2008 Mercedes B Class: American Introduction Delayed?

Mercedes has long looked at the entire U.S. auto market as fair game, meaning it is not just a place where it can sell luxury vehicles, but a place to market “low budget” vehicles too. Unknown to some American motorists, the Mercedes name is much broader than simply being a luxury make. Like its German rival, Volkswagen, Mercedes sells cars in Europe that compete directly against the Golf as well as against the luxurious VW Phaeton. Still, introducing a “budget Benz” to America is a psychological hurdle that parent DaimlerChrysler is delaying making a commitment to. Let’s take a look at the proposed B Class and the reasons why the model not make it to the U.S. anytime soon. For starters, the proposed B Class is based upon Mercedes A Class line of cars. Okay, that tells you a lot! In short, the A Class is a true line of compact cars that are popular in Europe. If you were to give serious consideration to purchasing a Volkswagen Golf you would consider the A Class to be its logical competitor. A slightly larger model, the B Class, makes better use of engine placement and design to produce a car that isn’t much larger than the A Class on the outside, but is almost as roomy as the S Class is on the inside [when configured as a wagon]. Beyond all of that, the B Class will be built with Mercedes’ electronic stability program and come equipped with more standard features of any car in its class. Basically, the B Class would be about the size of a Rabbit with all the typical Mercedes gadgets and trim that Mercedes owners prefer. So, if the B Class were to sell in the U.S., most models would likely retail for around $25,000, which is well above the price of a fully loaded Golf. Published reports via automotive sites and blogs are indicating that the car may not make it to the U.S. due to several concerns. These include: Cost factor. Mercedes lost plenty of money in 2005 and the company is doing all it can to return to profitability as soon as possible. Preparing any car for the U.S. market takes time and costs money; DaimlerChrysler is loathe to expend money on a project that may not be profitable at the start. Consumer perception. A very strong psychological aspect must be overcome first and that is consumer perception. While the Mercedes name adorns a variety of vehicle levels in Europe the name is perceived as “pure luxury” in the U.S. Mercedes remembers Cadillac’s attempt in the past to produce a budget Caddy [remember the Cimarron?] and how those attempts failed miserably. BMW. BMW is also considering importing a budget model, the “1 Series.” Expect Mercedes to get serious about the B Class if BMW imports the 1 Series. Presently, only the sedan and wagon would be imported to the U.S. and any hatch versions would stay in Europe. With available diesel power, the B Class might thrive as customers gravitate to a car capable of cracking 40 miles to the gallon. Introducing the B Class to the American market is a risky proposition, but what is there about selling cars that isn’t?

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Mercedes: Just How Low Should It Go?

Back during the 1980s when Mercedes introduced its first “baby” Mercedes, the car was received with mixed reviews. Motorists loved the car, now a “C” series model, as it made a Mercedes automobile affordable for the middle class. On the other hand, critics worried that the esteemed Mercedes-Benz name would suffer as a car touching the price level of many ordinary American models would soon become part of the line up. Today, even smaller Mercedes are planned for the US market. Will this be a huge mistake for the German automaker or is Mercedes incorporating smart thinking? To the surprise of many Americans, the Mercedes brand isn’t as pompous or pretentious in Europe as it is in the U.S. Crafty Mercedes-Benz marketing over the years has presented an image of Mercedes as being an ultra-luxury automobile line, a truly superb benchmark from which all other cars are measured. In some respects this image is true, but in reality Mercedes goes well beyond such a narrow definition. In the European market, Mercedes is known for producing these same high quality luxury cars, but also for producing vehicles that are much more attainable for the masses. Even right now Mercedes sells four models in Europe that are uncharacteristically Mercedes type vehicles, at least for the American market: Viano – A minivan of sorts, the vehicle can hold as many as eight people and is powered by either a pair of inline four cylinder engines or a 3.5L I6. Vaneo – A compact van with seating for as many as seven adults. The Vaneo features a sloping roof that quickly drops off to a rear hatch. Powered by 1.6L or 1.9L I4 gasoline engines or a 1.7L diesel. B Series – Mercedes’ answer to the Volkswagen Golf is its own “B” Series of automobiles. This five door hatchback, which also looks a lot like a Toyota Matrix, comes with six engine choices: four gas engines starting with a 1.5L I4 up to a 2.0L turbocharged four, and two diesels. A Series – Even smaller than the “B” Series is the “A” Series, three or five door hatchback models about the size of a Toyota Echo. That’s right, a teeny tiny Mercedes! The same six engines offered with the “B” Series are offered in the “A” Series plus one additional diesel for a total of seven engine choices! Prices for the “A” Series starts around $23,000 when current British to American currency exchange figures are factored in to nearly $29,500 for the “B” Series. The Vaneo and Viano would sell at around $25,550 and $39,800 respectively if today’s European prices were carried over to the U.S. So, what does Mercedes have in mind? They are hoping to introduce the “B” Series to the U.S. market by 2007. Is this a wise decision? In my opinion it has worked well in Europe, however it would be better for Mercedes to create a new make of cars to include the “B” Series. Much like Toyota has spun off both Lexus and Scion, Mercedes would be better served by creating a separate “down market” brand in order to uphold the Mercedes name. No, there isn’t anything shameful about any of these small vehicles – in fact, they are a wise idea – however, decades of marketing in the U.S. can certainly be undone overnight by the introduction of any vehicle smaller than the “C” Series to the Mercedes line up. No car as small as the “B” Series would wear a Lexus nameplate, so why should a car of this type wear the Mercedes moniker? As I said, this is just my opinion. What are your thoughts?

