Merc CLS 320Cdi or Audi A6 Avant as family car.

[bertie]

We're looking to get the wife out of the 4x4 scene and into a more normal family car.

We've got 2 small kids (5 and 2) and we're looking at either a CLS 320 Cdi or an Audi A6 3.0Tdi Avant Le Mans.

The Audi is clearly the sensible option but she fancies the CLS more.

The query is, how practical is a CLS on a day to day basis with kids?

The boot is massive, no issue there, it's the rear access and visibility.

Any expierance welcomed.

[markmullen]

Rear access to a CLS is fine, I'm 6'3 and sitting down I can sit comfortably in them. Visibility isn't great due to the rake of the windows. It may seem an obvious thing to say but the CLS is a definite 4 seater, not 5, there is no centre rear seat or seatbelt.

CLSs were one of my favourites when I worked in a Merc dealer, a lovely thing to drive and the 320cdi engine is refined and powerful.

[deva link]

The prospect of door impact damage to the sides would terrify me - I wouldn't like to leave one in an ordinary space at Sainsbury's if all the Mother & Baby spaces were taken.

[bertie]

deva link said:

The prospect of door impact damage to the sides would terrify me - I wouldn't like to leave one in an ordinary space at Sainsbury's if all the Mother & Baby spaces were taken.

Eh? Sorry I don't get it???

[sjc]

My wife has one, in fact it's now for sale in the classified because we need seats for the grandparents! They are lovely cars, and fine for everyday family duties. Our children are aged 5 and 4, and my wife and I are very tall but theres still plenty of room.If you get the Merc car seats as well it enables the passenger air bags to be de-activated, always handy for school run duties etc.The diesel is quiet, goes well, comfy and doesn't drive at all like a big car, when we checked it against an R-class SWB it was only 9mm shorter! MPG of about 33 on school runs , up to 39/40 on longer trips.I very much doubt you'll be disapointed.

[bertie]

sjc, YHM, cheers

[mhhayes]

I use one as my daily car, and its excellent. 1 year old, 26000 on the clock. Averages 35mpg in mixed driving, and goes really well. Try one and be surprised by the torque. It is only a 4 seater, and getting in/out the rear is difficult for tall passengers, but why worry about them?
If your alternative is a super bland A6 Avant, you should decide what you really need. Estate car practicality (in which case buy an E320CDi instead) or style on wheels (get the CLS).
Thank God I'm not biassed.

[bertie]

Thanks, that's the dilema...

Four seats in style with the CLS or practicality with the A6 Avant.

But come on, and E class Estate?? I;m not an undertaker and I'm not 70 years old so no, no never ever.

The A6 is 1000 times more stylish than an E class estate.

[mhhayes]

Once you're sitting in the E Class estate though, you can THINK you are driving the CLS, as its basically the same underneath and very similar inside too. Alternatively, you can be seen driving an A6 Avant and wonder what the people around you are THINKING about you..... Only joking really, but I always struggle to tell an A4 from an A6 from an A8, unless I get down and squint at the badge on the back..... Could be worse I suppose, you could be considering a BMW....

Why not try the kids in a CLS? They will fit in OK, and the boot is enormous. The CLS is a long car though, so if you go for one I'd get parktronic at both ends. I didn't get this, and wish I had, otherwise I'm really happy with the car, and they are still quite rare on the roads. I also got the 5 spoke 18inch wheel upgrade, as the standard 17inchers look a bit weedy. This isn't too dear and improves the looks.

[markmullen]

If you're going for a CLS then a wheel upgrade is a must, the standard ones look lost, R31s or R32s do the job and look well. Also avoid the matt wood, it looks plain wrong. Make sure you get COMAND for residuals whether you need it or not, and telephone prewire. Xenons are a personal choice but I would go for them as they make driving at night a lot easier.

[bertie]

Mark, thanks for the tips.

I'd basicly already decided you have to have Command, Partktronic and 18" wheels.

Are they very colour sensitive?
The wife particularly likes either the Indium Grey or Perlite with black or cashmere or maybe Black with red interior.

Any of those going to cause a problem come resale?

BTW, please don't suggest silver, I know it's very popular but it's been done to death and I just don't like it.
Personal choice I know.

I have one solution to the seating issue which is to keep the Volvo and swap the A4 Cabriolet but then we can't go out as a family with the roof off.....hmmmmm.

[markmullen]

bertie said:

Are they very colour sensitive?
The wife particularly likes either the Indium Grey or Perlite with black or cashmere or maybe Black with red interior.

Any of those going to cause a problem come resale?

BTW, please don't suggest silver, I know it's very popular but it's been done to death and I just don't like it.
Personal choice I know.

Indium is an unusual one, it looks pretty well but its a bit marmite, you either love it or hate it. I'd avoid Perlite, it looks like primer, we used to refer to it as undercoat grey. Black with red works well, as does black with cashmere (that looks very classy). We never had Indium with Cashmere so I can't comment directly but I imagine it might look a little too drab.

Cubanite silver (which is a bit lighter than Indium, more champagney) also looks well in a CLS and goes well with a black interior.

Tansanite blue is another marmite colour, my colleagues thought it was a bit too much doom blue but it looks well with a cashmere or basalt interior but not with black.

Have you thought of silver?

[sjc]

markmullen said:

If you're going for a CLS then a wheel upgrade is a must, the standard ones look lost, R31s or R32s do the job and look well. Also avoid the matt wood, it looks plain wrong. Make sure you get COMAND for residuals whether you need it or not, and telephone prewire. Xenons are a personal choice but I would go for them as they make driving at night a lot easier.

Thats good then, ours is the right spec! (plus some!)

[mhhayes]

Re Colour, as always it is a personal choice. I chose Andradite green, and have not seen another one yet in this colour. Naturally, I like it and I think it suits the car. The CLS is one car that definitely doesn't look good in silver or perlite. I also went for the 'cashmere beige' leather interior, which comes with one or two nice touches. Firstly, the headlining and steering wheel are also beige, and this lightens the interior a lot. Secondy, the tops of the dash and doors are black, and believe me the beige colour relieved with the black highlights looks so good I now also have black carpets. Enough for now, must do some work!

[Tony27nine]

Hi, Just got my new CLS 320 (Periclase Green with cashmere leather) about a month ago. I chose green because every Merc on the roads is black or silver - come on guys, let's be adventurous. Car's excellent. Quiet engine, bags of torque. Seats not as comfy as the Jag that I had. One thing I would seriously recommend - specify cup-holders. Sounds obvious but apparently they aren't standard! 17" wheels give a better ride than 18's and I think look good enough. I specified active suspension but, and it may just be me, all the settings feel the same so a waste of money. Keyless works very well but is a toy rather than a real aid. Don't recommend the boot drawer - it's actually quite cheap plastic and really restricts use of the boot. Other than that it really does have bags more presence and exclusivity than the Audi which would be a more practical everyday car (squarer, easier access to rear and boot etc).