Should I buy the new C Class Coupe?

[Dryce]

Originally Posted by jonnystuartuk

Don't they under value the car to try and get you to use the cash to put down as deposit for another agility deal?

Inflating the final value reduces the credit costs, gives the buyer a good feeling about how much the car is worth and how good the deal looks, and makes sure the customer is unlikely to try and buy the car at the end of the deal.

That leaves the dealer with a return customer in 2 or 3 years time for a new deal and delivers a FSH car into the franchised dealer AU network.

It creates churn.

[st4]

Originally Posted by Dryce

That leaves the dealer with a return customer in 2 or 3 years time for a new deal and delivers a FSH car into the franchised dealer AU network.

It creates churn.

Which with a wee mark up on the GMFV on the sticker price of a used one allows the Merc to regain any loss it might have made subsidising the deal to the new car buyer. Very clever

[SammyC]

Interesting comments guys.

If they do say the car is less than the GMVF but I know 2nd hand the car would sell more then I would be better off paying the final lump sum on agility and selling it myself.

i.e. GMVF is £15k.

Merc say car is £14k. So I get no part exchange.

But i know 2nd hand cars being sold for £18k.

I am better off selling the car privately for £18k and getting £3k back.

Can you sell the car before the end of the agility deal ends?

[st4]

Originally Posted by SammyC

Interesting comments guys.

If they do say the car is less than the GMVF but I know 2nd hand the car would sell more then I would be better off paying the final lump sum on agility and selling it myself.

i.e. GMVF is £15k.

Merc say car is £14k. So I get no part exchange.

But i know 2nd hand cars being sold for £18k.

I am better off selling the car privately for £18k and getting £3k back.

Can you sell the car before the end of the agility deal ends?

Yeah maybe but the beauty of a PCP is you don't have that sort of inconvience. You pay the monthly figures and hand it back after the term and start another deal.

That purchasing mechanism isn't for everyone and it may well not be for you

[ChuckyYeager]

Yes you can sell the car befor the end of the PCP and just pay MB their balance.

The GFV of my car is very low in my opinion. I planned to buy the car at the end of the term but if it wasnt my intention to buy it, I would have bought it anyway and sold it privately and I am sure I would get at least £2500 back

[Kingy68]

Originally Posted by SammyC

How good is the new C Class Coupe?
I have it on my short list but was wondering from current owners what their thoughts are on the car. Pros and cons. Any regrets or is it a dream?
Will be really helpful in my decision whether to get one.

If you prefer that over other options (usually BMW / AUDI etc) then yes buy it.

I've got the C220 Sport 125 Saloon as I needed the four doors (family) and I'm very impressed with the car. I did try the C and E class coupes as I like them, but they were both too small in the back. My choice came down to the BMW 320 Sport Plus (Msport with leather, heated seats, sat nav etc) or the C220 Sport 125. The BMW was more focused and felt quicker with a harsher ride. The Merc just felt like it did everything a little more effortlessley. Some may not like that but I did, and I preferred the look of the Merc Sport so went ahead and got one in November '11 (so the latest facelift).
We've done 4,500 miles in it now and with more familiarisation comes more enjoyment. Its quick enough, economy is good (we've ageraged just under 48mpg over last 3,500 miles of mixed driving) and it's a very nice place to sit and drive.

We had the free Command upgrade and if you can stretch to Command I personally think it is excellent. The phones connect once ignition is on and then stream music (buetooth) perfectly. You can plug in so the phone becomes a media centre (and is charged) but I only do that on longer journeys. You can also bob usb's and SD cards in (which I have loaded with music) but tbh I've never bothered with them as it's so easy with the phone I just use that. We've paired the kids ipods aswell, so on longer journeys with them they can choose their own music and stream it.

I use the linguatronics (voice control) as I find it a necessity when phoning, much easier and safer than clicking through the menus.
The Nav function works very well. I use it when nearing new places and it's very accurate.
Now I've used it I'd be very reluctant to be without Command if I go for another Merc next.

Going for the Sport model gives you most of the options so all I chose above standard was Leather, heated seats and the 7 spoke 18" alloys which I prefer to the split rims. I was quite impressed with the standard 'Liverpool' cloth option for seats, but once I've test driven a car with leather and heated seats I was sold on them. Its a choice I'm very very pleased with.

[jonnyMercUK]

Originally Posted by Kingy68

If you prefer that over other options (usually BMW / AUDI etc) then yes buy it.

I've got the C220 Sport 125 Saloon as I needed the four doors (family) and I'm very impressed with the car. I did try the C and E class coupes as I like them, but they were both too small in the back. My choice came down to the BMW 320 Sport Plus (Msport with leather, heated seats, sat nav etc) or the C220 Sport 125. The BMW was more focused and felt quicker with a harsher ride. The Merc just felt like it did everything a little more effortlessley. Some may not like that but I did, and I preferred the look of the Merc Sport so went ahead and got one in November '11 (so the latest facelift).
We've done 4,500 miles in it now and with more familiarisation comes more enjoyment. Its quick enough, economy is good (we've ageraged just under 48mpg over last 3,500 miles of mixed driving) and it's a very nice place to sit and drive.

