Topic: Test Drive: 2017 Mercedes-Benz B250 4Matic

[AutoTrader.ca]

B is for box
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[Fobroader]

$43k for an AWD Toyota Matrix with a premium badge...... 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Of course the extra money gets you much worse reliability, so it all evens out. 

[aquadorhj]

i don't know why, but i've always had soft spot for this, even the prev. gen car...

but alas, too expensive.

[Fobroader]

Of course the extra money gets you much worse reliability, so it all evens out. 

Yeah, the guy with the 350,000km Matrix is still getting to work while you in your Matrix Deluxe with Bacon are wondering why if the blind spot detection doesn't work the car won't start lol

[aquadorhj]

Of course the extra money gets you much worse reliability, so it all evens out. 

Yeah, the guy with the 350,000km Matrix is still getting to work while you in your Matrix Deluxe with Bacon are wondering why if the blind spot detection doesn't work the car won't start lol

i think the long-life of cars (even japanese) really depends on the owner.  my ex colleague has 2005 matrix, its a POS, exhaust leaks, engine rattles, automatic on its way out, etc.

everytime i rode in it, i wondered if it would die that day.     i have that same feeling driving my 2001 bimmer, but that's just FGC standard...

[Fobroader]

Thats because the vast majority of Toyota owners think that maintenance is something other car buyers have to do, not them, they bought a Toyota, they just have to fill it with gas...till it dies.

[mlin32]

I've always had a soft spot for the B-Class; I like it. Just built one with Sport and Storage packages, and the moonroof and LEDs (DEL.....you guys have a funny interpretation of français  ) for a bit over 39 k$.

I mean, we don't get its competition on this side of the pond (BMW 2er Active Tourer, VW Golf Plus, Opel Zafira) and the C-max is only a hybrid. MPV are ideal for the average family- practical and functional.

[sailor723]

I like the B class....zippy nimble car for around town and it would make a decent commuter. Lot's of room and the fact it comes with AWD now is just a bonus.

[Fobroader]

I like the B class....zippy nimble car for around town and it would make a decent commuter. Lot's of room and the fact it comes with AWD now is just a bonus.

TAA DAAAAA



All the benefits of the B class, but proper engineering 

[evil_twin]

Is this significantly bigger than a Golf??

If not, hard to justify the as-tested price on this unit over a Golf R....

[OliverD]

I like the B class....zippy nimble car for around town and it would make a decent commuter. Lot's of room and the fact it comes with AWD now is just a bonus.

TAA DAAAAA



All the benefits of the B class, but proper engineering 

A moot point considering it's been out of production for over two years.

[tpl]

Is this significantly bigger than a Golf??

If not, hard to justify the as-tested price on this unit over a Golf R....

Inch here and there bigger.  Bit more back seat room.

[lebowski]

I've always liked the B-class for what it's offered, and this 2nd Gen even more so. The comparisons to the Matrix are ridiculous. $34k for AWD, dual clutch, and 258lbs./ft torque in a stylish mini-MPV? How is that not a good value? If you're that scared of reliability, lease it (which most people will, i'm guessing). It may not have the reliability of the Koreans or Japanese, but until they step up with a similar offering, it's irrelevant. It's like saying the "6" you're dating is far more dependable than the "9" you used to date. Well, duh

[mlin32]

Is this significantly bigger than a Golf??

If not, hard to justify the as-tested price on this unit over a Golf R....

As I mentioned above, the VW equivalent is the Golf Plus- ok now it's called the Sportsvan. The VW starts at 24 k€ in Comfortline but the biggest petrol is just the 1,4 TSI with 150PS.




The standard Golf competes with the A-Klasse.

[Fobroader]

I've always liked the B-class for what it's offered, and this 2nd Gen even more so. The comparisons to the Matrix are ridiculous. $34k for AWD, dual clutch, and 258lbs./ft torque in a stylish mini-MPV? How is that not a good value? If you're that scared of reliability, lease it (which most people will, i'm guessing). It may not have the reliability of the Koreans or Japanese, but until they step up with a similar offering, it's irrelevant. It's like saying the "6" you're dating is far more dependable than the "9" you used to date. Well, duh

whoa whoa whoa...."stylish"..... 

[lebowski]

whoa whoa whoa...."stylish"..... 

  ok, ok, i admit maybe that's a stretch - but the honest and utilitarian design is way more appealing to me than your typical crossover -- it's a practical box, and not afraid for you to know it.

[Fobroader]

whoa whoa whoa...."stylish"..... 

  ok, ok, i admit maybe that's a stretch - but the honest and utilitarian design is way more appealing to me than your typical crossover -- it's a practical box, and not afraid for you to know it.

Yeah, but for $43k for a vehicle with highly questionable reliability, what about a Kia Soul?? Or hell, for $40k+ there are tons of small, awd CUVs that are available to you. I'm one of those snobs that believe a proper Benz has a V8 and is a huge, fast land tank

[lebowski]

Yeah, but for $43k for a vehicle with highly questionable reliability, what about a Kia Soul?? Or hell, for $40k+ there are tons of small, awd CUVs that are available to you. I'm one of those snobs that believe a proper Benz has a V8 and is a huge, fast land tank

^ this is an important point, one on which we both agree and disagree: on the one hand I share the same idea of what a "proper benz" should be, and I also agree that this B250 probably isn't it. But I also think, based on its own merits and irrespective of its badge, the B-class is a helluva lot of car -- maybe not at 41k, but at the aforementioned 34k? You can call it a Trabant and I'd still be interested.

The Kia Forte Turbo doesn't compete. I have a strong suspicion that the second one got behind the wheel of either car, one would see it plain as day. Now, if you don't much see a point to a fast and well-appointed MPV, well, that's another story.

[carcrazed]

Yeah, but for $43k for a vehicle with highly questionable reliability, what about a Kia Soul?? Or hell, for $40k+ there are tons of small, awd CUVs that are available to you. I'm one of those snobs that believe a proper Benz has a V8 and is a huge, fast land tank

^ this is an important point, one on which we both agree and disagree: on the one hand I share the same idea of what a "proper benz" should be, and I also agree that this B250 probably isn't it. But I also think, based on its own merits and irrespective of its badge, the B-class is a helluva lot of car -- maybe not at 41k, but at the aforementioned 34k? You can call it a Trabant and I'd still be interested.

The Kia Forte Turbo doesn't compete. I have a strong suspicion that the second one got behind the wheel of either car, one would see it plain as day. Now, if you don't much see a point to a fast and well-appointed MPV, well, that's another story.

Forester XT? It starts at $34K.