New A/B Class in U.S.

[wblynch]

Does anyone know how the B will compare to the Volvo S-40 ?

I'm thinking of going small for my next commuter.

Thanks for any advice.

[jrct9454]

The B will be about the same price, noticeably more room inside, better fuel consumption. Performance on most models about the same - the T5 versions of the Volvo will be faster, of course, depending on whether the B200 Turbo gets offered here in the US.

I'd take the B because of its roomier interior and better cargo space. I find the S40 / V50 to be too tight for our needs, especially in the back seat.

[wblynch]

Thanks for the repsonse. I can't wait to see the new B.

I've found the S40/V50 to actually be pricier than I thought it should be. It bumps into S60 pricing very quickly.

I'm hoping the B-class can remain in the low 20's.

[amb9800]

Here you go (B-Class) :

[Phillip711]

from the hood part, sorta looks like a PT Crusier. = \

[wblynch]

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Unfortunately it looks a little too much like a joke car for me. For a Mercedes and at that price it should look like a real car.

I think a Scion Xa might be a better choice. Yeah, the Scion is even uglier but it's less than half the price. (it has an excuse for being ugly).

Sorry Mercedes, I don't think a B-Class will become my next commuter car.

[Vos]

If it is for commuting only wouldn't the C-class sport be in your price range?

[amb9800]

Originally Posted by Vos

If it is for commuting only wouldn't the C-class sport be in your price range?

Yeah -- but if you're interested in a C-coupe, you might want to get one soon - MB's replacing it with the B-Class in the US.

[wblynch]

By C-class Sport I assume he meant the sedan.

My thought about a commuter was to get the higher fuel mileage. I know my friend with the 6-speed C-230 Sedan gets over 30 mpg in his but cool cars are starting to arrive that will deliver over 40 mpg.

I thought something like the B-Class would be cool like that but I really don't have time to drive an ugly car.

I'll wait and see what the real B-Class looks like before deciding whether I like it or not but the Volvo S-40 is moving up my list.

[amb9800]

Originally Posted by wblynch

By C-class Sport I assume he meant the sedan.

Well, the C-Class model that corresponds to the B-Class is the C-Sportcoupe. When the B arrives in the US, it will replace the coupe.

Originally Posted by wblynch

My thought about a commuter was to get the higher fuel mileage. I know my friend with the 6-speed C-230 Sedan gets over 30 mpg in his but cool cars are starting to arrive that will deliver over 40 mpg.

Well it really depends on what you need. If you need something that'll carry a few people at most and get you around reasonably quickly with good gas mileage and more importantly, a low price, then Scion's lineup is a good place to start IMO. The xA is pretty small -- xB is boxy but has a lot more room inside than you'd expect. xA and xB are a bit underpowered though, so you could go for the tC, which is $16k and has just as many, if not more, features as luxury coupes that go for more than twice the price. It's pretty quick and gets good gas mileage. Yes, you could go for something more fuel efficient, but that would be pointless because the higher purchase price would vastly outweigh any fuel savings.

Gas-electric hybrids have a bunch of issues -- cost, weight, etc. -- that make them impractical for use as a cheap commuter car to throw around. Diesels are quite attractive, are very efficient (the E320 CDI gets 27/37 -- amazing for a big car like that), and put out a lot of torque (369 lb-ft in the E320 CDI), but unfortunately, they are far from widespread in the US thus far.