Since buying the E220 saloon last year to replace my MkII Superb I've been pretty impressed with its solidarity and comfy mile munching ability.

 

 

But, I kind of wish I'd bought something a little more exciting. I also miss the huge accessible boot of the Superb. I looked at the CLS at the time, but didn't want to spend the extra money.

 

A quick look recently on Autotrader and I was amazed how cheap the pre-facelift CLS is. Being based on my E-Class and with the same 7G gearbox it should be pretty familiar.

 

Going to look at this one next week...

 

 

 

 

It's a CLS350 so has the 3.0 V6 diesel engine, is a 2014 and covered just under 80K, for a smidge under £13,000 before negotiation.

 

A quick look on Autotrader to see what that sort of money would get me from Skoda and their Superb left me realising that either Skoda's are no longer cheap, or the CLS isn't loved.

 

Sure, its a couple of years younger, but £13K can't even get me into a MkIII L&K...

 

 

Merc's aren't cheap to service, and the V6 engine will only get me early 40's mpg, but it should be a little more fun than the E-Class and the Superb.

 

Edited 9 February, 20206 yr by silver1011

Do you need an HGV licence for it? 

 

I think the estate is a marmite car, similar to the XF Version. However what really counts is how you like it so I’ll be watching your progress with interest. 

Absolutely, the CLS in both saloon and shooting brake guises very much divides opinion with its looks.

 

Hopefully going to view it on Wednesday.

Skoda are expensive...

 

People assume, like certain online stores, that they’re cheap without looking elsewhere.

 

The superb is up with the premium marques until you push the discounts on new.

 

used they seem to be silly money.

Yep, the off-list brand new discounts are there, but then they are from Skoda's main competitors too.

 

I can't get my head around why used Superb's are so expensive.

 

It looks like the Kodiaq might well be my last Skoda. As good as they are the reason to buy one just isn't as compelling as it once was.

 

 

Yeah they are, and I thought Mercs/Audi were expensive compared to BMW when I looked.

TBH VAG motors to me often look overpriced right now.

You're comparing Euro 5 with Euro 6 there though and remember that in the current climate driving a Euro 5 diesel gets you disapproving scowls from Swedish schoolkids and quite probably named and shamed in Joaquin Phoenix's next award acceptance speech.

 

A Euro 6 CLS 220 on a 16 plate with 60k would probably be more like 18-20k, at 5-7k less the Superb starts to make a bit more sense.

A Euro 6 CLS also benefits from a facelift, updated interior and improved specification, so the price increase isn't all down to the engine.

 

VED is £200 for the EU5 CLS, £160 for the EU6 CLS. I think I'll live with the £40, 2.5mpg and square headlights.

 

And instead of the boot being filled with an AdBlue tank, I get a far more useful spare wheel.

 

Another bonus is that I will have a valid excuse to avoid London and most other city centre driving with their ultra low emission zones.

 

The Superb is still a lot of car for the money, but a long way off the good value it once was with the MkII.

 

Edited 10 February, 20206 yr by silver1011

When an xf loaded is around the same money as a superb, you know something is broken.

Went to look at the CLS last week, a lovely car but this particular example isn't for me.

 

The steering wheel was off centre, there were receipts in the car for a DPF sensor and forced regeneration recently, it was running budget tyres, it's overdue a gearbox oil change, a few of the changes on the test drive were a little jerky (compared to the same box on my current E-Class), the drivers seat and door aperture seals were heavily worn, all four alloys were corroded, the luggage cover was missing and it was full of dog hairs, mud and smelt of stale cigarette smoke.

 

The 3.0 V6 is a peach of an engine though, the acceleration up the motorway slip road on the test drive was brisk enough to make me smile!

It may take some time but I'm sure the right one is out there somewhere. 

Have you had a look around for a 530d or the rarer 535d?

We're on our 4th BMW group car (3x minis and my 3 series) and I think I'm likely to stay within the fold for my next one too. All of ours have been reliable

I had a C350D with that engine and the 7G+ gearbox. A fine combination. Decent economy, big tank and slushmatic gear changes meant it was a superb cruiser. I once had a 320i M-Sport chase me cross-country and I dropped it so it went well too for a heavy-ish lump. I realise the C350 is a smaller lighter car than the one you are looking at, but it was a decent alternative to the BMW 330D at the time and cost quite a bit less too. I feel BMW always seems to have the engineering edge, but MB does build a car that's great to spend long periods of time in. 

