What an odd car…. Mercedes A180
Discussion
donkmeister said:
It's a Mercedes tradition to put the parking brake there. I'm sat in my 2004 right now, the parking brake is engaged by a pedal to the left of the service brake, and the release is by my right knee. I think the pedal is on the left in a LHD too, with the release by the left knee.
Rover used to put the parking brake by the right knee too.
I had an R350 CDI and got used to the quirk of the foot brake and the release handle to the right of the steering wheel. However, in the age of electric brakes, it threw me when I went with a mate collecting an A180 just where on earth the handbrake release or button was... on his 2014 A180, it was where the brake release handle was.Rover used to put the parking brake by the right knee too.
Most manufacturers put the damn thing somewhere sensible like in front of the gear stick or to the side...
Not a bad little car, I like the dash with the expanse of LCD...
HannsG said:
Renault engines I am told. A Mercedes in a frock....
Yep, engines developed in partnership with Renault. Same in the last model.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_M282_e...
lufbramatt said:
I imagine none of that will matter to what appears to be the target market for these- women in their late 20s who can just about afford to get something with a Mercedes badge on the front on finance while they are still living at the their mum and dads house.
Ouch. You don't pull any punches with the assumptions/cliches/stereotypes/casual sexism. Are you all right ?
Smiljan said:
HannsG said:
Renault engines I am told. A Mercedes in a frock....
Yep, engines developed in partnership with Renault. Same in the last model.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_M282_e...
Edited by Deep Thought on Thursday 10th January 10:34
lufbramatt said:
I imagine none of that will matter to what appears to be the target market for these- women in their late 20s who can just about afford to get something with a Mercedes badge on the front on finance while they are still living at the their mum and dads house.
So all of what NickFrog put, plus - why would it matter that the engine was co-designed with another manufacturer? I think it's a case of being confused by something different rather than it being bad when it comes to ergonomics as for the way the car drives and its differences again that'll take getting used to as you get used to something else. Some of these modern quirks whilst seemingly annoying are probably giving a benefit you can't initially appreciate.
I recently got a new car (well new to me) a G11 7 series and it confused the hell out of me for a week, despite having 10 other BMWs before, but it was quite a bit different in terms of the tech/displays and features so I got a bit frustrated and annoyed at first, but I got used to it and RTFM and it's fine.
I recently got a new car (well new to me) a G11 7 series and it confused the hell out of me for a week, despite having 10 other BMWs before, but it was quite a bit different in terms of the tech/displays and features so I got a bit frustrated and annoyed at first, but I got used to it and RTFM and it's fine.
Deep Thought said:
I'm not sure why that matters. Wouldnt bother me. Unless someone is being a badge snob about it - "I simply wouldnt drive a Mercedes with an engine fitted co-designed between Mercedes and Renault. How very dare they!"
My brother in law is obsessed with the idea that my Nissan 350Z must be sEdited by Deep Thought on Thursday 10th January 10:34
t, because it has a Renault engine in it.Meanwhile, his Merc just crapped a turbo, some gaskets, and a brake by wire system...
Fastdruid said:
C70R said:
Fastdruid said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
Sometimes, I wish the phrase "customer knows best/is always right" hadn't been invented.
Thing is though that some of the very best cars and bikes have been one person/teams vision and some of the very worst have been those designed by committee. f
k the focus groups. Cater to everyone and you excel at nothing.
Tired said:
Deep Thought said:
I'm not sure why that matters. Wouldnt bother me. Unless someone is being a badge snob about it - "I simply wouldnt drive a Mercedes with an engine fitted co-designed between Mercedes and Renault. How very dare they!"
My brother in law is obsessed with the idea that my Nissan 350Z must be sEdited by Deep Thought on Thursday 10th January 10:34
t, because it has a Renault engine in it.Meanwhile, his Merc just crapped a turbo, some gaskets, and a brake by wire system...
bungz said:
A really sad perverse part of me wants a poverty spec one of these with the 1.5 DCI Renault engine in.
But they hold value stupid for what they are.
Surely you might as well just get a Megane 1.5 Dci for about a quarter of the cost?But they hold value stupid for what they are.
Trouble is, the majority of non car people believe Mercedes (don't forget to add the Benz) are the best cars in the world and a massive status symbol. My girlfriends dad will always tell us when someone he knows has bought one, he never mentions if his friends buy any other brand of car.
Recently when he came to visit we got a lift in an E class CDi and a BMW 520d taxi. As soon as the E class turned up he smiled and just said "Mercedes Benz!". I could not believe how poor quality the interior plastics looked, the rattles and how harsh the engine sounded. When we got the (admittedly newer) BMW 520d it was a much better built car, much smoother quieter and generally a much nicer place to be.
I could spot the BMW was the superior car 5 seconds into our journey, but my girlfriends dad could not tell this "because not benz"
On the Merc subject in general: I had a new E350d as a courtesy car for a month in the Summer and I think it may be one of the nicest cars I've driven ever.
The air suspension was amazing...that combined with the comfy seats made it just effortless to drive.
The engine modes were great...eco was wallowy and made city driving a pleasure; sport + really made it shift; it handled much better than I expected for such a big boat.
All told I thought it was fabulous.
The air suspension was amazing...that combined with the comfy seats made it just effortless to drive.
The engine modes were great...eco was wallowy and made city driving a pleasure; sport + really made it shift; it handled much better than I expected for such a big boat.
All told I thought it was fabulous.
nickfrog said:
Joey Deacon said:
Trouble is, the majority of non car people believe Mercedes (don't forget to add the Benz) are the best cars in the world and a massive status symbol.
I don't think so, no one gives a st apart from the insecure. What's a non car people anyway ?nickfrog said:
Joey Deacon said:
Trouble is, the majority of non car people believe Mercedes (don't forget to add the Benz) are the best cars in the world and a massive status symbol.
I don't think so, no one gives a st apart from the insecure. What's a non car people anyway ?t" as you so elequently put it.How else would very ordinary overpriced bling be so sucsesfull?
Joey Deacon said:
nickfrog said:
Joey Deacon said:
Trouble is, the majority of non car people believe Mercedes (don't forget to add the Benz) are the best cars in the world and a massive status symbol.
I don't think so, no one gives a st apart from the insecure. What's a non car people anyway ?You seem to be getting very aggressive about what some other people may or may not think about the cars they drive / aspire to?
Who cares? If they think a Merc is fantastic then fine. You or i wont convince them otherwise.
People will always pay a bit more for something they consider aspirational. I wouldnt pay the money for an Apple product as IMHO theres products that suit my needs better for less. Doesnt make them wrong or me wrong though.
Theres products in Mercedes line up for 5% of buyers who are car enthusiasts. Sadly the sales to those 5% dont make a profitable company, so i guess we'll have to "tolerate" lesser cars in the line up too.
Mercedes, Audi & BMW have long since sold their souls for market share.
Edited by Deep Thought on Thursday 10th January 14:17
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