Talking up the market? New Mercs.

Going Forward

On Morning Ireland today a salesman from Mercedes Ballsbridge was talking about the increasing demand for Mercs, and saying that demand is such that there is a significant shortage of vehicles for sale, with months long waiting lists now the norm, (again).

Is this just a reflection that Ireland gets the left over cars, is the same shortage affecting UK buyers? Bad stock planning from MB Ireland or is it genuine sales talk?

Any thoughts?

Is the tiger returning?

Sobanek

Merc more prestigious than BMW
E-Class cheaper than 520d.
?????
Profit

noelf

Bmw sold 843 5 series Audi A6 464 and Mercedes E class 449 . The A class only sold 106 cars while Audi shifted 529 A3 . Mercedes sold 51 s classes which is an excellent result for them. Mercedes Ballsbridge is close to the embassy belt ..

BMJD

they don't seem to like letting their customers do what they like either!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057199969

mickdw

With new A class, CLA, new S class recently released, new C class around the corner, Mercedes have never had a better range of cars imo. The E class is around a while but has been face lifted and looks good.
The cars are reasonably well priced but I feel Mercedes could sell multiples of what they are selling.
Firstly, audi and bmw are pushing finance deals heavily which deals all over the papers. You will struggle to see any figures on Mercedes adverts or website.
Secondly, having visited a number of Mercedes outlets, I find the staff nothing short of rude. More or less, you can't afford a Mercedes attitude. One guy sniggered at me when looking for a 2 year old E class when I said I was looking for a different spec to what he had in the show room. I'm not the first person to experience this either. Audi and BMW dealers on the other hand will at least do their job and do everything they can to sell you a car.

Zubeneschamali

Going Forward wrote: »

demand is such that there is a significant shortage of vehicles for sale, with months long waiting lists now the norm, (again).

I'd say all this means is that since the crash, they are not holding stock here. If you want a new car, they order it from the factory and you wait 12 weeks or whatever.

No Pants

Even if I had the money, and I don't, I can't imagine ever buying a Merc. If I won the Lotto, still no. There's nothing that inspires me or piques my interest. For the most part, they're boring looking cars.

Eric Cartman

long waiting lists for bog spec c and e class diesels with basic leather in silver id bet.

alias no.9

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

I'd say all this means is that since the crash, they are not holding stock here. If you want a new car, they order it from the factory and you wait 12 weeks or whatever.

That, and nobody wants a 141 plate on their new Merc at this time of year, they're waiting out for the 142, they don't want delivery until July

R.O.R

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

I'd say all this means is that since the crash, they are not holding stock here. If you want a new car, they order it from the factory and you wait 12 weeks or whatever.

There's hardly (if any) any manufacturer's holding stock now. Most stock in the country is now held by dealers, so it's what's likely to sell. Anything out of the ordinary is a factory order, taking 4 - 16 weeks (sometimes longer).

Some Merc's do have long waiting lists - CLA in particular. Mercedes Ireland either underestimated demand when they secured factory production slots, or were not able to get the number of production slots they wanted, due to demand in other markets.

rocky

Outside of an AMG of some sort, there's nothing in Merc's lineup that I'd want. And even for the AMGs, BMWs are much better driver's cars.

I test drove a 2012 E Class and I was surprised at the crashy ride - is it not supposed to be much more compliant than a 5 series? They probably wanted to make it "sportier" - and failed miserably. Not even having run flats as an excuse...

mickdw

rocky wrote: »

Outside of an AMG of some sort, there's nothing in Merc's lineup that I'd want. And even for the AMGs, BMWs are much better driver's cars.

I test drove a 2012 E Class and I was surprised at the crashy ride - is it not supposed to be much more compliant than a 5 series? They probably wanted to make it "sportier" - and failed miserably. Not even having run flats as an excuse...

What spec was it. I guess it was a sport spec with large wheels.
Mercedes E and S Class though are pretty much untouchable if airmatic suspension is specified. It is rare if not non existant though here specially on the lower end cars E class while the S class if where its at.

Going Forward

No Pants wrote: »

Even if I had the money, and I don't, I can't imagine ever buying a Merc. If I won the Lotto, still no. There's nothing that inspires me or piques my interest. For the most part, they're boring looking cars.

