Wow! Tell us how you like it. And how did you get it here? Any more pics would be appreciated too.

Nice car, CA B200.

I've driven the European B200 Turbo with the Autotronic (CVT) transmission and it was a pretty quick ride, though it torque steered quite a bit when you hammered it at low speeds.

Since you live in California, can you tell us how people react to seeing your B-Class?

Thanks…

In 2005 I started my search for a new car and stumbled upon an ad for the B only to discover that it was not sold here in the US. MBUSA made it clear to us that they were not going to import the B because at that time it competed with the C in price and that they were going to heavily promote the new and improved C class in the US.

I looked at more than a dozen other cars but this was the one that suit my needs the best. Safety, seating (position and cloth), power (turbo), visibility, interior space, and clear uncluttered controls were some of the things that were on my list. I wasn’t quite sure of the look of it at first but it has grown on me.

It attracts quite a bit of positive attention where ever I go - gender or age makes no difference. I have had offers to buy it from me.

The CVT is so smooth that there is almost no sensation of speed and there is plenty of pick up. It’s remarkable at how much interior space there is for such a small car. It is fun to drive, easy to park.

There is a big difference between cheapo and inexpensive, while the price for the B in Canada has come down it is by no means a cheapo car.

I've seen a couple since I last posted in this thread, both were Canadian plates. And I'm still with Marcus on this one, it doesn't belong in the U.S. market.

Thanks for the insight.

It's a nice car overall. I've driven a lot of them and they're not bad at all. It's not my favorite MB, but they're decent. The B200 Turbo was fun! If you're ever in Europe, try renting a B200 CDI! Now those are wicked!

With rising fuel cost in the US, people are considering more economical options. The problem with the B. Is it really that much better a car than say a Toyota Prius? If MB can sell a B-class with a base price in the mid-upper $20k range, then go for it.

Mercedes has a plant in Brazil. If they could build it there they might be able to do it cost effective enough to attract buyers. Or, badge it as a smart.

If MB could sell this in the US with a diesel engine, I would definately be a buyer.