The new generation Mercedes-Benz B-Class

[mower]

http://www.automobilesreview.com/reviews/the-new-generation-mercedes-benz-b-class/1227/

 

[television]

I have always that that the B class was a useful vehicle, but it has never been that popular, anyone know why

 

[A210AMG]

Agree they have grown on me but you see very very few.

I don't think people know they are about to be fair, and those that do possibly see no benifit over and above the A class?

Bet there are some deals to be had with them however.

 

[Xtractorfan]

I think it has to do with perception, people have a view that mercs are expensive and that dealers are snooty and not approachable.. plus a few years ago in order to try and keep the brand 'exclusive' they closed down a lot of the outreach/satellite dealers which really only served to alienate many of the buying public..also I think mercedes aint good at small to medium cars, just as the populus makers arent good at luxury cars... The R series I quite like and when they come down to my spending limit I shall certainly be looking with interest

 

[Brett]

Difficulty is the target market - there are a lot of (dare I say it) cheaper, more flexible MPV's out there, some even offering seven seats. If you are a badge snob (and I am) then the B-Class makes sense. If you're not (and my wife isn't), then the VW Touran with better fuel economy, more flexible seating (and seven of them) as well as the best part of £5k in your pocket makes even more sense.

Shame, I would have liked a pair of Mercs on the drive

 

[rf065]

I have always that that the B class was a useful vehicle, but it has never been that popular, anyone know why

I've had one as a courtesy car for the last week, B150, it uses more fuel than my CLK, it is seriously slow, it is not as comfortable, it doesn't handle as well, I have no desire to jump into it and head to the shops for any reason the way I would if the CLK was in the drive, in fact I look for excuses not to drive it. I would never buy one.

Russ

 

[television]

I've had one as a courtesy car for the last week, B150, it uses more fuel than my CLK, it is seriously slow, it is not as comfortable, it doesn't handle as well, I have no desire to jump into it and head to the shops for any reason the way I would if the CLK was in the drive, in fact I look for excuses not to drive it. I would never buy one.

Russ

Thanks for the feedback, firsthand is always the best

 

[Splatt]

If these vehicles as stated have engines that burn 7% less fuel can we expect a similar reflection in A class economies which use the same engines ?
I did try to buy a B class a little while back but there were no cars available, MB had found that they were not selling so made a dealer offer on new vehicles, so good that it wiped out stocks in the UK.

 

[television]

If these vehicles as stated have engines that burn 7% less fuel can we expect a similar reflection in A class economies which use the same engines ?
I did try to buy a B class a little while back but there were no cars available, MB had found that they were not selling so made a dealer offer on new vehicles, so good that it wiped out stocks in the UK.

Interesting that some folk buy on price, and not bothered about being an old model, I know that my dealer down here buys up lots of out going cars, that are just sold on the price

 

[rhud]

I think the key here is that the B Class is significantly more expensive than the A Class and if you drive both its difficult to see what you are getting for your extra money. Yes the B offers more interior space,but not that much more.

The A is so clever at maximising interior space that its difficult to justify the price differential.

This is compounded by the fact that the B150 must be seriously underpowered and therefore you would have to go for one of the bigger engines. My A150 Classic SE is adequately powered,but only because I am not a performance freak. The same engine in the B must struggle.

All this seems to be reflected in the fact that MB have withdrawn all deals on the A Class - which must therefore be selling well - while continuing to offer attractive deals on the B.

They are just too close to each other in terms of what they offer, and therefore most people will go for the A.

 

[television]

I think the key here is that the B Class is significantly more expensive than the A Class and if you drive both its difficult to see what you are getting for your extra money. Yes the B offers more interior space,but not that much more.

The A is so clever at maximising interior space that its difficult to justify the price differential.

This is compounded by the fact that the B150 must be seriously underpowered and therefore you would have to go for one of the bigger engines. My A150 Classic SE is adequately powered,but only because I am not a performance freak. The same engine in the B must struggle.

All this seems to be reflected in the fact that MB have withdrawn all deals on the A Class - which must therefore be selling well - while continuing to offer attractive deals on the B.

They are just too close to each other in terms of what they offer, and therefore most people will go for the A.

I hear that most people that have bought the new A Class are very pleased with them

 

[slender]

I hear that most people that have bought the new A Class are very pleased with them

I'm certainly very pleased with mine

It's my first experience of a Mercedes, and a small one at that, after many years with big Volvos and I do not have the slightest regret about switching. Interestingly the B Class was suggested to me as an option to replace my Volvo but I never seriously considered it on the basis that it didn't seem to offer that much more than the A Class for a far greater outlay - which pretty much backs up what folk are saying.

