Hi
We're thinking about buying one of the above, lowish spec either petrol or diesel - 3ish years old and low mileage. Will do a mix of short and long runs: probably 30k over 2ish years of ownership.
Will probably buy an ex-Motability car at auction, the manual version though.
Anyone run one of the current models? If so what's good/bad, and what to look out for when buying please?
We don't expect a sports car, but do want decent safety, comfort, reliability and economy.
All thoughts from any current/former owners much appreciated.
Best
Richard
I've had a 2007 A170 Elegance Autotronic from new as a company car and cannot fault it. Spacious, quiet, comfortable — everything a baby Benz should be. Good on petrol, too. 40-ish MPG around the doors, closer to 50 on a long run. The best small car I've owned. I'll miss it when I hand it back later in the Spring.
bit off topic, but I once had a B class with a 1,6 diesel as a hire car
nice enough but horribly underpowered- wouldn't hold 75mph on long motorway hills without going down a gear- very tiring.
Get a test drive to check what engine to go for.
We have a 2008 A150 auto. It has a basic spec, but is lovely to drive around town, very comfortable and relatively economical. Would happily recommend.
Although we got it from the local AD, i bought my C Class from Auotoquake.com. Great way to buy a car and a really good price.
Regards
David
I have a 2006 A200 Elegance. It's a 2034cc petrol, automatic. The only issue I can mention is that there was a recall for the front wheel bearings or something, which need to be checked. There is info on the Merc website. Check any you might be interested in have had this done. The issue is that the bearings fitted in some cars can turn to cheese under acceleration - so not one to leave looking at for another day.
Other than that, it is a super car. The space inside seems bigger than the C-Class ( I looked at both ) and it drives well, with a good view of the road, and with proper weighted steering. I can't stand over-light steering favoured on a lot of Japanese small cars. The interior is nicely done, with all switches of good quality and seat fabrics identical to those of the equivalent year C Class. Not sure why the Merc engineers chose 2034cc instead of 1999cc or something under the 2l tax barrier, but the engine itself is quiet and more than torquey enough to pull the car along at a fair clip. I briefly drove a 1700cc petrol too, and this was just noticeably 'rougher', probably having to try harder I assume. At normal "non Top Gear" speeds, I found it as familiar and reassuring to drive as larger Mercs I've tried ( E class and SL320 ).
TT
Forgot to add, when I was looking for mine I came across some cases on the various car forums where owners had had the front doors rust at the bottom very quickly. Attributed variously to 'bad steel' or some design issue with no drainage in the doors. It wasn't conclusive but I seem to recall that there was a particular model year ( 2005 ? ) that was suspect and a particular factory / region of origin. My 2006 lives outdoors in what is a tropical-ish ( typhoons etc ) climate and has no rust at all, as expected. Might be worth a google.
TT
Thanks all - really useful insights here.
Best
Richard
When my ML goes in for a service I always get a new A-class as a courtesy car .... personally I really dislike them. The handling is awful and the engines gutless. I'm not sure what price range you're looking at, but there are so many cars out there that I would have before I even considered an A class.
Wife has one its great for around town, a mechanic friend of mine has warned that the wishbone on the rear suspension is the only real thing that is common to go and its about £400 to replace.
Just bought myself a 3-door 2006 A200 Elegance Diesel, mainly because my Disco TD5 was just costing me too much in fuel (25mpg), which tipped the balance over it's undoubted abilities in tricky conditions, but we also wanted something a bit smaller (there's just the two of us).Originally Posted by Tokyo Tokei
It's quite a culture shock after the Disco, and not an unpleasant one - suddenly I've stepped into the 21st century! It's certainly much more economical, with well over 50mpg and £125.00 road tax, and it's very spacious and comfortable, quite quick enough (not difficult after the TD5) well built and well equipped. It does however, seems a little noisy inside compared to something like the company S-type, with a fair bit of tyre noise, but again not hugely unpleasant.
As you mentioned laterally, I also noticed the faintest hint of some rust appearing at the bottom of the driver's door in the form of some paint bubbling - it's tiny but hopefully if that becomes a problem then it should be covered by Merc's 30-year corrosion guarantee (?).
Overall, very pleased indeed with the car and looking forward to some longer journeys in it (Scotland here we come) to form more opinion.
I cant find the article but there was a piece written on the A Class and other 'short' cars about the dangers of a 'rear end shunt' Wrote by a traffic policemen but buried by the car manufacturers. Effectively he said that the distance between rear end and the spines of those travelling in the vehicle was just lethal.
That said you can worry about everything so dont be scare mongered just a seed to debate
RIAC
On the other hand, the A Class does better than pretty much any other comparable car in a front-end shunt, due to its unique "sandwich floor" construction (in a collision the engine is pushed under your feet).
So you are saying its better to take it up the front rather than the rearOn the other hand, the A Class does better than pretty much any other comparable car in a front-end shunt, due to its unique "sandwich floor" construction (in a collision the engine is pushed under your feet).
RIAC
In my opinion an A class is nothing like a Mercedes should be. Cheap inside, rubbish build quality, horrible drive and they do have reliability issues once high in milage.
But if you want to say you drive a Mercedes then..
ish
Very true of the W168 (1997-2005). Not true of the W169 (2005 on).
That does read a bit like 'a Mercedes should be... cheap inside, rubbish build quality, horrible drive and they do have reliability issues once high in mileage.'!
No, I'm not a brand snob (and wearing a Seiko 8F to prove it). Be very interested to hear what the basis of your opinion is, since some others on here seem to quite like the A Class, and I was getting quite keen. So have you owned an A Class, or worked on them at a garage or something?
Best
Richard
Nice, restrained response Richard - I bit my tongue and decided not to rise to that rather pompous last remark by speedish!No, I'm not a brand snob (and wearing a Seiko 8F to prove it). Be very interested to hear what the basis of your opinion is, since some others on here seem to quite like the A Class, and I was getting quite keen. So have you owned an A Class, or worked on them at a garage or something?
Best
Richard
My wife had one and we used to run for cover every time the 'big' service came along.
£1000+ at the local MB dealer (they've got to pay for Hamilton/Button somehow!)
It's Schumacher and Rosberg these days. :D
Nearly as frightening as the service bills for my Alfa Spider!
The service record on the A200 I've just bought shows bills for around £500 each time, however I've located a local specialist who should be considerably cheaper (I hope!), although any non-pattern parts needed will still probably cost an arm & a leg!
I'll live with that for the meanwhile.
Of course you're right, they've got their own team now. However, I thought McLaren were still using MB engines until the end of this season at least.It's Schumacher and Rosberg these days
And you're also correct - Button and Hamilton drive for the 'Vodafone McLaren Mercedes' team.
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