New R-Class

[rottie102]

I'm thinking about getting a new car on lease hire.

I was considering an X5 or a Q7 but then I've noticed that R-Class is significantly cheaper.

I've seen 24months deals for around £360pcm where the X5 is always over £550

The more I read about them, the more I like it.(And SL65AMG was always the only Merc I could see myself driving )

Has anyone have any experience with the latest 350CDI?

I love the "luxurious 4x4 MPV" idea. I always wanted Audi to make an S8 Estate or BMW a 760 Estate.

What's the PH opinion? Anyone has got one?

[Ozzie Osmond]

Rare in UK - for a reason.

Oriented very much towards US market so we can look forward to hearing from you in the "why don't they make Uk parking spaces bigger" threads, along with the Q7 owners....

[soxboy]

rottie102 said:

I'm thinking about getting a new car on lease hire.

I was considering an X5 or a Q7 but then I've noticed that R-Class is significantly cheaper.

I've seen 24months deals for around £360pcm where the X5 is always over £550

The more I read about them, the more I like it.(And SL65AMG was always the only Merc I could see myself driving )

Has anyone have any experience with the latest 350CDI?

I love the "luxurious 4x4 MPV" idea. I always wanted Audi to make an S8 Estate or BMW a 760 Estate.

What's the PH opinion? Anyone has got one?

Very rare as people were wary of spunking £50k+ on a people carrier. If however you want all the bells and whistles they do start to make sense at that sort of lease price.

[Caulkhead]

I think they're underrated personally. OK, there's no getting away from the fact that they are big, but they are also 4WD, comfy and great cruisers. The 350CDI produces 457lb ft of torque, so they are surprisingly brisk too.

[kambites]

They always seemed much more appealing than an SUV to me - all the advantages (unless you want to do proper rough off-roading) without the stupid ride height to ruin the aerodynamics and handling.

[Matt UK]

My boss runs one.

The external looks are a bit challenging IMO, but inside it really does feel like a luxury car and the slighty raised driving position is quite nice. Excellent cruiser, very quiet and feels brisk enough.

When looking for a parking space though, you do start to realise that it is a big old beast.

[kambites]

I think there are two different wheel bases available aren't there? With LWB cars being 7 seaters and SWB ones being 5.

[rottie102]

kambites said:

I think there are two different wheel bases available aren't there? With LWB cars being 7 seaters and SWB ones being 5.

Oh, are you sure?

I don't really want the LWB one and I do want 7 seats for occasional passengers.

[Alfa numeric]

rottie102 said:

kambites said:

I think there are two different wheel bases available aren't there? With LWB cars being 7 seaters and SWB ones being 5.

Oh, are you sure?

I don't really want the LWB one and I do want 7 seats for occasional passengers.

I have a feelng that the LWB one isn't sold here any more.

[V8mate]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

E-Class based, IIRC.

[unpc]

Reports I read reckoned the SMAX was better even if they were the same money but it's 1/2 the price. Mind you that's a cracking lease deal.

[V8mate]

rottie102 said:

I've seen 24months deals for around £360pcm

Link?

[Beefmeister]

New front end is a massive improvement over the old round headlight version too:

[waremark]

Two current models, both with 7 seats. 4.9m R300, and 5.2m R350L. The short one has less room for either passengers or luggage. The long one is just longer than the Q7, and pretty comparable.

I think it is on the ML platform, not the E class platform.

[Fats25]

I cannot offer advice on the car as have never driven one, but if I had a couple of kids, it looks a great sort of car.

What I can offer advice on is the leasing experience of Mercedes Finance.

Having had a CLS320 on lease for 24 months, with excellent service all round, and I loved the ownership experience of the car, I am now going through the horse st of dealing with their defleet department, and have been for nearly 6 weeks now. They are claiming all sorts of things wrong with the car, that were not present when the car was collected.

Just something to bear in mind if you are new to leasing. From what I can see if appears Mercedes are the worst of the bunch for "trying it on". I have already had the bill they presented reduced by 30% - but it needs to get to 20% of the initial bill I was presented with for me to accept it. I have a feeling this will run, and run.

This was the part of the whole leasing process I was least looking forward to, and I have been proved correct in my fears. Shame as the rest of the experience was very good, but this is enough to put me off this route in future.

If it is a 3 x monthly figure up front + 23 payments - expect an extra 2 x months payments through the defleet process at the end. If that still works within budget then go for it, if it does not then reconsider.

[Matt UK]

Fats25 said:

I cannot offer advice on the car as have never driven one, but if I had a couple of kids, it looks a great sort of car.

What I can offer advice on is the leasing experience of Mercedes Finance.

Having had a CLS320 on lease for 24 months, with excellent service all round, and I loved the ownership experience of the car, I am now going through the horse st of dealing with their defleet department, and have been for nearly 6 weeks now. They are claiming all sorts of things wrong with the car, that were not present when the car was collected.

Just something to bear in mind if you are new to leasing. From what I can see if appears Mercedes are the worst of the bunch for "trying it on". I have already had the bill they presented reduced by 30% - but it needs to get to 20% of the initial bill I was presented with for me to accept it. I have a feeling this will run, and run.

This was the part of the whole leasing process I was least looking forward to, and I have been proved correct in my fears. Shame as the rest of the experience was very good, but this is enough to put me off this route in future.

If it is a 3 x monthly figure up front + 23 payments - expect an extra 2 x months payments through the defleet process at the end. If that still works within budget then go for it, if it does not then reconsider.

Not been in leased car for some time now, but isn't just a 15min exercise walking round the car with the agent carrying a clipboard and camera. You then both agree condition and joint sign paperwork - job done. No one can then go back and claim anything other than what is clearly stated on the paperwork?

[Fats25]

Matt UK said:

Not been in leased car for some time now, but isn't just a 15min exercise walking round the car with the agent carrying a clipboard and camera. You then both agree condition and joint sign paperwork - job done. No one can then go back and claim anything other than what is clearly stated on the paperwork?

It may be like that with other marques, but not with Mercedes. What you and the guy agree when vehicle is collected, is only good if it is in their favour. Otherwise the guy collecting the car is not qualified to make judgement! They claim that you are responsible for the vehicle until it reaches their place of final inspection.

Any damage that occurs on the way to it getting there, is the responsibility of the customer. At least that is what they are trying to tell me........

[Deerfoot]

I`ve been transported in one (row two, plenty of room behind a 6 ft driver) from London to Birmingham and can confirm that the ride is excellent and the trip up the M1/M6 was virtually silent despite travelling at an alarming rate of leptons.

It was a 320 CDI so I imagine the 350 CDI is even more impressive.

That certainly looks like a very keen rate as well.

[Matt UK]

Fats25 said:

It may be like that with other marques, but not with Mercedes. What you and the guy agree when vehicle is collected, is only good if it is in their favour. Otherwise the guy collecting the car is not qualified to make judgement! They claim that you are responsible for the vehicle until it reaches their place of final inspection.

Any damage that occurs on the way to it getting there, is the responsibility of the customer. At least that is what they are trying to tell me........

That is a complete piss take. Cheeky feckers