I just posted this in response to another thread but I thought I would start a thread on this topic...hehehe.
When I was driving back from NYC a few weeks back, a guy in an R-Class tailed me for a good 10-15 minutes before pulling up beside me to have a better look. I think he originally thought we were driving the same car and was pleased that someone else appreciated his good taste in cars. Eventually he got a bit closer and realized that my car was smaller and was a model he had never seen before. There were no friendly waves and I got the distinct impression that he was slightly annoyed by seeing an economy/mini version of his car...hehehehehe. After he had a good look, he floored it and sped ahead.
Another funny story that happened during the trip involved the valet parking at the hotel in New York. After I valet parked the car in the hotel, the attendant gave me a computerized claim ticket. As I was putting the ticket into my wallet, I noticed that it listed the type of car as a "Jeep"...hehehehe. After I got my car back I realized that it really doesn't say "Mercedes" anywhere on the outside of the car and he didn't know what a B200 was. The guy who took my keys probably only gave the car a quick glance and confused it with one of the new crossover Jeeps. Very funny.
Has anyone else had any interesting/funny comments when driving in the USA with their B-Class?? I know there are a few Americans on this board who have imported their cars from Canada. I'm just wondering if you get positive or negative comments?
I took my Grandfather down to Buffalo a few times for treatment last winter and I got some odd looks from Americans as well - and the hospital is only about 5 minutes from the border!
Jordan - I'd be interested in your comments on the car's long-rannge cruising ability. When my parents and I went to Montreal this summer for the Grand Prix, we decided to take my car (Toronto to Montreal) and found it to be a fantastic cruiser. The alternative was an ML and I'm glad we took my B as I think is is quieter and more relaxing.
I’m the lone California B class owner (as far as I know) in sea of Mercedes Benz cars. I’ve gotten positive responses from just about everyone. The ones who start out negative or on the fence often soften up the longer they look at it, if nothing else they say it is cute.
I’ve been followed into parking lots, paced on the freeways and roadways (sometimes it can be a bit unnerving and annoying though) and asked a lot of questions. Usually it’s where did you get that and why can’t we buy them here? I get thumbs up, smiles and the look of total confusion. Those who know cars seem to be the most interested in it.
Mercedes dealership people like it and often circle it and ask to sit in it. I took it to a local dealership shortly after I got it to introduce myself and tell them that I would like to bring it in there for future services. The service writer had to laugh because she came out to tell me that I had driven into the wrong car dealership until she noticed the three point stars on the wheels. She fell in love with it when she got a closer look.
The B is not listed in any computer system here in the US and very few people have heard of it so requires a bit of explaining. B…what’s a B? Can’t tell how many times I’ve heard that.
I’ve taken it on a couple of seven hour trips up to northern California and have gotten the same positive responses there as well. So like I said…must be something in the water.
We travel often into New York and Vermont, and everyone is impressed and wish it was available to them. Many had commented that during European holidays they had rented the B class and were very happy, even with some of the smaller underachieving European engines. So hopefully the USA will get on the band wagon soon.( at least before 2011)
Last edited by Derek Lecours : 09-17-2007 at 11:05 AM.
After spending 8-10 hours each way on my New York trip I can confirm it is a good vehicle for long term trips. Here are my thoughts:
Pluses:
1) There is lots of storage space in this car and its very easy to load/unload when you stop over for the night during a multi-day trip. You can drop the floor in the trunk for more luggage space or....you can keep the floor in the raised position and use the space underneath to keep valuables out of sight. As an example, I store my laptop computer under the floor so that I don't have to worry when we park the car for lunch, etc.
2) The car is very smooth and quiet at highway speeds. Its actually much smoother and quieter than my last car which was a Jaguar X-Type.
3) The high driving position is great and gives you a better view of the road.
4) Mileage is excellent at highway speeds as stated in another post.
5) Car is big inside. We drove with two adults and two teenage kids and nobody complained about not having enough room.
Negatives:
1) My car doesn't have cruise control. Not essential but would have been nice for a long trip.
2) Speedometer doesn't change between miles/kms. You can switch the computer between miles and kms and tell it to display the speed in digital format on the display but it would be nice if the main speedo changed too. My wife's Chrysler Pacifica does this. When you change from metric to imperial, the needle on the speedo actually moves to a different numerical position, etc. The reason I mention this is that there are so many speed traps in the USA and the speed changes quite a bit between 55 mph up to 65 mph depending on the road. The B is so smooth that its hard to know how fast you are going without looking at the dash.
3) Could use a bit more power. I've only got the standard B200 and I could have used a bit more power with 4 people in the car. I suspect the Turbo solves this problem but does so at the expense of mileage.
4) It would have been nice to have Satellite radio (XM or Sirius). Satellite radio is perfect for long trips because you don't have to change stations and there is lots of choices. I have purchased a satellite radio unit for my B200 thinking I could install it myself but after looking under the dash, etc., I've decided it needs to be done professionally. Its actually not easy to run a power line to the radio because the fuse box is under the floor of the front passenger seat. Unlike American cars, the B200 is totally sealed up under the dash and this makes it more difficult to get to a power connection in order to hardwire the new radio in. Also...the 07 model didn't come with the AUX IN so I have to install that first before getting the radio installed (I don't like FM modulators because they sound bad). I could just use the cigarette lighter for power but I hate the look of wires hanging down in a nice car.
I am looking forward to getting our B 200 soon. With 136 HP, which is 26 more than the Peugeot we use now, I am sure it won't feel underopowered at all to me. Just use the full RPM range and it should be fine, even on BC's mountainous roads.
I thought that cruise control had been standard equipment in Canada all along....I must be wrong. I think it can be retrofitted by your dealer, maybe you should look into that.
Anyway, cruise is nice, I even have it in my smart now and it sure is handy on the Interstates as well as CDN highways.
Quote by MikeT
(I thought that cruise control had been standard equipment in Canada all along....I must be wrong. I think it can be retrofitted by your dealer, maybe you should look into that.)
unquote
I think there was a post about the retrofit in one of the earlier threads. Giving costs.
I have family in Buffalo and we've taken my wife's B200 to there from Montreal. Interested looks in all the parking lots and my aunt and uncle really like it a lot. Since they are just over the border to Canada they've mentioned that they are very interested in getting a B-class to replace my aunt's car.
Tut Tut Derek 'underachieving engines' the B200 CDI is a lovely torquey engine ( but I'm afraid not available to you over the pond)
Seriously though I travelled a few thousand miles in Europe last year and as Jeff says it is a "fantastic cruiser" (pity about the bugs though)
Now Keith,watch me backtrack and backpedal! When I said 'underachieving engines', I'm repeating the comments from all the reviews I've read. I've never been in less the the B 200. I'm sure the B 200 CDI would be great because of it's torque. When you read the writeups here, anything less than 7000 HP in a car is not enough, and that's where my comments came from.
And as to the cruise control, I use it all the time and would be greatly inconvienced without it. It's a shame the way MB plays with all these options in the different countries. In Canada, it was standard equipment in 06. Derek
Last edited by Derek Lecours : 09-17-2007 at 11:15 AM.
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