Seeking A B200

[rdlmare]

First of all, apologies for being a blatant newbie simply seeking free advice.
I am considering trading up from a MkV Golf to a B200 Turbo but I can't seem to find any dealership within 100 miles of Herts that has a demonstrator. According to our local salesman, they're not very big sellers so I would therefore be delighted to hear from any owners, past or present, to see what they think of it. Everything I have read on it so far seems pretty positive so I'm a tad nervous as to why they wouldn't be more popular. Any general thoughts on the B Class would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks lots.

 

[Suki]

Hi,
I purchased my wife a b200 cdi.
I think that it is a very nice car but, in my opinion, it is too high up!
It is basically a larger A class.
The diesel economy is good.
We have all extras bar sat nav and phone.
We have the CVT gearbox which is really smooth and allows good accelleration.

PLease bear in mind that the car is on ~18 months old so I can't comment on it's long term reliability
Regards
Suki

 

[rdlmare]

That's great. Thanks for that.
The height issue is actually a positive for me as my wife wants to be a bit higher without having to drive anything too long. Do you have the panoramic sunroof at all? If so, are you pleased with it? It looks a bit odd to me in the pictures although I have yet to see it in a car.

 

[jberks]

I've driven a B180cdi (dealer loan car) a few times and it seemed fine. I found the manual gearbox a bit notchy but it was a new one so maybe it would have eased with time.
I'm not saying I'd swap the E class for it, but I would say it compares perfectly well to a Golf.
Ring MBUK and explain your predicament and see what they can suggest. They may have something they can lend the dealer for you to try.

 

[rdlmare]

Thanks for that. I'll give them a try.

 

[verytalldave]

First of all, apologies for being a blatant newbie simply seeking free advice.
I am considering trading up from a MkV Golf to a B200 Turbo but I can't seem to find any dealership within 100 miles of Herts that has a demonstrator. According to our local salesman, they're not very big sellers so I would therefore be delighted to hear from any owners, past or present, to see what they think of it. Everything I have read on it so far seems pretty positive so I'm a tad nervous as to why they wouldn't be more popular. Any general thoughts on the B Class would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks lots.

They are not very big sellers because the dealers cant get hold of them. They are one of the few MB models I understand where dealers are offering no discount as they can shift every one they can get hold of twice over.
Perhaps someone on this forum can either shoot me down in flames OR confirm this statement.
Secondhand they are as rare as hens teeth. And thats putting it nicely.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello,


Have to say you don't see many on the road, to me it looks like a Fat A class and I like it.but then I also like the R class Any reason for going for the petrol 200 as against the derv ?

Also I thought they dropped the A200 engine from the A class so could this happen in the 'B' class?

cheers

 

[verytalldave]

A B class is certainly near the top of my "cars to consider" list when the time comes for me to chop in my W203.

 

[rdlmare]

I thought the 200 Turbo was a new engine for MB, although I am open to correction. I have seen a lot more of the 200 CDIs around than the petrol so I guess that says something but I can't seem to bring myself to buy a small diesel engine for some reason and I like the general trend toward smaller capacity blown petrols.

 

[DC_insider]

They are not very big sellers because the dealers cant get hold of them. They are one of the few MB models I understand where dealers are offering no discount as they can shift every one they can get hold of twice over.
Perhaps someone on this forum can either shoot me down in flames OR confirm this statement.
Secondhand they are as rare as hens teeth. And thats putting it nicely.

Sorry, I'll have to shoot you down in flames. Dealers probably wish that therre were queues of customers willing to pay list price but the reality is that the B200 Turbo (petrol) is a very low demand model. Dealers won't be required to run one as a demonstrator and will only order one if they have a confirmed order from a customer. They are as rare as rocking horse poo.

I'd go along with jberks suggestion to ring MBUK. MBUK has a press fleet with a wide range of models and also an exotic fleet of demonstrators (usually AMG or V12 models). You have nothing to lose by giving them a call.

 

[Suki]

Hi All,
I agree that the B class is like a Golf plus.
I do have a panoramic sunroof which my wife thinks is great and I agree.
All the seats go down which is great for transporting large items. The includes the removal of the front seat (if you don't have electric seats)

As I have the CVT 7 spd gear box, I think it is rather smooth. The gears are quickto change (when compared to my old C class).

Just one other point the cdi 180 and 200 are the same engine (in terms of size).
When I wanted one I did not want to buy one from the dealer, although Greenoaks had a couple. In the end I travelled from Reading to Loughborough to get one!
Hope this helps
Regards
Suki

 

[Rory]

I'd go along with jberks suggestion to ring MBUK. MBUK has a press fleet with a wide range of models and also an exotic fleet of demonstrators (usually AMG or V12 models). You have nothing to lose by giving them a call.

I don't know whether it's the same thing, but there's also a Corporate Demo fleet, aimed at company car drivers.
Apparently the dealers can access this, but my local dealer denied it existed. I got our fleet lease company to arrange a demo, which MB deliver, leave for a few day, then collect again.

To rdlmare : If this is such a rare model, then the residual might be horrendous. Probabaly a good car to get on a PCP and hand back at the end.

 

[rdlmare]

Thanks for all the info guys. Much appreciated.