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I am thinking about saving up to purchase a Mercedes CLA 250. If I buy, I will be buying new and in cash.
I think it's a beautiful car, and I think the price is pretty amazing! My last new car was a 2014 Kia Forte, fully loaded. I know it's a big jump, but I loved my Kia and also think I would love the Mercedes.
Does anyone know about the quality of this car? I just wonder if I'm better off buying a fully-loaded car from a different manufacturer or a semi-loaded CLA 250.
I own a 2005 C-Class and have driven the CLA and GLA. The quality of this car is crap and the materials are low rent.
If you gotta have this badge, buy a CPO C-Class instead.
A new, nicely equipped CLA will run $40k for which you could also buy a like new, nicely equipped off lease CPO E-Class WITH balance of factory warranty and three more years of CPO warranty on top of that. Just a thought...
I think the entry level Audi (A3) is a much nicer car. Its pretty much a 7/8ths version of the A4 while the CLA is really pretty far removed from the other MB products.
On the whole I would actually look for a pre-owned E class with some miles on it- although I do think the new C class is nice. Or a pre-owned 3 series. Again I think Audi is really the only one of the three that pulled of the small/entry level model that well. I imagine thats because they were able to crib so much from the A4 and because they could share some components with the higher end/sport model GTIs/Jettas/Passats.
As a former German car owner the best advice I can give is 'don't own a German car out of warranty.'
+1 Everyone will know you're ballin on a budget but if you just want the Benz badge, to each his own.
It's the modern day equivalent of a C240 hatch. To say that was lightly regarded would be an understatement.
The C320 4Matic my wife drives was an entirely different animal. It was also about $20K more.
It was an easy pick... the criteria was "Nicest Compact Luxury Car". Ride quality at the top of the list, no sports sedans allowed.
So buy the 250, then go to the dealer and buy a 400 or 500 number emblem and replace it. People will then be sufficiently impressed and you will also save a fortune.
For that matter, all cars look alike these days, buy a Chevy and then put the Mercedes emblems on. No one will know the difference and you will save even more!
The CLA is cheap inside and out. Awkward exterior proportions result from trying (and failing) to fit a luxurious looking Mercedes body on a small FWD platform. The interior feels cheap and corners are cut everywhere. The CLA is a Mercedes for people who have no business owning a Mercedes who can walk by a dealership or see an ad and say "I didn't know I could get a Mercedes for that little!". You're better off getting a loaded Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6 or Honda Accord and come out with a much nicer car.
Yeah, if you are after prestige, you ain’t gonna have it in a CLA. It is not a “real” Benz. But then again the three-pointed star is enough for some.
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