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is not · Nov 27, 2008, 02:14 PM

Over past few years, we’ve heard at least a half dozen stories and reports on the possibility of bring the A and B-Class to the States. We’ve even seen spy shots of the B-Class in the desert, but nothing really happened. Mercedes execs are at it again. Stephen Cannon, Vice President of Marketing at Mercedes Benz USA, stated that they are currently deciding if they should offer the successors to the A and B-Class in the US, as they are seeing and feeling a trend towards smaller cars. A final decision has not yet been made, but it is said that if one is made shortly, models could start rolling in as early as 2012.
Their goal is not only to start selling smaller vehicles in the US, but also to offer small engine sizes, mainly 4-cylinders. They also want to start offering Diesel engines for almost all classes.

turtle777 · Nov 27, 2008, 02:19 PM

The A class will be discontinued in 2011 anyways. The successor is going to be the B class. I guess Mercedes might wan to wait to introduce that newly revamped B class.

-t

imitchellg5 · Nov 27, 2008, 02:46 PM

I doubt anything from Stuttgart with the shape of the A or B class would do well here.

angelmb · Nov 27, 2008, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

I doubt anything from Stuttgart with the shape of the A or B class would do well here.

Besides making America's roads cool again?

Besides making evident how shitty a vw rabbit is?

Besides giving you the chance to get the cleanest Diesel engines of the world on such a compact three pointed star car?

Yeah, I doubt they would do well on that side of the pond.

imitchellg5 · Nov 27, 2008, 05:42 PM

Exactly. Although I like the ~~Golf~~ Rabbit.

Phileas · Nov 27, 2008, 07:21 PM

The B-Class is doing extremely well in ~~Canada~~ Toronto. We see a lot of them around and nearly bought one ourselves. Great little city car.

EmmEff · Nov 27, 2008, 10:11 PM

Isn't the B-class what you buy when you can't really afford a Mercedes but want to name drop?

Phileas · Nov 27, 2008, 10:20 PM

Have you ever driven one?

EmmEff · Nov 27, 2008, 10:23 PM

I have absolutely no interest in driving one... it's not a car I would ever consider buying. I would drive a real Mercedes any day.

Phileas · Nov 27, 2008, 10:49 PM

But you're ready to have an opinion about the people who choose to drive one. Considering you haven't driven the car, what are you basing that judgment on?

I've driven a bunch of Mercs, mainly classics. A 1968 190 in Havana brown, then a 1976 230. Red, white interior. The B-Class is a great city car, small, agile, well build and designed. Writing it off because it's somehow not a 'real' Merc, while at the same time admitting you've never driven one, sounds strange to me.

angelmb · Nov 28, 2008, 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by EmmEff

Isn't the B-class what you buy when you can't really afford a Mercedes but want to name drop?

You tell me.

Paco500 · Nov 28, 2008, 06:28 AM

I've never driven, or even been in a B so I can comment, but I don't see the A class doing very well in the states. I don't really understand how it has a market in the UK. I rented one for a few weeks and it really didn't have anything desirable about it beyond some funky styling. There are much better small cars that cost less. By which I mean drive better, get better mileage, are better equipped, offer a more spacious, comfortable cabin with the same or smaller exterior, etc. .If they offered it in the states, I imagine quite a few would be bought for the novelty, but I don'e see it sustaining.

It wasn't a bad car, it was just a so-so car that carries a premium price.

Spheric Harlot · Nov 28, 2008, 07:32 AM

The second-generation A-Class is much better re-design than the first.

Not as prone to idiotic defects, either.

badidea · 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by Phileas

Have you ever driven one?

I have driven both the latest A- and B-Class and even though I did like the new B-Class a lot when it was introduced and seriously thought about buying one, I now do not want to have either one of them!
For a Benz they feel (and look) pretty cheap!
They are slow and underpowered!
They need more gas than you would think!

