Got the new car tonight

[outsmartsmart]

Picked up my new (to me) car tonight

06/06 C220CDi Avantgarde Sport SE estate in metallic black with black leather and it looks the DB's IMO.

Spent a long time researching next car and whilst never a Merc' fan the brand being bought with my own cash for once kept coming back to Mercedes.

Then the trawl began of Autotrader, flea-bay and the classifieds until I tried Mercedes Direct. The local one to me I pass quite often so I popped in but first go wasn't sucessful as salesman was a bit 'sniffy' about this oink saying he'd be spending up to £20k, but wanted to get away with £15k if possible, cash on a C or E estate diesel. I was casually pointed towards two munters right at the back of the yard in a disgusting state. I left vowing not to go there again. Similarly main dealer in Coventry spending a few millions on its showroom was obviously getting the customer to pay for it as their cars were priced extortionately.

Almost bought a new shape beemer 525d but too much IMO for what I was getting and still pretty pricey. On way to look again at a Subaru 3.0R Outback (V.nice car and fantastic VFM, shame about fuel economy and band G emissions...) my wife wanted to see the Merc's so by default I ended up at the local dealer, promising myself it would only be a quick in-out visit to show wifey the cars. What a revelation this time - nice friendly guy, no hassle, good chit-chat about cars in general, showed the munters again. Then he pointed out a recent car (the one I bought) saying higher mileage for age of 52k (many I looked at slightly older were up to around 70k and I'm not put off by miles per se in a car) and with minimal fuss I declared my budget and what I was prepared to pay and deal was done. I think I've got a bargain, if such a thing exists with cars (although dealers never give anything away). I went back twice to check it over as ongoing research kept suggesting I was paying at least a grand too little for it. For similar budget I was looking at 54 and 05 platers that had dropped out of main dealer network loop.

Picked it up tonight and 'my' salesman and Mr Sniffy were on late duty - I really hope Mr Sniffy recognised me and regretted a lost sale (although they probably only get flat fees these days).

Only driven it about 20 miles so far but already impressed with the air of solidity it gives off. Dealer prepped it well, it had the Starshield (?) paint protection added, a DIY Starshield cleaning kit on the front seat and comes with the fantastic warranty the dealers offer. Admit I was a little miffed to find it still gasping on the empty-tank fuel fumes form when I test-drove it, at least proving it hadn't been used though and I guess another few quid to offset their margins.

Its going to have rear park sensors retrofitted at the dealers and I'm suprised it doesn't have bum-warmers with the full leather interior. Xenon headlamps would also have been nice For the 'top spec' its actually fairly basic really but has everything you need really. Private plate going on and then relax and enjoy.

Spent an hour reading the handbook - probably a first for me - looks complicated and I'm sure the try-it-in-the-car method will be more straightforward. One thing I may post separately is do you HAVE to have the digi-speedo on showing kmh, its really confusing/cr4p, handbook showed temp as alternative until I noticed the little '*' saying 'except in UK'

 

[jberks]

Congratulations.
I remember my first merc - didn't stop grinning or staring out of the window for weeks. (Actually I still stare out at this one ..)
Enjoy it.

 

[philayl]

Hi, congratulations on your new Merc, I hope to join you soon, as in the next few weeks I will be ordering a new C class 220CDI Elegance auto, with extras. At the moment I drive a Vauxhall Omega 2.5 CDX auto, but I now find myself, for the first time in my life (60years), able to afford a brand new car. I must admit I am looking forward to it and am practising grinning when I drive, ready for the day I pick it up.

 

[television]

Congrats,, an indie can change the Kmh display to miles

 

[outsmartsmart]

Philay, I'd certainly recommend it so far!! However I would NEVER buy a brand new car again having had a Volvo last year and it losing around 35% of its value in 5 months. I was lucky as I got that amount off in an employee discount scheme but still found it personally painful (sold due to company car with change of job, again changed and back in my own motor).

Nearly-new cars, of any brand, just offer such fantastic VFM. You don't get the smug new car feeling but I honestly never missed it and that was after 17 years of having two company cars and swopping them twice a year!!!

