[tinytrevor]

This car is now available for all you hearse lovers:

http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/cont...05.html#/p3501

£46700 for a base car, have added premium + package, leather, blue paint and a few trinkets and the price is now at £55k...

[Rbrown]

Will be very interested to see the reviews of this new car.

I fear MB will need to offer some better deals to match the discountscavailsblevthrough BMW.

[tinytrevor]

Broadspeed quotes £6k and £7k off C63 and C63S respectively.
I suspect there won't be much off the list initially, but given the current price it's over £5k more than a 340i before any discounts!

As you said, wait and see how the car drives and if it's worth so much more than 340i. Also, wait for the S4 to come into the equation.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Looks good, will wait to see how it's received.

You don't actually need to spec a huge amount TBH.

Price wise, will be fine with discounts.

If it drives as well as a F31, then it pretty much comes down to discounts.

[siross]

Very good looking car, will be interesting to see how competitively priced it is with discounts.

[tinytrevor]

Indeed, ideally some car magazine should have a group test 340i vs C43 vs S4. No doubt there will be one in Germany by Autobild etc.

Looking forward to seeing reviews, but can anticipate bmw will drop points for it's slightly dated' interior, lack of loads of rubbish features (that audi has) and RWD (at least according to some journos).

However, if both C43 and S4 are half baked performance cars one should expect BMW response in the form of m340i?

[Grant_7]

Interestingly like-for-like specifications put the prices very close compared with a 340i Touring (less than £1k difference). But that's before discount of course...

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Grant_7

Interestingly like-for-like specifications put the prices very close compared with a 340i Touring (less than £1k difference). But that's before discount of course...

Yes, I reckon high 40's gets you a pretty nice spec car which is similar to the list price for an equivalent 340i - don't see C43 discounts being over 20% in the short-term though! However, while accepting you have to view these things in the round, surely it's a bit off for Mercedes to be fitting those horrible plastic (Artico) seats as standard on a car costing £45k?!

[Grant_7]

Yes completely agree. I got >£11.5k off my 340i Touring which is a significant saving, especially if you're getting minimal (if any) savings from Mercedes.

As for the artico, my E-class has the half leather / half alcantara artico stuff. I don't mind it at all.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Grant_7

As for the artico, my E-class has the half leather / half alcantara artico stuff. I don't mind it at all.

Just seems a tad stingy to be offering Artico on such an expensive car but, as I say, you probably have to look at the overall specification and I'm sure Merc are fitting things as standard for which are BMW charging extra (must be the case for the like for like list prices to end-up similar for a given spec!). In terms of the Artico it's each to their own I suppose; remember looking at an old shape C-Class with the artico/dinamica upholstery and thinking it felt a bit cheap and that leather made a big difference to the ambience of the interior....

[ep22jg]

If the C43 is better specced as standard, the residuals should be better than the 340i loaded with options! Therefore, on a PCP, the monthlies might be similar, even without a huge discount??

Edit:

Just configured a C43 saloon to £47.5k
That's standard plus the Premium plus pack and metallic paint

Would probably be tempted by proper leather and the sports exhaust, so just over £49k.
With a nominal 10% off, £44k, so around £4-5k more than a similar spec. 340i

I'd guess the residuals would be better than the 340i, so very close over 3-4 years!!

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by ep22jg

If the C43 is better specced as standard, the residuals should be better than the 340i loaded with options! Therefore, on a PCP, the monthlies might be similar, even without a huge discount??

Edit:

Just configured a C43 saloon to £47.5k
That's standard plus the Premium plus pack and metallic paint

Would probably be tempted by proper leather and the sports exhaust, so just over £49k.
With a nominal 10% off, £44k, so around £4-5k more than a similar spec. 340i

I'd guess the residuals would be better than the 340i, so very close over 3-4 years!!

Good point, would be interesting to see how the expected residuals and monthly repayments compare on a PCP relative to a 340i!

[WeaverBeaver]

Originally Posted by ep22jg

If the C43 is better specced as standard, the residuals should be better than the 340i loaded with options! Therefore, on a PCP, the monthlies might be similar, even without a huge discount??

Edit:

Just configured a C43 saloon to £47.5k
That's standard plus the Premium plus pack and metallic paint

Would probably be tempted by proper leather and the sports exhaust, so just over £49k.
With a nominal 10% off, £44k, so around £4-5k more than a similar spec. 340i

I'd guess the residuals would be better than the 340i, so very close over 3-4 years!!

No chance. Even if the difference between purchase price and GFV remains the same, the car which has a higher purchase price will result in higher monthly payments as this determines the amount borrowed and the amount you pay interest on. So it's better to have 1k more discount than 1k higher GFV for monthlies.

On my 4yr PCP 340i purchase price after discount ~38k, GFV~17k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~500pm

Imagine you might be able to knock 5k off purchase price of the Merc so let's call it 45k for example sake. Assuming the same period, rate and deposit, you'd need a GFV of about 26k to keep monthlies the same. If it was 3k higher than the 340i for e.g. at 20k, you'd still be paying over £100 more per month. Seems very unlikely GFV would be so high after 4 years. Same thinking applies whether its 2 years, 3 years etc.

So therefore lesson is discounts rule!

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by WeaverBeaver

No chance. Even if the difference between purchase price and GFV remains the same, the car which has a higher purchase price will result in higher monthly payments as this determines the amount borrowed and the amount you pay interest on. So it's better to have 1k more discount than 1k higher GFV for monthlies.

