Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake is the Wagon America Needs

Yahoo! Auto's Bold Ride Blog ^ | November 26, 2014 | Jonathon Klein

[knarf]

unfortunately .. yes.

Both agencies have served their purpose and need to be trimmed back to skeleton crews

[Chode]

a Shooting Brake is a new one on me...

[FreedomPoster]

>>WHY, would a (seemingly) utilitarian auto not be offered in the US ?

Because regulatory costs for the U.S. market are quite high, over a $million for EPA mileage certification and NHTSA crash testing. Any change in engine / transmission / body style (sedan to wagon) means a complete new approval process. Unless you sell a large number, it isn’t worth it, and overall the American consumer wants an SUV and not a sport wagon, unfortunately.

You can really see what all we are missing by looking at what is available on Euro auto sites vs. U.S. ones. For instance, there are tons of body style / engines / transmission combinations available at http://audi.de that are not available at http://audiusa.com

It’s just another way that Fedgov overregulation adversely impacts day-day life and inhibits innovation.

[FreedomPoster]

NHTSA, not DOT, and see my post above. We’re all in agreement.

[mabarker1]

Same here.

I first though it was some kinda James Bond 007 thing for clearing traffic jams!

[rbg81]

Low $30,000’s to start. Means Mercedes is invading Chevy/Ford/Toyota/Honda territory.

---

Wanted a AWD with a V6. Problem was that it was easily above $30K and closer to $35K at the usual dealer suspects. Ended up getting a Mercedes C-Class 4-matic for $37K after my USAA discount. The thing that nailed it for me was that Mercedes gave me the best trade in allowance too — $2K more than Chevy wanted to do.

The C-class is a very well engineered car: it drives very smooth & refined and sips gas, especially with the eco-boost. However, there are some definite cons: size (it’s small), it has low profile tires (gotta dodge them potholes religiously), Nazi like vehicle warnings, and routine maintenance is obscenely expensive.

The CLA came out the year after I bought mine, but the reviews off them have been bad. As the price would indicate, they are Mercedes lite.

[GreenHornet]

“Shooting Brake?” I realize the term has historical significance, but they need to come up with a better name than that.

[T-Bird45]

I’m with you on the name. When I saw it, all I could think of was the recoil reducer at the end of the barrel on dad’s old Browning Auto-5 or the muzzle brake on the M109-series howitzer. Confusing...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My dad was a Packard man...

[sloop]

been wanting a cls shooting brake - but not offered here

[central_va]

Me alone with Marsha Brady in the back of a LTD wood side station wagon. Heaven.

[TexasGator]

The sides were vinyl ... The girl?

[Dr. Sivana]

Those dorky wood-sided wagons are starting to be highly collectible. When’s the last time you saw one on the road?

Last week. Ours (1994 Chevy Caprice) died last April after a round trip to Saaskatcewan (2.000 miles) she got us home fine, and was done. Rest in Peace, Wilma. (She was an organ donor. Her LT-1 engine reportedly is going into a '65 Impala.

[Blue Jays]

My sincere hope is that Mercedes-Benz can make a C-class wagon happen.
That would successfully hit a pricing sweet spot for many.
Out of curiosity I built an an E-class wagon online with a few modest bits n' goodies. It came to about $75K.

[Fresh Wind]

Ask the man who owns one.

[wally_bert]

Much better name for them. The petrol heads are the best.

[wally_bert]

The mod squad got around for a couple of seasons until it burned in one episode.

[Fresh Wind]

The original shooting brake was a luxury car that was equipped to carry British gentlemen, their guns, and their dogs to a hunt. Over time, the name came to be applied to what we know as station wagons.

Google “rolls royce shooting brake” for examples.

[Liberty Valance]

A one-off 1953 Cadillac wagon styled by Brooks Stevens.

[sheana]

I looked at a CLA. The low price is for a bare bones car. If you add what you want they are almost into C class prices.
Disclaimer: We own a 350 GLK.