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Sounds a very nice car

I think you only get the bum heaters on the seats when you have the Winter Pack, or I could be wrong

 

[philayl]

Philay, I'd certainly recommend it so far!! However I would NEVER buy a brand new car again having had a Volvo last year and it losing around 35% of its value in 5 months. I was lucky as I got that amount off in an employee discount scheme but still found it personally painful (sold due to company car with change of job, again changed and back in my own motor).

Nearly-new cars, of any brand, just offer such fantastic VFM. You don't get the smug new car feeling but I honestly never missed it and that was after 17 years of having two company cars and swopping them twice a year!!!

Hi, I hear what you are saying, but this will probably the last car I buy so depreciation is not such a point for me. Also the chances of me coming across a car that has the exact spec I want is almost nil, and I do want this one to be exactly as I would like it.

 

[st13phil]

Hi, I hear what you are saying, but this will probably the last car I buy so depreciation is not such a point for me. Also the chances of me coming across a car that has the exact spec I want is almost nil, and I do want this one to be exactly as I would like it.

As you're buying new for the first (and possibly the last) time, don't forget to go for Factory Collection. It's a great experience!

 

[philayl]

As you're buying new for the first (and possibly the last) time, don't forget to go for Factory Collection. It's a great experience!

I have never heard of factory collection, could you enlighten me a bit more please?

 

[euclidb2]

One thing I may post separately is do you HAVE to have the digi-speedo on showing kmh, its really confusing/cr4p, handbook showed temp as alternative until I noticed the little '*' saying 'except in UK'

Find settings using steering wheel buttons(books)then using arrows scroll thro' to instument cluster(i think),here you can alter kmh to mph,and you can also choose to have either mph or temp showing all the time,if kmh is showing now pressing arrow should change it to temp(then miles to next service,and oil check) till you switch ignition off.

 

[Rory]

Find settings using steering wheel buttons(books)then using arrows scroll thro' to instument cluster(i think),here you can alter kmh to mph,and you can also choose to have either mph or temp showing all the time,if kmh is showing now pressing arrow should change it to temp(then miles to next service,and oil check) till you switch ignition off.

That's not the same thing.

You can't change the permanent KPH display unless you have someone (like forum memeber Alfie) remove the UK setting from the cluster.

MB seem to think it's a legal requirement to dislay KPH in the UK. It's a grey area, but the feeling is that it's OK as long as the car is capable of dislaying KPH - which it can by switching over the instruments completely using the cluster menu.

 

[st13phil]

I have never heard of factory collection, could you enlighten me a bit more please?

When you order your car, tell your dealer that you want to book Personal Collection and they'll give you all the details. You can read about my experience of Personal Collection here.

 

[NewMB]

When you order your car, tell your dealer that you want to book Personal Collection and they'll give you all the details. You can read about my experience of Personal Collection here.

Or mine.... questions? Just ask.

 

[staylorhome]

I have posted a view threads re the Kmp to mph. As the car is a UK spec the kmp in the bottom section of instrument cluster this cannot be changed. I have stood over an mb indie dealer with star going through all the settings. The only way this can be done is UK deletion mode, again a thread posted and await an answer what are the implications of uk deletion mode and who will carry this out for me

 

[outsmartsmart]

I find the kmh read-out really distracting, even when just glancing down. I'd seriously consider a carefully placed piece of black tape I find it that annoying....

 

[whitenemesis]

I have posted a view threads re the Kmp to mph. As the car is a UK spec the kmp in the bottom section of instrument cluster this cannot be changed. I have stood over an mb indie dealer with star going through all the settings. The only way this can be done is UK deletion mode, again a thread posted and await an answer what are the implications of uk deletion mode and who will carry this out for me

Give these guys a call;

http://www.comand.co.uk/

Anything that needs coding these chaps can do it

 

[outsmartsmart]

Give these guys a call;

http://www.comand.co.uk/

Anything that needs coding these chaps can do it

Cheers for that - I've dropped them a line about the matter and the iPod install

 

[staylorhome]

You share the same fustrations i have. I have also sent Alfie an email (comand.co.uk) re the kmp and will call him am tomorrow. We have a new mini cooper with only mph in the speedo but you can select kmp manually so it cannot be a uk regulation only a mb spec. Have you the Convenience setting on the dash to fold the mirrors on locking ?