RJC

Like to hear your thoughts....

park423

Because the new design was right around the corner and the design is way better interior and exterior and with a new more powerful engine and better fuel economy. I'm pretty sure I could have gotten the CLS for less than my E550 too

storm10

E550 has more room, better performance and better future resale value. Here is an article, which compares both: 2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 4-Door Coupe vs. E550 Sedan . Of course, this applies to 2010 - 2011 models.
I'm sure it may change in 2012...

RJC

Didn't notice until just now there was a thread (switching out) asking something kind of similar...maybe the mods can merge this into that if need be.
Either way keep the thoughts coming...

K-A

I tested an '06 CLS55 AMG and an '07 CPO CLS550, back to back with my E.

Both were much cheaper than my car was gonna be, in fact, both almost matched the cost of my 39 month Lease.

What I loved about the CLS55: Brute speed, the car felt like a rock-star, pure fun. Too much fun even, as I knew it'd get me into trouble.

What I didn't like about the 55: (see styling comments below), owning an AMG after Warranty, not a big enough gear-head to put up with the fussiness of that powertrain, terrible MPG, Used Car, interior showed premature wear.

I think the CLS is a beautiful, sometimes captivating design, that is also quick-wearing, and too fashionable for my tastes. I prefer the E-Class style, when outfitted right, as it wears perfectly, and will always look good IMO. The CLS's driving position didn't feel right to me, the shoulder line too high, it just felt too "feminine" all around, I didn't feel comfortable in it, and the interior is way too delicate, it shows wear early, and again, it's a bit too feminine to my tastes (I like a good balance when it comes to cars, usually).

About the CLS550, it just didn't appeal to me much, even for the great price. And I didn't want to buy another car just a year before the new body style comes out (like I did with my W211). The W212 E350 is on another level engineering wise, drove more comfortably, and tightly, all around a MUCH better build and engineered car, inside and out. The interior felt like granite tough to the CLS's, although the CLS has more luxurious materials (I wouldn't say better quality, as it'll wear far sooner than the E's ever will, but softer and more refined).

Lastly, I'm not a pedal pusher usually, so I really didn't notice a big power difference between the E350 and CLS550. No point in having those horses if I'm not making use of them.

About the new CLS. Verdict is still out on it. I know the build quality will surpass the originals. I so far like the E's styling more, so at the moment, obviously I don't see it worth the price premium. If its styling wins me over the E's, then I might have to unfortunately take it into consideration.

RJC

The inside and outside of the new CLS is quite nice on the eyes and I'm sure the interior is to the touch as well.
MB has excellent lease deals on very well equipped left over new 11 CLS550's something like $699 for 36 with about $4k out of pocket and that's a deal that can be had at any dealership so it can be made much more attractive locally. With such a radical change in style and power plants it would still be hard to justify even at that price however.

I'm not really a 4 door kind of guy (my 06 E55 was my first and only) but the new CLS, and even maybe A7 help.

golfster

I liked the CLS when it first came out and still think it is a nice looking car, but it wasn't a look that filled me with strong interest or desire for very long. I do like the understated look of the E but I've only seen the new CLS in pictures. I'm interested in seeing it in person at some point.

I debated between the coupe and the sedan when I purchased my E (I love the looks of both), but went for the sedan for general practicality. The E is my commuter car while I'm in CA (typically a few days per week). I intially shipped my Boxster S here for those times, but shipped it back to my home in IL. I enjoy that car for weekends, but not for driving daily to the office. And on the weekends that I'm here, I found putting golf clubs on the passenger seat meant going solo without a passenger, so the sedan won out. Perhaps the CLS would be the perfect compromise between coupe and sedan, but the new body wasn't out yet. Had it been available, I may have considered trading the Boxster instead of keeping it.

K-A

I wonder what the Lease deals on the 2012 CLS will be (after initial hype wears off, i.e maybe 6 months down the line, which is when E Leases started to come down to earth).