After the rust issues I would be very wary myself.

lomb

Ive been in most of their new passenger cars (except the ML , GL, SL, CL), and the CLS feels and looks the best of them. The C and E felt like toys.The S was a monstrosity but I would say the CL would be good. I wouldnt say no to a CLS 500 if in the market for a new car. But why is a 2.5l diesel 70k and a 5l petrol 120k? Surely the 5l v8 is a simpler engine than the diesel..
Whats so good about airmatic Mickdw?

lomb

Going Forward wrote: »

After the rust issues I would be very wary myself.

I think they sorted that out. The cars are now galvanized since 2004/2005. I haven't seen a rusty Merc after that. Funny I have a 1983 500 sec and there is much much less rust on it than a 2002 C Class locally. I think it was due to a switch to weak porous water based paints from solvent based that caused the rust. They obviously didn't galvanize due to cost but its strange as Audi /VW have fully galvanized for many years.

rocky

mickdw wrote: »

What spec was it. I guess it was a sport spec with large wheels.
Mercedes E and S Class though are pretty much untouchable if airmatic suspension is specified. It is rare if not non existant though here specially on the lower end cars E class while the S class if where its at.

Base spec diesel.

A coleague has a 2010 manual (:() and at 35k miles the driver seat leather is ripped across 15cm... doesn't inspire confidence.

bazz26

Do people still buy manual E Classes?

lomb

rocky wrote: »

Base spec diesel.

A coleague has a 2010 manual (:() and at 35k miles the driver seat leather is ripped across 15cm... doesn't inspire confidence.

Ive seen loads of 2000-2006 cars with heavily worn and torn leather whereas the older stuff the seats are perfect. I wonder is it the perforations that weaken it or the quality?
The older velour they did in the past was also lovely. That's all now gone as is the bank like vault feel. VAG seem to do it better.

Eric Cartman

lomb wrote: »

Ive seen loads of 2000-2006 cars with heavily worn and torn leather whereas the older stuff the seats are perfect. I wonder is it the perforations that weaken it or the quality?
The older velour they did in the past was also lovely. That's all now gone as is the bank like vault feel. VAG seem to do it better.

a lot of dealers will bring the cars in with cloth seats and have them re-trimmed here at a lower standard (and cost), ive seen a few mercs , 1 series bmw's and toyotas with the surround on the base and back of the seat and side bolsters done in 'leatherette' or vinyl and the face of the seat done in leather thats barely one step above that.

mickdw

lomb wrote: »

Whats so good about airmatic Mickdw?

Its just proper. Road ridges disappear, flattens out bumps yet behaves quite well when pushed.
What did you not like about S class. Was it latest one?

Zubeneschamali

mickdw wrote: »

What did you not like about S class. Was it latest one?

The latest one is spectacularly ugly, approaching Premier League Footballer levels of bad taste.

lomb

The latest one feels very large inside . The dash seems like a monstrosity. The thing is I know why they have done it. To charge 100+ its always going to feel like a lot more car than the norm. The outside of the S is debatable(I quite like it bar the stupid writing on the headlights re full LED ) but the latest CLS is lovely inside and out. I sat into it and thought this could be me. Everything was perfect bar the standard weedy engine. The dash wasnt in your face .
The only thing with airmatic would be it would be dear to put right later but that shouldnt trouble the first owner too much. I always prefer shocks and springs.

mickdw

lomb wrote: »

The latest one feels very large inside . The dash seems like a monstrosity. The thing is I know why they have done it. To charge 100+ its always going to feel like a lot more car than the norm. The outside of the S is debatable(I quite like it bar the stupid writing on the headlights re full LED ) but the latest CLS is lovely inside and out. I sat into it and thought this could be me. Everything was perfect bar the standard weedy engine. The dash wasnt in your face .
The only thing with airmatic would be it would be dear to put right later but that shouldnt trouble the first owner too much. I always prefer shocks and springs.

Id half consider an 08 or 09 S Class. Only thing is I would be buying similar age to my own car and quite likely taking on large repair bills too.
I think it's a stunning car even in diesel.
The new one is a serious car by all accounts but I would agree it's not to all tastes