The Mercedes E Class

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.

VIP Customers

Once a year, very close to our location in Wrexham a major event known as the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod takes place. It attracts people from all over the world. For travel companies in the local vicinity there is an abundance of work available.

Some of the trips required by competitors, fans and adjudicators can be lucrative. London Heathrow Airport transfers are especially so. There are a number of celebrities who attend this prestigious event too. So, are DrivenByQ getting involved?

Although we have arranged transport for the A list stars who have attended in the past, this year we are not promoting our service. This is because we consider our regular account customers (namely large manufacturing companies) more important.

Between the Wrexham Industrial Estate, Deeside Industrial Park and surrounding areas in north Wales there is enough business to keep DrivenByQ thriving all year round. It is better to let other operators take their fill of work from the Eisteddfod for a week.

After nine years of establishing our niche, jeopardising a reputation or regular income for a fast buck is not prudent. There is sense however in offering capacity to new long-term customers who might be abandoned by their regular suppliers.