To buy or not to buy. C220 CDI Auto Saloon

[Amos]

Wanting to spend no more than 30k. Undecided whether to go for a 3 series, A4, Lexus IS or the C220 CDI, really like the revised styling of the C class and reports suggest it is a much improved car.
Not impressed up to now with BMW, get the impression the sales personel are only interested in selling a fleet. Audi, embarrassing, possibly on a job opportunity scheme talked to me like I was spending £250 not 30k. Lexus, can't fault them, mature professional approach. Mercedes, someone arriving in the showroom after me who'd got out of a Bentley didn't help.
Firstly, any comments on my choice of Mercedes? And at this stage, much more important to me, what do you think of the dealers, how are you treated? Needless to say I will make my own mind up about the car, I have read uncomplimentary reports about dealers, comments such as, unlesss you are spending 50k they aren't really interested.
Please be honest.
Thanks.

 

[jberks]

All 4 cars are excellent. We're all going to say the C220 is the best of the bunch but at the end of the day, it's down to what you like to drive and look at.
I drove a 320d and to be honest, wasn't that impressed. A bit cramped and the controls were amazingly complicated after a clear and simple Merc. A4 great car but a harsh ride. Lexus IS - can't comment. I didn't like the old one - the outside looked great but the interior was too flash gordon for an exec car - looked to be trying too hard. The current one is good allegedly but ...its not a Merc - is it!

The new c has had rave reviews and I'm still waiting to read something bad about it. The new 220 engine is every bit as good as the BMW and IMO even better. I tried one in an E. Quick and quiet was the conclusion.

I fully agree. The dealers, or rather the salesmen, are crap. They don't know their product and normally have a superiority complex. However, I suspect this has more to do with masking an inferiority complex than anything else. After all, all their customers are richer, more intelligent and more successful than they are. Most salesmen judge themselves by those values so it's got to get them down! (They can't afford your car on their salary!)

Bottom line, Its a business transation and you're buying the car, not the salesman. Once you've collected it, you couldn't speak to them if you wanted to as they've moved on to their next best friend.

The people you care about are the service people as they're the ones you'll be dealing with. The service teams are much improved. They have competition now and everyone I've come into contact with in the last few months has bent over backwards to help.

The £50k comment - I'm sure the guy spending £50k felt that had he been spending £90k he'd have been treated better. It's not true. Once they smell the money - be it £20k or £90k, they'll be on you like hounds. If they're nonchulant, it's because they don't want to appear desparate. It's all a psycological ruse to make you think they can sell your car twice over and your deal doesn't matter to them so you won't ask for a discount. It's just a ruse, Chances are, the salesman hasn't hit his target and is terrified that you'll walk away. But only when he knows you could do a deal.

 

[James R]

In my experience service varies from dealer to dealer and according to how close / far they are to meeting targets.

To answer the question, however, I was going through a similar thought process to you and settled on a new CLK220 CDI which I will pick up on Saturday. The reason I chose it was because they are doing great deals on them : either a model upgrade (Elegance / Avantgarde >> Sport) or 4.2% APR finance and seem to have them available immediately (I need a car pretty quickly). I also thought about a C class but they were not doing any deals on them at all because they are so new and I didn't want to spend full whack on a car that will no doubt be discounted in a year's time - I also preferred the look and drive of the CLK (no "B" pillars ooh).

If you want a very good deal then this is the week to do it i.e. before the number plates change on Saturday. I had the BMW dealer all over me to buy a new 3 series coupe. He was giving me 10% off !

My advice would be to buy one this week and find a dealer who hasn't made his targets. Shop around and if they're rude go somewhere else, but make sure they know there's money to be spent and that you are a serious buyer then you'll get the best deal.

James

 

[Amos]

All 4 cars are excellent. We're all going to say the C220 is the best of the bunch but at the end of the day, it's down to what you like to drive and look at.
I drove a 320d and to be honest, wasn't that impressed. A bit cramped and the controls were amazingly complicated after a clear and simple Merc. A4 great car but a harsh ride. Lexus IS - can't comment. I didn't like the old one - the outside looked great but the interior was too flash gordon for an exec car - looked to be trying too hard. The current one is good allegedly but ...its not a Merc - is it!

The new c has had rave reviews and I'm still waiting to read something bad about it. The new 220 engine is every bit as good as the BMW and IMO even better. I tried one in an E. Quick and quiet was the conclusion.

I fully agree. The dealers, or rather the salesmen, are crap. They don't know their product and normally have a superiority complex. However, I suspect this has more to do with masking an inferiority complex than anything else. After all, all their customers are richer, more intelligent and more successful than they are. Most salesmen judge themselves by those values so it's got to get them down! (They can't afford your car on their salary!)

Bottom line, Its a business transation and you're buying the car, not the salesman. Once you've collected it, you couldn't speak to them if you wanted to as they've moved on to their next best friend.

The people you care about are the service people as they're the ones you'll be dealing with. The service teams are much improved. They have competition now and everyone I've come into contact with in the last few months has bent over backwards to help.

The £50k comment - I'm sure the guy spending £50k felt that had he been spending £90k he'd have been treated better. It's not true. Once they smell the money - be it £20k or £90k, they'll be on you like hounds. If they're nonchulant, it's because they don't want to appear desparate. It's all a psycological ruse to make you think they can sell your car twice over and your deal doesn't matter to them so you won't ask for a discount. It's just a ruse, Chances are, the salesman hasn't hit his target and is terrified that you'll walk away. But only when he knows you could do a deal.

Sorry, showing my ignorance, what is IMO?

 

[A210AMG]

Amos..


IMO in my opinion.


Its the new text speak, god help r kids....

 

[Seeker_UK]

If you want a very good deal then this is the week to do it i.e. before the number plates change on Saturday. I had the BMW dealer all over me to buy a new 3 series coupe. He was giving me 10% off !
James

Agreed. This weekend marks the 'alignment' of 6 monthly / quarterly / monthly sales periods and salesmen will sell their grandmother to get a sale. For the BMW I'm chopping my C270 in for, I got 10% discount and a rock-bottom APR.

This week it is a buyers market. MB are no different. You might not get much movement on a new CLK - the offer being run is already pretty damn good but you could really nail 'em down to get that low mileage 55 plate CLK off their forecourt.