The Difference Between A Benz...And A "Benz"

"PS9" (PS9) 11/29/2015 at 00:16 • Filed to: None

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Today, I attended the Central Florida International Auto Show. Ze Germans usually sit this one out, but a few decided to have a showing this year. It was here that I learned of the vast gulf separating the C class and the CLA.

When I got inside the C class and closed the door, the sound levels dropped to a whisper. I realized then that I had never sat in new or new-ish luxury car before. This is what people mean when they say things like ‘fit and finish’. This was excellence. Every single surface you’d regularly touch had the feel of premium-ness to it. Just look at this beautiful waterfall of wood interspersed with metal lining. That clock is like the car wearing an automatic grand seiko on it’s wrist. Even the plastic in here felt different. ‘You’ve made it.’ Is what the car says to both owners and passers-by.

That feeling of premiumness, the feeling that you’ve ‘made it’...you aren’t going to find that here in the CLA. I can’t exactly pinpoint why this car feels totally substandard. It might be the cheap plastics everywhere. It might be this comparatively ugly center console. It might be the absence of some of the premium materials you’d get in a C class. Whatever it is, it made one thing clear to me; this car will give you a Mercedes badge, and little else. This thing has no business sharing a stable with the likes of the C, E, SL, and S Coupe. It doesn’t belong here.

If you want a slightly upscale cheap car, go with an Accord, and I am not even joking with that. The interior and material appointment there is comparable to the CLA, and you’ll have to option up to a V6 and premium packages to spend CLA numbers on it. Badge snobs will scoff at picking a Honda over a Merc, but know this; Honda is a lot better at building cheap cars than Mercedes is right now. Your $30k will go a lot farther for a lot longer over there.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PS9 11/29/2015 at 00:26

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This is how you know you’ve made it. When your car has an analog clock in the dash, you’ve made it. I want a dash clock...

GeorgeyBoy > PS9 11/29/2015 at 00:26

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can u use this to text

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > PS9 11/29/2015 at 00:27

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100% agree. The level of refinement in a luxury car is amazing. I sat in a new 7-series at a car show and drove my friend’s e39 5-series. The level of comfort and isolation is amazing. I imagine commuting is spectacular in them.

What I’ve also found out is there’s a difference between types of isolation. In a new economy car there’s isolation that provides comfort and silence but there is no connection to the road. It’s absolutely terrifying. On the other hand when you sit in a car like a 5-series or equivalent, there is isolation from the outside for comfort but you still feel connected and like you can start to exploit the car’s abilities.

pjhusa > PS9 11/29/2015 at 00:28

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I liked the CLA at first, but, after my eyes have cleared from the novelty, it’s now just cheap and ugly.

pjhusa > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/29/2015 at 00:29

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Nah... you know you’ve made it when you have a Bentayga with the £150,000 Breitling clock option.

pjhusa > GeorgeyBoy 11/29/2015 at 00:30

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I wish, but I believe not.

T9 forever!

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > GeorgeyBoy 11/29/2015 at 00:40

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Taking texting and driving to a whole new level.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > PS9 11/29/2015 at 01:06

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If you told me this interior belonged to the Golf I’d almost believe you, I’d only question it because those vents seem a bit to garish for a conservative VW. I also wouldn’t be surprised if you told me this was the next gen Dart, or Avenger because it does look a lot like a new mid level Chrysler product. It all just seems slapped together compared to the beautiful C class interior, like you said.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > PS9 11/29/2015 at 01:06

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These vents are so much nicer, the other ones look they were transplanted from a Scion.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > PS9 11/29/2015 at 02:23

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Now try a S class

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > PS9 11/29/2015 at 03:02

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+1 for going with automatic Grand Seiko for your luxury watch reference.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > PS9 11/29/2015 at 07:23

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Oh wow. The one year I dont make it they bring the Germans!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > PS9 11/29/2015 at 07:26

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Side note about the CLA: Some girl at my school just got one. Its that Sport plus package or something so it has red accents all over, big wheels, sport bucket seats, red seatbelts, etc...

But usually in the morning she sits in it running. I swear it sounds like an old diesel. That 4 cyl does not sound like a luxury $40k car there at all.

Also now that I keep seeing it in person, the novelty has worn off. It isnt very nice to look at. Kind of too bubbly and awkward.

406z > PS9 11/29/2015 at 08:37

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I cannot agree enough. One of my favorite things was when the cla launched people would buy them then go to service and ask why nav didn’t work. My friend who worked for mercedes at the time had a hard time with that one. That being said the cla is perfect. I know a lot of badge whores...and the cla delivers.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > PS9 11/29/2015 at 09:27

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a “Benz”

hike > GeorgeyBoy 11/29/2015 at 09:33

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You actually might be able to if you opt for the multi media package. It has the ability to compose new text message. You can definitely use t9 to input nav destinations.

hike > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/29/2015 at 09:34

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Hey! The Dart has a nicer interior than this! The nav screen in the Dart is beautifully integrated in the top end ones.

hike > PS9 11/29/2015 at 09:36

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The difference in the way they drive is just as bad as the interior. The new C class is a rather nice and comfortable car. The CLA is actually one if the worst cars I've ever drive. It's engine, transmission, ride quality, and the amount of nvh and raddles is just terrible. The amg version, on the other hand, is quite fun (though still not the nicest built, the carbon fiber makes it look nicer).

roflcopter > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/29/2015 at 09:49

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My 1989 Volvo 245DL has an analog dash clock... Does that mean I've made it? It even works sometimes.

Amoore100 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/29/2015 at 10:52

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How about the new Chrysler Town & Country? Living the lap of luxury, rental minivan style...

Amoore100 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 11/29/2015 at 10:53

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I never liked its looks in the first place, so seeing them often does nothing for me...

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/29/2015 at 10:56

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Oryou have an old 300/Town Car/other “luxury” rental car.

PS9 > hike 11/29/2015 at 18:36

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What a terrible indictment that is against the CLA; a $22k Dodge has a better interior than a Merc now. How could you let this happen, Daimler?

hike > PS9 11/29/2015 at 19:34

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They already had the platform for the A class in Europe and they know people will buy these crap cans cause of the badge on the grill.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > PS9 11/30/2015 at 10:45

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It doesn’t belong here.

Well, this is indicative of the majority of Mercs sold in the EU, so do we really want all the Euro cars, or do we want the expensive Mercs?