Considering a B class any owners on here?
Discussion
We are considering a B class sport, for looking at the online info it seems to tick all the boxes (B Class 1.5 CDI B180 Sport) so have requested a test drive via MB website just waiting to hear back on when.
So I thought I'd ask if anyone has one and what are they like to live with, drive, is the radio any good etc.
Running costs will only be fuel as the wife unfortunately gets DLA, so we are more interested in how it drives, seems a small engine for quite a bigish body.
The SE and the Sport have the same engine but the sport is worse on MPG why?
Thanks in advance.
So I thought I'd ask if anyone has one and what are they like to live with, drive, is the radio any good etc.
Running costs will only be fuel as the wife unfortunately gets DLA, so we are more interested in how it drives, seems a small engine for quite a bigish body.
The SE and the Sport have the same engine but the sport is worse on MPG why?
Thanks in advance.
Not an owner but I had one for a week as a hire car recently - a 180cdi se with the 7-speed dual clutch gearbox.
My overall impression was positive - while not in any way fast it was perfectly acceptable at motorway speeds, never feeling too sluggish, and the engine note was relatively unobtrusive. It felt well screwed together, too, and (according to the onboard computer) managed 57mpg over nearly 1,000 miles of varied roads.
The one issue I had with it was the gearbox mapping - from a standing start it often felt as though there was a huge amount of clutch slip, resulting in a tendency to crawl away followed a couple of seconds later with a surge as clutch engaged/boost pressure was reached. Not a big problem normally, but unpleasant when pulling into gaps in traffic on busy roads and something I'd recommend trying for yourself before committing to the otherwise very nice auto/dct.
My overall impression was positive - while not in any way fast it was perfectly acceptable at motorway speeds, never feeling too sluggish, and the engine note was relatively unobtrusive. It felt well screwed together, too, and (according to the onboard computer) managed 57mpg over nearly 1,000 miles of varied roads.
The one issue I had with it was the gearbox mapping - from a standing start it often felt as though there was a huge amount of clutch slip, resulting in a tendency to crawl away followed a couple of seconds later with a surge as clutch engaged/boost pressure was reached. Not a big problem normally, but unpleasant when pulling into gaps in traffic on busy roads and something I'd recommend trying for yourself before committing to the otherwise very nice auto/dct.
Edited by GreenMan on Sunday 24th August 11:07
I've just asked a car dealer friend of mine to source one for me, despite never actually having driven one!
I need to replace the old Audi A3 with something similar and narrowed my list down to another A3, a BMW X1 or a Mercedes B class. I went down to car giant and tried out the BMW and B Class. I couldn't believe how cheap and nasty the interior of the X1 was, whereas the B class was quality. I specifically wanted one since its a little easier to get in and out of, and I'll be driving the old folks around a bit, and need a good boot for a dog or a wheelchair, so its the perfect package. Interior space in the rear seats was pretty amazing and I've read that theres more space then in an E-class.
The newest generation is vastly different to the older generation, and is apparently the biggest change between generations that merc has ever done, so if you're buying used and it isn't in your budget yet, I'd wait until prices drop a little more. I'm buying a manual petrol.
Personally I was curious about remapping, surely a B180 and a B200 are basically just a map apart?
-Also curious about the radio, forgot to turn it on when I sat in one!
I need to replace the old Audi A3 with something similar and narrowed my list down to another A3, a BMW X1 or a Mercedes B class. I went down to car giant and tried out the BMW and B Class. I couldn't believe how cheap and nasty the interior of the X1 was, whereas the B class was quality. I specifically wanted one since its a little easier to get in and out of, and I'll be driving the old folks around a bit, and need a good boot for a dog or a wheelchair, so its the perfect package. Interior space in the rear seats was pretty amazing and I've read that theres more space then in an E-class.
The newest generation is vastly different to the older generation, and is apparently the biggest change between generations that merc has ever done, so if you're buying used and it isn't in your budget yet, I'd wait until prices drop a little more. I'm buying a manual petrol.
