A Class Mercedes

sillysocks

Does anyone have any opinions on A Class Mercs? Particularly how reliable they are and if there’s any major negative points about them?

Currently have a Yaris and thinking of changing for an A Class, I drove one on holidays as a hire car recently and really liked it. Not totally mad about the outside of it but inside its really lovely – would be looking at a 2006 1.4l petrol Elegance model (new model). There’s a good bit more room in the boot as well which will come in handy.

Is there anything in particular I should be looking out for when looking at 2nd hand ones.
Would be looking at approx 4k in the difference between the Yaris and an A Class of the same year and roughly same mileage.

Thanks!

Eoin

A friend of ours had one, and I really didn't think it was as bad as a lot of people make out - though I'm not sure what cars it competes against to be able to compare. Early models were supposed to be quite unstable (google the "Elk Test") though).

www.parkers.co.uk is a great site for reviews. www.honestjohn.co.uk is OK, but tends to just list the known faults with no real weighting attached to them.

Topper Harley

It's not a class Mercedes at all.

I know someone who had a rented one while abroad once and wanted one after, not enough to actually get one though.

sillysocks

This is the specific one I'm looking at at the moment.
As far as I know this is a new model one from 2006 (unless you mean a newer model since then?) so hopefully it might not have the toppling over issues and some of the original problems.

Keep the opinions coming Gratefully received!

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/A-Class/5dr.-Ele/201014197560553/advert?channel=CARS

Absurdum

nevermind, thought you were talking about the old model

sillysocks

Have edited the original post as realised I never put the year on it - hopefully that'll make it clearer that its the new model Im interested in!

Saab Ed

The MkI was a junker , out and out. The second generation cars are alot better but I cant understand the attraction except for the badge. Price wise its bettered by everything in the small family car segment and its way to expensive to be considered a posh supermini.

If it was me and I needed a bigger car than the Yaris i'd just buy a proper car i.e a Ford Focus / Skoda Octavia / Renault Scenic which are all better cars than the A- Class yet cheaper.......You wont get the badge though

Redderneck

Rented one in France on a family holiday two years ago. Didn't think I'd like it, but liked it a lot. Not love - but very easy to live with. Put a fair bit of mileage on it , Carcassonne to Barcelona & region. Took three adults and two kids no bother - admittedly only with day/overnight packs rather than full luggage. Grand on autoroutes. A doddle around town. When time comes for the Mrs to replace her current rolling piece of scrappage, it'll be one we'd look at.

sillysocks

Thanks.....
Not looking for something that will take massive luggage - we have a Corolla Saloon as well so use that for any long journeys or going places with lots of bags. Just looking for a small car, but something more than a basic one. Just loved the insde of the A Class and all the little extras that aren't on the Yaris at the moment.

Think I'll go have a test drive and see from there......

Terrontress

I've heard you need to be careful with the steering column. Make sure there are no noises / looseness. And go for an auto box over the semi or the manual.

dergside

My mother in law has had a '06 A150 Classic from new. Not done huge mileage (50k km's or so) but it seems to have been entirely reliable and she loves it. For a small car its quite spacious and she like the fact that she sits a little higher than in a Fcus, etc. without going the mini SUV route.

The suspension is a little bit firm for my taste but not uncomfortable by any means. It seems to be well enough screwed together, which can't be taken for granted with most noughties Benz's. Not too many creature comforts for the price new but at the asking price for the example above its less of a consideration.

mercservices

sillysocks wrote: »

This is the specific one I'm looking at at the moment.
As far as I know this is a new model one from 2006 (unless you mean a newer model since then?) so hopefully it might not have the toppling over issues and some of the original problems.

Keep the opinions coming Gratefully received!

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/A-Class/5dr.-Ele/201014197560553/advert?channel=CARS

The 'toppling' issues they had were on the first model(168) and they were solved,they halted the sales and revised them before the went back on sale in '99.

mercservices

LIGHTNING wrote: »

A good friend of mine has a A140 and the sunroof no longer works same goes for rear wiper, one rear windows electric windows, one of the rear seat belt doesnt work either. Their is a constant smell of petrol in the cabin which he cant seem to fix.

They original mk1 design is a piece of junk and isnt worthy of the Merc badge. Buy the facelifted model if you can.

Sounds like someone needs a specialist....:D.

mondeo

My mother had the generation 1 A Class a few years ago, it was a 2 yr old car when bought and I thought it was rubbish. She should have bought a golf instead. Nothing stylish about an A class nor does it feel like your driving a Merc.

mercservices

sillysocks wrote: »

Does anyone have any opinions on A Class Mercs? Particularly how reliable they are and if there’s any major negative points about them?

Currently have a Yaris and thinking of changing for an A Class, I drove one on holidays as a hire car recently and really liked it. Not totally mad about the outside of it but inside its really lovely – would be looking at a 2006 1.4l petrol Elegance model (new model). There’s a good bit more room in the boot as well which will come in handy.

Is there anything in particular I should be looking out for when looking at 2nd hand ones.
Would be looking at approx 4k in the difference between the Yaris and an A Class of the same year and roughly same mileage.

Thanks!

Just get one that has been looked after,like everything else you would spend your money on.A few small issues with the new model (169), You couldn't compare driving the yaris to the merc! You get what you pay for.