Mercedes B Class- Is it deliberately this bad?
Discussion
I haven't had a Mercedes before, test driven them occasionally and always found them to wallowy, often very disappointing spec, and prone to rust.
However I guess like most people I have a basic assumption that a Mercedes will generally be a nice car. So when I got a 2009 B Class 200CDI as a courtesy car whilst my FFRR is in for some work, I was quite pleased, thinking this will be a pleasant and economical runabout.
Wow, I couldn't have been more wrong, frankly it amazes me that it's possible to make such a bad car nowadays, and sell it at any price, let alone with a Mercedes badge and presumably for a premium price.
So what's wrong with it? Well it would be simpler to say what's right with it, which would be simply answered by saying it starts, you can sit in it, and move from place A to place B. Other than that, it's just appalling.
The engine I guess would be good if you were feeling nostalgic for the old school diesels which make you sound like a farmer or taxi driver from 20-30 years ago, oh and if you don't want decent fuel economy.
Gearbox, well first time I've had CVT, and I had it, no control over gears (because there aren't any).
Controls, well after ten days driving it, I'm still none the wiser, why does it only have control stalks on the left of the steering column, so with every control packed onto one stalk they are all impossibly fiddly and complicated, making having to use any of these essential controls whilst driving, dangerous.
Handling? Again, wow. For a medium family runabout it feels like they've tried to give it go kart handling which results only in a crap ride. You feel every undulation of the road in a bump thump way, steering is rubbish, brakes, adequate, noise at speed, appalling.
Comfort is adequate, but the cabin feels like a GM car, no better certainly, nothing wrong with a GM car, except when you've paid for a Mercedes.
Are other Mercedes like this? If so how do they still sell cars? I also note they sponsor that ridiculous BRAKE campaign aimed at reducing road deaths to zero, maybe this is part of their strategy, make cars so appalling that nobody will drive them!
However I guess like most people I have a basic assumption that a Mercedes will generally be a nice car. So when I got a 2009 B Class 200CDI as a courtesy car whilst my FFRR is in for some work, I was quite pleased, thinking this will be a pleasant and economical runabout.
Wow, I couldn't have been more wrong, frankly it amazes me that it's possible to make such a bad car nowadays, and sell it at any price, let alone with a Mercedes badge and presumably for a premium price.
So what's wrong with it? Well it would be simpler to say what's right with it, which would be simply answered by saying it starts, you can sit in it, and move from place A to place B. Other than that, it's just appalling.
The engine I guess would be good if you were feeling nostalgic for the old school diesels which make you sound like a farmer or taxi driver from 20-30 years ago, oh and if you don't want decent fuel economy.
Gearbox, well first time I've had CVT, and I had it, no control over gears (because there aren't any).
Controls, well after ten days driving it, I'm still none the wiser, why does it only have control stalks on the left of the steering column, so with every control packed onto one stalk they are all impossibly fiddly and complicated, making having to use any of these essential controls whilst driving, dangerous.
Handling? Again, wow. For a medium family runabout it feels like they've tried to give it go kart handling which results only in a crap ride. You feel every undulation of the road in a bump thump way, steering is rubbish, brakes, adequate, noise at speed, appalling.
Comfort is adequate, but the cabin feels like a GM car, no better certainly, nothing wrong with a GM car, except when you've paid for a Mercedes.
Are other Mercedes like this? If so how do they still sell cars? I also note they sponsor that ridiculous BRAKE campaign aimed at reducing road deaths to zero, maybe this is part of their strategy, make cars so appalling that nobody will drive them!
bozmandb9 said:
Controls, well after ten days driving it, I'm still none the wiser, why does it only have control stalks on the left of the steering column, so with every control packed onto one stalk they are all impossibly fiddly and complicated, making having to use any of these essential controls whilst driving, dangerous.
Was it designed as LHD so you need to use your right hand to change gear....did you say CVT?
Couldnt agree more. I had one years ago in Germany as a hire car. 1.7 D, with a 7 speed auto. The damn thing didnt know which gear it wanted and was CONSTANTLY chaging between 5,6th and 7th on the motorway.
Atryuly hideous car. The next one, a C220D estate was a different matter-not bad at all and drove well.
