Mercedes-Benz B, 2014, Nokia

Note: The vehicle is owned by a finance company. Huutokaupat.com handles the money transfers and registrations, so there may be a longer than usual delay when registering the car.

For sale: a Mercedes-Benz B 200 NGT with just over 300,000 km — a sensible German choice that runs on gas and petrol. This example was originally a proper German taxi before it came to Finland, so the kilometres weren’t accumulated standing in a dealership car park but on the autobahn and in everyday service. In other words: built to be driven, not kept as a showpiece.

This is a B‑class Merc, compact outside but surprisingly spacious inside. There’s plenty of room for passengers, luggage, shopping, child seats, a dog, or whatever load the situation requires — including a mother‑in‑law. The boot is rather practical. Don’t put both pushchairs and a mother‑in‑law in there at the same time; one of them can sit on the rear seat.

The driving position is comfortably upright. This isn’t a low‑slung sports bucket you need a physiotherapist to get out of. A slightly higher seating position makes it easier to see traffic and avoids guessing the surroundings from the height of the exhaust of the car ahead. Practicality without having to buy a full‑size SUV just to see over the hedges.

The engine is the B 200 NGT — a factory gas car. You can drive on gas, and petrol is available as a backup so your trip doesn’t end at the first missing gas station. Driving to Lapland on petrol isn’t sensible unless you live there. I don’t know anything about gas stations in Lapland, and please don’t try to fill the car with barbecue gas.

Fuel consumption is reasonable, and driving on gas is still a pleasant change from watching petrol bills.

With just over 300,000 km on the clock, consider that more of a feather in this car’s cap than a criminal record. The car has seen life but doesn’t look like it has given up. The interior is tidy for the mileage, the leather seats are intact and overall condition is decent. Of course this is not a new car and it’s not sold as one — signs of use are present, but the general appearance remains acceptable.

Equipment includes, among other things:

* automatic gearbox

* leather interior

* air conditioning

* cruise control/speed limiter

* multifunction steering wheel

* central display

* heated seats

* spacious boot

* extra front lights, because it always gets dark surprisingly early in Finland

* automatic wipers

* Bluetooth

* ISOFIX anchors at the rear

* folding rear seats

* a very cool red fuel flap!

A week ago on Saturday it snowed, so the car currently has studded winter tyres fitted. The nicer alloy wheels with summer tyres are waiting quietly so they don’t wear out too much. Finland’s summers are famously short and usually low on snow, so their season is a scarce natural resource anyway.

The car is ideal as a daily driver, for commuting, as a second family car, or for a buyer who values space, economical running costs and a car that already has a story to tell. This is not a showroom jewel, but an honest Merc made to get people and cargo to their destination.

First registered in Finland: 8 August 2017

The vehicle must be collected within 7 days of the auction closing unless otherwise agreed – Huutokaupat.com.