Personally I was curious about remapping, surely a B180 and a B200 are basically just a map apart?
-Also curious about the radio, forgot to turn it on when I sat in one!
Thanks for the replies.
The wife doesn't want an auto but interesting to hear about how it works/doesn't work.
Also very interesting to hear about the quality difference between The Merc and the BMW X1.
We will be looking at the Merc and the X1 next week but I think she has made her mind up......
and it's a Ford Kuga!
Her reasoning is that she can get a top spec Kuga rather than a base spec Merc or X1.
To be honest I can see where she's coming from if only because the Ford website is so much better than either the Merc or BMW one's.
The Ford website/downloads give you full details on what you get the others do not.
As I said in my OP I booked a test drive via the MB website, four days later I've not heard a thing. Doesn't exactly give me confidence in the brand.
The wife doesn't want an auto but interesting to hear about how it works/doesn't work.
Also very interesting to hear about the quality difference between The Merc and the BMW X1.
We will be looking at the Merc and the X1 next week but I think she has made her mind up......
and it's a Ford Kuga!
Her reasoning is that she can get a top spec Kuga rather than a base spec Merc or X1.
To be honest I can see where she's coming from if only because the Ford website is so much better than either the Merc or BMW one's.
The Ford website/downloads give you full details on what you get the others do not.
As I said in my OP I booked a test drive via the MB website, four days later I've not heard a thing. Doesn't exactly give me confidence in the brand.
It, sadly, seems my lack of confidence was well founded.
Went to the MB dealer for a pre booked appointment but there was no car to test drive!
Long story short, we were treated like second class because it would be a motability purchase/lease.
I won't go into details but it put both of us of a very nice car.
My wife didn't even want to look at a BMW fearful of being treated the same way.
In contrast our local Ford dealer could not do more for us and never made us feel the way the MB dealer did.
OK, the MB dealer might not make as much money on a Motability sale as a 'normal' retail sale but like wise with the Ford dealer.
Went to the MB dealer for a pre booked appointment but there was no car to test drive!
Long story short, we were treated like second class because it would be a motability purchase/lease.
I won't go into details but it put both of us of a very nice car.
My wife didn't even want to look at a BMW fearful of being treated the same way.
In contrast our local Ford dealer could not do more for us and never made us feel the way the MB dealer did.
OK, the MB dealer might not make as much money on a Motability sale as a 'normal' retail sale but like wise with the Ford dealer.
skeggysteve said:
It, sadly, seems my lack of confidence was well founded.
Went to the MB dealer for a pre booked appointment but there was no car to test drive!
Long story short, we were treated like second class because it would be a motability purchase/lease.
I won't go into details but it put both of us of a very nice car.
My wife didn't even want to look at a BMW fearful of being treated the same way.
In contrast our local Ford dealer could not do more for us and never made us feel the way the MB dealer did.
OK, the MB dealer might not make as much money on a Motability sale as a 'normal' retail sale but like wise with the Ford dealer.
Please please please write into to MB UK, and name and shame the dealer. I had some issues with a dealer and made sure MBUK knew about it, they called back had a chat and sorted somethings out and chased up the dealer. The sales side of MB is atrocious, I also went to look at an A45 AMG the other day after someone I spoke to called me back and told me to come on another day because the car wouldn't be available. Arrived on the day he told me, he wasn't working and there wasn't a car for me.... Spoke to someone else, who really couldn't be bothered, coupled to the fact that its almost impossible to configure a car online it makes you wonder just how hard they're trying to sell cars...Went to the MB dealer for a pre booked appointment but there was no car to test drive!
Long story short, we were treated like second class because it would be a motability purchase/lease.
I won't go into details but it put both of us of a very nice car.
My wife didn't even want to look at a BMW fearful of being treated the same way.
In contrast our local Ford dealer could not do more for us and never made us feel the way the MB dealer did.
OK, the MB dealer might not make as much money on a Motability sale as a 'normal' retail sale but like wise with the Ford dealer.
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