Why don't more people drive luxury brands like Mercedes or BMW?

[mickl]

I can't be bothered to make the comparison with current vehicles (although current Mondeo seems huge), but the last 4dr saloon version of Mondeo was bigger than 5 Series.

the current(ie old version compared to the US) Mondeo estate is longer than the largest Volvo estate car. Mondeos are brilliant to drive though and certainly at least on a par with the vast number of the 'luxury' brands.

 

[Dryce]

the current(ie old version compared to the US) Mondeo estate is longer than the largest Volvo estate car. Mondeos are brilliant to drive though and certainly at least on a par with the vast number of the 'luxury' brands.

I've had Mondeo and Insignia 2 litre diesel automatics as hire cars. Both are fine cars compare with their predecessors.

The last Insignia I had about three weeks ago was the highest mileage hire car I've ever driven in the UK at 28K miles and about 18 months old. It felt fine and rattle free and drove very well given what I'm used to.

(Both better IMO than the equivalent Passat or Avensis.)

 

[gIzzE]

Mercedes CLS 250 cdi shooting brake at £239 a month with £1900 down at the moment. Great price for a £50,000 car.

That is plus vat.

 

[gIzzE]

Better add one of the adverts....

http://www.freedomcontracts.com/mercedes-cls-estate-lease/

Mercedes-Benz Cls contract hire | £239.99 per month | Countrywide Vehicle Leasing | ID: 22622383

 

[blue gnome123]

Gizze. That is an amazing deal.

 

[geraldrobins]

People tend to buy the make of car theyre used to. Also I think a lot of people are of the opinion that MB dont make cars to suit most pockets. C class v Passat for example are similarly priced. As for luxury most cars have advanced a long way and can be specced to a very high level.

 

[l5foye]

Who makes the engines for CLA's?

 

[grober]

All Mercedes afaik.

 

[Dryce]

Who makes the engines for CLA's?

MB 1.6 or 2.0 litre petrol with turbochargers and various power outputs.

MB 1.8 or 2.1 turbo-diesel.

However its A class sibling offers up a 1.6 diesel option derived from a Renault unit.

Given the relative performance of Renualt engine cars vs Mercedes in F1 this may be a good thing .....

 

[markjay]

I drove Vauxhall Omegas for 10 years.

Bought them when they were a few months old, first owner a Leasing company.

Typical cost around half(!) that of a new car.

Reason? They were originally sold to fleets at fire-sale prices when new.

I often wondered if anyone ever actually bought a new Omega privately?

I don't see MB or BMW or Audi selling new cars to fleet buyers at 30% off list price (which is probably how the Vauxhalls were discounted when new).

 

[davidjpowell]

I drove Vauxhall Omegas for 10 years.

Bought them when they were a few months old, first owner a Leasing company.

Typical cost around half(!) that of a new car.

Reason? They were originally sold to fleets at fire-sale prices when new.

I often wondered if anyone ever actually bought a new Omega privately?

I don't see MB or BMW or Audi selling new cars to fleet buyers at 30% off list price (which is probably how the Vauxhalls were discounted when new).

I suspect that none of them discount to that level. I also suspect that all the german manufacturers will still give healthy discounts to fleet buyers.

 

[Rory]

I don't see MB or BMW or Audi selling new cars to fleet buyers at 30% off list price (which is probably how the Vauxhalls were discounted when new).

The lease deals available on some MB models imply that sort of discount.

A colleague got a BMW520d Touring on PCP recently - it's a bit tough to figure out the details of the deal (some options were included and he had a dodgy p/x) but there's about a 20% discount and the interest rate was very low too.

Drive the Deal are doing 27.5% discount on some Audis.

 

[markjay]

My best deal was a 4-months old Omega V6 CDX (auto, full leather, HID, sunroof, changer, etc etc..) with £6k miles, list price £24k, bought for £14k.

I have no doubt the leasing company did NOT lose £10k on that car...

 

[Paul/]

Circa 30% discount on a new Vauxhall should be (and was) possible for a private buyer using GM Finance (borrowing the minimum amount to qualify for an additional contribution, said amount then paid off as early as possible- after the 1st 3 monthly payments IIRC). Even bigger discount on outgoing models.

 

[tonyloz]

Well, having just paid out on a B3 service today for my C220 S204 BE Sport to the tune of £582, I did think for a split second I can see why people get tempted for the extended warranty deals offered by more mainstream makes.

 

[markjay]

Well, having just paid out on a B3 service today for my C220 S204 BE Sport to the tune of £582, I did think for a split second I can see why people get tempted for the extended warranty deals offered by more mainstream makes.

My Kia has 7 years warranty... and surprisingly the car does not need to be serviced by a Kia dealer to maintain it. I still don't see the suits in Stuttgart panicking over this.

 

[Rory]

My best deal was a 4-months old Omega V6 CDX (auto, full leather, HID, sunroof, changer, etc etc..) with £6k miles, list price £24k, bought for £14k.

I have no doubt the leasing company did NOT lose £10k on that car...

I paid £23K for my ex-MB management car at 5mths/6K miles - list was £36K. OK, you still beat me slightly in percentage terms but MB will still have made a profit on my car - they get "transferred" at massive discounts.

 

[Mercy1]

I paid £23K for my ex-MB management car at 5mths/6K miles - list was £36K. OK, you still beat me slightly in percentage terms but MB will still have made a profit on my car - they get "transferred" at massive discounts.

...not necessarily...MB management are not in the business of "selling" cars...they get their cars by virtue of their position within the conglomerate...they may pay more or less than £23,000 new but if they shift them on at the notional cost price they have neither lost nor gained anything!

Long may that continue, I can hear you say...

 

[Dieselman]

Management cars come from the Managed Lease fleet, not Mercedes UK Managers.