Mercedes X-Class Pickup Drive

[Cowabunga]

More waffle and distraction. You really must get a hobby that doesn't involve cars, you seem to be suffering the automotive equivalent of sexual frustration.

Let's just say that I have an eye for detail and an instinct for bullshite. I call out the bullshite.

 

[hintonroadhero]

You are quite correct. But it is probable that Nissan were rolling out those mods across the range anyway, to coincide with the Mercedes launch. I doubt very much that any of it was inspired by Mercedes apart from the general look of the thing. They chose all the options out of the Nissan parts bin that they wanted and were more intimately involved with the styling and cab interior than anything mechanical. Even so, cost constraints meant keeping the Nissan key fob , albeit with Mercedes logo. You wouldn't think that they would be counting the pennies considering the likely net selling price difference, but there you go.

My guesstimate is that the styling changes add about £300 to the manufacturing cost. Unlikely to be much more, based on an educated guess here, no more than that. I wouldn't be overly surprised if it amounted to a bit more money than that.
You have to consider that a lot of stuff that Nissan fit as standard are extra on the Mercedes. The extra cost of production rather depends on the volume that Mercedes take from Nissan, because the stamping dyes for the body panels will not be cheap and need to be amortised over the units produced. Even so, no doubt Mercedes are contracted to take an initial volume at a set price and further units above that will depend on whether Mercedes actually sell above target.

I believe Renault models are out in certain countries but the UK launch was postponed, possibly permanently or at least for the foreseeable future. The market seems to be getting fairly saturated with pickup models and clones. Fiat are selling a Mitsubishi clone of course and they are more circumspect about making any superiority claims over the L200. I prefer the look of the Fiat personally.

Your guestimate is the styling changes cost 300GBP......you obviously have no idea about manufacturing.....dies for pressing vehicle body panels don't cost thousands mate......they cost the same as bungalows.....even West Wales bungalows!!!

 

[Cowabunga]

Your guestimate is the styling changes cost 300GBP......you obviously have no idea about manufacturing.....dies for pressing vehicle body panels don't cost thousands mate......they cost the same as bungalows.....even West Wales bungalows!!!

They build thousands of cars. Tens of thousands. That factory probably aims to build 100,000 units plus annually of Navara variants.

They are not adding extra parts on these Mercedes variants. Only substituting some for others. Unit cost of actual production will be much lower than most people imagine, although i wouldnt like to put a figure on it.

 

[spanners and hammers]

bit off topic ,,, but when does duck shooting season start ?

 

[Crex]

Lads, if you want the duck to shut up, just detail what changes they have made to the chassis/gearbox that are unique to the Merc.

 

[Clive]

Your guestimate is the styling changes cost 300GBP......you obviously have no idea about manufacturing.....dies for pressing vehicle body panels don't cost thousands mate......they cost the same as bungalows.....even West Wales bungalows!!!

I imagine it wouldn’t be exaggerating if you added at least x4 zero’s to the £300 !

The design and tooling costs are only part of it, I expect the vechiles would have to go through crash testing and apoval processes again

 

[Lincsman]

I imagine it wouldn’t be exaggerating if you added at least x4 zero’s to the £300 !

The design and tooling costs are only part of it, I expect the vechiles would have to go through crash testing and apoval processes again

And the cost would be the same on the nissan badge version.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Im not in the market, but have Merc announced prices for the V6 version?

Haven’t looked at Amorok prices since I test drove the new V6 in February last year, but I’m lead to believe they’ve gone up quite substantially.

 

[Muck Spreader]

Can't believe this thread as got to 14 pages discussing which overpriced "tarts handbag" of a pickup is best. The days of a canvas hood and vinyl seats with a sack on them is definitely over.

 

[Clive]

Im not in the market, but have Merc announced prices for the V6 version?

Haven’t looked at Amorok prices since I test drove the new V6 in February last year, but I’m lead to believe they’ve gone up quite substantially.

no actual price but they said it would be similar to the VW V6 - I guess it has to be if they want to sell them

 

[Cowabunga]

I imagine it wouldn’t be exaggerating if you added at least x4 zero’s to the £300 !

The design and tooling costs are only part of it, I expect the vechiles would have to go through crash testing and apoval processes again

Almost certainly. All amortised against the total number of vehicles built over a number of years. It costs far less in terms of variable costs per unit to build these things than most people realise.

 

[Cowabunga]

Im not in the market, but have Merc announced prices for the V6 version?

