CLA [Official] Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupé (C117)

[merc4]

Yes I agree they have a Plan.....And I also think that this car will bring a lot of new Faces the Mercedes Group like the A class is busy doing...I know two friends in SA who I never thought would buy a MB are very excited to buy a new A class they both 27 and 32 years of age and were both thinking of Audi and VW so yeah I guess the CLA will have a similar impact..

I definitely have a strong feeling it will eat some off the C class sales especially till the new Shape is launched I also feel it will have a impact on cars like the 3 series A4.

In general I think it will have a huge impact on Mercedes gaining a new range of clients my main issue is such a premium over the A class..

I think a 10 to 15 percent premium is still fair but 30 percent is ridiculous..

Honestly I do not see where you get the 30 percent premium. Mostly you get a 15 percent premium. Only with the CLA 180 you get a 20 premium. You also have to take into account that CLA has better equipment.

 

[mini_cooper4]

It was probably worth it.

It was more than worth it! Lubima is a car that will forever have a place in my heart... and be my Nr.1 dream car
Not to mention that back then the C-Class had the worst interior ever

 

[fortuner]

Honestly I do not see where you get the 30 percent premium. Mostly you get a 15 percent premium. Only with the CLA 180 you get a 20 premium. You also have to take into account that CLA has better equipment.

I read some people posting a 30 percent premium on the A class

 

[Smithee]

So let me ask you who think this will eat into the C class sales.

Do you not think that they understand that? And do you not think they will do something about that?
Perhaps rise the size and price of the upcoming C?

Or do you think they just picked a number and said that's what it will cost?

Trust me they have a plan in mind.

But despite their plans some people will cross shop the C and CLA.. but hey there are more extreme examples of cross shopping than this.

The C Class and the 3 Series are rear wheel drive but the CLA would be cross shopped against the Audi A4, especially since in many markets the base model A4s are FWD.

 

[LaArtist]

Do you really think that so many people care if its FWD or RWD..and just for that reason wont cross shop?

I firmly believe that well over half of the car drivers of the word do not even know the difference between RWD and FWD

 

[Wolfgang]

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[fortuner]

They look awesome in the video..

Really liking the silver.

 

[K-A]

So let me ask you who think this will eat into the C class sales.

Do you not think that they understand that? And do you not think they will do something about that?
Perhaps rise the size and price of the upcoming C?

Or do you think they just picked a number and said that's what it will cost?

Trust me they have a plan in mind.

But despite their plans some people will cross shop the C and CLA.. but hey there are more extreme examples of cross shopping than this.

Oh yeah, they couldn't ever make a mistake, could they?

We'll know soon enough if this cramps the C-Classes style. Fact is it's a new iteration, therefore it's naturally a test-bed of sorts.

 

[lukeswiss]

Wow that was a HUGE round of applause. LOL

 

[klier]

Do you really think that so many people care if its FWD or RWD..and just for that reason wont cross shop?

I firmly believe that well over half of the car drivers of the word do not even know the difference between RWD and FWD

This quote here isn't even new. If Reithofer knew this in time before the F20 came out, the F20 would've been FWD too (sadly). Now it's only the 1er GT, next gen the whole 1er family.

Point is, people have no clue whatsoever anymore these days:

Four out of five BMW 1-series drivers think their car is front-wheel drive, according to the firm’s CEO Norbert Reithofer.

Reithofer revealed the statistic in a conference call to journalists following the announcement of BMW’s financial results. He admitted the company found the 1-series survey results to be “quite a surprise”.

 

[LaArtist]

^Thank you sir..but fools will be fools they think everyone spends half their life informing themselves about cars like us.

We are a minority to say the least

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Huge gallery!

http://www.netcarshow.com/mercedes-benz/2014-cla-class/

 

[klier]

I swear to God, thinking about the next gen 1er being FWD almost makes me cry. Not that FWD is so bad per say, but such a nice little car with inline 6 engine and RWD was utterly unique and cool. It deserved to live on

Now we're left with a fantastic driving 1er but with an ugly snout.....Aaaaggrr....the last RWD 1er ending up with a messed up front

Sorry for the off topic!

 

[K-A]

Wow that was a HUGE round of applause. LOL

Wow, lol. That must have been awkward.

 

[lukeswiss]

I swear to God, thinking about the next gen 1er being FWD almost makes me cry. Not that FWD is so bad per say, but such a nice little car with inline 6 engine and RWD was utterly unique and cool. It deserved to live on

Now we're left with a fantastic driving 1er but with an ugly snout.....Aaaaggrr....the last RWD 1er ending up with a messed up front

Sorry for the off topic!

Will even the coupe be front wheel drive ? what a waste. It'll lose it's whole feel .... Talking about looks, I don't even mind the current 1er. I think they're updating the front anyway.... Just hate the dealers here.

On topic, I prefer the A-Klasse to the CLA. I wouldn't pay a premium just because this thing has a slightly different shaped ass... but some people will love the mini CLS look... and I guess I'm prepared to pay more for a coupe. This will be more popular in North America...

My co worker just got the new A. It's nice, and cool but it doesn't feel that premium, certainly not as much as say a C Class. I doubt this will be any better, interior materials certainly look the same to me. (He was an S3 driver as well, so they obviously have done something right, though he did base a lot of the purchase on price)

 

[LaArtist]

^Would it not be wrong if it felt as premium as a C class?

 

[lukeswiss]

^Would it not be wrong if it felt as premium as a C class?

Yeah, diff segment, but that's why I would buy the A, especially if this is almost C Class in terms of pricing.

 

[LaArtist]

^ I expect the next C to move up half a notch in price

Im sure there are plenty of reasons for people to buy the CLA over the C..

As will be evident in the sales

its like asking why people buy the CLS over the E.. or some buy the CLS over the S even.

Its just a niche car, a design statement.

But it will be just that..a niche car.. it will not sell in huge numbers, its more of a compliment to the A class..

Hence im not so stressed about it eating out of the C's plate.

But then again if it does who cares, as the money ends up in the same company. And no one of us here ( i think) know which model is more profitable per unit for MB..CLA or A

PS
Fun Fact: I read somewhere that the S class is the most profitable car/ unit for MB

 

[lukeswiss]

Probably not such a bad idea, with the downsizing trend, many who move to smaller cars still want the luxury and quality of larger cars.

 

[LaArtist]

^Yes i believe ( read hope) that Mercedes thought their new model offensive through.

So that each model fits in its own little space.

Im confident.