CLA Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 4matic or 320I xdrive?

[Brandon093]

Hello guys, today I'm going to buy purchasing my first German car. I have been to a Mercedes dealership and I do like the CLA, i am able to get it for near $39K CAD with the premium package. The mercedes is a demo with 7k km on it, and it had felt cheaper on the interior compared to a BMW, I really like the mercedes for the cramped/coupe like sport feeling of the car, right now in my city it is unique and not too many of them are on the road. it is black on black. Its hard for me to describe how the mercedes drives except it has a bit more comfort than sporty, its still very smooth, but also didn't feel too heavy.
I didn't appreciate how the salesman attitude, first he offered $17.2k for my 2015 civic ex, then after we agreed on both final prices, he spoke to his manager and came back telling me they couldn't do 17.2k because my car wasn't worth it and he offered 13k. I left that night disappointed. Audi and infinite offered 17k for my car i however didn't like the interest rate for audi leasing. For the past 3 days this salesman has been trying to make the sale with me not evening coming close to what i had orignally wanted for my civic and payments. Until last night when I told him I wasn't interested and would be buying a BMW. then he had taken that personal lol, and tried harder to sell it to me, doing his best to tell me its better than the bmws because its a mercedes. He is eventually able to match the deal i have from bmw, so now the car is more affordable to what i had originally wanted however, it feels like this guy will find other ways to be tricky..

However, I was also able to get a BMW 320i drive with the sport package for nearly the same price. Today or tomorrow ill be deciding which is the better overall buy. The BMW is new and i had put a deposit on it to secure it because they had a 1 day private sale event and I got it for $6.5k off from the original price. I liked how the bmw felt safer when driving because I thought it felt heavy and more ''planted'' to the ground. The car is black with red interior. Bmws offered 16k for my car, and didn't want a down payment.

I still like both cars, I wanted the mercedes for its unique style, and I think a mercedes may be cheaper in the long run with maintenance but I'm not sure. Both cars come with free maintenance for 4 years, But I'm thinking about replacing parts, and if i decide to keep either car after the lease.

which do you guys think is the better buy?

 

[Kowalski]

320i xdrive.

The CLA is a very compromised car. The 3-series is a much better car.

 

[Rainer271]

Welcome to GCF, Brandon093.

 

[martinbo]

The 320i. It's a class above the CLA in every respect.

 

[WAND]

Not same class.
CLA is class below 3 series.
C class is class with 3 series.
CLA is fwd, 3 series is rwd.
It depends on what you looking for.
Try both then decide which suit you the best.

 

[Brandon093]

I tried both I ended up liking the BMW a lot better. I realize they're in different classes but what it comes down to is price, in my current situation they were priced roughly the same. only $100 difference in total. They were both awd.

 

[domleo999]

Both AWD - but the CLA Is front wheel drive based and has a part time haldex AWD system (the rear wheels only activate when grip is lost) compared to the full time Torsten version in the 3 series.

Taking aside the body shape - it's basically an A class vs a 3 series

3 series for sure!

 

[Mick Briesgau]

I would never take a CLA over a 3er. One can discuss about preferenced looks, but a 3er is at least one class above a CLA (which is basically an A-Klasse).

 

[klier]

CLA, A, B, GLA ---> all CRAP

Nothing whatsoever to do with a Mercedes Benz.

 

[martinbo]

Both AWD - but the CLA Is front wheel drive based and has a part time haldex AWD system (the rear wheels only activate when grip is lost) compared to the full time Torsten version in the 3 series.

You keep mixing up manufacturer names for types of all-wheel drive systems. Normally, it wouldn't matter but if you're going to state it as such in advice to someone then it needs to be pointed out that your facts are wrong. Haldex is a former manufacturer of AWD coupling systems for some transverse, FWD cars who were then bought out by Borg Warner. The A-Class family does not use Haldex couplings.

Torsen is the product name for a series of helical gear limited slip couplings which, due to being entirely mechanical, were very popular fitments to a number of AWD and RWD vehicles since the mid-eighties. BMW X-Drive is certainly NOT Torsen and, furthermore, the advent of advanced electronic systems control of differential torque apportioning has seen the opportunity market for Torsen decline significantly.

In fact, both BMW and Mercedes Benz make use of Magna AWD coupling / centre differential products:
- The A Class 4Matic family makes use of Magna's ProActive rear axle located coupling which is not dissimilar to Haldex in fundamental operating principle
- BMW's XDrive transfer case houses a Magna Actimax centre differential with electro-mechanical actuation

Of course to then say that Mercedes and BMW both use Magna AWD solutions is true but that's where the similarity ends. The two systems are entirely different and your original assertion regarding functionality is incidentally correct.

 

[Wolfgang]

^Great. Here's more info about MB's tailor made 4matics, incl the CLA.

MB Passion

 

[Monster]

I tried both I ended up liking the BMW a lot better. I realize they're in different classes but what it comes down to is price, in my current situation they were priced roughly the same. only $100 difference in total. They were both awd.

Think about it this way, you are either buying a very expensive small car, or an affordable entry level exclusive car.

 

[Kowalski]

The problem with the CLA is not the fact that it's in an inferior class to the 3-Series, the Audi A3 sedan is a class below to the 3-series and it's actually a fairly good car. The problem with the CLA is the ride comfort, followed by the lack of interior space and its poor value for money. It starts out cheap, but when you add options that should be standard in the first place, the car ends up very expensive and costing as much as a well equipped 3-series.

 

[Monster]

It starts out cheap, but when you add options that should be standard in the first place, the car ends up very expensive and costing as much as a well equipped 3-series.

Here in Australia, a fully optioned CLA 250 cost the same as the C 250. It is crazy.

 

[martinbo]

Oh, and the CLA is frag ugly.

 

[Kowalski]

Here in Australia, a fully optioned CLA 250 cost the same as the C 250. It is crazy.

There you go... It's false economy. The options I said that should be standard in the CLA are the parking sensors with reverse camera (a must have in the CLA), driver's seat with electric adjustments and memory and leather seats. I don't think I'm reaching for the stars asking these to be standard in the CLA, specially the parking sensors and the reverse camera considering the CLA's appalling visibility.

 

[Monster]

There you go... It's false economy.

I observed a very interesting and simply bizarre situation happening in the Australian market. The CLA is attracting a lot of first time MB buyers, the car is selling so well that the dealers are not willing to discount on the retail price. That hasn't deterred people from paying full price for the CLA because they believed it was still the most affordable way to get into a new Mercedes. They didn't realize that the C class, after discount, cost about the same. On paper the C class cost more, but because these buys didn't receive much discount on the CLA, they didn't think they will receive a discount on the C class either. The dealers and MB Australia wins.

 

[Monster]

To add to my previous post, here are two examples, both cars are 2016 built, with just over 2000km, the CLA has a slightly higher mileage.

CLA 200, selling for $61 990 AUD
http://www.carsales.com.au/demo/details/Mercedes-Benz-CLA200-2016/OAG-AD-13772380/?Cr=9

C 200 Night Edition, selling for $61 900 AUD
http://www.carsales.com.au/demo/det...gtssaleid=OAG-AD-13423172&rankingType=TopSpot

My sales guy was telling me he is selling CLA 200 for between $60 to $62k AUD and CLA 250 at around $70k...it is insane.