[jordanb]

hi all

i am thinking of buying a b200 turbo. i live in toronto canada and don't commute to work, but do want to use it for highway driving.

feedback welcome. what should i avoid in terms of options? is the car good on highways?

thanks!

 

[martman]

Welcome, jordanb.

I do not have a Turbo, but can certainly speak about the car in general. For the size of the car, the B200 is very stable at highway speeds. I remember how fast one can boot a car on the highway traveling north from Toronto to cottage country.. . the B will certainly feel very stable and safe.

If you read through this forum, i know that there have been a number of issues with the lamella panoramic sun roof. IMO, it's a nice to have. We avoided choosing that option because of known (although they may have been fixed by now) and possilble future issues with that option. Being in Toronto, you might want to think about the heated seats option, although I believe the Turbo models come standard with that.

If you don't have to wait for the 2009 models - which should be coming out by late summer, I believe, the 2008 models have some great financing and lease rates going on right now.

Overall, again, for the size of the car, it feels like you are driving a much heavier and bigger vehicle.

Good luck and do let us know what you end up getting. There are some pretty good and informative guys around this forum.

Cheers,

 

[Bill F]

jordanb.

Good luck in finding the car of your dreams. Lucky for you, the car is the B class!!:thumbsup:

We are very happy with our choice a turbo automatic (remember normally aspirated engines by their design are forced to suck) The sunroof is fantastic, go for the better sound system great sound, and buy the lightest interior colour available. The car also seems twice as big when not equipped with the black interior. Please lets not hear a chorus of white gets dirty. Comfortable smooth ride on the highway and so on, but the options can add up. Set a price and try to get as many options as you can, they are all good.
The car is also a great car to commute in.

Look around at all the posts ( remembering that negative thing always get mentioned more than positive aspects of anything) Hope to see many posts from you in the future.

Bill

 

[Mike Tee]

The B Class without the sunroof is like a house without windows, and that's from a guy whose roof leaked when the car was new! I would not go without it, the car gets too dark inside.

Heated seats are mandatory.

With the Turbo engine, the CVT is OK, but the fuel economy is not as good as it should be IMO. The 5 speed 134 HP version has very good fuel economy for a barge of its size.

Even the 134 HP engine provides more than enough power, enough to easily exceed 200 km/h (don't ask), which in this country is an invitation to jail and car forfeiture, so the Turbo is massive overkill unless you like being able to out-accelerate about 50% of cars on the road (the rest are faster than the Turbo). The Turbo in Canada is limited at 210 km/h (apparently unless you get the sports suspension and the VR tires) but I don't think the 134 HP car is limited at all (I hope to test that soon), so keep that in mind

I've had better-handling sedans, but for a small MPV-shaped vehicle the B is pretty good.

If you think there's a chance you might ever want extra security, get the alarm; it's impossible to retrofit.

Please don't choose silver, black, grey or white.

 

[CC Ryder]

There are several threads here on this topic http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w245-b-class/1364959-living-b-class.html
Most forum members are very happy with their choice of the B.
I would try to hold out for a 2009 model in the hope of a drop in price. I would love to have a diesel if MB would ever sell the B 200 CDI in Canada.
Your MUST HAVE list should be short ( unless you are long on cash) , but it should include the sunroof and heated seats.
I have the B200T with CVT and premium package and I think it is excellent. My fuel consumption is 10 city and 7.5 litres Hwy. The B is comfortable, reliable and quiet and it has outstanding functionality and safety, with a small footprint.
I give it two :thumbsup:

 

[martman]

Please don't choose silver, black, grey or white.

Hey Mike, and what's wrong with Black???:nono:

Seriously, though, in any car you get unless you must absolutely need black, do not go for it. And this is from a guy who has had 3 black cars in a row.

 

[Mike Tee]

I just have a thing against sombre coloured cars. Bright colours make people smile. Dark colours make people think of funerals

 

[kdbcom]

And Silver is the classic Mercedes Colour.

You will get as many different conflicting pieces of advice as there are members. Strangely in their own way all are probably right. Pick the colour/ engine/ gearbox that You want by all means be guided by others but you have to live with it.

The most important thing is order all of the options you are likely to use as they are very expensive to have fitted aftermarket (some are not practical or reasonably possible to fit later). Sit down go through the brochure and say to yourself am I ever going to need this if the answer is yes then order it. (You may have to wait a bit longer for your car though).

It is a good car, though it does have some failings, but forums do tend to emphasise the bad points rather than the good ones.

By the sound of things you seem to be on the brink of deciding to buy one my advice have a long think on what you want & go for it.

 

[jordanb]

Thanks All! What a nice forum!

I slept on it last night and think I am going to go for it.

Is gas melieage better than with CVT? Willthere be design changes for '09?

I was thinking beige interior with either Atoll Blue or Comet Grey exteror. Trying to decide whether to go back to a stick or not.

It's interesting, some of you suggest the premium stereo. Any reason?

 

[kdbcom]

Photos of model changes have been posted earlier.

I have seen somewhere that about 90% of Mercs (not necessarily B class) are autos draw your own conclusions from that.

You will get slightly less mpg with the CVT but not the difference that you used to get in the old days when you used to have 3 & 4 speed auto boxes.

The CVT should give the optimum revs - speed - conditions & in the S mode is supposed to have a form of driver style learning capability.

0-100 kmph is about 0.1-0.2 down on the manual.

Top speed is down about 3-5 mph down and depending on method determined to measure mpg is between the same & about 4 mpg worse than the manual.

