The contract deal on offer just blows that logic out of the water and the car will be brand new. (Wow I get to choose the colour and trim for the first time in years). Basically over the contract period the same used car would depreciate by about the same as the contract cost and my capital will also be tied up. Just out of interest I checked for an equivalent finance deal on the used one and it is a higher monthly than the contract and involves a big final payment.

Sometimes the world just seems mad.

(One downside is that the used car cold be picked up in days as opposed to 6 or more weeks).

Can you share any particulars?

 

[steve333]

Agreed 100%

The amount of money that Mercedes are throwing at new cars just now is incredible - around 15% discount.

Exactly why i bought new last week,ok the facelift is out in march but i got the model/colour/spec(and more) i wanted at close to 20% discount(£41k list-after dealer contribution/finance for 2 months it cost me £33,100).

 

[Ash]

Not only did Steve get better value, arguably he got the important mod, which imho is the 7+ auto box. Other key mod seemed to be the up-rating of the 3.0 diesel to give it more bhp, lbs/ft, improved emissions and mpg. Not all here like the 7 speed and stop start but it's the only way to get competitive figures and the previous 5 speeder and the previous 3.0 were looking un-competitive with BMW, audi, Jag etc. These changes were slipped out in a deliberately low-key way.

In comparison I can't see what the facelift has done that is of a similar order. Changed the styling and sport-ified the spec.

Perhaps the materials are better quality and the road noise has been sorted out. We'll see in forthcoming tests and forthcoming forum members' opinions having driven pre & post facelift.
Ash

 

[igk1]

I bought my new E220CDI Avantgarde just before Xmas - I traded in my 3yr old E220CDI, and got what I thought was a fantastic deal. I got about 20% off plus a fair trade-in for the 3yr old one. This has 7g+ plus the newer style DRLs, and the 'sporty' exhaust pipes, so seemed a great upgrade on the previous one. DAB radio and Becker Map Pilot D) too.
I hadn't actually been looking - we were researching the M Class for my wife, and were looking at a long wait for a new order, and the salesman said 'it's a shame you don't want an E Class - we've got those in abundance' - and one thing led to another...

 

[steve333]

Not only did Steve get better value, arguably he got the important mod, which imho is the 7+ auto box. Other key mod seemed to be the up-rating of the 3.0 diesel to give it more bhp, lbs/ft, improved emissions and mpg. Not all here like the 7 speed and stop start but it's the only way to get competitive figures and the previous 5 speeder and the previous 3.0 were looking un-competitive with BMW, audi, Jag etc. These changes were slipped out in a deliberately low-key way.

In comparison I can't see what the facelift has done that is of a similar order. Changed the styling and sport-ified the spec.

Perhaps the materials are better quality and the road noise has been sorted out. We'll see in forthcoming tests and forthcoming forum members' opinions having driven pre & post facelift.
Ash

Early days but no noticeable difference between the 7g in my cls & the 7g+ in my e-class which hasn't got stop start