After receiving fantastic feedback from the passengers travelling
in our 2018 Mercedes V Class, it seemed only natural to go back to the
dealership and buy another Mercedes. This time we opted for a vehicle which could
carry out the majority of our work - an executive saloon car for up to three
passengers, offering comfort and style.
The choice boiled down to the Mercedes C Class, E Class or S Class. The C Class was too small to be classed as an executive vehicle and the S Class had a list price of over £70,000. While DrivenByQ does occasionally have work for such a vehicle, the majority of our bookings are for executive travel so it is more cost-effective to sub-contract the VIP trips.
The remaining choice of the Mercedes E Class was split
between the SE or AMG model (with extra styling and bigger wheels). For the chauffeur
driven experience, an SE offers a comfortable and relaxed environment and presents
the more sensible choice. The E220d engine with a two litre displacement mated
to a silky smooth (nine speed) automatic gearbox only enhances the luxury.
It is no slouch and is capable of regularly returning over
60mpg which is 50% more efficient than the vehicle it replaces. Rather than specifying
a basic model, we requested the SE Premium with a three-year unlimited mileage
warranty. The projected overall figures were surprisingly only £1,000 more than
buying a three-year old car and working it for three years (including the repair
bills).
I suppose some people might go with the three-year old
option as it is a lower financial risk and not such a commitment. We saw this
as a marketing opportunity though. After all, why would a passenger want to travel
in a second-hand, three-year old vehicle when they could ride in a brand
new Mercedes E Class? Not to mention all the latest features it offers and choice of sixty-four ambient lighting colours.
