Any B class owners please? what do you think of them

[A210AMG]

Hello

Mrs A210 for quite a while now has liked the B class. I actually like them also, like a big fat A class, much more E class inside and a load of room for little one and their stuff...


So currently just 'looking' Not new ones, but ranging from 2005 to 2009 and looking at all sorts from B200Cdi to B150 blue effeicency?

Currently (typically) she like a B150 Blue efficency sport? manual, silver. Have to say looks very nice, lots of chrome etc. 2009 model 5k miles £13995. It has a stop start function and MPG from 40 to 55 ?? ok so it will probably struggle with a head wind but she really isnt bothered about going anywhere quick. She gets over 40mpg from her A210 currently


Given she probably does 7K a year is doesn't seem worth going for the 'better' dervs as they cost more and are on much higher miles.

Has anyone got a B class, what model, what mpg, happy with it?

Athough others slate them her current A class A168 2.1 Evo LWB has been / is a great car and we have owned it nearly 4 years now.

Thanks

 

[A140driver]

I know a couple of people with B-classes, and the general consensus is that the petrols aren't particularly good. The B150 is really quite slow with one person in it, and with a car full of people it'll really struggle, MPG is not that good either, even with stop-start our friends with a B150 struggle to get 35 MPG, and our friends with a B170 get similar figures, so I'd recommend a B180 CDI instead. I gather the B200 Turbo is quite good fun though, but MPG is quite poor. Another thing, having driven a B-class a couple of times I'd highly recommend parktronic as it can be quite tricky to judge the length of the nose.

 

[A210AMG]

Just noticed the one she liked is a B160 Blue efficency not B150 (athough still a 1.5?)

Yes I gather it will be sedate, but as mentioned she doesn't go anywhere quick.

I like the B200 Turbos and they are relatively cheap, bit over kill like the current A210 though as the performance will never be used ooh and they don't make that model any more

B180Cdi would make the best of all worlds I guess.

I'm just 'looking' so all good

 

[A140driver]

The B160 is still a 1.5. The other advantage of the diesels over the B160 B/E is that if you go for a manual it's a 6 speed unit which makes it more relaxed on motorways.

 

[Piff]

Brother-in-law has a B180CDi
Moans that fuel economy isn't as good as previous VW's he had
Most serious moan he has is sports suspension is way too harsh - he has many speed bumps around where he lives. I think with his previous cars he hardly slowed down for them but with the merc he has to.
Aside from that, he likes the car

 

[A210AMG]

^ current wifes A210 on 17"'s has much harder suspension than my ML on 20" wheels...

Weired.


Not too bothered about mpg 40mpg on a run would be nice as we get that from her A class.

VW's do seem very good engines, and much quicker but she likes the B class so its just a question of what we see.

 

[corned]

I have nothing against them.

Or their cars...

 

[panorri]

Had my B200 CDI SE for a week now and enjoying it very much. Test drove the B180 CDI Sport model but found the suspension too harsh and engine underpowered for my likeing. Dealer suggests that there are a lot of Sport models available with the SE 'comfort' suspension and if buying new this is a no cost option. Actual MPG for both models is over 50mpg with not much to choose between them.

 

[GMW]

My wife drives a 2006, B200 Auto (CVT). We both like it a lot, except for the low ground clearance with the sport suspension when we have to drive on 'rural roads'. Otherwise, the interior space is perfect for us and our one child.

It has E-class+ levels of space in the rear. Very good legroom! Fuel economy is good enough with an average of 28-31mpg with mainly city driving. The performance of the engine is more than enough for spirited driving. That said I might have to get her an ML in the future or a GLK if they ever make the next one in RHD, or even the future rumored B-class 4X4, as the ML is still bigger than what we need though we want better ground clearance in her next car.

 

[Rory]

Currently (typically) she like a B150 Blue efficency sport? manual, silver. Have to say looks very nice, lots of chrome etc. 2009 model 5k miles £13995. It has a stop start function...

That's not an ex-courtesy car / demo at MB Chester is it?

I drove one last time my car was in and had mixed feelings about it. I was quite impressed with how seamless the stop/start was (MB is about the only company to use a belt driven starter/alternator to restart the car, so it's fairly noiseless). I would say it went OK (I've driven an A150 and that seemed hopeless - perhaps the gearing is different?).