Also, I wonder what MSRP slashing will be like? We all know that the M-B's MSRP's are usually laughing stock, with people getting $10+K off of E's, etc.

I priced a new CLS out at upper $70's MSRP. I can even price one out for low-mid if I wanted to eliminate some of the frills.

I wonder if you can knock $10-$15K off of that in time? A new CLS for high $50's/low $60's is worth considering very strongly to me. Don't laugh just yet.... Look at how savvy buying will get you discounts on current, new body M-B's.

RJC

From what I've read the 12 starts/bases at $71k ($3000 less than the 11) with very well equipped ones around $80k and up. The pricing 6 mos from now will no doubt depend on how many mb cranks out, if they're smart they'd keep production relatively low from the start. There are lots of 11 E's and CLSs around at dealers and the ports.

K-A

$80K means that getting a well equipped CLS at $70K is very plausible. So if production/inventory gets sloppy, hello mid $60's. A P1 (there is no P2 with the CLS) CLS at low $60's will get me very interested in seeing how I feel about it VS my E.

DCubed

There are 5 2011 CLS550s left in the western region currently, so it looks like they cut production off just about perfectly as they could. Lease programs are out for the '12 CLS and its going to be a pretty large jump in payment compared to the outgoing model assuming dollar for dollar the car is about 3K less than the 2011. Production will be slim as they are still ramping up production of the new 4.6L TT V8 for the US market, we should see normal inventory levels in about 6 months, I only have 4 CLS due into my store for the first three months and two are already pre-sold. MSRP is not going to be such a laughing stock anymore, while there will still be deals out there they are giving us less incentives as there are fewer cars on the ground right now than there were at this time last year, looks like the home office did their homework this year.

park423

Are you saying low 60's for the 2012 CLS new? No way, it's a low volume car and they will be snatched up at MSRP or maybe a 5% discount, similar to the Panamera, at least for the first 2 years. It wasn't too long ago when CL500's and CLK320's were getting premiums over the MSRP. Although that won't happen anymore, close to MSRP will still sell all the new CLS'. G550's still sell for about full price.

RJC

Does that include cars at the port or is that just in dealer inventory? With only 5 cars in the entire west why would mbusa even promote a $699 lease special?

K-A

Looks like I have good reason to hopefully like the E more and stick with it then! Lol. I just can't justify that price for a CLS, unless buying Used, and I'm spoiled now with having my first Brand New car, that I dunno if I'd want to buy Used.

I hope M-B DOES do their homework with inventory, and lowers production (or at least makes it realistic), as it's a joke when I hear people are getting E-Classes for extravagant discounts. Very unbecoming of the cars and M-B. I'm all for good deals and low prices when I'm buying, but at least bring the cars MSRP down instead of giving out such incentives. It levels out our resale values, and keeps pricing more consistent.

S0upb0ne

Are people really getting more than 10k off. I got around a couple hundred under invoice and that took some dealing.

Are people really getting 10k off new Es w/o loyalty or conquest cash?

K-A

The ones I'm speaking of are probably with loyalty/conquest cash/etc. But I have seen some $10+K deals off for sure. I'm sure most of those are the rare people who come and post on Car message boards though, lol. The average layman probably pays much closer to MSRP. Kind of rough for them as resale suffers due to those who do knock so much off of MSRP. A stricter and more realistic MSRP is a much smoother and more consistent situation.

I don't see why such deals can't be had on the CLS after 6 months to 1 year or so, unless they keep supply tight. Kind of depends on whether they want to keep the car more exclusive, or try and mass produce/sell it.

ImInPA

I got about 9200 off mine. No cash back, no incentives. Just called the dealer, told them what the car was worth to me and that if they agreed I would be there with a check later in the afternoon. I did this in the middle of the month. They told me to get screwed basically. But, with two days left in the month, my phone rang, they accepted my deal, and the rest is history.

On another note, I am having a hard time warming up to the face of the 12 CLS. Looks like a sedan version of the R-class (my least favorite MB vehicle in the US).