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You Can Select A Quality Car Cover

Maybe the thought of owning a car cover sounds a bit ridiculous to you. After all, you typically keep your car garaged, right? Besides, who wants to have an ugly tarp draped over a car anyway? Not you! Car covers serve a purpose even for the person who keeps their vehicle sheltered most of the time. Let’s examine the benefits of owning a car cover and how you can go about selecting one that is right for your car. Keeps the bird poop at bay If you leave your car outside, there is a nemesis that takes aim at your car...birds! Yes, birds are all right, but their excrement is not. If you don’t wash it off right away, your car’s finish can be damaged. Some bird poop is so damaging that even a buff and wax job won’t completely restore the finish. A car cover will catch the poop before it does permanent damage. Better than sun block While we humans can slap on sun block, no finish can completely do the work of protecting your car. Better to have your car covered over instead of exposed to the sun’s damaging rays. Not so shady So, you think keeping your car out of the sun by parking under trees will help, do you? Not so fast! Whereas most sun rays may not get through, your tree loves to drop sap, buds, leaves, sticks, and branches...right on top of your car. Some car covers are thick enough to help your car resist those small branches that fall from time to time and take aim at your car! Who goes there? Funny isn’t it when you own a nice car everyone likes to peer inside to check it out. Leaning and rubbing up against the car’s body can scratch the finish in no time. Besides, do you really want everyone gawking at your car’s expensive audio system? I don’t think so! Rain, rain go away Some car covers offer top protection by keeping rain, snow, ice, mud, dirt, and dust away. Yes, even if you park your car in the garage, dirt, dust, and indoor pollution can take their toll. Follow the bouncing ball Your neighbor kid loves to whack his soccer ball around...too bad that it takes dead aim at your car. A quality car cover can withstand small “insults” that can scratch or dent the body. So, how do you select a car cover? Well, for starters what do you want from a cover? Some covers offer minimum protection and will absorb bird poop, tree sap, and diminish the sun’s rays, but not much more. On the other hand, certain car covers made of four layered breathing material offer the most protection. Even better are those heavy duty car covers that come with side mirror pockets. Why are they a good idea? Well, they offer a snug fit and are crafted with the exact make/model of your vehicle in mind. No worrying that your car cover will work loose because it isn’t fitted properly. Yes, a car cover can be a great idea even for the garaged vehicle. The whole goal of owning a car cover is to protect your vehicle’s finish and then some. Not all car covers are alike, so do some comparison shopping for the one that is best for your car. Oh, by the way, there is no “one size fits all” car cover [you want one custom sized to your vehicle's dimensions]. If someone tries to sell you one, you would do better to run to your home supply store and findng a tarp for your vehicle!

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Mercedes-Benz® parts in the Aftermarket

Traditionally, finding a source for OEM and aftermarket Mercedes parts meant having to live in or close to a large city like Los Angeles, and flipping through the phonebook to find a licensed Mercedes parts dealer. However, the power of the internet allows for the luxury of finding Mercedes parts and accessories from the comfort of your own home. Whether you are shopping for Mercedes accessories to upgrade your interior or exterior, or repair parts to replace your Mercedes wheels or those squeaky brakes, finding your parts is no longer like pulling teeth! Online Mercedes parts distributors tend to carry an impressive line of quality manufacturers, including Genuine Mercedes-Benz, Bosch, MP Design, Bilstein, GAP, Schatz, and H&R to name a few, so finding quality Mercedes accessories is never difficult. Mercedes interior accessories come from a number of high quality designers. MP Design is known for its classy Mercedes interior accessories such as front seat adjustment covers, pillar covers and front door speaker covers. Genuine Mercedes-Benz, Lloyd, and Husky, each carry a line of high quality Mercedes floor mats. As for exterior accessories, Schatz is known for its quality bumper grilles and spoilers. Genuine Mercedes-Benz and Coverking both carry a line of high quality Mercedes Car Covers. Genuine Mercedes-Benz offers that OEM look and feel whereas Coverking is known for it's its high level of customization. Expression and Lorinser both have an entire line of Mercedes Body Kits to take your Mercedes experience to a new level. Finding replacement Mercedes-Benz parts can seem effortless thanks to the numerous Mercedes parts manufacturers like Bilstein, Bosch, and Hella. Likewise, Genuine Mercedes-Benz manufactures a number of OEM Mercedes-Benz parts. Whether you're shopping for Mercedes-Benz wheels or Mercedes wheel spacers, AMG, Lorinser, and Genuine Mercedes-Benz each carry a line of quality Mercedes-Benz wheels and wheel spacers. While shopping for Mercedes parts online is often confusing given the lack of visual application of the product, companies like Performance Products have online animated Mercedes parts diagrams that make choosing replacement parts a much less daunting task. With parts diagrams you can see how your chosen Mercedes engine part fits into your Mercedes engine, or how your chosen Mercedes brake pad fits up against your rotor. Parts diagrams take some of the uneasiness out of shopping for parts shopping by providing the visual comfort generally associated with a brick and mortar store.

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