Looked good until the run flat tires were mentioned. At the price point mentioned it can certianly be cross shopped against the Focus ST and GTI...and I will so do next year.
Although a better looking vehicle then is predecessor, does anyone really car about the "B" series MB in N.A. ? Shouldn't this car have been labeled a smart car. The perfect car for the wanna be MB driver. I think it devalues the name MB. You can't be a premium car company brand and a "value" car brand within in the same name plate. The marketing in N.A. just doesn't make any sense. M.B. should stick to what it does best and maintain the M.B. image & not water it down.
If they can sell the Sprinter, they can sell the B series.The idea that MB can't sell a cheaper car is weird. I think the only people offended are the true brand whores that like to think of themselves as being ever so much better because of the pricey stuff they buy.
A Unimog or Sprinter isnt the same thing as a B-class.
Quote from: Fobroader on September 06, 2012, 12:26:49 pmA Unimog or Sprinter isnt the same thing as a B-class.You have very sharp powers of perception!
Quote from: Sir Osis of Liver on September 06, 2012, 12:28:32 pmQuote from: Fobroader on September 06, 2012, 12:26:49 pmA Unimog or Sprinter isnt the same thing as a B-class.You have very sharp powers of perception! You brought up commercial vehicles
I don't have a problem with MB dealers selling a B class from a brand perception point of view. I just think it would have made sense from marketing POV to make "Smart" something less than a one trick pony "orphan" brand. The way BMW has built the Mini lineup is a good example and I think MB could have done something similar with Smart in NA using variations of their "A" and "B" class platforms.
Quote from: Fobroader on September 06, 2012, 12:30:53 pmQuote from: Sir Osis of Liver on September 06, 2012, 12:28:32 pmQuote from: Fobroader on September 06, 2012, 12:26:49 pmA Unimog or Sprinter isnt the same thing as a B-class.You have very sharp powers of perception! You brought up commercial vehicles Commercial Mercedes are fairly recent developments in the US. Unimogs were imported almost as one offs, they didn't import their vans until the tie in with Chrysler and most of the heavy stuff was sold as Freightliner.MB is facing the same issue as everyone else. GenY isn't that enthusiastic about cars, GenX are struggling and the boomers are retiring and finding out just how broke they are. They need an entry vehicle that younger people have a hope of affording. BMW is doing the same thing with the next FWD 1 series, Audi are already there with the A3.
GenY isn't that enthusiastic about cars...
Quote from: sailor723 on September 06, 2012, 12:40:26 pmI don't have a problem with MB dealers selling a B class from a brand perception point of view. I just think it would have made sense from marketing POV to make "Smart" something less than a one trick pony "orphan" brand. The way BMW has built the Mini lineup is a good example and I think MB could have done something similar with Smart in NA using variations of their "A" and "B" class platforms.I agree, the A and B class MB should be branded as a Smart product and leave the rest of the line up just as is, a premium brand that requiers buyers to be well heeled. Whats wrong with that, Ive never seen a cheap Ferrari, Porsche or Bentley thats willing to give up everything the brand is all about just to have the badge on the grill.
Quote from: Fobroader on September 06, 2012, 12:58:13 pmQuote from: sailor723 on September 06, 2012, 12:40:26 pmI don't have a problem with MB dealers selling a B class from a brand perception point of view. I just think it would have made sense from marketing POV to make "Smart" something less than a one trick pony "orphan" brand. The way BMW has built the Mini lineup is a good example and I think MB could have done something similar with Smart in NA using variations of their "A" and "B" class platforms.I agree, the A and B class MB should be branded as a Smart product and leave the rest of the line up just as is, a premium brand that requiers buyers to be well heeled. Whats wrong with that, Ive never seen a cheap Ferrari, Porsche or Bentley thats willing to give up everything the brand is all about just to have the badge on the grill.In the rest of the world, they're used to pedestrian Mercedes models used as taxis and service cars as well as the high end stuff. It's only in NA that they actively cultivated the high end reputation. They aren't nearly as focused on the high end as Bentley or Ferrari.