So I've been checking out the B200T for the past few months and FINALLY decided to go for it today. I learned a ton about the car from this site and all of you so thanks! We've worked out a pretty good deal (IMHO) off MSRP and with the recent drop in lease rates, I've finally convinced my wife we can afford to go for it.
So this morning I give the dealer a green light, we're all set to come in and do the paperwork tomorrow, and WHAM - We find out that no 2008's available for factory order as of 2 days ago . He said if we went automatic or some other 'more common' configuration, we might be able to find one.... But I'm pretty much set on the B200T manual 6 spd, white, with sunroof.
So what he's going to do is write up the 2008 based on the pricing we agreed on, then provide us an 'out' if the 2009 pricing works out to be too much. Basically we can say 'no thanks' once the pricing comes in. Let's hope the lease rates / MSRP don't move too much!
Does anyone have any hints or thoughts on Canadian pricing or how the Canadian B200Ts will differ from 2008? I've seen some pics of the 2009 exterior changes, but it's hard to know exactly what will transfer to our market.
Hi Brad r & welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear that you are unable to currently get a car to your spec. I would not dismiss the auto out of hand , I have heard that about 90% of Mercs are autos (That's M/B in general not 90% of B classes) so they do know a thing about autos. I like the seamless change it gives (no kick kick as it autochanges as in normal autos) you can accelerate smoothly from 0- max speed (where legal) plus you have the advantage of being able to use it as a 7 speed semi manual if you want to 'change gear' yourself. I would never go back to a manual again. Performance, economy & CO2 figures are not a great deal different either. Lets face it if the car were invented today it would almost certainly come with an autobox.
Before ordering and taking delivery of our B (non-Turbo) I was told by my MB sales rep that the manual tranny accounts for only 2 - 3% of Canadian sales. So, good luck in finding a manual B.
I know that in the Vancouver area, all, if not most of the dealerships are corporate owned. I wonder if that is true across Canada. There's a better likely hood of your dealer finding the car with your config across the country, and having it transported back to TO if that were the case. - That is if you still want to stick to a 2008 model.
If you wait for a 2009 I suspect it will be quite a wait! I ordered my 2007 on July 1, 2006 (yes the dealer was open on Canada Day) and my car was supposedly in the first shipment of 2007s. I didn't pick it up to the end of July.
My point being that while I'm sure the delivery times of the next model years does differ, I'd find it very unlikely that the 2009 is coming out any time before end of June/early July.
speaking as one who is loath to drive slushboxes, the B200 auto is good. It's actually a win-win. the wife's happy and the CV tranny is great in saving gas and driving around town.... no more spilled Timm's. Then in the semi manual mode it's gives some of the fun of letting her rip.... I'd go for the auto in 'this' particular car.
__________________
cheers, guenter
started with: Ghia Type 1, TR4A, Beetle, Ghia Type 3, Westy, Mazda323, 240D, 190E.
If the gods had wanted us to shift manually why did they invent the auto transmission Surely drivers can find better things to do with their right hand (left in England and Japan)
Safety alone is a major reason to drive an automatic, in heavy stop and go traffic in urban areas no distractions should be added. Notice how jerky the driver performs with the manual transmission (gearbox to England) in the smiley.
I think that the manual transmission is cult based, most likely in Iraq and the free world should rally behind Bush and stamp it out.
The manual now.
We all know somebody who has succumbed to late 1800 technology so lets forgive them and do not shun them even as they preach volumes and try to bring us down.
Whoops should have said Hi to all old friends first. Hi guys and gals
I will second the move for the automatic transmission for the prevoiusly mentioned reasons and on the basis that if an automatic is good enough for formula one then it will probably meet our needs too.
Maybe you can use the availability situation to your bargaining advantage. Take an '08 with auto now - albeit at a reduced price ( say..$ 1000 for the auto ); or, wait for an '09 manual. I'll bet your dealer will be willing to renegotiate the deal. ( A 'B' in the hand.. so to speak.)
. He said if we went automatic or some other 'more common' configuration, we might be able to find one.... But I'm pretty much set on the B200T manual 6 spd, white, with sunroof. 
Surely drivers can find better things to do with their right hand (left in England and Japan)
Notice how jerky the driver performs with the manual transmission (gearbox to England) in the smiley.
The manual now.
and are those bullets for "moi."
Linear Mode
