The Mercedes V Class

So, we made a decision to purchase a brand new chauffeur vehicle. Simple right? Well, not quite because there are options to consider. Who would have thought it could be so complicated? As someone who has never had the luxury of selecting vehicle options before, it soon became apparent that choosing quite a few can lead to a significant cost!

Then there is the length. Normal, Long or Extra Long? Then there is the style. Sport or AMG? And do you really want the bigger AMG wheels with low profile tyres which can make the ride harsh? Then there is the colour and the option of metallic paint. The list goes on and that is before you even think about the interior which offers the choice of five, six or seven passenger seats.

There is an option to have a centre console between the front seats with a refrigerator. How about an electric sunroof? Well, at some point I guess you have to be practical and think about what gives the most value to the passenger and the driver? A quick bit of research on the Internet reveals second-hand prices are robust but nearly every V Class has a black interior with carbon fibre trim effect.

So what do we do? We decide to be different and go for a wow factor. We specify a silk beige leather interior complimented by a walnut wood trim. We be pragmatic and choose an Extra Long body style in metallic silver with seven passenger seats and we add a few sensible options such as electric memory seats, a parcel shelf, a 360 degree parking camera and the uprated 250d engine.

To save a little we opted for the Sport instead of the AMG but still kept the electric sliding doors, electric tailgate and ambient lighting to impress passengers. After weeks of deliberation it seemed we finally had the right specification - except for that one last little thing. The icing on the cake for yours truly: A fifteen speaker Burmester theatre system with exceptional sound quality.

A New Mercedes Benz

Last year when it became apparent our VAT scheme would need to change, it was also evident the existing VAT scheme would generate a surplus revenue in a relatively short space of time. Coupled with this were two ageing vehicles on our company fleet which would need changing. With this in mind it seemed like a good time to take up the offer of an extended test drive.

Not too far from where I live there is a Mercedes Benz showroom for commercial vehicles. One weekend I popped in to have a look and was offered the loan of a ‘Vito’ people carrier for almost a week. It seemed rude not to accept. If I am honest, it was also good fun to drive something a little larger than I would normally.

So what did I think? Well, it was extremely practical. It wasn’t too unwieldy and a vehicle that size has the potential to generate extra revenue. On the flip side, the test vehicle was somewhat basic with its plastic bumpers and steel wheels. It was some way off an executive standard too (even if my wife did spontaneously purchase a washing machine which we took home with us).

After a few days of driving the vehicle in different environments and seeing how it measured up as a people mover, it made sense to have something this size. It also made sense to have something with such reasonable running costs. So what did I say to the salesman when I took it back? “I like it and it makes sense so I have placed an order for a Mercedes V Class” which is something you can only buy at the car dealership.