From XC60 to Porsche Macan or BMW X3?

[Turnwood]

Some of the discounts available on mercs via Drive the Deal are astonishing. Over 25% on SLCs and north of 30% on some models!

https://www.drivethedeal.com/specialOffers.aspx

[chrisnoy]

Originally Posted by Arianne

The good people of Britain buy more cabriolets than folk in hot countries. Our climate is close to perfect for them.

As the previous poster said, having the top down on a very hot day with bright, strong summer sun is not a pleasant experience. What you want then is a roof and climate control.

In the Spring and Autumn the sun is less intense and the conditions more favourable. And it is a wonderful experience. Very little turbulence and perfect for the country roads where we live and when poodling around the small Borders towns scattered across our County.

Soupytwister, I hadn't clocked that the clear, crisp winter days could also be good fun. I will let my Son know as the car is really his (and of course, Mrs A).

Regards to all,

Arianne

Could certainly be good fun with any snow or ice around with its rear wheel drive !

[NigelDay]

Originally Posted by chrisnoy

Could certainly be good fun with any snow or ice around with its rear wheel drive !

Yes, I think their current 'fun car' is an Audi TT, so rather different handling.

[Arianne]

Winter tyres solve all of the drama. The lad already swaps them out on the Audi and the Merc SLC will be the same. You see plenty of RWD BMW in the Alps when we go skiing.

Best wishes, Arianne.

[Crockers]

Hoping you enjoy your "toy". Took my wife to look at one but found it too claustrophobic with the roof up. So bought a Golf GTi with sunroof instead.

I'm sure you negotiated a good price as they can be had easily with 28-30% discounts.

Did you go for the petrol one? I'm assuming so as I've never understood diesel cabriolets.

Hoping the Velar is 3rd time lucky with a new model. You certainly like being the guinea pig. Mind you JLR seems to have looked after you well and that's very much part of the process.

I have to admit I've never had a problem with Mercedes customer service. They even paid 50% goodwill on a no 1 bearing on a car with over 90,000 miles as it shouldn't go. A £7.50 bearing that brought in a bill of around £3000 due to labour etc. Thank God Warranty Direct picked up the other half.

After my third turbo went they wrote me a letter saying that the most I'd ever have to pay in future was 10% on this or any other related faults.
Enjoy

[Crockers]

Originally Posted by Arianne

Winter tyres solve all of the drama. The lad already swaps them out on the Audi and the Merc SLC will be the same. You see plenty of RWD BMW in the Alps when we go skiing.

Best wishes, Arianne.

In New England haven't seen a RWD BMW or Merc for years all wheel drive is defacto there.

When I had mine the slightest sign of snow meant it stayed in the drive and we used a AWD car instead. So surely you'll be taking the Velar to the Alps.

[NigelDay]

Originally Posted by Crockers

In New England haven't seen a RWD BMW or Merc for years all wheel drive is defacto there.

When I had mine the slightest sign of snow meant it stayed in the drive and we used a AWD car instead. So surely you'll be taking the Velar to the Alps.

I'm sure he will for other reasons. Remember the post from some time ago when he had issues with Mrs A's washing-up bowl (sorry if my memory is hazy). The SLC would be far too small !

[Arianne]

Good morning all,

It'll be the Velar (or the Skoda Superb AWD if the Velar is rejected) that we take to the Alps. There are plenty of RWD cars out there Not just Xdrive versions. It'll be fine!

Yes, the tribe seem to take everything on every holiday. Nigel, Mrs A threatened to take more of her stuff when she spotted my orange bucket and associated car cleaning gear in the boot one year!

Best wishes.

Arianne

PS. Yes, of course we secured a great deal on the SLC. We used the DtD offer as leverage to help with the negotiation. We didn't get the whole way there but that wasn't our objective. Cheap is not usually Value for Money. For us, we needed to balance the financial offer along with the relationship and after sales service. That is what we value and we achieved a good balance.

[Crockers]

If your after sales service was as good as mine you'll enjoy the experience.

[MikeIOW]

Originally Posted by Arianne

Winter tyres solve all of the drama. The lad already swaps them out on the Audi and the Merc SLC will be the same. You see plenty of RWD BMW in the Alps when we go skiing.

Best wishes, Arianne.

ALL of the drama? Hmmm....not so sure......much of the drama, I'd agree....

Part of the challenge for RWD is the weight distribution (for cars with engine up front!) - certainly winter tyres help immensely, perhaps more so (on roads at least!) than 4WD/AWD...
I recall a landlord many years ago who had a kit car, based on a RWD chassis, but with engine in the front. He had to park down on the flat, or carry a bag of cement in the boot to get enough weight over the rear when it was snowy/icy!