Yes they have. Starts at £38350+VAT
Most will wish to add a style pack £1182
Parking pack £1098
Winter pack. £408
tow bar £528
leather £1068
wood grain trim £270
command nav £2670
all season or winter tyres £156
metallic paint £612
OTR price incl reg fee and road fund licence £600

Grand total with those options

£46969 + VAT

Or you could delete the on-line sat nav with large screen and the style pack, which are hellish expensive options

£43117 + VAT

no actual price but they said it would be similar to the VW V6 - I guess it has to be if they want to sell them

Clive's salesman seems not to know any details and wings it otherwise.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Yes they have. Starts at £38350+VAT
Most will wish to add a style pack £1182
Parking pack £1098
Winter pack. £408
tow bar £528
leather £1068
wood grain trim £270
command nav £2670
all season or winter tyres £156
metallic paint £612
OTR price incl reg fee and road fund licence £600

Grand total with those options

£46969 + VAT

Or you could delete the on-line sat nav with large screen and the style pack, which are hellish expensive options

£43117 + VAT



Clive's salesman seems not to know any details and wings it otherwise.

Holy Toledo! That's luxury SUV prices

 

[Cowabunga]

Holy Toledo! That's luxury SUV prices

Add the VAT on to the fully loaded price, for comparison with an SUV, and you come to £56,360.
You can get one hell of an SUV for that, including a trailer to tow behind to carry whatever load, and under cover too.

 

[Clive]

Holy Toledo! That's luxury SUV prices

you haven't bought a luxury SUV recently then !

 

[Clive]

Yes they have. Starts at £38350+VAT
Most will wish to add a style pack £1182
Parking pack £1098
Winter pack. £408
tow bar £528
leather £1068
wood grain trim £270
command nav £2670
all season or winter tyres £156
metallic paint £612
OTR price incl reg fee and road fund licence £600

Grand total with those options

£46969 + VAT

Or you could delete the on-line sat nav with large screen and the style pack, which are hellish expensive options

£43117 + VAT



Clive's salesman seems not to know any details and wings it otherwise.

not actually had contact with a salesman - I keep telling you but you seem oblivious I am not buying one and have no intention of doing so

The press people organized this test for us


As I said the price after discounts etc is apparently going to be similar to the VW V6.............. and it will need to be if they want to sell any

 

[Cowabunga]

you haven't bought a luxury SUV recently then !

Depends on how luxurious you get. A top of the range and loaded Volvo XC90 is about that for non VAT eligible people and the spec and luxury knocks a pickup into the poverty-pack territory. A very nice Range Rover Velar is thereabouts

 

[Clive]

Depends on how luxurious you get. A top of the range and loaded Volvo XC90 is about that for non VAT eligible people and the spec and luxury knocks a pickup into the poverty-pack territory. A very nice Range Rover Velar is thereabouts

yes, I was talking luxury SUV's not the above


and let's face it the VAT status of these pick-up is the only reason most buy them anyway so its rather relevant component of the price, Can't seriously imagine anyone who wasnt able to reclaim the VAT wanting to buy one regardless of brand

 

[Cowabunga]

not actually had contact with a salesman - I keep telling you but you seem oblivious I am not buying one and have no intention of doing so

The press people organized this test for us


As I said the price after discounts etc is apparently going to be similar to the VW V6.............. and it will need to be if they want to sell any

Aha! "The Press People" organised it. Just as I suspected, there was more to it than met the eye. I can sniff this stuff out a mile away. Sorry to have pished on their publicity and marketing parade. NOT! I have though, been thoroughly fair about this vehicle and accurate.

Regarding VAT, I agree that anyone buying a pickup that isn't VAT registered is bonkers, but there are more and more bonkers people around apparently. Didn't you say earlier on that this was a lifestyle pickup and for those that wanted it the badge made it worth the money, or even that the money was irrelevant. Perhaps I misunderstood you in the light of your last post. Sorry.

 

[Clive]

Aha! "The Press People" organised it. Just as I suspected, there was more to it than met the eye. I can sniff this stuff out a mile away. Sorry to have pished on their publicity and marketing parade. NOT! I have though, been thoroughly fair about this vehicle and accurate.

what are you on about ??

They asked us if we wanted to try it and do a review and we have, you know a bit like top gear, autocar and newspapers do ..................nothing new ............... is that too complex to understand ?


and before you ask ............. NO I'm not being paid to say nice things ! (if only hey, test driving cars for a living would be a great job but i'm no Clarkson !) Again I keep saying I would buy the VW not the Merc right now so if they were paying I suspect thy might want their money back ............... !

It's also why I think what we have been told re the differences between Nissan and the Merc plus the prices etc are likely to be fairly reliable


all the above is in earlier post but its pretty clear you don't actually read anyone's post beyond the first sentence before the overwhelming need to reply sets in !