It did yesterday, under the picture. They must have wised up.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I saw a B series mercedes yesterday, i looked like a POS kia, or something, I hated it. I wish mercedes would go back to building "good" cars.

Im in canada so I guess we can get "B" series cars here.

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1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

Yes, Mercedes imports the B-series into Canada, but not the US. I have seen some 'unusual' Mercedes models here, but that's because I live near DC and they've all had diplomatic plates.

I suspect MBUSA wants to maintain the image of M-B as a 'luxury' car, so they won't import anything smaller than the C-series. And even the C-series, I'll bet, they import only because BMW imports the 3-series. My local M-B dealer doesn't even have a C-series on the showroom floor; only an E, S, SLK, SUV (whatever series those disgusting models are), a McLaren and a Maybach.

Say what you will about Bush, Big Oil, the Big Three, the EPA, the NHSA, etc. The fact remains that the American public as a whole just isn't clamoring for these highly efficient vehicles. With the state of the auto industry, if a manufacturer thought they could make money producing them (i.e. the public would be standing in line, deposit checks in hand, ready to drive one off the lot) they'd be all over it.

The blame gets laid at the feet of the usual suspects, but the fact remains that the demand just is not there.

And this comes from a 6'3", 270+/- person who has a strange fascination with micro cars. While not as efficient as these significantly more technologically advanced ones, an Astin Mini (preferably a Cooper) is on my "Will Purchase" list.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

The demand seems to be growing though. Younger buyers seem to prefer the smaller cars. (I know I do)

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

just imagined getting t-boned by a w126 in that that thing, now tell me if 40 mpg is worth it

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82' 300SD

I wouldn't exactly say it is fact - maybe just your opinion based upon your individual experience and observations. Simply calling something a fact does not make it so.
On the other hand, the MSNBC article cites the results of a scientific poll as evidence to support the stance of the article... (see attached)

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Autos:
1991 350SD 276,000 miles
2001 VW Beetle TDI 115,000 miles

Horns:
1955 Selmer Mark VI Alto (55,xxx)
1958 Selmer Mark VI Tenor (85,xxx)
1964 Selmer Mark VI Tenor (125,xxx)
1967 King Super-20 Tenor (430,xxx)
2002 Selmer Series III Soprano

For Jazz Saxophone enthusiasts - check out my website...
www.RustyBlevins.com

They don't have to build them small and slow to get 40mpg. In fact they don't even have to be a diesel. In fact 40mpg sucks if they do it right.
Don't believe me, check out the links in my sig. Oh yeah and it would only take 40 years to get completely off oil.

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1999 E300DT (131,800) 154,000 Black on Black SOLD

2006 CLK 500 coupe Capri Blue on Grey (zoom,zoom)
47,000mi

04 VW TDI Passat 80,000mi
(Techno)

How to eliminate oil dependency through market-driven approaches.
“We could cut oil use in half by 2025, and by 2040, oil use could be zero,”
The Sound of Diesel Speed
Ode to MB

Well, if MSNBC cites a CSI poll it must be true! I 'spose I should have left "the fact remains" out of it altogether.

However thinking that Americans should have access to them and actually buying them aren't exactly the same thing.

Toyota Prius' are now offered with factory and dealer rebates and incentives. Two gimmicks used by manufacturers to bolster otherwise slow sales. If anyone can make the hydrid car work and sell them, Honda can. I'm not sure if they are still making the Insight or not. They sure aren't promoting them if they are.

Sales of vehicles by the Big Three are, charitably, less than blistering. If there was demand, they'd be jumping over each other trying to make one.

I understand your point but maybe I didn't get POV across as well as I could have. I'm all for more efficient, higher mileage vehicles. Heck, I don't even mind small ones. I have no problem with any of them at all. I hope there are more of them. I won't be standing in line to buy one, though.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

The Insight was killed for the 2007 model year. I'm sure that they have decided to use the hybrid technology to get better performance rather than better fuel economy. That would explain a hybrid v6 accord.

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Chris

82 300SD

No problem - I only mention it because the word 'fact' is used quite a bit too liberally these days. That is one of Wild Bill O'Reilly's tactics on FoxNews - all he has to do is say, "The fact is... blah, blah, blah..." and the lemming viewers burn it into their brains as FACT and start their right-wing preaching.

I don't think that MSNBC has much credibility, either. After all they are the ones who published the headline story that says diesel powered vehicles are the absolute worst polluters on our streets - see the thread about it I started here - so naturally I take everything that comes from a corporate news source with a pound of salt.

I do believe that if more of these cars were available to the American public, we would see many more on the streets - and we would see them less often at the pump, and therein lies the problem. These cars are being restricted from our market because it would interfere with the oil companies' quarter-after-quarter record profits.

On the streets here in Las Vegas (I say that because that is my environment - I cannot speak for the nation as a whole) I see a minimum of 20 Prius'es per day oalong with lots of other Hybrids - Lexus'es, Hondas... heck there are even Prius taxis here in town. So if I were to base my opinion upon what I see everyday, I would say there IS obviously a huge demand for these fuel-efficient vehicles. And thus if there were many more available at the local dealerships, there would be many more on the streets.

And if they eliminated that stupid tax loophole that allows Realtors (anyone who is self-employed; Realtors are just among the most offensive of them) to buy Hummers and Range Rovers and write the whole damn thing off their taxes, I feel pretty confident we would see fewer of them on the streets, too.

__________________
Autos:
1991 350SD 276,000 miles
2001 VW Beetle TDI 115,000 miles

Horns:
1955 Selmer Mark VI Alto (55,xxx)
1958 Selmer Mark VI Tenor (85,xxx)
1964 Selmer Mark VI Tenor (125,xxx)
1967 King Super-20 Tenor (430,xxx)
2002 Selmer Series III Soprano

For Jazz Saxophone enthusiasts - check out my website...
www.RustyBlevins.com

The 84 Honda CRX HF was rated at 67 mph on the highway. That was 20+ years ago. I wonder what kind of mileage could be achieved in a similiar car with a modern engine if built today.

I saw my first Smart Car on the road this past week. It had Canadian tags and was buzzing down I-95 in Florida at about 75 mph. They are supposed to start importing them to the US next year. Unfortunately, our gasoline usage is expected to be around 40 mpg........ I'm really disappointed. Something that small should get at least 60 mpg.

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1983 300SD "Helga"

If I comment further, I may start a nasty debate, or get censored.......

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG