Yes this now makes more sense. I am getting 31-33mpg cruising at 100mph (90% motorway) so I didn’t understand it.

You could prepare your entrance arriving at decent speed and merging with traffic.

A base model one of those is still fine. Sure you get no equipment whatsoever but all of the basics are still there.

The junior Daimlers are also the better cars (at least with the Daimler engines, and avoid the early 1.8 litre diesels).

Unfortunately.

I have 175bhp but 260ft-lb @ 1,750rpm. It makes a huge difference.

This is probably why you see many more Auris Hybrids than Priuses here.

Here the base similarly sized Ford crossover (can’t remember the name) has 120bhp.

The modern turbos can solve a lot of that without having to increase the actual power rating.

The car itself is fine. Perhaps overpriced but high quality (as much as senior Daimlers? I don’t know).

I have only limited experience with them but an acquaintance had a GTi TDi which went strong after several years of abuse and over 150,000km.

This is the correct take.

Even spec for spec (say base trim levels) you are getting much more than you used to do.

Nothing that has been available in Europe except the koreans (but who’s laughing now eh...) or the CLA (which is wrong, it is not bad, perhaps over priced but definitely not bad).

Here ordering is normal. A delivery time of 2 to 3 months is standard (more if you want a special spec or the car hasn’t been released yet). You also negotiate the discount in advance, so when the car arrives you have already everything checked and you just go there and pick up the car and drive off.

4 months is a tad long but not that unusual.

If there is city then yes the figure is probably more understandable.

I did.

A proper four wheel drive layout?

You can always order, but in the US it seems like you have to drive off with the car the day you go to the dealer...