Ordered a B200 Turbo today! Just wanna share my experience why... - Benzworld.org

jagged · 12-15-2005, 10:18 AM

Greetings from Manila! Just wanna share my B-class experience (so far)...

Actually, I've seen the B-class in pictures before but I didn't really give much attention to it till I saw the real thing (pictures just don't do justice to the B-class). Interior space was really BIG for such a SMALL car and the layout of the car was very smart. The B-class also looked very unique compared to most wagons or MPVs in my market which added to its appeal. So I signed up to test drive the B170 and B200 (non-turbo).

Honestly speaking, I found the B170's power somewhat disappointing while the B200's just right. However, the price difference between the two was too big (like US$9k) which makes the B170 kinda tempting. I was actually ready to get the regular B200 until a friend helped me ask the dealer if its possible to order a B200 turbo even though its not on their official B-class lineup.

Dealer quoted US$5000 more for the turbo version and it made me think for a while...for US$5k more, I was going to get something like 40% more power & 50% more torque over the regular B200, and like 100% more power & torque over the B170. Fuel comsumption compared to the regular B200 wasnt much different either. While just having a B-class here in my market makes you very unique already, I figured that a turbo version would be even much more special.

A 193HP car is not very fast in other countries usually but over here, the B200 Turbo's 0-100 km/h time rating would make it faster than 98% of all other cars on the road. Although I seldom drive fast, knowing that fact was a cool idea for me hehe.

So I finally ordered a B200 Turbo but I will have to wait for 3-4 months since its on special order... *sigh*

Here are some of the options I got:
-Sport package, includes sport suspension, 17" 10-spoke wheels, exterior chrome trims, interior leather trims
-Bi-Xenon headlamps w/ HL washer
-CVT transmission w/ steering wheel shifter
-Louvred panoramic roof
-Parktronic
-Audio 20 radio system w/ ipod integration
-power seats

I'm curious about the "louvred" type roof as I haven't seen an actual one. Does it look similar to the panoramic fixed roof while its closed? Will I be able to see through the roof while its closed or will the metal frame cover most of the view? Is it the same type of roof sold with the A-class? (not that I've seen an actual A-class with it). Do you find the mechanism sturdy? I kinda read some concerns about freezing but I'm in the opposite dilemna. Over here its always hot like 30 C all year round.

Anyway, since I was a kid, I've always been intriqued with MB's. The B-class is kinda special for me as this will be my first Mercedes. So I guess I'll be hanging out more often from now.

Anyone else has their B-class already? I read some magazine articles and they say that the B-class is too expensive (although for sure not as expensive as here). Any story to tell? Why choose it over other models? :)

Misfit · 12-15-2005, 12:29 PM

Congrats !!!

I have a non-turbo B - I got the regular because of the price difference - And I bought it for the same reason - lots of space.

In Canada the 170 is not an option - only the 200 & 200Turbo

The only thing I heard about the Louvred roof was that in Canadian winters they tend to break down. Now MB's "official" word is the louvered roof on the B is so much smaller then previous ones - that the weather thing was not an issue - I still did not want to take a chance -

Good luck waiting for your B !

jagged · 12-15-2005, 08:28 PM

Ic, congrats on your B200 and I hope the wait won't make me suffer too long!

How's the feedback on the B-class in Canada generally? You guys are lucky cuz cars there are soo cheap! How much taxes & misc fees do you usually pay on top of the list prices?

What other MB or other car make models have a "louvred" type sun roof?

Misfit · 12-16-2005, 05:43 AM

The B200 was just introduced here - So it is still fairly rare - the dealer I purchased it from said that he had a lot on order though !

The only things I don't like are pretty minor

1) The louvred roof :-) - which previously was sold (and recalled) on the older ML series

2) Not as much sound deadening material - so a little more road noise than other Benz's

3) No little storage areas for the stuff that collects in cars

4) Probably becasue of light weight I found it a little light & skittish in the 8 inches of snow we have this morning !

You think we have it cheap !!!I don't know what pricing you have in the Phillipines, but the US pays about 40 % less than we do - plus we pay up to 15 % sales taxes, plus the air conditioning tax etc etc.

The B class is not sold in the US - so I used the C 230 as an example

The base C 230 in US $29,947

The base C 230 in Canada $38,450
Add 15 % sales tax
Add $1000.00 air tax
Add Freight / Dealer Prep

So a 38 thousand dollar car hits 50 thousand in Canada pretty quickly !

grrmeister · 12-18-2005, 11:42 AM

[:)[:)]

Congrats Jagged, I'm sure you're going to be well 'chuffed' I don't suppose if available you considered the B200CD1 (diesel turbo charged) did you?

I have only test driven the B180CDi and that went pretty good, but have ordered the B200 CD1 SE which gives 30% more power so should be amazing.

Fortunately over in Europe we can still drive at 160mph quite legally (OK only in Germany) so a car that will do 150mph is still worth having.

Unlike the situation in ALL OTHER countries 100MPH+ is absolutely pointless - rather like my dick's bigger than yours.

Having said that a car that will do 130mph AND give 50mpg + makes a lot of common sense - hence the B200CDi diesel comes into the frame as a winner.

Get back Jagged and give us some more info about driving in the Philippines when you get the motor - should make good bedside reading !

Regards,

GrrMeister

jagged · 12-20-2005, 03:48 AM

Hey guys!

We don't normally get to choose options for cars we buy here. Instead, car companies sell a particular model in different "variants" (dealer chooses the options in those variants). But the B200 Turbo is different because I specifically ordered for it hence the 3-4 months wait *grrr*

Diesels are not very popular here for passenger cars (but popular for SUVs) as we don't get tax benefits for choosing diesel. Also, it will be a bit hard to sell a diesel passenger car later on as demand is not so high.

To give you an idea how expensive MB's are here, the B200 Turbo I ordered which came out at around CAD $49k in the MB Canada car configurator will cost about CAD $66k after taxes.

Japanese cars are fairly ok here (like CAD$17k for a Honda Jazz 1.5L and CAD$35k for a 3.0L Accord) but European cars tend to be very expensive (like CAD$64k for an MB C180 and about CAD$77k for a BMW 325)

kdbcom · 02-28-2006, 10:35 AM

Hi
Bought my B Class ( Ex demo with 8,000 Miles on the clock) from a M/B main dealers in Harpenden.

I must admit that the service I received from the salesman Gary was excellent and the dealership really seemed to care.

The original dealers I went to (in Redhill) to view the B Class also bent over backwards to help & inform me about the car. The salesman Adi was also excellent & followed up my enquiry with a mass of comparative information about the B Class & the opposition.

That's my two penny worth on the subject