We had the free Command upgrade and if you can stretch to Command I personally think it is excellent. The phones connect once ignition is on and then stream music (buetooth) perfectly. You can plug in so the phone becomes a media centre (and is charged) but I only do that on longer journeys. You can also bob usb's and SD cards in (which I have loaded with music) but tbh I've never bothered with them as it's so easy with the phone I just use that. We've paired the kids ipods aswell, so on longer journeys with them they can choose their own music and stream it.

I use the linguatronics (voice control) as I find it a necessity when phoning, much easier and safer than clicking through the menus.
The Nav function works very well. I use it when nearing new places and it's very accurate.
Now I've used it I'd be very reluctant to be without Command if I go for another Merc next.

Going for the Sport model gives you most of the options so all I chose above standard was Leather, heated seats and the 7 spoke 18" alloys which I prefer to the split rims. I was quite impressed with the standard 'Liverpool' cloth option for seats, but once I've test driven a car with leather and heated seats I was sold on them. Its a choice I'm very very pleased with.

I would have chosen the command if it was free

[Kingy68]

Originally Posted by jonnystuartuk

I would have chosen the command if it was free

I didn't chose it - Merc added it to all C Class cars bought towards the end of last year within their 125 year celebration.

That wasn't my point though.
On face value I wouldn't have thought it was worth the money to spec it. Now I've used Command for a few months I would pay for it if I get another Merc when I change this car. It is that good imho.

[JonnyFitz]

I agree with everything Kingy68 has written. I have exactly the same car in black (picked up 2 weeks ago). Although I got the Comand as part of the 125 edition I would not have purchased the car without it. Due to some issues I had with my original c class late last year I had been driving a new E250 AG with the becker unit.....does not compare. If you have never had comand then the becker will probably suffice

[jonnyMercUK]

Originally Posted by Kingy68

I didn't chose it - Merc added it to all C Class cars bought towards the end of last year within their 125 year celebration.

That wasn't my point though.
On face value I wouldn't have thought it was worth the money to spec it. Now I've used Command for a few months I would pay for it if I get another Merc when I change this car. It is that good imho.

Yes it was free with all the 125 editions. It's like anything really, just personal preference, I worked around all the features the COMMAND ONLINE offers so imo I saved money

[SammyC]

Decisions decisions! lol

I am hoping to book a test drive this weekend!

Good to see they have some good dealer contributions this quarter

[Dryce]

Originally Posted by SammyC

Good to see they have some good dealer contributions this quarter

Don't get too caught up with this. Just look at the all in cost.

How much *you* pay up front. Add the total of all the monthly payments. Add in any administrative costs and extras.

Ignore the list price (assuming it's not a company car). Ignore the dealer contribution or whatever else they might call it. Assume it's worth nothing to you at the end of the contract so the final value is *nothing to you*.

That number you got by totalling everything else is what the car *will cost you*. The other numbers the dealer will talk about are a distraction to play down that number and make you feel good about the deal. Moreover they want to focus your mind on monthly payments and not that total.

But at the end of the day it's only a good deal for you if you're happy with spending that total amount of money over the contract period to own the car. If you work out the same number on another car you can compare better one to another if choosing between them.

[craig1912]

Originally Posted by JonnyFitz

I agree with everything Kingy68 has written. I have exactly the same car in black (picked up 2 weeks ago). Although I got the Comand as part of the 125 edition I would not have purchased the car without it. Due to some issues I had with my original c class late last year I had been driving a new E250 AG with the becker unit.....does not compare. If you have never had comand then the becker will probably suffice

Ihavevthe Audio 20, with media interface and Beker. Bluetooth works well for phone, stream audio from my ipad (even when in the boot) and ipod through media interface works well. I looked at leather but went for the cloth seats with heating. I opted for the C250 and would rather have that engine with my current set up than the 220 with Comand. Averaged 43 mpg in last 16000 miles with 50 achievable on longer runs.

[Kingy68]

Do exactly what Dryce suggests - including cost of any options you wish to add. Once you have your total and the period you are taking it over get your monthly cost.
Then, before agreeing any deal, go to a couple of brokers and get a lease cost over the same period based on the same mileage.
The only difference between buying on a dealer PCP scheme and lease is that you give the car back at the end of the lease rather than having to buy/part ex or walk away based on future values. Youalso don't need to 'load' the front on a lease as you do on PCP's. If nothing else its worth discounting leasing, but you may find the monthly costs are less than the Merc offers despite Merc supplying the lease car to you directly. (Brokers only do the paperwork on Mercs behalf for a commission).

Make sure you have got some quotes of sites like 'Drive the deal' so you know the real going rate of the car(s) you are looking at rather than the Merc RRP which the dealership will be pushing. This will also clarify just what the dealer contributions are in the real world.

[JonnyFitz]

Originally Posted by craig1912

Ihavevthe Audio 20, with media interface and Beker. Bluetooth works well for phone, stream audio from my ipad (even when in the boot) and ipod through media interface works well. I looked at leather but went for the cloth seats with heating. I opted for the C250 and would rather have that engine with my current set up than the 220 with Comand. Averaged 43 mpg in last 16000 miles with 50 achievable on longer runs.

Each to their own - I would rather drive a C200 Se with Comand than a C250 without. There is a reason as to why Comand costs more than the becker....it's better.