By on 2011-07-09 -
Cut-price coupes
MERCEDES has just launched a rather glamorous new C-Class Coupe.
Like the much bigger E-Class coupe, it's based on the current mechanicals and shares that car's excellent range of engines including a super-frugal 2.1 diesel and 1.6 turbo petrol that really showcases next generation engine technology.
The interior is easily capable of taking four and their luggage and, style wise, it's smoother than Richard Gere's hair, though it's likely to be considerably easier to maintain.
It certainly isn't going to be cheap though, like its main rival the BMW 3 Series Coupe, a well specified diesel model is going to set you back the best part of £35,000 although, unlike the current model, it will hold on to quite a bit of that come re-sale.
The other C coupe, the CLC, is very roomy and quite refined but it's strangely unloved and can lose a lot of value very quickly.
In fact so much so that we here at UsedCarExpert.co.uk see it as more of a rival to the Golf or the BMW 1-series as you can see from the figures below.
The Mercedes CLC is a smart little car based heavily on the previous Sport Coupe. It majors on the traditional Mercedes strengths of comfort and ease of use coupled with a dash of flair. The cars are usefully well built - Mercedes having ironed out most of the problems by the time the Sport Coupé became the CLC. Best bought with a panoramic roof and a lovely smooth petrol engine that brings the price right down.
A lightly used and well cared three year old CLC 180K SE petrol can be yours for less than £13,000. Mileage should be below 25,000.
Prices for diesel Golfs are traditionally very firm and the GTD model with its ultra-smooth 2.0 turbo engine is one of the best Golfs yet. A paragon of solidity with real A to B pace it's a great car - but you pay for all that ability, even as a three door it's going to be at least £1,500 more than a petrol CLC. Figures for the GTI petrol are around £2,000 more again for a car with similar miles.
Pay no more than £15,000 for a well looked after three year old Golf GTD with around 25,000 miles on the clock.
The 1 Series is the smallest BMW other than the Mini. The car holds its value well as a diesel car but rear space is not great compared to the CLC and, in terms of styling, few cars split opinion like the 1 Series. Considering it's tiny, city car like interior dimensions and mediocre standard equipment, the 1 Series is pretty expensive whichever way you cut it.
A pampered BMW 120d can be yours from £14,000 at three years old with around 30,000 miles already covered.
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