Volvo challenge you to compare a Mercedes A-Class with the V40

Volvo are so confident in the appeal of its all-new V40 that it will pay anyone who chooses to buy a rival Mercedes instead.

They’re putting their money where there mouth is and pitting the V40 D2 R-Design against the A-Class A180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport in a no-holds-barred test drive challenge. All you have to do is drive both cars back-to-back and if you choose the Merc, Volvo will pay the first month’s finance payment subject to the usual list of conditions.

Before dismissing it as yet another marketing stunt, or worse still the sign of a desperate sales promotion, it’s worth recognising that in our opinion the V40 is the better car (engaging ride, tight fluid handling and pin-sharp steering response), but Volvo face a huge challenge in getting more people to drive their cars and realise just how competitive they actually are.

“Some may call us brazen, others may call us bold, but there’s no denying that we have such confidence in the V40 that we’re prepared to challenge people’s opinions and make them consider their options,” said Jon Wakefield, Sales Director for Volvo Car UK.

If you’d like to test Volvo’s mettle (and indeed the depths of their wallet) then you’ve got until 31st July 2013 to sample both cars and take your pick. It’s a shrewd move by Volvo, not least because you’d be hard pressed to drive, order and take delivery of a Mercedes A-Class before 30th September 2013 (when it needs to be registered by to qualify), but what have they got to lose?

For a maximum of £299, paid to each customer who chooses the Merc, it stands to gain considerably more value from the increased footfall in its dealers. Clever idea..

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The all-important Terms and Conditions

“The Challenge” – If you are considering buying the new Mercedes A-Class A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport – Volvo Challenge you to test drive the New Volvo V40 R-Design – if after that test drive you decide to purchase the Mercedes A-Class A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport your participating Volvo Dealer will pay your first month’s payment for you. Only applicable to private purchases, offer not available for business purchases. Challenge only applicable on Volvo V40 D2 R Design Vs Mercedes A-Class A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport. Challenge Campaign Period 3rd June to 31st July 2013. The Mercedes A-Class A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport must be customer ordered in the UK between 3rd June and 31st July 2013. The Mercedes A-Class A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport must be UK registered by 30th September 2013. The intention to take the Challenge must be stated when organising your V40 test drive. Your V40 challenge test drive must be recorded by the participating Volvo dealership.

If you decide that you do want to buy the Mercedes A-Class A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport this is the claim Process:

Any claim can be made only after registration of the Mercedes A-Class A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport
Any claim can only be made at the Volvo Dealership you took your V40 test drive at
Any claim must be supported by a copy of a signed Mercedes A-Class A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport sold order form dated after the V40 test drive and the sold order form must be dated between 1st June 2013 and 31st July 2013
Any claim must be supported by a copy of the vehicle V5 document which must be dated between 1st June 2013 and 30th September 2013
Any claim must be supported by a copy of a Mercedes Finance document with your 1st Months payment on it (Leasing rentals are excluded)
Any claim for the 1st months payment is limited to a maximum payment of £299
For any successful claim the payment up to a maximum of £299 will be paid by cheque or bank transfer within 60 days of the claim being agreed and subject to providing the specified proofs
The Mercedes acceptance fee of £180 payment payable with the first monthly payment, and any payment not solely constituting a repayment of the retail price of the car, shall be excluded from the claim
At participating UK Volvo dealers only
All claims must be made by 31st October 2013
Promoter is Volvo Car UK Limited, Scandinavia House, Norreys Drive, Maidenhead, SL6 4FL
Volvo Car UK and its participating dealers reserve the right to decline a test drive in the Volvo V40 R-Design
The V40 Challenge promotion may be cancelled or terms & conditions varied at any time at the promoter’s discretion, any such changes will be posted to the T&C’s at http://www.v40challenge.co.uk/

*Subject to status. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. Examples based on a 36 month non-maintained agreement, an initial payment of 12 monthly rentals, followed by 35 monthly rentals, with a mileage of 10000 miles per annum. When the vehicle is returned at the end of the contract, it must be in good condition and within agreed mileage otherwise further charges will be incurred. Subject to availability at participating dealers for vehicles registered between 1st June 2013 and 31st July 2013, or while stocks last. Not available with other promotions. Volvo Car Leasing Contract Hire is provided by Lex Autolease Ltd, trading as Volvo Car Leasing.

Written By

Steve Davies

Steve is an investor, private equity advisor and former Partner at KPMG, PwC and Bain. Most importantly he's a life-long car enthusiast, mountain biker and active sports enthusiast. He designs and builds technology platforms and is the architect behind Transmission.