I thought the ride was tremendously harsh (but then I think my C Class is bad). I don't know - it had only done a few miles and was a bit rattley, just didn't seem nice at all. I was surprised that it fixed mirrors - didn't even manually fold.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

My sister-in-law has a B200 CDI Sport and my wife's cousin has just bought a B180CDI SE. They're both extremely happy with their cars and purchased on the basis that I know a bit about Mercs and that we previously had an A Class.

Not sure how they get on fuel economy wise but they both do similar mileage to your wife but use their cars in London (stop/start traffic).

If your annual mileage isn't going to be high look at the petrol engined variants too.

 

[ewans]

My review of B180 Petrol is here http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/914277-post5.html

Best economy i've had is 51MPG on a 40mile moterway run thats for the B180 Petrol.

 

[Palmball]

My father in law (well, not in law actually as I'm not married to his daughter!) took delivery of his brand new B180 CDi yesterday.....and what a nice car it is!

It's incredibly spacious (and I mean REALLY 'stretch your legs out in the back' spacious), nicely made and in the Cirrus White he's got it in, it looks very striking. It's also pretty refined and is a nice thing to travel in.

Unfortunately, the dealer he purchased it from (who I recommended as its where I got my two C63s from) forgot to tell the factory about a key element of the specification Not a small thing either; you can imagine his shock when he saw a gearlever with 6 speeds in the car when he ordered and paid for an auto!

It was entirely the dealers error and to be fair they offered him the option of a loan car whilst they ordered him another one (and a further 3 week wait) or further discount off this one. He took the money off option and saved the cost of the gearbox plus an extra £700 and two free services.

IMO, he was too easily bought and should have pushed for more but he's happy now so that's all that matters!

 

[A210AMG]

Thanks all,

Yes they have 3 silver ones at MB Chester, B160 Blue efficiency sport ones. All between 5 - 8k miles.

Looks from the outside the same as a £25K B200cdi Sport

I've never driven one so no idea...

Thanks


Scott

 

[J400uk]

I'd be a bit concerned about performance especially if your coming from an A210. The 1.5 95bhp engine is OK in the A-Class from my experience, but the B-Class is heavier so may struggle. Other than that they make a good buy, very well built and reliable.

 

[A210AMG]

^ I uderstand completely

the wifes A210 however could well have a A140 engine as its not 'used' at all, she just likes the look of the sporty ones


Thanks

 

[MrT]

It's incredibly spacious (and I mean REALLY 'stretch your legs out in the back' spacious), nicely made and in the Cirrus White he's got it in, it looks very striking. It's also pretty refined and is a nice thing to travel in.

Must be a person of great style.

The facelift was late 2008 - worth having because the facelift cars have the updated Audio system with bluetooth built in. I have the standard 150 engine (non BE), ISTR that the BE models have a lower CO2 rating (and therefore lower tax band? There are reports on the US forum about rust concerns on some early pre-facelift models.

I went for the manual as I wasn't enamoured with the refinement of the CVT auto. The only time the car struggles for power is on short highway on-ramps - normal length slip roads are no problem if you work the gears (another plus for the manual with the 150 engine).

IMO the CDIs were overpriced new - but they may be a good second hand buy?

I like mine, but it's a PITA to wash. I can relate to the parking sensors comment - I don't find the front a problem, but I have aftermarket rear parking sensors because the flat back end of the car can sometimes be challenging.

I think the fitted options can make the car - when mine went in for service, I got a boggo B150 - hated it. On mine, I have Thermotronic (nice Rest button), electric seat adjustment (like to have the seats at highest position), electric folding mirrors (as others have said, the standard mirrors don't even fold manually), CD changer (to get the Media Interface for iPod connection) and cruise control (standard on the auto but an option with MT).

As others have said - the stiff suspension and bigger rims on the Sport can be a bit harsh. The SE model comes with fixed panel sunroof instead.

 

[spinaltap]

You may find that buying used instead of new is a false economy.

You may find that the Agility finance offers from Mercedes on a new B Class will be much more attractive compared to seeking finance from elsewhere.

What is more, Mercedes will make a contribution towards your deposit on new, but not used.

 

[A210AMG]

Thanks all,

Will update soon, the little A class will soon leave us

Its been a fun car no mater what people say, I suspect very few have actually driven a A210

 

[Howard]

We've just bought a SWB A190 manual , and it's a right giggle.

Fair bit of torque in third too.

Got any goodies you want to part with ?