Time for a new family car.

[MikeT]

Aha! Ontario, yeah that makes sense!

[Duck]

Yeah the B seems quite popular around here!-Iain

[ARTZ]

I have only seen one or two around here.

[herbie]

I was parked along side a red one at the local mall back in May. I would of taken a picture but found it to be kind of intrusive on my part.

[MikeT]

We'll be at TPM Victoria early this afternoon to place our factory order for a B 200. At this time - a few hours remain for us to decide to alter the spec - it will be horizon (light) blue metallic, with light grey interior, 5 speed manual, panorama sunroof, heated seats, factory alarm with motion sensor, ipod kit and all the other stuff that comes with the car.It will be fun to track it as it makes its way across the ocean!It's funny, in a way I feel like Charlie Brown in the pumpkin patch....waiting for the Great Pumpkin to appear.....I was holding out as long as possible in the hope that Peugeot would return to Canada before we needed a new family car. Obviously they didn't, and the truth is, even if they had, I probably wouldn't have wanted any of their current family car range anyway. Well, possibly a 307 SW....

[deezle]

Congratulations. At least the incubation period will be brief compared to what you endured for the smart. Will they allow you a loaner until it's arrival?

[smartcruzin]

Well done, Mike! That's my favorite colour. GM used that same shade in the 70's. Glad to see it's back. Half the decision of buying a new car is the worry about what the servicing will be like. With TPM, you're already going into familiar territory and you know their reputation for perfection. Good decision on the 'B' class and remaining loyal to European cars. It'll compliment your Smart.

[MikeT]

Thanks guys! Well the deed is done and - as you can see in my signature - I have the PO number (remember those?). It should be built in the 2nd decade of September and delivered either in late October or early November.

Summary:

Horizon Blue Metallic

[*]Alpaca Grey cloth interior with black dash

[*]sunroof

[*]alarm package

[*]heated seats

[*]ipod integration kit (steering wheel/dashboard control+display of tracks)

[*]rear side window blinds

[*]removable roof bars for bike/ski racks etc

Plus all the other goodies the car comes with. Should be fin!

Until the smart, I had never bought a new car. And now, we buy another one in under three years. I feel so icky

[MikeT]

I think deezle asked if I could do a comparison of what this same car would cost in Europe. I just configured one on the Mercedes-Benz.de site. The interesting thing is how much of the standard equipment here is optional there.Anyway, the total cost in Europe, as configured with all our options and CDN standard equipment, is 27,400 Euros before taxes. That is $39,730. Ours is costing several thousand $ less than that before tax, about $7K to be exact.Too bad we don't get the same deal on smarts, eh?

[deezle]

Ours is costing several thousand $ less than that before tax, about $7K to be exact.

Maybe they're pricing them to ease their guilt over not offering us the diesel B.Speaking of pricing, I saw some ads offering the last of the '07's for up to $8000 off.

[MikeT]

I was told that the deal is 7-8% off the 2007 retail price, on vehicles in stock only....so yeah that's OK if you want a car with CVT, in grey metallic! Where did you see the $8 K of thing? That's much greater than 7%, at least on a B-class it would be. Or was the "up to" referring to the fact that this is a multi-model sale (i.e. the $8 K off is for a loaded S-Class)?

Edit: we were in Nanaimo today and the few remaining 2006 smarts had a sticker on the window indicating that they too were subject to the clearout (again, probably 7-8%, I bet, across the range).

[deezle]

I'm probably mistaken---it must have been 7-8% rather than 7-8 thousand (newspaper ad).

[MikeT]

7-8 grand off a B would have been a steal, even with the CVT auto and deadly dull grey metallic paint!

[darren]

It should be built in the 2nd decade of September and delivered either in late October or early November.

Congrats, but man... that's a long lead time!

[MikeT]

This is what our car will look like - both exterior and interior colour, and sunroof. The only main difference is front side markers in the bumper and no CDI badge on the rear

[darren]

Very nice!If you could PM me with the final price (if you don't want to post it in public) i'd really appreciate it... we love the B and are seriously thinking about one for our next car. Wish we could get the CDI, though.

[42Kruiser]

Sure would look nice with a set of Strikelines

[MikeT]

BOO YEAH! The sidemarkers seem to be less of an afterthought on the B than they were on the smart.

[SCHMART]

That is a beauty........

[pulsating]

Not that this will change your mind, but here is a review on TTAC:

Review

Did you look at the Volvo C30? Similar, yet different.

[darren]

I think the B-Class, like the smart, is a vehicle where people either "get it" or they don't. I read that TTAC review yesterday, and clearly they don't get it.

