W204 moving to CLA Cutting costs for sure
03-25-2013, 03:44 PM
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2008 C350
W204 moving to CLA Cutting costs for sure
I saw this video of a CLA and was shocked to see that a $30 000 plus car has a $1.00 metal rode holding up the Hood. Are we in the 80`s still and not even a Honda civic has this. I hope the W205(new C Class) thats $5000 more is a little more refined. See Video Below
Looks at 46 seconds of the video
Looks at 46 seconds of the video
03-25-2013, 04:05 PM
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2010 E350
It's not in production yet so I'm sure refinements will be made before its release to the general public. I can't imagine they will use a good prop instead of struts. Be patient and I bet you'll be pleased 
03-25-2013, 05:30 PM
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2012 C300 4Matic Sport Palladium Silver
$1.00 hood prop or not, that thing is sweet! Not crazy about the interior, but I can live with it. Now I need my wife to trade her BMW 1 Series in, take my C-Class, and let me get one of these! 
03-25-2013, 07:20 PM
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03-25-2013, 08:12 PM
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just now the local Mercedes dealer, Stuttgart Motors of Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico, called me and said that the first CLA's would be arriving in about 15 days. They will get a CLA200 (in black), a CLA250 (in silver) and a CLA250 Sport Special Edition (in white). The official launch is an event in Mexico City scheduled for April 25th. In any case these three are for sale immediately, so I will go April 5th for a special booklet with information not included in the downloadable PDF. Will scan and upload anything not already included in the currently published PDFs.
In any case, even though the CLA is wider, longer and has more interior headroom and legroom for the front passengers then the C Class, it is a full 300 lbs. less than the C250. So every ounce counts. Not only does a rod save engineering and manufacturing costs, but provides better MPG.
I will let MBworld know if in fact the production models that will arrive in 15 days have the rod. Come to think of it, I didnt even open my hood between A services, so why should this rod be such a big deal? Lets see if the W205 also comes with a rod next year!
In any case, even though the CLA is wider, longer and has more interior headroom and legroom for the front passengers then the C Class, it is a full 300 lbs. less than the C250. So every ounce counts. Not only does a rod save engineering and manufacturing costs, but provides better MPG.
I will let MBworld know if in fact the production models that will arrive in 15 days have the rod. Come to think of it, I didnt even open my hood between A services, so why should this rod be such a big deal? Lets see if the W205 also comes with a rod next year!
03-25-2013, 08:39 PM
#6
Most buyers of cars aren't like the people who read these forums - I would bet most car owners never even open their hoods, so whether it has props or not, doesn't matter to them.
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03-25-2013, 08:53 PM
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Not sure why some are so quickly falling for a "pretty face". Unless you are waiting for the AMG model, the early road tests have not been wonderful.....understeer, less than "sporting" suspension, and that really odd screen hovering over the center stack. A better strategy would be a "wait and see"....read the full test reviews when they come out, take a test drive. Also, probably not a great idea to be in a hurry for the earliest production. Most of the quality issues noted after launch V1 are bundled into a coordinated change with a new model year. The 14's are probably the better bet. There is a lot of emotion in the skin, but sometimes, that's as far as beauty goes. It will be interesting to see what this really turns out to be....for those who want an automatic.
03-25-2013, 09:02 PM
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2008 C350
Not sure why some are so quickly falling for a "pretty face". Unless you are waiting for the AMG model, the early road tests have not been wonderful.....understeer, less than "sporting" suspension, and that really odd screen hovering over the center stack. A better strategy would be a "wait and see"....read the full test reviews when they come out, take a test drive. Also, probably not a great idea to be in a hurry for the earliest production. Most of the quality issues noted after launch V1 are bundled into a coordinated change with a new model year. The 14's are probably the better bet. There is a lot of emotion in the skin, but sometimes, that's as far as beauty goes. It will be interesting to see what this really turns out to be....for those who want an automatic.
I mean I think people forget that the CLA is a A CLass with a trunk. Here you go friends here is a review and a video how they make it(testing). CLA just add a extended trunk
Last edited by livestrong191; 03-25-2013 at 09:34 PM.
03-25-2013, 11:06 PM
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I saw this video of a CLA and was shocked to see that a $30 000 plus car has a $1.00 metal rode holding up the Hood. Are we in the 80`s still and not even a Honda civic has this. I hope the W205(new C Class) thats $5000 more is a little more refined. See Video Below
Looks at 46 seconds of the video
Mercedes-Benz CLA - Münchner Autotage 2013 - YouTube
Looks at 46 seconds of the video
Mercedes-Benz CLA - Münchner Autotage 2013 - YouTube
03-26-2013, 08:01 AM
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2008 C350
The whole point is if they go cheap on something like thast what else have they done. Prices of the cars are going up but matrial and quality are going down. Cost to benefit ratio a little a skewed NO!!
03-26-2013, 09:03 AM
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2024 GLS450
If they cut costs somewhere where it shows, it makes you think. I'm sorry, my $16k Saturn had a prop rod. I expect it there. Nowhere else in this price class will you see one.
The media will notice and comment, and it will snowball from there.
03-26-2013, 10:14 AM
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'08 C300 4Matic Sport, '02 530i
Aside from that, FWD mercedes = meh. But I guess a typical Civic owner that's going to upgrade to this CLA won't care.
Last edited by Pete7874; 03-26-2013 at 01:55 PM.
03-26-2013, 01:11 PM
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10 Tahoe LT, 07 Silverado Z71, 99 BMW R1100RT
Maybe once I see one in person will change my view, but still that thing does nothing for me. 
Regardless whether it has a rod or struts to hold up the hood.
Regardless whether it has a rod or struts to hold up the hood.
03-27-2013, 02:38 PM
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03-27-2013, 02:53 PM
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03-27-2013, 03:00 PM
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03-27-2013, 03:11 PM
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LOL! Absolutely, but can you imagine the conversion costs to install the manual trans??? 
BTW, Audi just revealed the new A3 sedan....direct face off to the CLA....and the S3 version is stick or automatic.....just as the BMW M2 will be!
03-27-2013, 03:15 PM
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Dude it comes with paddel shifters super duper fast YO!!. Go grease some MB Dealer with some benjamins to put you on top of the list.
03-27-2013, 03:32 PM
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Don't want on this list...car needs surgery to remove that funny growth from the top of the instrument panel.
03-27-2013, 03:40 PM
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I hear you bro. The only thing I like about that out growth is the fact that instead of paying $2500 for the MB navi, you pay $220 for the ipod/iphone connect and then use the MB app with nav to display where you want to go and you can use the scrolly button thingy to enter in address.
03-27-2013, 06:21 PM
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2011 C300 W204 (Pending)
What is that God awful screen on the dash? Do Germans like the Garmin on the dash look? Very easy for BMW to beat this car. No wonder its only 30K
