Topic: Mercedes-Benz 2013 B 250 Price Announced

[tpl]

I think the problem with marketing the B class as a Smart is in fact the Smart.  I would be happy to drive a B class with a MB sub brand label  but I would not want to associate it  with that horrid little thing called the Smart. 


When BMW have a FWD 1 series then the new B class, the A3 and the 1=series will be the small end of their respective brands, not necessarily the cheap end but the small economical end.

Fobroader I guess the M-B marketing pixie dust has thoroughly entranced you. 

[redman]

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.

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.

That maybe, but regardless of the E being used for a taxi or not it still had the quality and cache of a MB. The B class simply does not have that, it simply wears the badge, like a pair of counterfeit Levis circa eastern europe 1980's.

[Fobroader]

I think the problem with marketing the B class as a Smart is in fact the Smart.  I would be happy to drive a B class with a MB sub brand label  but I would not want to associate it  with that horrid little thing called the Smart. 


When BMW have a FWD 1 series then the new B class, the A3 and the 1=series will be the small end of their respective brands, not necessarily the cheap end but the small economical end.

Fobroader I guess the M-B marketing pixie dust has thoroughly entranced you. 

I snorted it, bathed in it and am now rolling around in it after being wholeheartedly entranced by the magic that is AMG 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

That maybe, but regardless of the E being used for a taxi or not it still had the quality and cache of a MB. The B class simply does not have that, it simply wears the badge, like a pair of counterfeit Levis circa eastern europe 1980's.

The S class never had the quality of the E class for the most part.

[sailor723]

I think the problem with marketing the B class as a Smart is in fact the Smart.  I would be happy to drive a B class with a MB sub brand label  but I would not want to associate it  with that horrid little thing called the Smart. 


When BMW have a FWD 1 series then the new B class, the A3 and the 1=series will be the small end of their respective brands, not necessarily the cheap end but the small economical end.

Fobroader I guess the M-B marketing pixie dust has thoroughly entranced you. 

I agree with you comments about the Smart. I think the original Smart should have been something more along the lines of a Mini, Fiat 500 etc

[johngenx]

The S class never had the quality of the E class for the most part.

W126 S-Class = tank.  Problems like any other MB of the era, but they were overbuilt in so many ways.  The problem was the W124 E-Class was SO good, it defined the luxury sedan market for many years.  It was the "the" car to be seen in.  As quick/fast as a 944, it actually outperformed the S and SL of the time.  As much as I liked the mid 80's 5-series, it looked dated next to the MB.  The E-Class did force BMW to hit a home run with the E34, and the E/5 market was hot.  Expensive, but awesome...

[Fobroader]

MMMMMM......E series Hammer

[huota]

MMMMMM......E series Hammer

You may like this: http://youtu.be/2MzqNn8kJqQ

[Fobroader]

MMMMMM......E series Hammer

You may like this: http://youtu.be/2MzqNn8kJqQ

Awesome video....now those are proper Mercs, AMGs with a volcano/nuclear reactor/angry velociraptor under the hood.....not some cheesy subcompact with a Merc badge glued on!!!

[jpd]

So what to conclude about the B250, promising or not?

[Fobroader]

So what to conclude about the B250, promising or not?

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

So what to conclude about the B250, promising or not?

It's better than the old one. Reliability remains to be seen.

Some people are simply stuck to a certain image of what MB represents. I won't mention any names. 

[johngenx]

I think it's fine for MB to sell a full range of vehicles.  They have a long history of selling cars that ranged from not that far from entry level to truly exotic.

But, there is something about the A/B Class cars I don't like.  FWD.  I don't like transverse engines with FWD.

[Fobroader]

I think it's fine for MB to sell a full range of vehicles.  They have a long history of selling cars that ranged from not that far from entry level to truly exotic.

But, there is something about the A/B Class cars I don't like. FWD.  I don't like transverse engines with FWD.

Yeah...thats why I have no issue with a 135i or an 1 M BMW, they have captured the essence of the car but made it smaller. The B class is not Mercedes in the slightest way at all.

[jpd]

Many thanks Guys, I saw the light! 

[tooscoops]

a little late on this... but i totally agree about cheapening the brand. but i guess you have to move some metal.

working with volvo, I wish i had the v40 here... or some of the cheaper optioned cars they have in euroland available to me. i have to have almost everything full jammed. volvo wants to compete as a luxury or near luxury brand and they think that if they start offering cars in the 20,000's, they'll be laughed at by the MB's and BMW's of the world...

yet we still have the c30...

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I think it's fine for MB to sell a full range of vehicles.  They have a long history of selling cars that ranged from not that far from entry level to truly exotic.

But, there is something about the A/B Class cars I don't like. FWD.  I don't like transverse engines with FWD.

Yeah...thats why I have no issue with a 135i or an 1 M BMW, they have captured the essence of the car but made it smaller. The B class is not Mercedes in the slightest way at all.

The next 1 series is FWD. The A3 is FWD, Lexus CT200h, Acura ILX. MB has seen the writing on the wall. Fuel economy standards are tightening and it's going to hit anyone who doesn't comply pretty hard.

[johngenx]

And I wouldn't really want any of those cars.  I haven't owned a FWD car (the missus has) since 1992.  I don't see ever doing so.  AWD or RWD, thanks.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

And I wouldn't really want any of those cars.  I haven't owned a FWD car (the missus has) since 1992.  I don't see ever doing so.  AWD or RWD, thanks.

I understand. In the grand scheme of things though, you're pretty exceptional.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1043671_80-percent-of-bmw-1-series-owners-think-their-car-is-front-wheel-drive

[Fobroader]

I think it's fine for MB to sell a full range of vehicles.  They have a long history of selling cars that ranged from not that far from entry level to truly exotic.

But, there is something about the A/B Class cars I don't like. FWD.  I don't like transverse engines with FWD.

Yeah...thats why I have no issue with a 135i or an 1 M BMW, they have captured the essence of the car but made it smaller. The B class is not Mercedes in the slightest way at all.

The next 1 series is FWD. The A3 is FWD, Lexus CT200h, Acura ILX. MB has seen the writing on the wall. Fuel economy standards are tightening and it's going to hit anyone who doesn't comply pretty hard.

Yet none of those cars would be the ones Id ever touch out of any of their manufacturers lineups. I think the Altima was my last front wheel drive car, it just solidified for me what a comprimised platform FWD is. I will never own a FWD again, it just doesnt do anything all that well and if I go to buy a premium brand, BMW/Merc......., a fwd subcompact just does not make sense.