2026 electric GLC, MB.DRIVE ASSIST digital extra cost!?

[TheDeuce]

Hi all,

I'm about to order the new electric GLC, but I see from standard kit that it only has MB.DRIVE standard, not MB.DRIVE ASSIST which has most of the automated driving tech unlocks in it.

But I haven't had a Merc for years and there doesn't appear to be any way of logging in to the Merc Me store until you have the cars VIN, so no way of checking what packages are available or the cost

Does anyone have a recent GLC that has some idea of the cost and content of the more advanced 'assist' drive package?

I'm slightly concerned that until the cars ship, there's no way of knowing if the automated driving options will even be available for it, although it clearly has all the hardware. Do Mercedes normally make these sort of subscription upgrades available straight away for brand new models?

[lesR]

This may give you an idea on costing but it is for the CLA 250+

[Jon39]

TheDeuce said:

Hi all,

I'm about to order the new electric GLC, but I see from standard kit that it only has MB.DRIVE standard, not MB.DRIVE ASSIST which has most of the automated driving tech unlocks in it.
... Does anyone have a recent GLC that has some idea of the cost and content of the more advanced 'assist' drive package?

I don't expect you need to worry about the cost of the more advanced assist drive.
Compared to the horrific new elecric vehicle depreciation, it will be just loose change.

[TheDeuce]

Jon39 said:

TheDeuce said:

Hi all,

I'm about to order the new electric GLC, but I see from standard kit that it only has MB.DRIVE standard, not MB.DRIVE ASSIST which has most of the automated driving tech unlocks in it.
... Does anyone have a recent GLC that has some idea of the cost and content of the more advanced 'assist' drive package?

I don't expect you need to worry about the cost of the more advanced assist drive.
Compared to the horrific new elecric vehicle depreciation, it will be just loose change.

You've set your expectations without reading the thread then? It's been stated multiple times it's a lease car - depreciation doesn't come into it.

The total cost over three years equates to about 40% of the cars RRP, so inline with the depreciation of any ICE high powered luxury SUV I expect

These sort of cars mostly sell via leasing companies so the headline RRP is inflated, causing the depreciation that the media like to spaff themselves over. In real terms, once tax is taken into account, this car as a company car will probably cost me less overall than a decent ICE Golf would if I paid for it privately. That's why the manufacturers start with a higher RRP, because they know how affordable the cars really are to their first owner/drivers...

[Jon39]

TheDeuce said:

You've set your expectations without reading the thread then? It's been stated multiple times it's a lease car - depreciation doesn't come into it.

The total cost over three years equates to about 40% of the cars RRP, so inline with the depreciation of any ICE high powered luxury SUV I expect

These sort of cars mostly sell via leasing companies so the headline RRP is inflated, causing the depreciation that the media like to spaff themselves over. In real terms, once tax is taken into account, this car as a company car will probably cost me less overall than a decent ICE Golf would if I paid for it privately. That's why the manufacturers start with a higher RRP, because they know how affordable the cars really are to their first owner/drivers...

I apologise to you, although rereading your post several times, I still cannot see any reference to leasing.
Anyway, you are certainly dealing with it in the best way, guaranteeing there is no unknown financial risk to yourself.

With so many EVs now ending lease or PCP, consequently moving into the used market and also the large number of pre-registered new vehicles advertised for sale, values are under pressure.

Enjoy your car. Mercedes cars have been serving me very well for 25 years.

[TheDeuce]

Jon39 said:

TheDeuce said:

You've set your expectations without reading the thread then? It's been stated multiple times it's a lease car - depreciation doesn't come into it.

The total cost over three years equates to about 40% of the cars RRP, so inline with the depreciation of any ICE high powered luxury SUV I expect

These sort of cars mostly sell via leasing companies so the headline RRP is inflated, causing the depreciation that the media like to spaff themselves over. In real terms, once tax is taken into account, this car as a company car will probably cost me less overall than a decent ICE Golf would if I paid for it privately. That's why the manufacturers start with a higher RRP, because they know how affordable the cars really are to their first owner/drivers...

I apologise to you, although rereading your post several times, I still cannot see any reference to leasing.
Anyway, you are certainly dealing with it in the best way, guaranteeing there is no unknown financial risk to yourself.

With so many EVs now ending lease or PCP, consequently moving into the used market and also the large number of pre-registered new vehicles advertised for sale, values are under pressure.

Enjoy your car. Mercedes cars have been serving me very well for 25 years.

I need to apologise actually, I was confusing this with another GLC thread which had fone into the leasing subject

I think the used, ex lease market simply reveals the real world value of the cars, and is probably not dissimilar to the value they would still hold at the same age in the used market even if they were initially sold for less. The rrp attached to these cars is very much a device to take some of the considerable government tax savings and put it into the manufacturers coffers, as is always the way with any sort of incentive... This distortion of real world value does lead to 'on paper' high levels of depreciation, which then leads to negative press and additional depreciation due to that - which is great for used buyers as there are serious bargains to be had for as long as this lasts!

The reality regards pre-registrations is that it's simply cheaper to shift units that way than it is to pay the mandate fines for not doing so. Eventually those pre-registered cars can be sold at a discounted price, which doesn't harm the manufacturers as the price was inflated initially anyway, it also doesn't really harm the dealers, who I'm sure are compensated in some way for helpfully taking the cars when they needed to.

What is good is that the Chinese competition at the budget to mid range of the market has effectively forced wester manufacturers to stop over pricing, which is why recent mid range EV's on sale in the UK are pretty much at price parity with ICE equivalents. I expect that will apply soon enough to the premium end of the market too, because the Chinese are after that too!

Anyway, I've derailed my own thread but it's I find the mechanics at play behind the headlines to be interesting. It's a fantastic time to buy a used EV and a no brainer time to lease one if you can through a company of a (decent) SS scheme.

Glad you're reporting dealings with Merc all this time!