Sub-30k Mercedes No More: 2015 CLA Gets a $1,600 Price Hike

5579 Views 61 Replies 35 Participants Last post by dishdude, Dec 19, 2014

Envoy4Life

Discussion Starter · Dec 18, 2014

Sub-30k Mercedes no more as 2015 CLA gets a $1,600 price hike.
Carscoops
By: Andreas Tsaousis
December 17, 2014

The CLA compact saloon was a runaway hit in the US, with Mercedes-Benz USA boss Steve Cannon acknowledging that “this is the best launch in 20 years; it has been a phenomenal success right out of the gate”.

Making hay of the fact that the CLA was the first Merc to drop under the US$30,000 mark, with an MSRP of US$29,900 excluding delivery, its average stay in the dealerships’ courtyard is less than 10 days, compared to the industry average of 60. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said that, if the inventory was sufficient, “we could have sold twice as many”.

There’s a flipside to that coin: if there’s such a high demand, why not make an extra buck by increasing the price a bit? Thus, the sub-30k Merc is no more as the base 2015 CLA 250 starts from US$31,500, which rises to US$32,425 when you add the destination charge.

Sure, it’s still a nice price for a premium compact saloon (or is it four-door coupe?) with 208hp and the three-pointed star at its grille but, nonetheless, it is US$1,600 up from the 2014 model.

See less See more

1 - 20 of 62 Posts

Envoy4Life

Discussion Starter · #2 · Dec 18, 2014

This is coming from a huge Mercedes-Benz fan:

They can price this car at $19,995 and I still wouldn't buy it. The car itself is so terrible and mediocre it's not even funny. The CLA shouldn't exist and is only going to harm the Mercedes-Benz name IMHO.

Reactions: 5

63GrandSport001

· #3 · Dec 18, 2014

In the chase for sales, for a brand like Mercedes vehicles like the CLA are a must in order to push sales further.

Envoy4Life

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 18, 2014

63GrandSport001 said:
In the chase for sales, for a brand like Mercedes vehicles like the CLA are a must in order to push sales further.

CLA sized, yes. CLA quality? NO! The CLA is an awful attempt at an entry level luxury sedan. The A3 is far better executed than it.

Reactions: 1

Jesda

· #5 · Dec 18, 2014

It is a sh** car for sh** people.

I'll take the A3 all day long over this turd.

Reactions: 4

Link2877

· #6 · Dec 18, 2014

Hey You guys know the name of that other car in this class from a well regarded brand that sold relatively well the first two years it was on sale?

Simmer something.

I jest, I jest

See less See more

Reactions: 2

eaton53

· #7 · Dec 18, 2014

Sure, it’s still a nice price for a premium compact saloon

There's very little premium about it.

jpd80

· #8 · Dec 18, 2014

Jesda said:
It is a sh** car for sh** people.

I'll take the A3 all day long over this turd.

I had a higher opinion of the CLA until I actually sat in one, it's not much better than a Verano.
The A3 is a lot nicer inside, everything just feels a lot clasier.

All Star

· #9 · Dec 18, 2014

Envoy4Life said:
This is coming from a huge Mercedes-Benz fan:

They can price this car at $19,995 and I still wouldn't buy it. The car itself is so terrible and mediocre it's not even funny. The CLA shouldn't exist and is only going to harm the Mercedes-Benz name IMHO.

If it is so bad, then why is it flying off the lots?

bballr4567

· #10 · Dec 18, 2014

I finally saw one in the wild yesterday. Guy driving it, no ****, had on a Polo with a popped collar.

It looks better than I thought it would but the roof line throws everything off.

Parlay84

· #11 · Dec 18, 2014

All Star said:
If it is so bad, then why is it flying off the lots?

It's a cheap Mercedes.....

You don't have to say which one it is. To the uninformed it's still a Mercedes.

Reactions: 2

CaddyLac10

· #12 · Dec 18, 2014

I really hate this car.

BlackGTP

· #13 · Dec 18, 2014

All Star said:
If it is so bad, then why is it flying off the lots?

Same reason when Target slaps a designer name on some piece of garbage, people are buying the name.

dagr382

· #14 · Dec 18, 2014

As I read in a British publication:"Well-made, from average materials". That should never be said of a true Mercedes-Benz.

pontiacgt02

· #15 · Dec 18, 2014

According to reports I read its not reliable at all. Also uses very cheap materials. More like a cruze or focus. The verano is much nicer inside as well as the Regal.

Its selling because people can say hey I bought a new Mercedes, just like when they had the 2 door hatch that was a joke also.

Just because it say Mercedes doesn't make it a luxury car.

Ruperts Trooper

· #16 · Dec 18, 2014

The CLA demonstrates the prestige and values of the brand and sells based on that brand prestige and brand values rather than on it's own merits.

Only brands that have already established brand prestige and brand values over many decades can do that.

Mercedes-Benz had a poor decade, quality-wise from the mid-90s to the mid-00s, but the brand itself rode that difficult period.

Reactions: 1

FenwickHockey65

· #17 · Dec 18, 2014

All Star said:
If it is so bad, then why is it flying off the lots?

Because it's a Mercedes for (well, was for) under $30k.

But like I've been saying, it's not that impressive to say "I own a Mercedes" when you only paid $30k for it.

Reactions: 1

balthazar

· #18 · Dec 18, 2014

63GrandSport001 said:
In the chase for sales, for a brand like Mercedes vehicles like the CLA are a must in order to push sales further.

What is remotely 'luxury' about "chasing sales"??

MB's business model, to a T:

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Serpens

· #19 · Dec 18, 2014

pontiacgt02 said:
According to reports I read its not reliable at all. Also uses very cheap materials. More like a cruze or focus. The verano is much nicer inside as well as the Regal.

Its selling because people can say hey I bought a new Mercedes, just like when they had the 2 door hatch that was a joke also.

Just because it say Mercedes doesn't make it a luxury car.

Having been in all the vehicles you mentioned, saying the Verano is "much" nicer and the materials are closer to a Focus is pure exaggeration. The truth is Audi does the small car thing better with the A3 and I hope Mercedes takes note for the next generation CLA.

That being said, springing for the leather package that includes upgraded dash materials should be a must for this car. The ride completely sucks with the sport package...and the extra suspension travel must be why the GLA is receiving significantly better reviews despite being essentially the same car.

Serpens

· #20 · Dec 18, 2014

balthazar said:
What is remotely 'luxury' about "chasing sales"??

MB's business model, to a T:

What luxury brand isn't chasing sales? They're all going or have already gone downmarket. Even Rolls Royce and Bentley are always evaluating lower-priced vehicles.

1 - 20 of 62 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.