Thanks for that FB. It seems that the new model will appear next year or maybe the year after - depends which report you read.
I did wonder about the engine and a couple of the reviews I read said that in spite of the claimed performance, the car doesn’t feel as though it is performing at that level. The C200 is indeed RWD, but that’s not an issue for me as my Avant doesn’t have Quattro.
Neither the Octavia or Superb appeal, excellent cars though they are claimed to be, as they are less prestigious versions of the A4 in broad terms, whereas the C Class is an entirely different car and I’ve never owned a Merc. I’ve actually been looking at the Volvo V60 of late, but I’ve been unable to test drive it as neither of my local dealers can get a demonstrator with the engine I want. I went along to the first dealer, looked over a diesel model, was told that a test drive wouldn’t be possible and the salesman then wanted to talk seriously about financing options. He asked me if I would be prepared to do a deal there and then. Without first driving the car? Err...I don’t think so, but you have to admire the guy’s chutzpah!
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Thanks for that FB. It seems that the new model will appear next year or maybe the year after - depends which report you read. I did wonder about the engine and a couple of the reviews I read said that in spite of the claimed performance, the car doesn’t feel as though it is performing at that level. The C200 is indeed RWD, but that’s not an issue for me as my Avant doesn’t have Quattro. Neither the Octavia or Superb appeal, excellent cars though they are claimed to be, as they are less prestigious versions of the A4 in broad terms, whereas the C Class is an entirely different car and I’ve never owned a Merc. I’ve actually been looking at the Volvo V60 of late, but I’ve been unable to test drive it as neither of my local dealers can get a demonstrator with the engine I want. I went along to the first dealer, looked over a diesel model, was told that a test drive wouldn’t be possible and the salesman then wanted to talk seriously about financing options. He asked me if I would be prepared to do a deal there and then. Without first driving the car? Err...I don’t think so, but you have to admire the guy’s chutzpah!
Interesting that you start this thread by asking for 'inside knowledge' on the C-Class indicating that you don't know much about them, and indeed in your most recent post, you say you have never owned a Merc.
But then in that same most recent post, despite the earlier apparent lack of knowledge, declare it to be 'an entirely different car' (presumably you mean superior?) than the A4 or, heaven forbid, one of the two Skoda's (what would the neighbours think!).
Personally, i'd take the Superb estate any day of the week over a Merc. Better built, better looking (IMO) much more spacious, better customer service, more reliable, the list goes on........
But hey ho, it is your money!
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Why so snarky, bad bus driver?!! I don’t need to point out to you that Skoda and Audi are both VAG cars, so they share platforms, engines and probably most other components. Accordingly, trading an A4 Avant for a Skoda Superb or Octavia would be same meat, different gravy and I want to try something different. In that sense, I mean ‘other’ rather than ‘superior’ as your apparent reverse snobbery would prefer.
I have never owned a Merc and would like to try the experience, if that doesn’t offend your sensibilities. I would also like to try other marques too and now that I am retired and can afford to change my car when I like, it’s what I enjoy doing. So if you don’t have anything constructive to contribute please keep your sarcasm to yourself.
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I don't know whether Yeovil is within reach for you, Senexdriver, but Ross Hughes at Yeovil Motor Co, main Volvo dealer, is one of the best salesmen I've come across (and I've met many over 50 years of car buying!). If anyone can arrange a test drive it'll be him, although the V60 being a new model there may be only one demonstrator, possibly a diesel.
Coming from a previous-model V60 I tried an XC40 (unaccompanied test drive - excellent) when it had just come out early last year. Everyone else has been impressed by it but I found it wallowy and not very engaging to drive, rather like a Nissan Qashqai.
Incidentally you'll find an Octavia vRS more different from an Audi than you might expect, given that both come from the VAG stable. You could be pleasantly surprised.
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Why not just go for a test drive? it does seem a good deal and if your ready for a change and it's what you fancy then why not, we all have itches that need scratching.
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The c class is a great car. , they drive nicely and are refined and have a good cabin.
I love Skoda and own one and on my second but there is no way that they meet the same standards as Mercedes and BMW in perceived quality. That may not correspond to actual quality. I have found the way VAG treat the customers to be very poor. My experiences with Skoda dealers have been middle of the road and their financial services worse.
I do like a Superb but a 30k one makes no sense to me. They make more sense in SE spec and a healthy discount. Octavia is decent but due for replacement and more utilitarian.
Test drive is essential , I would ask for an extended one.
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Thanks for all the contributions (apart from one).
My original post asked whether there is a new C Class on the stocks, to which I got a helpful answer. The discussion about buying one is largely academic as I’m on the trail of a Volvo in reality. Although the current offer on the C Class is tempting, I’m not sufficiently wowed by what I’ve read about the car to want to actively follow it up at the moment. I tend to chew things over before I decide and I find cycling very helpful for that. I only discovered the C Class offer a couple of days ago so I’ll need a bike ride or two to work it through in my head. Thanks anyway, gents.
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Over the years I have owned/driven/ridden/considered quite a few of the brands discussed here and have found myself walking away from some on more than one occasion.
First up Skoda Octavia Estate. Have really wanted to buy this as its a bargain for such a big estate but its fallen short every time (4 times in total). Interior quality was fine but the road noise/booming at the rear was intolerable on all 3 cars (2 x 2010 and a 2016). The 2002 estate we tried had a very poor rear seat which made us walk away. We did try a 2016 hatch and that was fine and decided to try and get a deal on one. Unfortunately Skoda had closed the order book, only stock cars available and none met our requirements.
