After following these forums for the last 18 months or so, originally wanting a pre 07 C320 CDI (previous model) in the middle of the recession, but never having quite the enough money, things have improved to the point of leasing a new car. Started my own business following redundancy last February and things have been going well, so I have been putting money away and trading in bank shares to earn some extra money.
So having researched the previous C320CDI, then considered the E320 CDI, again previous iteration, and having driven a C270 CDI (great engine and very refined) and a E270 CDI, which was also very impressive, I decided to hold fire and see how the business went and with the benefit of having some regular contract work, I could take money from the business which I did not need as a salary. So basically, I was able to put away an amount roughly equal to a couple of years of lease payments. With a self imposed budget of £400/month I started to look at a new C Class diesel, with the usual male trait of hankering after the biggest engine, the C350 CDI!
I manged to test drive a C220 CDI coupe which put my mind at rest over the Sport model being too hard riding. I found it to be firm but supple. There were hardly any C350's around to be able to test drive, but then my wife said that if this was the type of car I really wanted, she should see it before (we) made a decision. I managed to test drive one via the Epsom dealer, but never really got it over 40 mph because it was a Saturday and the roads were busy and the dealer had other people waiting to see him, plus we were late arriving because of the usual Saturday traffic.
All the lease quotes I was receiving were around £450/month on a personal lease for the C350 and £375 -395 on a C250, which I was thinking would be all I could afford. In stock vehicles were much cheaper but I wanted options fitted!
Then out of the blue I was offered a stock C350 CDI Sport saloon Edition 125, which I knew had finished in November 2011. This particular car seems to have been lost in the system and was registered in November but will be delivered with delivery mileage only. This does not matter to me as I am leasing but it has the options I wanted:
Metallic
Comand (it is an Edition 125)
Leather
Heated seats
The reason I had to read the quote about 6 times was that it includes full maintenance including tyres and road tax for the duration of the contract.
The price.........£403/month inc VAT 6+23
Can't quite believe my luck - Oh and it comes in my preferred colour - Cavansite blue (or Caravan site blue as I call it!)
Anyway, car is ordered/reserved finance approved and I am having delivery on Wednesday - also my Birthday!
Will report back
So having researched the previous C320CDI, then considered the E320 CDI, again previous iteration, and having driven a C270 CDI (great engine and very refined) and a E270 CDI, which was also very impressive, I decided to hold fire and see how the business went and with the benefit of having some regular contract work, I could take money from the business which I did not need as a salary. So basically, I was able to put away an amount roughly equal to a couple of years of lease payments. With a self imposed budget of £400/month I started to look at a new C Class diesel, with the usual male trait of hankering after the biggest engine, the C350 CDI!
I manged to test drive a C220 CDI coupe which put my mind at rest over the Sport model being too hard riding. I found it to be firm but supple. There were hardly any C350's around to be able to test drive, but then my wife said that if this was the type of car I really wanted, she should see it before (we) made a decision. I managed to test drive one via the Epsom dealer, but never really got it over 40 mph because it was a Saturday and the roads were busy and the dealer had other people waiting to see him, plus we were late arriving because of the usual Saturday traffic.
All the lease quotes I was receiving were around £450/month on a personal lease for the C350 and £375 -395 on a C250, which I was thinking would be all I could afford. In stock vehicles were much cheaper but I wanted options fitted!
Then out of the blue I was offered a stock C350 CDI Sport saloon Edition 125, which I knew had finished in November 2011. This particular car seems to have been lost in the system and was registered in November but will be delivered with delivery mileage only. This does not matter to me as I am leasing but it has the options I wanted:
Metallic
Comand (it is an Edition 125)
Leather
Heated seats
The reason I had to read the quote about 6 times was that it includes full maintenance including tyres and road tax for the duration of the contract.
The price.........£403/month inc VAT 6+23
Can't quite believe my luck - Oh and it comes in my preferred colour - Cavansite blue (or Caravan site blue as I call it!)
Anyway, car is ordered/reserved finance approved and I am having delivery on Wednesday - also my Birthday!
Will report back