 

I've re-read your OP and the 7G+ gearbox was said to be a noticeable improvement on the 7G version

 

 

Edited 21 February, 20206 yr by Lady Elanore

23 hours ago, Aspman said:

Have you had a look around for a 530d or the rarer 535d?

We're on our 4th BMW group car (3x minis and my 3 series) and I think I'm likely to stay within the fold for my next one too. All of ours have been reliable

 

I was also looking at the 535d, but in the GT (I regret getting a saloon, especially one without folding rear seats, doh!). Similarly priced to the CLS, well specced as standard too, but not as pretty...

 

 

My last foray into the world of BMW was a 2002 E46 320d, which promptly ingested it's plastic swirl flaps and lunched the entire engine. An expensive experience which left me vowing never to return, but that was an awful long time ago and the wounds have healed 😂

13 hours ago, Lady Elanore said:

I had a C350D with that engine and the 7G+ gearbox. A fine combination. Decent economy, big tank and slushmatic gear changes meant it was a superb cruiser. I once had a 320i M-Sport chase me cross-country and I dropped it so it went well too for a heavy-ish lump. I realise the C350 is a smaller lighter car than the one you are looking at, but it was a decent alternative to the BMW 330D at the time and cost quite a bit less too. I feel BMW always seems to have the engineering edge, but MB does build a car that's great to spend long periods of time in. 

 

 

I did a little research before viewing the CLS, and I too discovered that the earlier 7G gearboxes (without the +) aren't as good as the latest version.

 

My current E-Class has the 7G+ box and I rather like it, it seems to suit my laid-back driving style and long periods sat between 60-80mph.

 

It can be a little slow to kick down but that's my fault for leaving it in Eco rather than Sport!

 

Your old C-Class looks like a real sleeper!

It was a beautiful charcoal metallic sort of colour and one that the C63 used  In fact that's why I chose the colour, I passed a C63 and said "I'd have one in that colour" and the salesman said you could get the 'C350CDi AMG Sport Plus' in that same colour. Loved the car, hated the crazy long name. 

1 hour ago, silver1011 said:

 

I was also looking at the 535d, but in the GT (I regret getting a saloon, especially one without folding rear seats, doh!). Similarly priced to the CLS, well specced as standard too, but not as pretty...

 

My last foray into the world of BMW was a 2002 E46 320d, which promptly ingested it's plastic swirl flaps and lunched the entire engine. An expensive experience which left me vowing never to return, but that was an awful long time ago and the wounds have healed 😂

 

Swirl flaps, lol I remember those days.

Touring is a nice car, I'm not keen on the GT look.

 

The 330 with RWD is much nicer to drive than the xdrive versions (but xDrive is more useful more often) and I assume the 530 would be the same. I don't have adaptive suspension but I don't think the xdrive setup is too soft at all.

 

 

Looks like he sold it to a trader in the end...

 

...who's stuck another £2,000 on the screen price! 😃

 

Exec/premium/Sports cars are tanking at the moment. If you have the money there are some stella deals out there. 

1 hour ago, silver1011 said:

Looks like he sold it to a trader in the end...

 

...who's stuck another £2,000 on the screen price! 😃

 

Just not liking 4 owners...I always try for 1 or 2 owners at the most and they must have decent (Branded) tyres, tends to show they have been looked after irrespective of cost.

In defence of the dealers, that sounds about right for a mark-up. They need to put some sort of warranty on it, probably get haggled down a £1,000, fix a bit of paint and chipped wheels and give the car a cursory service. If the car doesn't sell quickly, then the value of the car can go down a few hundred quid a month. After a couple of months they send off to the block to recoup some of their money back. it's a tougher business than people give credit for, thats why so many dealers go bust, it's not that they are all crooks. 

Argh, this damn itch won't go away. Everytime I see a CLS Shooting Brake I can't stop imagining it on the drive 

 

To make matters worse, one has popped up locally, in my preferred colour, silver and with the essential heated seats factory option.

 

It is heavy on the mileage @ 120,000 miles, but two owners and Pirelli P-Zero tyres (actually 3x P-Zero and strangely 1x P600).

 

Do I go view it? Tell me I'm mad!

 

 

 

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202004309123129

Would it help I I told you it probably has a Peugeot engine?!?!?

I don't think the 3.0 V6 diesel is a Peugeot engine. Merc spent millions developing it and as I owned that engine in a c350Cdi C class I can certainly say it's a wonderful engine