1999 MERCEDES-BENZ A class A140

spadder

i am trying to pick up a car for the mother, saw one of these reasonable enough.

Anyone had experience good or bad with one of these?

Esel

They do not have a good reputation. Understatement.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=230&

bazz26

A poor car imo and has a well documented history of issues for MB when it was first launched including how it flipped over in a test due to having a high centre of gravity. The first car to really dilute the image of the brand imho. If you want one buy one but don't buy it just on the basis that it wears the three pointed star. You will be disappointed.

seasam

Friends Mum had one and she liked it especially sitting a bit higher than a normal car I thought they had a few recalls for the inital problems so I'm sure they are fine now. any link to the car you're looking at ?

SV

Just wanna say I know nothing about them mechanically..

Shocking looking things though...ugly ugly ugly

Anan1

bazz26 wrote: »

A poor car imo and has a well documented history of issues for MB when it was first launched including how it flipped over in a test due to having a high centre of gravity.

That was corrected by the fitment of ESP, leaving the A-Class a very safe car for the time.

Esel

Anan1 wrote: »

That was corrected by the fitment of ESP, leaving the A-Class a very safe car for the time.

So, it doesn't flip over, when it actually goes? :eek:

Anan1

esel wrote: »

So, it doesn't flip over, when it actually goes? :eek:

It doesn't flip over at all. And your link describes reliability as 'average'. Don't get me wrong, they're not really my thing either. In terms of safety & packaging, though, they were ahead of their time.

mondeo

i had one 4 years ago and i thought it was a miserable yoke. 1.4L silver base model with no electrics bar wing mirrors, cloth interior which was not very nice,the site of it just annoyed me. My mother owned it and once in a blue moon she would drive it so I used it 90% of the time. I always felt on a sharp turn like it would turn over on it's roof. My mechanic said it probably would if I pushed it enough but I never did that. Got rid of it as it became an expensive mess needing lots of little things for Nct, both cv boot joints, rear bushings, rubber seals around the window, exhaust bracket, somthing got to do with the rear boot latch not locking properly. I remember being quoted 2,100 to get the repairs done so got rid of it and bought a decent golf instead...

Anan1

mondeo wrote: »

i had one 4 years ago and i thought it was a miserable yoke. 1.4L silver base model with no electrics bar wing mirrors,

From memory, even the A140 Classic had electric windows & central locking from launch. Short of hitting something, ESP made them impossible to turn over. Are you sure it wasn't the Golf that had the wind-up windows?

I know someone in work had one and it caused her all sorts of misery. She traded it in for an Alfa 156 which ironically enough caused her even more. Maybe enjoys garages:pac:

On a more serious note that is the first time Ive seen honest johns review to categorically state a car shouldn't be purchased!

SV

ronoc wrote: »

I know someone in work had one and it caused her all sorts of misery. She traded it in for an Alfa 156 which ironically enough caused her even more. Maybe enjoys garages:pac:

On a more serious note that is the first time Ive seen honest johns review to categorically state a car shouldn't be purchased!

Trading a german car for an italian car for reliability is like going from an irish stew to a mcdonalds for nourishment!

ClioV6

ClioV6 wrote: »

Trading a german car for an italian car for reliability is like going from an irish stew to a mcdonalds for nourishment!

Yes because Mercs and VWs have been stellar performers lately when it comes to reliability.

Oh wait they really haven't!

SV

ronoc wrote: »

Yes because Mercs and VWs have been stellar performers lately when it comes to reliability.

Oh wait they really haven't!

Was talking about the cars in question, not lately.

HungryJoey

All I know is they have a horrible looking & very cramped interior.

spadder

Thanks guys, I'll think I'll steer clear.

Max_Damage

I think it looks like toaster on wheels.

mondeo

Anan1 wrote: »

From memory, even the A140 Classic had electric windows & central locking from launch. Short of hitting something, ESP made them impossible to turn over. Are you sure it wasn't the Golf that had the wind-up windows?

Our a140 was an early model so probably did not have esp. It had ABS that was about it.
The golf had electrics all round and was a much nicer more solid feeling car to drive. I'd buy a merc again just not an A class....E class of some sort would be my cup of tea.

Anan1

mondeo wrote: »

Our a140 was an early model so probably did not have esp. It had ABS that was about it.

All cars sold here had ESP, cars sold on the continent without it were recalled to have it retrofitted. From memory, the same thing happened with the Audi TT.

compgeek

Hi fellow Boards Members,


Mods - sorry for wakening up an old thread.

I know years ago, these cars had a bad reputation but I'm wondering what peoples thoughts are of them now?




Thanks,

CompGeek.