RE: 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS: Driven

[BIRMA]

Patrick Bateman said:

Not ugly but a lot of these Mercs look very samey at the minute when compared with how much the first CLS stood out.

I agree I can remember one of my customers had one of the first CLS AMG's looked like nothing else on the road at the time. It also introduced cooled seats to me me, something I consider important in a car.

[Milemuncher]

unsprung said:

Milemuncher said:

Any exterior colour you like as long as it’s grey or black.

Any interior colour you like as long as it’s black.

I’m a serial CLS owner having had each of the previous generations.

I won’t be having this one unless MBUK realises buyers want a bit more choice. Other markets get it, why shouldn’t we?

Is this just about the maths of RHD? Would a vinyl wrap provide some relief?

Vinyl wrap will not relieve the coal hole interior.

I suspect it's less about the maths of RHD and more about UK market dynamics. Competitive lease market, high percentage of vehicles financed by companies on a 'use for 4 years and discard' basis = lots and lots of white, silver, black cars with black interiors churned out at lowest possible unit price.

Makes me sad but I'm probably just out of step with the majority.

[tankplanker]

BIRMA said:

One thing that does stand out for me at least is that the Merc's dash is more in the 'line of sight' so you don't have to look down whilst adjusting things.

I completely agree, the Merc will be much easier to use for the driver if you don't want to use voice controls.

[J4CKO]

BIRMA said:

Patrick Bateman said:

Not ugly but a lot of these Mercs look very samey at the minute when compared with how much the first CLS stood out.

I agree I can remember one of my customers had one of the first CLS AMG's looked like nothing else on the road at the time. It also introduced cooled seats to me me, something I consider important in a car.

Remember my youngest getting dropped off by his mates mum in a black CLS 55, may as well have been a Lambo or something, I could barely contain my enthusiasm, I think the AMG ones are in limbo at the moment but int he future will be appreciated more, look at W124 E500s, and say what you like a CLS or E55, though more is no less of a car, arguably better in every way, but you can get one for 8 grand, its in the cheap old Merc hinterland, rude boy wheels, tints and general arsery, they will emerge as a bona-fide classic at some point in the not too distant future.Plus, they are still batst mental fast nowadays by most standards.

Seems weird people pay more for Passat CC's, the knock off CLS, than actual CLS's !

[Tim bo]

Looks in the photos like it has a really fat arse.

Will wait till I see it in the flesh though.

Anyone know how this stacks up against the new E-class coupé in terms of size? Which is the larger car?

[unsprung]

Milemuncher said:

unsprung said:

Milemuncher said:

Any exterior colour you like as long as it’s grey or black.

Any interior colour you like as long as it’s black.

I’m a serial CLS owner having had each of the previous generations.

I won’t be having this one unless MBUK realises buyers want a bit more choice. Other markets get it, why shouldn’t we?

Is this just about the maths of RHD? Would a vinyl wrap provide some relief?

Vinyl wrap will not relieve the coal hole interior.

I suspect it's less about the maths of RHD and more about UK market dynamics. Competitive lease market, high percentage of vehicles financed by companies on a 'use for 4 years and discard' basis = lots and lots of white, silver, black cars with black interiors churned out at lowest possible unit price.

Makes me sad but I'm probably just out of step with the majority.

I see. The company-car aspect will indeed put an emphasis on things like understatement and "business attire".

Meanwhile....

[8V085]

"In the UK a CLS350d costs the best of £10k more than an E350d equivalent using the old engine, with prices starting at £57,510 and £48,155 respectively."

To me this is the most important part of this article, since I bet that when the replacement E class arrives it will be priced closer to the CLS. And the price hike will be justified since "CLS is much more expensive than the old E class anyway".

[Milemuncher]

unsprung said:

I see. The company-car aspect will indeed put an emphasis on things like understatement and "business attire".

Meanwhile....



Not quite what I had in mind...

[unsprung]

Milemuncher said:

Not quite what I had in mind...

[big_rob_sydney]

unsprung said:

Milemuncher said:

Not quite what I had in mind...

Hmm. I guess you wont lose it in the car park, then...?

[Yipper]

~£60k is a lot of money for a "performance" car that is no quicker than a Golf R.

[Milemuncher]

Maybe the black interior is not so bad. This one has the stunning combination of dark grey seats with muddy brown carpet and dash.

Seriously, what are Mercedes' designers thinking?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6XiBvVuq7k

[Peanus]

Yipper said:

~£60k is a lot of money for a "performance" car that is no quicker than a Golf R.

What a stupid comment.

[unsprung]

big_rob_sydney said:

unsprung said:

Milemuncher said:

Not quite what I had in mind...

Hmm. I guess you wont lose it in the car park, then...?

One's comings and goings will keep the neighbours on their toes. Then, of course, there's the nice red bow on the grille at Christmas...

[J4CKO]

Yipper said:

~£60k is a lot of money for a "performance" car that is no quicker than a Golf R.

Perhaps CLS buyers think its plenty fast enough, after all they could almost get two Golf R's for the money or all manner of other stuff if acceleration was their only criteria, I may be going out on a limb here and it perhaps isnt the same demographic that buys the CLS vs the Golf ?

[DoctorX]

Milemuncher said:

Maybe the black interior is not so bad. This one has the stunning combination of dark grey seats with muddy brown carpet and dash.

Seriously, what are Mercedes' designers thinking?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6XiBvVuq7k

I really like his reviews, you get to see every nook and cranny. Animal skin! Tsk tsk.

Lovely car, nasty looking steering wheel buttons though.

[AREA]

BIRMA said:

I agree I can remember one of my customers had one of the first CLS AMG's looked like nothing else on the road at the time. It also introduced cooled seats to me me, something I consider important in a car.

Absolutely ! Ventilated and massaging seats really are the best aid to comfortable long distance driving ever.
Mandatory on a car ;-)

[ZX10R NIN]

Air cooled seats are just the best, I can't wait to see how it looks once Brabus have got hold of it.

[Murphy16]

Looks like a chinese copy of the old CLS.

[chris333]

DoctorX said:

I really like his reviews, you get to see every nook and cranny. Animal skin! Tsk tsk.

Lovely car, nasty looking steering wheel buttons though.

I knew immediately from the “animal skin” quote who you were talking about! I really like his reviews too. Somethig different from the shmee style reviews.. lots of detailed information.