Atryuly hideous car. The next one, a C220D estate was a different matter-not bad at all and drove well.
bozmandb9 said:
Controls, well after ten days driving it, I'm still none the wiser, why does it only have control stalks on the left of the steering column, so with every control packed onto one stalk they are all impossibly fiddly and complicated, making having to use any of these essential controls whilst driving, dangerous.
My Father`s E-Class had pretty much the same thing, once you learn where everything is it works very well.It took me about two hours to get to grips with, I can`t understand why you`re still struggling after ten days......
Deerfoot said:
bozmandb9 said:
Controls, well after ten days driving it, I'm still none the wiser, why does it only have control stalks on the left of the steering column, so with every control packed onto one stalk they are all impossibly fiddly and complicated, making having to use any of these essential controls whilst driving, dangerous.
My Father`s E-Class had pretty much the same thing, once you learn where everything is it works very well.It took me about two hours to get to grips with, I can`t understand why you`re still struggling after ten days......
bozmandb9 said:
I haven't had a Mercedes before, test driven them occasionally and always found them ... prone to rust.
That's a test drive that's gone very wrong.bozmandb9 said:
So when I got a 2009 B Class 200CDI as a courtesy car whilst my FFRR is in for some work, I was quite pleased, thinking this will be a pleasant and economical runabout.
Why? You only have to look at them and they're unpleasant and I've never heard of Mercedes competing on fuel economy? gizlaroc said:
They have changed the dampers and springs on them recently as the ride was far too hard. Meant to be far, far better now.
First I've heard of it, when was that? Seems a bit late as its due to be replaced with an all-new model sometime in the next 12 months. They have already dropped several engine options and limited the range to only a handful of models.collateral said:
I've driven an A class. A cynical exercise to extract money from badge worshipers - 'I've got a Merc'. The one good thing about it was the stereo (once you had figured out the needlessly odd control system).
Nice one. Why anyone would expect Mercedes "quality" on a £20K car is beyond me. The A, B, and C class cars are built to cost, and bar say a few variants like a C63 AMG, are not much different than their Mondeo, S-Max and other mainstream counterparts. Mercs have become so common, that anything less than a S-class has lost the aura of exclusivity say Mercs in the 70's and 80's had.AlfaManc said:
Nice one. Why anyone would expect Mercedes "quality" on a £20K car is beyond me. The A, B, and C class cars are built to cost, and bar say a few variants like a C63 AMG, are not much different than their Mondeo, S-Max and other mainstream counterparts. Mercs have become so common, that anything less than a S-class has lost the aura of exclusivity say Mercs in the 70's and 80's had.
Nonsense. The quality of the A/ B and C is superb, the interior materials and build is second to none. Fords are crap by comparison with cheap scratchy plastics and poor finishing.And on the Reliability, the A/B do exceptionally well in all the surveys like JD Power, Driver Power and Which.
va1o said:
AlfaManc said:
Nice one. Why anyone would expect Mercedes "quality" on a £20K car is beyond me. The A, B, and C class cars are built to cost, and bar say a few variants like a C63 AMG, are not much different than their Mondeo, S-Max and other mainstream counterparts. Mercs have become so common, that anything less than a S-class has lost the aura of exclusivity say Mercs in the 70's and 80's had.
Nonsense. The quality of the A/ B and C is superb, the interior materials and build is second to none. Fords are crap by comparison with cheap scratchy plastics and poor finishing.JohnnyRims said:
va1o said:
AlfaManc said:
Nice one. Why anyone would expect Mercedes "quality" on a £20K car is beyond me. The A, B, and C class cars are built to cost, and bar say a few variants like a C63 AMG, are not much different than their Mondeo, S-Max and other mainstream counterparts. Mercs have become so common, that anything less than a S-class has lost the aura of exclusivity say Mercs in the 70's and 80's had.
Nonsense. The quality of the A/ B and C is superb, the interior materials and build is second to none. Fords are crap by comparison with cheap scratchy plastics and poor finishing.the inside is very spacious and sits 5 easy.we also have the auto but have never had any problems with the car not knowing what gear it is in.in the 3years we had it it has never let us down once.
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