The B-Class really is more of a tall wagon/microvan than a sports hatch. It's a car for people who want to drive around with other adults and their stuff without having to drive a hulking SUV or a marshmallow-on-wheels minivan. This makes it a different beast than either a GTI/A3 or a MINI. (The forthcoming MINI Clubman notwithstanding.) The interior of the B is huge compared to either the GTI or the MINI, with a back seat that can actually accommodate adults when the front seat occupants are over 6 feet tall. The GTI is still a squeeze, even with four doors, and the MINI's back seat really is more like a parcel shelf. Not suitable for adults.

I sat in a Volvo C30 at the auto show this year, and was very surprised and a little disappointed that it's quite a bit smaller than i imagined. I thought they would be aiming at the Golf/GTI/A3 segment, but it's more MINI-size. The back seat and hatch are not suitable for anyone wanting to drive with four adults in the car or haul any amount of stuff. It's really quite small.

I think Mike made a great choice with the B. I'm a big fan of it and really wish they would bring over the CDI. I love the high seating position and great sightlines. I thought the materials were entirely appropriate for the vehicle's intended audience and usage. It's not meant to be a "luxury" car. With the light interior and the panoramic sunroof, the interior is bright and airy. There's a huge amount of cargo space available behind the rear seats, and when the seats are folded down, it's absolutely cavernous, with cargo tie-downs everywhere and some clever options for carrying bikes, etc.

It's definitely a vehicle for people who "think different" about their transportation needs.

[Duck]

While I'm not a fan of the exterior styling (mostly the nose I have issue with), I think it's fantastic. My parents fawned over it, and it even shifted their thinking in what to do when it's time to replace their 1990 Volvo 240 Wagon.-Iain

[MikeT]

That TTAC report's writing style was nauseating by the way, what an awful writer! He also got his facts wrong, as the base model is not $32K, and telescoping steering wheel is standard equipment.

I have a basic test for any potential family car: I must be able to sit behind me, with no cramp to leg room or headroom. Me = 96 kg, 190 cm tall.

Cars that failed the me behind me test:

• BMW 3er

  [*]Mercedes-Benz C-Class

  [*]BMW 5er

  [*]Audi A3 Sportback

  [*]Volvo V30

  [*]Mazda 3

  [*]Toyota Prius

  [*]Toyota Matrix

  Additionally, the Mazda 5 failed because it is a 4 seater with two jump seats that are not suitable for any adult, so it got turfed.

  To compare a B Class with a VW GTI or MINI is laughable, and shows the ineptitude of the writer's analytical skills.

  Frankly the fact that this car is a Mercedes is not much of a factor in the decision. It is only a factor insofar as I have been buying cars from Three Point Motors since 2002 and am pleased with their after-sales service, and the salesman Gordon Dycke is great too.

  There is a whole new series of "compact MPVs" out in Europe, of which the B is an example. The Renault Scénic, Opel Zafira, VW Golf High Roof, Ford C Maxx, Peugeot 307 SW, Citroën Picasso and more all compete in this compact, fuel efficient family car category. Our experience with the Renault in 2005 convinced us - my wife especially - that we ought to have a car like this.

  It is simply a fuel-efficient family car, which goes adequately well, is comfortable, quiet inside, safe and looks pleasant.

Edited September 3, 2024 by MikeT
spelling

[MikeT]

Well our car's birthday should be between September 10 and 20th....It's only the second new car I've got, so yeah I'm a little excited. Bear with me/cut a little slack ;)I have noticed in most of the B-Class reviews from around the world, the car is described as nice, solid, well made etc but way overpriced, which is the major knock against it. Then there are the "Mercedes should all be RWD luxo-barges" reviewers....yeesh. Even in Canada it's a little off the high end of the price scale, but what the hell you only live once, in western religions ;)I was reading in Benzworld about a guy from Canada with a B 200 who drove at 125 down to NY and back, averaging 7.1 L/100 km with a loaded car. That I find to be encouraging. I can't wait to see what it'll do, L/100 wise. And once broken in, km/h wise, maybe on the Coq Can speedometer photos - on the right side of 200 - be expected? We shall see.

[smartcruzin]

I'm really thrilled for you too Mike. I've always liked the B class. We have one in our building and I find myself "spotting" these on the street. There is another class of MB's that look very similar only larger. If the BlueTec CDI ever arrives on our shores I'd be tempted.The Smart has been my only new car factory ordered. My only other new car off the lot was a Hyundai Pony, which was a lemon. The dealership took it back and gave me a deal on a higher model. Still not much of a thrill by todays standards!The reports I've read have been favorable. Canadian Car Guide was quoted as saying that the base 2.0 litre engine is underwhelming. How did you find the performance when your family rode in the car? It's not like you're used to strong acceleration anyway. What's the 0-100k time again?BTW, can a single person fold down the rear seats and sleep completely stretched out? The car is attractive, has all MB's safety features, gets decent mileage, and has a great dealer for servicing. I'd be more than pleased to own one. Good choice Mike