 

[Rory]

I think it has to do with perception, people have a view that mercs are expensive and that dealers are snooty and not approachable.. plus a few years ago in order to try and keep the brand 'exclusive' they closed down a lot of the outreach/satellite dealers which really only served to alienate many of the buying public..also I think mercedes aint good at small to medium cars, just as the populus makers arent good at luxury cars... The R series I quite like and when they come down to my spending limit I shall certainly be looking with interest

I think there's a lot in those comments and those perceptions that people have about MB are not without foundation. A lot of people regret the smaller independant dealers closing down - we had a good one locally.

Re your comments on R Class - that is a car that MB are really struggling with, even in the US, although "crossover" cars seem to be finally picking up there. It has really tough competition in the US though - crossovers like Buick Enclave are fabulous vehicles.

I gather B Class has been quite popular in Germany, where Taxi drivers have, to some extent, moved to it from E Class (although it has extra sound deadening fitted for taxi applications so the noise of the 4cyl diesel doesn't upset residents when dropping people off in quiet streets at night!).

I did think it might take over from C Class in the UK, but that hasn't happened. I too was given a B150 as a courtesy car, and thought it was awful.

It doesn't really help MB though, if existing MB owners switch to other models, they need to attract brand-new customers, like slender, above.

 

[NewMB]

I have always that that the B class was a useful vehicle, but it has never been that popular, anyone know why

Waaaaaay overpriced. This is the main reason I would think.

A sales guy I was talking to at MB Ipswich once, even agreed that the B class was not really worth it's price over the A class. After all, it's only about 20 cm longer and all in the boot.

Personally, I would go for the A class and spend the difference on various extras.

 

[GAH]

Sorry to disagree with some of the comments here but having had an A190 then an A210 and now a B200 Turbo, I can tell you that they are polls apart for comfort, space and “driveability”. I agree that the handling is not quite as good, but it’s not bad and come on, you can’t compare it to a CLK (I know because my wife had one and now has a C350 Estate).

The B-Class is far better built than either of my A-Class’s ever were and the interior space is far better, loads more room. The performance is excellent and when I don’t go mad, returns 35+ mph.

Having driven both my A-210 and my B 200 Turbo down to the south of France with my wife and daughter, I can tell you that the B-Class knocks spots off the A-Class.

I will admit that it took me two or three months to get used to it, at first I thought I had made a big mistake, but now, I don’t. I have had it for two years and it has been (almost) trouble free, unlike the A-Class.

I think it is a great car for what it is. As far as cost goes, the B-Class was only £1000 dearer than its equivalent A-Class and the accessories were the same price! For the extra money, space and build quality, who would by an A-class?

Obviously, these are my own opinions.

My problem is, I have just discovered they have dropped the 200 Turbo petrol engine!!! I now find myself giving the BMW’s a second look as my next car!

 

[rf065]

I too was given a B150 as a courtesy car, and thought it was awful.

I had a few B150's as courtesy cars & found them awful also.
The MPG figures were less than my CLK, the performance was less than anything else I've ever driven and the boot space seemed small also.
I failed to see any point to them, not even a nice drive, was glad to get the CLK back.

Russ

 

[Alex M Grieve]

No sale

I went shopping for a B Class (200 CDI Auto) 2 years ago when a repeat attack of rust told me it was time to part with an otherwise excellent W 202 estate.

I liked the concept of the B and the seating options are really easy to adjust.

Sadly, the new car was not available at any discount and there were no demonstrators or used examples.

Then the sales lady introduced me to a pre-registered W 203 Estate AG auto - at a discount of about 25% and cheaper than the B! B Class 6 week wait, or C Class today. I did the deal promptly.

The car is now 21 months old with 10,000 miles and has been flawless.

I guess the take home messages for MB are:
if you want to sell them, you need to make more
they won't sell if there is a price overplap with other models, such as I found.

 

[rf065]

I guess the take home messages for MB are:
if you want to sell them, you need to make more
they won't sell if there is a price overplap with other models, such as I found.

I've been told that the reason a lot of the dealers use them as courtesy cars is because MB offered them to the dealers at knock down prices as they could not sell them, and that was before the credit crunch too.

Russ

 

[rhud]

The price differential with an A - can't believe it is ever going to be £1k for equivalent specs, as someone claimed - is the key.

Otherwise = horses for courses. I had a C180 Sport as courtesy car and if they had offered me it in return for my A I would hv unhesitatingly said No.