On my 4yr PCP 340i purchase price after discount ~38k, GFV~17k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~500pm

Imagine you might be able to knock 5k off purchase price of the Merc so let's call it 45k for example sake. Assuming the same period, rate and deposit, you'd need a GFV of about 26k to keep monthlies the same. If it was 3k higher than the 340i for e.g. at 20k, you'd still be paying over £100 more per month. Seems very unlikely GFV would be so high after 4 years. Same thinking applies whether its 2 years, 3 years etc.

So therefore lesson is discounts rule!

And I can see this as well! The Merc may have a better residuals (although that's yet to be proved) but in terms of monthly repayments on a PCP that's unlikely to offset fully the effect of the big up-front discounts available on the 340i.....

[ep22jg]

Originally Posted by WeaverBeaver

No chance. Even if the difference between purchase price and GFV remains the same, the car which has a higher purchase price will result in higher monthly payments as this determines the amount borrowed and the amount you pay interest on. So it's better to have 1k more discount than 1k higher GFV for monthlies.

On my 4yr PCP 340i purchase price after discount ~38k, GFV~17k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~500pm

Imagine you might be able to knock 5k off purchase price of the Merc so let's call it 45k for example sake. Assuming the same period, rate and deposit, you'd need a GFV of about 26k to keep monthlies the same. If it was 3k higher than the 340i for e.g. at 20k, you'd still be paying over £100 more per month. Seems very unlikely GFV would be so high after 4 years. Same thinking applies whether its 2 years, 3 years etc.

So therefore lesson is discounts rule!

I agree with your sentiment, but not sure of your figures

Obviously, this is all hypothetical, as we don't know what discounts or residuals will be for the Merc.

Using your figures, I reckon the Merc would need to be worth £23k after 4 years to keep the monthlies the same. Possible??

[WeaverBeaver]

Originally Posted by ep22jg

I agree with your sentiment, but not sure of your figures

Obviously, this is all hypothetical, as we don't know what discounts or residuals will be for the Merc.

Using your figures, I reckon the Merc would need to be worth £23k after 4 years to keep the monthlies the same. Possible??

I was including a 3k deposit - just run it on a PCP calculator

340i: ~38k, GFV~17k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~500pm
Merc ~45k, GFV~23k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~560pm
Merc ~45k, GFV~26k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~500pm

I know it's all hypothetical, but I'd be surprised if the GFV was as high as that after 4 years, so don't expect PCP deals to be as affordable as 340i

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by WeaverBeaver

I was including a 3k deposit - just run it on a PCP calculator

340i: ~38k, GFV~17k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~500pm
Merc ~45k, GFV~23k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~560pm
Merc ~45k, GFV~26k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~500pm

I know it's all hypothetical, but I'd be surprised if the GFV was as high as that after 4 years, so don't expect PCP deals to be as affordable as 340i

I tend to agree that the C43 will probably work out more expensive unless or until discounts move closer to those available on the 340i; however, if someone can afford £500/month I'm not sure another £50 would actually be a deal-breaker? I know everyone has to have a limit somewhere but if I preferred the Merc and it was going to cost (say) £550/month as against £500/month for a 340i I'd find the extra from somewhere as otherwise I'd feel like I was shelling out a load of money for a car that was second best and would just end-up resenting it! Obviously there comes a point at which the C43 is just unaffordable but if the monthlies are within 10% of a 340i I'd have thought it would still be in-play for most prospective buyers?

[tinytrevor]

Went to a local Merc garage after work to gather some intelligence for the sake of our conversation here

No financial quotation is available at this point as there's nothing on the dealer's system. Had a decent chat with the sales guy though as he drives a m135i, so was able to find the common ground there. Said he drove the hairdressers merc, think SLC43 and apparently this new engine is really aggresive, pops and burbles a lot and got a feel of a N55 with the JB4 fitted to it.

Another note was that C class residuals aren't really that great either, so I would not expect anything like £23-£26k after 4 years etc. And when I mentioned no discounts are usually available on a brand new model, apparently they offer £3 off the new E class already - which after checking on broadspeed is still £1k less than achieveable on a cheapest model. So perhaps it is not unreasonable to expect £5k off the price of a standard C43?

Still it's gonna be dearer than a nicely specced 340i me thinks.

Oh, forgot to mention how fucking horrible that aftermarket tablet looks on the dashboard!

[ep22jg]

Originally Posted by WeaverBeaver

I was including a 3k deposit - just run it on a PCP calculator

340i: ~38k, GFV~17k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~500pm
Merc ~45k, GFV~23k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~560pm
Merc ~45k, GFV~26k, 3k deposit, 5.9% = ~500pm

I know it's all hypothetical, but I'd be surprised if the GFV was as high as that after 4 years, so don't expect PCP deals to be as affordable as 340i

Figures don't lie!!

Still think Merc would be nearer £43k after -10% and 340i would be around £40k specced the same???

Tend to agree about that centre screen!!!!

[SkyJawa]

It's still fugly as fuck! Who cares about residuals when it looks like a melted elephants arse!

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by SkyJawa

It's still fugly as fuck! Who cares about residuals when it looks like a melted elephants arse!

Each to their own but I think the estate version (the initial subject of this thread) looks ok! I do agree with the comments about the screen on the dash though - just looks tagged on as an afterthought!

[GBR1]

The estate looks much better than the saloon version, but still isn't the best. The interior looks fine apart from the stuck on i pad..

I am sure the engine and drive train will be top notch though and I wonder if the 4matic will drag a few BMW customers?

As said above they come pretty loaded, mine came to 49K, similar price to my 340i loaded up..

GBR1