53 reg Merc A Class 1.4 - what to look for?
Discussion
Avoid.
What's needed is the later W169 version introduced in 2004. So that will be an A 150 petrol with manual gearbox. Massively better car in every way. This from the Clarkson,
"It (the original A class) was a complete hotchpotch. So rather than give up on the idea and go back to making big saloons, the company has just brought out A-class 2. The Sequel.
"The first thing you’ll notice when you step inside is that this doesn’t feel like a cut-price Mercedes. There’s no sense of going to Barbados’s west coast and staying in a two-star hotel. You will find that the quality of the trim and the texture of the upholstery are pretty much exactly the same as they are on a £100,000 S-class.
"Then there’s the size. This new A-class is bigger in every dimension than the original, so you’d expect more space. But not this much more. The back, in particular, is hugely roomy, and if you remove the rear seats completely — well, it’s a van.
"It doesn’t look like one, though. I always rather liked the style of the first A-class but the new version is in a different league. The three-door model, especially, is the funkiest thing to have come out of Germany since . . . um. Crikey. I suspect it may be the funkiest thing to come out of Germany ever.
"Overall, though, I have to say that the A-class was very, very good. It drives and feels just like a much bigger Mercedes. This is probably why the car works so well. Because it’s not a diversion for Mercedes at all. It’s exactly what Mercedes has been doing for 100 years, only a tiny bit smaller."
What's needed is the later W169 version introduced in 2004. So that will be an A 150 petrol with manual gearbox. Massively better car in every way. This from the Clarkson,
"It (the original A class) was a complete hotchpotch. So rather than give up on the idea and go back to making big saloons, the company has just brought out A-class 2. The Sequel.
"The first thing you’ll notice when you step inside is that this doesn’t feel like a cut-price Mercedes. There’s no sense of going to Barbados’s west coast and staying in a two-star hotel. You will find that the quality of the trim and the texture of the upholstery are pretty much exactly the same as they are on a £100,000 S-class.
"Then there’s the size. This new A-class is bigger in every dimension than the original, so you’d expect more space. But not this much more. The back, in particular, is hugely roomy, and if you remove the rear seats completely — well, it’s a van.
"It doesn’t look like one, though. I always rather liked the style of the first A-class but the new version is in a different league. The three-door model, especially, is the funkiest thing to have come out of Germany since . . . um. Crikey. I suspect it may be the funkiest thing to come out of Germany ever.
"Overall, though, I have to say that the A-class was very, very good. It drives and feels just like a much bigger Mercedes. This is probably why the car works so well. Because it’s not a diversion for Mercedes at all. It’s exactly what Mercedes has been doing for 100 years, only a tiny bit smaller."
heisthegaffer said:
i have suggested rust, anyone know when the cambelt/chain requires changing? it has done 50k miles.
The good news is they have a chain, not a belt, and it ought to last the life of the car.The bad news is here: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mercedes-benz...
Neural said:
Something else, unless you want our A class that now needs a new ecu at £1500 to sort out a starter motor problem! It's basically a write off as its probably worth £2k.
Have you tried looking online at the numerous companies that remanufacture the ecu's, we had an issue with ours & got a reman one for £250. blearyeyedboy said:
heisthegaffer said:
Dear all, a friend is looking at the above soon so can anyone advise what she should look for?
As the others said, another car. It's overweight, heavy on fuel, expensive for what it is and not very well built. Go Japanese, really.Even though Merc build quality is not what it was, the A-Class is truly awful.
mate had an a class, got it replaced it had that many faults the replacement was no better, the service manager actualy said what do you expect sir it is only a a class, sumb
h would have got a knuckle buty off me, wouldnt have a jazz either, me auntie is on her third, raves about em but the two shes sold had big problems, first one had a suspect engine second had a iffy gearbox, id have an s max over any of those breeders, it would at least out drive em
h would have got a knuckle buty off me, wouldnt have a jazz either, me auntie is on her third, raves about em but the two shes sold had big problems, first one had a suspect engine second had a iffy gearbox, id have an s max over any of those breeders, it would at least out drive emMy wife's had a 2000 A140 for six years & apart from the original battery failing (replaced with a much larger one from the A class diesel), no problems at all to report.
I've taken it to France for a week, loaded with fishing gear, & it will cruise at 90 all day long.
I've tried to get her to change to something newer, just for the sake of it really, & she won't.
Deff get a manual, the clutchless semi-auto we tried was crap.
I've taken it to France for a week, loaded with fishing gear, & it will cruise at 90 all day long.
I've tried to get her to change to something newer, just for the sake of it really, & she won't.
Deff get a manual, the clutchless semi-auto we tried was crap.
I have an A140 (T reg) as a runabout at the moment and I bloody love it!
Mine drives great and the engine/gearbox are very good imo.
The handling is actually quite fun, it has a wide stance and 205/50/15 wheels so a decent amount of grip, nowhere near as much roll as you might think and all in all very good cornering speeds for what it is.
I travel from Bedford to MK in mine for work and I can do 17miles in 17minutes. I am doing 80-90 between roundabouts and 45-50 across them!
In my experience it is more fun, faster, safer and more practical than the Cinq sporting I owned before.
The interior is cheap and nasty, which is a shame. The driving position takes a bit of getting used to.
For skip runs it is hard to beat, you can remove ALL of the seats including the front passenger, which turns it into a mini van.
I have driven to Newcastle in it and cruising at 90 is no bother if a little noisy (wind mostly).
I love it
, and despite being in the minority here I think it looks quite good for a hatchback.
So there you go, completely opposite opinion from someone who has done 10k in one this year.
Regards
Duncan
Mine drives great and the engine/gearbox are very good imo.
The handling is actually quite fun, it has a wide stance and 205/50/15 wheels so a decent amount of grip, nowhere near as much roll as you might think and all in all very good cornering speeds for what it is.
I travel from Bedford to MK in mine for work and I can do 17miles in 17minutes. I am doing 80-90 between roundabouts and 45-50 across them!
In my experience it is more fun, faster, safer and more practical than the Cinq sporting I owned before.
The interior is cheap and nasty, which is a shame. The driving position takes a bit of getting used to.
For skip runs it is hard to beat, you can remove ALL of the seats including the front passenger, which turns it into a mini van.
I have driven to Newcastle in it and cruising at 90 is no bother if a little noisy (wind mostly).
I love it
, and despite being in the minority here I think it looks quite good for a hatchback.So there you go, completely opposite opinion from someone who has done 10k in one this year.
Regards
Duncan
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