Is Mercedes B Class The Answer ?

[V8RX7]

My mum has an A3 TDi 130 Auto 1999 which she wants to change, her requirements:

5 doors
Automatic gearbox
Larger in the back as the grand children are growing
Larger in the boot (or at least a vertical rear tailgate) as her Lab has it's nose pressed against the glass
Not much larger car externally - I've checked and the tardis is not currently for sale

She only covers circa 5k so diesel seems pointless although she likes the low rpm torque

Budget £10k but she can afford more if necessary.

I've looked - online - at the Note, B Max, Auris but they seem very cheap inside compared to her old A3 a newer A3 is possible but from pictures at least the B Class seems the best bet - is it ?

[EV11NED]

Honda Jazz Hybrid will fit your criteria

[Sheepshanks]

EV11NED said:

Honda Jazz Hybrid will fit your criteria

I'd have thought a bit cramped for the lab?

Note has a sliding seat, I think, and is a little bigger anyway, so might be better.

Trouble with a Merc is you get Merc sized bills if anything goes wrong.

[EV11NED]

Sheepshanks said:

EV11NED said:

Honda Jazz Hybrid will fit your criteria

I'd have thought a bit cramped for the lab?

Note has a sliding seat, I think, and is a little bigger anyway, so might be better.

Trouble with a Merc is you get Merc sized bills if anything goes wrong.

But it does have the magic rear seat, where the base folds up so the lab could sit on the floor. Boot is deceptively spacious too

[Sheepshanks]

EV11NED said:

But it does have the magic rear seat, where the base folds up so the lab could sit on the floor. Boot is deceptively spacious too

OP suggests back seat will be full of grandchildren.

My missus just changed her Jazz (had a mk1 then a mk2) for a Tiguan so I'm pretty familiar with the car, although not so much with how much space a Labrador needs!

[JulietRomeo]

Maybe the older shape A as opposed to the B?

[AmitG]

I would check out the current (2015 onwards) Honda Jazz. Used ones are still somewhat above 10k but some haggling should bridge the gap.

Loads of room in the back. Vertical tailgate. Auto (CVT) transmission available. Very reliable.

Not sure how much space a dog needs (depends on the size of dog I guess) but Honda say that with the magic seats folded up you can get a pony in the back

They are seriously spacious inside - a real Tardis car. Nothing else in this class appears to come close (I looked at a lot). I can't work out how they do it.

[anonymous-user]

Nissan Note.
Audi Q3 if that's in budget?
Volkswagen Golf Plus/SV
Ford B-Max

[Otispunkmeyer]

Yeti?

I know it's an SUV and I am not sure how big the boot is with the rear seats in. But it's very boxy in there. Loads of head space for a dog.

I'd have to throw my 2p in for the Jazz though. Even though it won't be as refined as the Audi and the interior quality will be a step down.

[V8RX7]

Thanks

Yes the problem is that she takes the Grand children and dog to the park - although it's only a couple of miles so I can't see it's a major issue myself.

The Q3 and Yeti appear to be much larger (I'll google sizes) and TBH her parking abilities are waning so smaller is certainly better.

I'll add the Jazz to the list although it does appear small.

Is leather a dirty word in this sector - hardly any of the cars on sale seem to have it - and then it's usually the Sport spec

[SiH]

While the B-Class is generally pretty good (wife's got a 56 B200 cdi and has had it for about 6 years) the CVT which is the auto box found in the W245 is a massive crock of st. Ours suffered a terminal failure 3 years ago and owing to Mercedes' reluctance to release the parts outside the dealer network (which is fine and I understand the rationale) we ended up paying out the thick end of £1800 for it to be repaired. 3 years later and it looks like it's about to happen again. The transmission occasionally throws a wobbly and there are fault codes stored on the CVT ECU which are consistent with an impending big bill.
The owners club forums are full of tales of expensive woe relating to the CVT box.
Don't fancy buying mine do you?

[V8RX7]

Yes many of the modern gearboxes (and engines) aren't as reliable as the older ones.

I must admit I've pondered about refreshing her car as it hasn't done many miles and was one of the last reliable diesels - in 10yrs it's only had basic servicing but now the windows / locks / alarm are playing up.

[ZX10R NIN]

The CVT box is shockingly bad the only box that seems worse & more expensive is the VAG DSG.

[Zedboy1200]

OH has a new Note. Excellent car in all,respects but hopelessly underpowered almost to the point of dangerous. We call her 'mogadon'.

My sister brought her '16' Jazz round Saturday. Much bigger than previous version and apparently sprightly....much less geriatric in the styling department IMHO. Could be the one?

[V8RX7]

ZX10R NIN said:

The CVT box is shockingly bad the only box that seems worse & more expensive is the VAG DSG.

Are all modern(ish) VAG Autos DSG or did they have an old fashioned Auto on lesser models ?

[blearyeyedboy]

Does Madam require a Skoda Roomster with a DSG gearbox?

[Mr Tidy]

For sure - if interminable misery is the question!

But to be fair to the OP, it isn't for him so could be the solution!

[sebhaque]

It's a shame she won't consider a slightly bigger car, the Subaru Tribeca is dirt cheap and will happily swallow grandkids + gubbins, plus a mutt in the boot.

Alternatively, VW Touran?

[anonymous-user]

The Q3 is essentialy the same size as the Audi A3 but higher and larger boot, so should be easy to park. The Yeti is more of a Land Rover Freelander aized car.

[ZX10R NIN]

V8RX7 said:

Are all modern(ish) VAG Autos DSG or did they have an old fashioned Auto on lesser models ?

From 2005/6 onwards it's all DSG