They're like a Ford (<- Europe Ford) with a Mercedes star on the front!

(at least that's what those models were like which I got from the car rental company)

The C-Class is completely different and a real Benz though!!!

Face Ache · Nov 28, 2008, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by angelmb

Besides making America's roads cool again?

Besides making evident how shitty a vw rabbit is?

2008 CNN - Top Sporty Car (GTI/R32)
2008 Drive - Best Sports Car Under $60k AUS (GTI)
2008 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award (GTI)
2008 Consumer Reports - Top Hatchback (Golf/Rabbit)
2008 Car and Driver - Top Ten Urban Vehicle (Golf/Rabbit)
2008 Automobile Magazine - Among All Stars (GTI)
2008 Car and Driver - Among Ten Best of the Year (GTI)
2007 Car and Driver - Among Ten Best of the Year (GTI)
2007 Automobile Magazine - Car of the Year (GTI)
2006 Drive - Best Performance Car under $60k AUS (GTI)
2006 Australia's Best Cars - Best Sports Car (GTI)
2005 Australia's Best Cars - Best Sports Car (GTI)
2005 Auto Express - Best Hot Hatch (GTI)
2005 Auto Express - Best Sporting Car (GTI)
2004 WhatCar? Car of the Year
2004 WhatCar? Best Small Family Car
2004 Winner - AutoExpress New Car Honours
2004 Fifth Gear - Car of the Year (GTI)
2004 BBC Top Gear - Car of the Year (GTI)

Just sayin'

EmmEff · Nov 28, 2008, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by badidea

For a Benz the they feel (and look) pretty cheap!

My point exactly.

They are slow and underpowered!

Aren't all 4-cyl MBs? The C-class 4 cyls never got good ratings.

They need more gas than you would think!

The C-Class is completely different and a real Benz though!!!

Agree completely!

red rocket · Nov 28, 2008, 09:47 AM

I have to admit, I abhor Mercedes’ naming conventions. Logically, the A-Class should be the high end Merc product range, with models getting progressively smaller towards Z-Class. Drives me crazy.

So now they’re going to retire the A-Class, and replace it with the B-Class? Cheese, I wonder what they’ll do when it’s time to retire the B-Class. They can’t replace it with the C-Class unless they retire the latter and move it up to ‘D’. Just makes no fricking sense. Their whole naming policy gets an ‘F’ from me.

turtle777 · Nov 28, 2008, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by red rocket

I have to admit, I abhor Mercedes’ naming conventions. Logically, the A-Class should be the high end Merc product range, with models getting progressively smaller towards Z-Class. Drives me crazy.

So now they’re going to retire the A-Class, and replace it with the B-Class? Cheese, I wonder what they’ll do when it’s time to retire the B-Class. They can’t replace it with the C-Class unless they retire the latter and move it up to ‘D’. Just makes no fricking sense. Their whole naming policy gets an ‘F’ from me.

Absolutely awesome.

Seriously, that kind a stuff should be posted somewhere on the intarwebs.

Oh wait, it was. Nevermind then.

-t

angelmb · Nov 28, 2008, 11:59 AM

** a bunch of top ten / best… **
Just sayin'

Oh yes, the media… which is driven by ads… the only field where the VAG truly excels

Besides that, my guess is the Golf/Rabbit lacks there (AUS/USA) the true competition it gets here in Europe. No way the GTI would earn such best performance/sports car title where cars like the Renault Clio RS would demolish it.

I have to admit, I abhor Mercedes’ naming conventions. Logically, the A-Class should be the high end Merc product range…

Tell that to the ISO A sizes and Audi's range of cars

imitchellg5 · Nov 28, 2008, 07:10 PM

Actually, in its class here, the GTI is nearly the worst on paper. It's heaviest and second slowest to 60 mph (ahead of the Civic Si). It's a blast to drive though and quite comfortable for the money. And no American would buy a Renault Clio. The French aren't looked upon nicely.