VW Golf. We had bought 3 in the past (2 x Mk2 and a Mk3) and were satisfied with all of them. But when we went to see a Mk 5 we thought the interior quality poor and walked.
So instead we had a BMW 1 series which we kept for 5 1/2 years. Excellent car, perfect for us at the time.
When t was time to swap the BMW we looked at the Golf again. the Mk 7 had just come on the market and it did seem a vast improvement. Problem for it was simply the Seat Leon. £5000 less than the Golf for virtually the same spec, no Golf for us again. The quality of the Leon was every bit as good as the BMW and we only sold it a 5 years old since we needed more space.
When we could not order the Octavia we looked at the Superb and after a 2 hour drive ordered one. Still mightily impressed, at £18500 OTR for the 1.4 TSI 150 PS SE it was the bargain of the century. The Octavia we had tried to spec would have cost more.
A couple of months after getting the Superb I was taken out in a new Merc E class, think it was a E220D auto, cost about £40000, over double we had paid for the Superb. was I impressed by such a prestigious car, not at all. The ride was poor (it was not on rubber band tyres) there was loads of road noise and the plastic seats (Merc call them Artico leather but the nearest they have been to a cow is the one in the adjacent field) were slippery and uncomfortable. Overpriced tat.
So based on that no way would I buy a Merc. Seems to me they are selling you a badge just like VW and Audi. Some say the same about BMW but ours was fine and its cost per mile (including depreciation) worked out less than the wifes Focus.
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I love Skoda and own one and on my second but there is no way that they meet the same standards as Mercedes and BMW in perceived quality. That may not correspond to actual quality. I have found the way VAG treat the customers to be very poor.
It probably depends on the garage. I have dealt with several garages belonging to the same VW dealership, and the service is first rate. Recently a wheel bearing went at 30,000 miles and it was replaced under warranty. They are always polite and helpful.
I don't see much difference in quality between VW and BMW interiors, as they all have moulded plastics and fabrics. Even a Citroen C3 I had on load was well put together inside. You seem to pay a lot for small improvements in cabin quality, it's not like Ikea furniture versus Ercol, more like Ikea versus some other purveyor of chipboard and veneer furniture.
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Why so snarky, bad bus driver?!! I don’t need to point out to you that Skoda and Audi are both VAG cars, so they share platforms, engines and probably most other components. Accordingly, trading an A4 Avant for a Skoda Superb or Octavia would be same meat, different gravy and I want to try something different. In that sense, I mean ‘other’ rather than ‘superior’ as your apparent reverse snobbery would prefer. I have never owned a Merc and would like to try the experience, if that doesn’t offend your sensibilities. I would also like to try other marques too and now that I am retired and can afford to change my car when I like, it’s what I enjoy doing. So if you don’t have anything constructive to contribute please keep your sarcasm to yourself.
I don't think BBD was being snarky, just pointing out that Mercedes are not really the paragon of quality they were in the distant past, more a status symbol, but if you can afford that kind of car (and servicing costs) without worrying, then go for it. We only live once.
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What I perceived as snarky was his interpretation of ‘different’ to mean superior, so as to impress the neighbours. I find that sort of chippy comment tiresome when considering so-called premium cars. And then he proceeds to extol the virtues of Skoda, as if I should be like him and be content with one of them instead. As I explained subsequently, Skoda share many components with Audi so a Skoda was not sufficiently different for me to consider buying one. Nothing at all to do with badge snobbery or whatever BBD was getting at.
All I asked was whether anybody knew about a possible replacement for the C Class estate and I did get an answer to that question.
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A Mercedes will impress the neighbours. A Skoda will not.
That is my opinion.
Hope that is not too 'different' or 'superior' or "snarky' (whatever that means).
Ps I own a Skoda.
Edited by Glaikit Wee Scunner {P} on 01/08/2019 at 21:24
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A Mercedes will impress the neighbours. A Skoda will not.
That is my opinion.
Hope that is not too 'different' or 'superior' or "snarky' (whatever that means).
Ps I own a Skoda.
Are you sure? I was chatting to my neighbour Sue recently. She said people only buy expensive cars as status symbols, and expressed contempt. In general I don't care what someone drives. If they drive a new Merc, it simply says they are prepared to drop a sizeable wodge on a car, and they might have a large loan, or a small house. In my case the only cars I despise are Range Rovers and the like, a failing on my part I know.
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What I perceived as snarky was his interpretation of ‘different’ to mean superior, so as to impress the neighbours. I find that sort of chippy comment tiresome when considering so-called premium cars. And then he proceeds to extol the virtues of Skoda, as if I should be like him and be content with one of them instead. As I explained subsequently, Skoda share many components with Audi so a Skoda was not sufficiently different for me to consider buying one. Nothing at all to do with badge snobbery or whatever BBD was getting at. All I asked was whether anybody knew about a possible replacement for the C Class estate and I did get an answer to that question.
Fair enough. That's a good reason to buy a Merc, or some other non VAG car.
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It might depend on what sort of Mercedes. About 10 years ago I changed from a Mercedes B-class to the first of my Skoda Octavia vRS estates, and got quite a few admiring comments about the Skoda: I can't remember anyone admiring the B-class (nor did I).
The fact that the Mercedes was silver and the Skoda a fetching shade of bright blue may have had something to do with it.
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