Merc B class

[macron]

I'm pretty sure there's a meme somewhere about this being the answer to a question no one has ever asked.

Still, kiddo2 needs a city car, no SUV, needs decent size boot hence more MPV than up high/ 5 seats/ modest to good comfort. Post 20XX will all be ULEZ I'm sure. ETA looking at 66/67 I'd think, pre 2019 facelift for sure.

Approx 10 mins on the tube suggests the small BMW MPV was better thought of, but the seats are apparently "sketchy", which is apparently modern parlance for "not acceptable".

Is the B any good? Looks like a 1.6 petrol is a good all rounder on Sport trim to keep a pale headlining, as opposed to the AMG pretends which are all really dark.

Or take the BMW, or anything else box-like but not crap worth a look?

Edited by macron on Friday 31st May 21:30

[edc]

I had a W246 B class. Perfectly competent but unexciting. Decent internal space and the boot is a good size and shape. Not the best ride and handling but not exactly tested in a city environment.

For the use you describe I'd see if you can get a plug in hybrid or even electric car.

[Rayny]

If you are thinking of the BMW X1, there seem to be a number of seat options. Try them to see how suitable they are. Run flat tyres can make the seats feel less comfortable than they are.

[ACCYSTAN]

You have made the right call to avoid the original shape B class, like the A class of that age it has a good size list of expensive common issues

[biggbn]

Apropos nothing, I had a three door w169 Merc A class and it was one of the few Mercedes I truly loved owning. Absolutely vast for its footprint. I'd love to find a 200 turbo version!!

[macron]

edc said:

For the use you describe I'd see if you can get a plug in hybrid or even electric car.

Lives in a flat with no parking at all, so convention for now unfortunately.

Rayny said:

If you are thinking of the BMW X1, there seem to be a number of seat options. Try them to see how suitable they are. Run flat tyres can make the seats feel less comfortable than they are.

2 series Active Tourer I'm told. Apparently they do a 225i but there are 3 for sale nationally so probably not one of them. Not the SUV X series.

ETA so it would be a W246 shape apparently, Christ they make models and choices odd, early ones seemingly can be well equipped, eg here's one with memory seats which rather implies electric (and heated).leather

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024051095...

Can't find any others with those seats, none after the mini facelift at an unknown time in the UK where most of them got different lights and not much more from what I can see. Can find several without heated seats (whut!?), and the silly picnic tables on the back seats seem to have been an option as they're certainly not consistent. Typical Merc!

Edited by macron on Saturday 1st June 09:27

[Kayess5]

It’s a good first car as it is quite robust although it does not go fast at all. I used to have a B160 Auto and whilst it’s a “Merc”, it’s utterly dull to drive! I have had a string of dull cars - A160, B160, Yaris so you can say I used to have a thing for these 😂
Servicing is expensive so find an good independent!

[ZX10R NIN]

macron said:

I'm pretty sure there's a meme somewhere about this being the answer to a question no one has ever asked.

Still, kiddo2 needs a city car, no SUV, needs decent size boot hence more MPV than up high/ 5 seats/ modest to good comfort. Post 20XX will all be ULEZ I'm sure. ETA looking at 66/67 I'd think, pre 2019 facelift for sure.

Approx 10 mins on the tube suggests the small BMW MPV was better thought of, but the seats are apparently "sketchy", which is apparently modern parlance for "not acceptable".

Is the B any good? Looks like a 1.6 petrol is a good all rounder on Sport trim to keep a pale headlining, as opposed to the AMG pretends which are all really dark.

Or take the BMW, or anything else box-like but not crap worth a look?

Edited by macron on Friday 31st May 21:30

Infiniti Q30:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308301...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311013...

The 1.5T C Max is a great option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404138...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405209...

As is the Niro in 4 Spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405300...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404038...

[macron]

Niro is a good shout, not sure if the headrests are as weirdly angled down as other Kia's, will have to find one. The Sportage was rejected on that basis (tall people find they can't lean back on them, not as bad as Volvo's but still something that shouldn't be an issue but just is).

Infiniti just so rare now compared to the MB they're hard to find to check, and specs seem variable. Lots of fancy names for not that much. The build on the Ford perhaps not quite do good as the MB though they are plentiful and good VFM.

Have to say even Iike the look of the 225i, 0-60 claimed in 6.3, it's like a spiritual successor to the Zafira VXR

[ZX10R NIN]

Astra GTC Limited Edition, these have huge boots & are a decent place to be & good VFM:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403127...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404198...

1.5T Cupra Formentor:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405219...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405270...

Ateca FR Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405310...

The Infiniti in Premium spec is the pick at your price point, unless a 2.0t can be insured for sensible money.

[edc]

2013 B class will be pretty dated these days for screen and tech. Aftermarket easily done for something more modern.

[macron]

edc said:

2013 B class will be pretty dated these days for screen and tech. Aftermarket easily done for something more modern.

Appreciate that, think it would be a facelift which wasn't too long post their delivery, which in true Merc style seemed to involve taking things out but charging more

Good shout on the GTC ZX- thanks, will take more of a look. The Infiniti's are of course cracking VFM, but finding one is hard for us mere mortals, many of the others are more plentiful.

Perhaps not surprised there's no intel on the BMW, odd looking little things, but the road tests do praise them. I was half expecting a fanboi to be saying they're great!