CO2 figures are up but you guys in North America /Canada don't seem so worried about CO2 figures as the rest of us in Europe you appear to have differing methods of defining & measuring pollution.

Source of figures M/B official brochures is for 05-08 models and does vary between models & engine sizes / types.

N.B. Do get yourself a good test drive in both the manual & auto versions before deciding what variant to go for.

 

[Bill F]

Thanks All! What a nice forum!


It's interesting, some of you suggest the premium stereo. Any reason?

Hi

We have the Harmon Kardon stereo with the sub woofer and extra speakers and the sound is like being in a concert hall. If you do lots of driving and want more than the news to listen to, don't count this option out. My wife usually has the volume up high because of the clear clean sound. We also have the cd changer that plays mp3. If there is a car with the premium stereo on the lot take it for a test ride and see the difference.

Glad you like the beige interior, it gives a little more class to the car.

Like Keith states just about all MB are autos as well as most other makes ( not counting the stripped model to advertise a lower price ) Who is right, the 95% who made a choice for automatic (even at an extra cost) or the 5% who made the choice for a standard. Resale also has to be taken into consideration and an auto will sell faster for more money. The cvt transmission is so smooth and quiet it would turn any car into a luxury car.

Bill
Sunny in Surrey. At least yesterday.

 

[Mike Tee]

When I buy a car, it's a long-term commitment; therefore I buy the options etc for ME, not the ham-fisted moron who might own the car in 25 years, who can't drive a manual!

We had a C 230 K with 6 speed manual to sell a couple of years ago and it was dead easy to sell. Took 2 weeks, private sale. A young man aged 19 bought it.

So if one wants a manual, but the manual for criminy sake! the manual shifter and clutch in the B are velvety-smooth. The CVT with the 134 HP engine is the polar opposite of refined and quiet. With the Turbo, the CVT does a lot better, for reasons explored in other threads here.

 

[kdbcom]

Quote jordanb 'Thanks All! What a nice forum!'

Yes we have good crowd here with good humour and an international membership, we don't always agree but it never seems to get nasty.

There's a wealth of information available from the members, sometimes so much you can get 'information overload' just remember the old adage :- " Advice is for the guidance of wise men & the obediance of fools"

Bill supposed to be sunny again 'in our Surrey' tomorrow

 

[jordanb]

Thanks again gents.

I will take one out for an afternoon next weekend and decide. Likely will go with the Turbo and premium system.

Now must decide on color. Probably dark blue. Will also look into bluetooth.

Will get back to you all next week.

Thanks again! J

 

[Escape]

Thanks again gents.

I will take one out for an afternoon next weekend and decide. Likely will go with the Turbo and premium system.

Now must decide on color. Probably dark blue. Will also look into bluetooth.

Will get back to you all next week.

Thanks again! J

I would see what cars the dealer has in stock or on order before deciding too much. I had to compromise a few options or wait a while to have one shipped in to my ideal specs. Some of the options have to be pre-ordered and none of the Bs that I saw in stock at the dealers had the options like alarm, the upgraded speakers & stereo in them.....

 

[martman]

I do know as well that most Mercedes Benz dealerships are corporate owned. Therefore, they are able to check and transfer units from one dealership to another. So, don't be limited by what a particular dealer has in stock. Feel free to ask your sales rep what other dealerships have as well.

 

[CC Ryder]

Also, check the lease returns - you can get great deals on low mileage, almost new ( 10K Km ) lease returns and demos. Here in Vancouver, a well dressed B is about $ 25 K and a Turbo just a little more.
I bought one and it would be very hard to tell that it was not brand new and I still have three years of warranty- just in case.
May I also suggest that you consider investing the difference - about $ 10,000 in SUNCOR, or HUSKY, so you can forget about escalating gas prices.

PS. Jordan, Have you ever thought about changing your avatar photo? Is that photo from your drivers license or your passport?

 

[Bill F]

I have to agree with BeeClass (in fact he should get a A+, but would then have to leave the forum.)
We looked around at new and lease returns and dealer demo's to find the perfect car. We found what we thought was the perfect one and had a firm price to buy it. We walked around the lot, as our salesman was busy when we came back, enjoying the free coffee and stumbled on an other car with same mileage and price. The second car had the following additional options, power seats, premium stereo, cd changer and automatic wipers. The destination charge had already been eaten by someone else. $10,000 would be a conservative number, sadly my wife invested in furniture, holidays and toys and clothes for the grandchildren. Investment in oil futures would have been better for pocket book but did not wish to sleep in the cellar.:big laugh::big laugh:

Bill

 

[Bill F]

Quote jordanb 'Thanks All! What a nice forum!'

Yes we have good crowd here with good humour and an international membership, we don't always agree but it never seems to get nasty.

There's a wealth of information available from the members, sometimes so much you can get 'information overload' just remember the old adage :- " Advice is for the guidance of wise men & the obediance of fools"

Bill supposed to be sunny again 'in our Surrey' tomorrow

HMMMM

To deep for me:surrender: But when the wife gives advice / guidance I would be a fool not to show obedience:whipped:.

Here in the real Surrey the rain is gently showering the flowers with liquid sunshine. Mother's day corsages will last for weeks:sloppy: so give all your mothers a hug and to all those in the forum who are Mothers HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Bill in overcast Surrey.

 

[DEVOURS]

Hi jordanb, You asked..."Why get the better radio"

The standard radio(at least in the 06 B200) has poor quality speakers in the rear and some of us have changed these rear speakers with fantastic results.
The standard radio in an Alpine(20) with approximately 100 to 130 watts, and the better radio ($$$), brings a great sound without fussing about with speakers changes.
:beerchugr: