Mercedes-Benz leads over BMW in January 2012 US sales

[Gianclaudio]

Crazy how low volume the CL is. I wonder how its Sales have competed with the C215. I do know that the C215 seemed much more popular and still seems more prevalent on the roads.

Don't forget the existense of the CLS and SLS. I know they aren't that similar, but somehow I see these two stealing some sales from the CL.

 

[Merc1]

The CL is such a pricey item and there is a lot of competition in that space. Its one of the last timeless looking Mercedes models.

BMW will catch back up next month when the new 3 hits the ground. Mercedes has the GL, CLC and the GLK facelift all coming late summer/fall so it should be another down the wire race toward the end of the year. The one I'm going to be watching is Lexus. You know they're going all out to get their crown back.


M

 

[EMpower]

Sales BMW of North of America - Can anybody explain what they mean with North of America?

North America is basically US. BMW NA is name of BMW company registered in US. They probably initially registered in US as BMWNA to include Canada and Mexico and later separated.

 

[EMpower]

is the new 3 already on sale??

They are supposed to be in showrooms Feb 12th.

 

[K-A]

True, the CLS definitely helped cannibalize the CL.

 

[Merc1]

Why would you say that? The CLS is a 4-door with a huge price difference.


M

 

[Gianclaudio]

Of course the're not direct rivals, but after all the CL and CLS are both BIG cars for four people, so I can see the CLS stealing some of the CL sales.....

 

[Merc1]

The CLS and CL have nothing to do with each other. Other than some cold hard numbers I don't buy any of that. People truly looking to carry people around would look at the S550 not the CL550.


M

 

[K-A]

I've seen lots of guys post on Forums that they pitted the CL and CLS against each other, and the CLS will always come out as a surefire winner, unless you're extremely partial to the CL's design or size. That must have to do with the soft sales of this generations CL on top of perhaps some others.

The huge price difference between the two and the fact that M-B marketing fools people into thinking the CLS is a "Coupe" is essentially what cannibalizes the CL. They also share drivetrains and tech, etc.

 

[Human]

I agree. The current one seems very "soft" in terms of presence and popularity. It looks very imbalanced and bland in normal guise, which is weird as the car isn't a technically blandly detailed or proportioned car.... however, somehow, it just comes off as "bland". However, with an AMG Package and when equipped and better yet-modded just right, it definitely shows of how beautiful it can be, and it *can* indeed be beautiful.

The C215 was a massive hit though, I remember how insanely popular and prestigious it was when it came out.... everybody wanted one.... oddly enough, I never fell totally in love with it and found the styling a little off in some areas, preferring the W220 Sedan over it. The first gen CL was also a huge statement and hit.

The key to the first two were huge monolithic designs, IMO. The current one got sculpted and more detailed, that are good things in their own right, but somehow working with the nature and architecture, I feel they may have worked against the car, in comparison to the slab sided first two.

Read this K-A: My post - http://www.germancarforum.com/s-cla...ass-spy-pics-info-part-2-a-35.html#post560535

 

[K-A]

Interesting. I do love the CL, just something about it hasn't necessarily magnetized it for me. Now you have me wanting to get really up close and personal with it. Especially drive one. Would be a nice back to back from my E-Class which is a few years newer of a body style.

 

[Zafiro]

A standard CL is looks terrible but transforms the car into something else in black color and AMG kit.

 

[far2000]

A standard CL is looks terrible but transforms the car into something else in black color and AMG kit.

and this is my problem with the design of the cl, why should a car have 2 look good with aftermarket rims or a sport kit????
the low sales are because of looks, who would choos a standard cl over a cls????

 

[mini_cooper4]

and this is my problem with the design of the cl, why should a car have 2 look good with aftermarket rims or a sport kit????
the low sales are because of looks, who would choos a standard cl over a cls????

Aftermarket ?
The CL is too expensive and most of them in my country are 63s or 65s almost none are standard MBs.
The CL is truly one of the most magnificent cars ever built. Drive one or take a ride in one. The final result at least for me was that I felt like stealing it... it was the CL65

 

[far2000]

Aftermarket ?
The CL is too expensive and most of them in my country are 63s or 65s almost none are standard MBs.
The CL is truly one of the most magnificent cars ever built. Drive one or take a ride in one. The final result at least for me was that I felt like stealing it... it was the CL65

exactly my point, u drove a 65, and never even considered a standard cl 500 , most cl sales are the standard cl 500, the AMGs must be selling well, but the bread and butter cl 500 are stuck at dealerships.. i know dealerships here in south africa are speccing the cl 500 with aftermarket rims 2 make them look more sporty and attractive...

 

[mini_cooper4]

exactly my point, u drove a 65, and never even considered a standard cl 500 , most cl sales are the standard cl 500, the AMGs must be selling well, but the bread and butter cl 500 are stuck at dealerships.. i know dealerships here in south africa are speccing the cl 500 with aftermarket rims 2 make them look more sporty and attractive...

You can just add the AMG pack as far as I know

 

[Merc1]

Its price, the CLS is like 60K or more cheaper. Anyone or most that say that never intended to get a CL anyway. Common sense says its not a coupe. Sorry, just don't buy that the CLS is affecting the CL at all. Two different classes of car and the CL was NEVER a volume product. Just because you see more of the C215 on the road doesn't mean it sold any better. It did go from 2000-2006 so it had 7 good years, the current CL isn't quite into 7 years yet.

M

 

[GTA45E]

The E Sedan apparently still outsells the 5er Sedan out here, and even if it didn't/doesn't, the 5er is one year newer, BMW outsold M-B last year, and the E60 outsold the W211, so the F10 should essentially have the advantage.

I believe word has gotton out that the E-Class is a better quality product than the 5-Series.. I really didn`t expect to see those results.

 

[Merc1]

How does anyone know this without the breakout of how many E sedans Mercedes sells??? Where is that data? Mercedes doesn't break this out as far as I know.


M

 

[K-A]

The 5ers Sales aren't very strong though. The E was selling almost or over 5K units at the same time that the F10 is selling its 3200, and this was when M-B's overall Sales were much less than BMW's overall Sales (i.e, E-Class a higher seller within the brands model range). I think American's are more attracted to the E's more dynamic look, not to mention the reliability factor. Don't forget, the E was doing this with the old powertrain.... though, in this segment, American't don't seem to put powertrains at such a high regard. It was the same way with the E60 VS W211, but switched around. Also, Scott and ENI said that the E Sedan has outsold the (first year/1-year newer) F10 Sedan in the U.S, several months ago, for what it's worth.

I'd like to know how the E60 sold in its first two years, VS the F10. If the E60 was even behind by 500 cars (doubtful), then that would be a slow sales growth for the F10, 7 years later. I'd love to assume that BMW doesn't care about sales growth with the 5er segment, and are focusing on lower volume but more prestige factor and high quality.... but we all know that's dreaming.... especially coming from BMW.

I also would very highly assume that the C215 outsold the C216. Where can we find this data? We can speculate as to why that would be the case, if that would be the case, but certainly if it is the case, then the intro of the CLS would be a shoe-in for a reason. If a guy goes to a Dealer to buy a CL, and see's a CLS with a better look (some people seem to like the CLS's more than the past 2 CL's), same tech, same powertrains, newer-segment factor, and a $50K less price, why wouldn't they pick a CLS? Also, the C215 seemed to be MUCH more popular and status-esque than the C216, I remember people clamoring for that thing (C215), while the C16 has been a very well respected, but not very popular model.... the W221 Sedan seemed to really be "the one" this time around.