What an odd car…. Mercedes A180
Discussion
I think the point is that, as a previous poster put it, the Mercedes Benz DNA is being engineered out. Perhaps it's only apparent to people of a certain era (started getting interested in cars as a boy in the 60s) but Mercedes was an aspirational and respected brand for good reason. Their reputation for quality engineering, reliability and longevity plus some style (SLs and coupes) was well earned. My Dad had a new MB 200 saloon in 1967 and shipped it Pakistan where he worked. Not many cars could take the punishment of the local roads. The car soaked it all up. I think MB started to lose the plot in the late 90s. With the exception of the very high end models their cars are just bling on wheels these days, IMHO.
Look at that mess of panel gaps. The wing to bumper/bonnet and the wing to bumper arch lines look like they were designed by two people who didn't speak to each other or have any idea what the other was doing. That's absolutely disgraceful, can you imagine a company that really gave the tiniest, tiniest s
t about quality of design signing that off? Even the Koreans don't turn out rubbish like that anymore. Everywhere you look on a modern Mercedes you find lazy rubbish like that.article on BBC about popularity of car colours sold in 2018. same article lists top 10 selling models in UK in 2018.
A class is there. merc really have shifted their paradigm to wagon of choice for the masses thanks to good finance deals.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46906254
A class is there. merc really have shifted their paradigm to wagon of choice for the masses thanks to good finance deals.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46906254
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.
I've got a daughter (who is married and doesn't live with us) of around that age and when her car was written off recently the first car she thought of to look at was A Class. On sitting in one in the showroom she dismissed it out of hand.
I was thinking of replying the OP line by line but I can't really be bothered, it just sounds like he doesn't get new technology like lane assist or automatic handbrakes. The new A-Class is probably the best of the current premium hatches and is doing deservedly well with very strong initial sales. The interior is widely considered the nicest of any sub £30k car.
Yes there are one or two areas of cheapness and the use of Renault engines isn't ideal, but other than that really it's hard to fault.
Yes there are one or two areas of cheapness and the use of Renault engines isn't ideal, but other than that really it's hard to fault.
va1o said:
I was thinking of replying the OP line by line but I can't really be bothered, it just sounds like he doesn't get new technology like lane assist or automatic handbrakes. The new A-Class is probably the best of the current premium hatches and is doing deservedly well with very strong initial sales. The interior is widely considered the nicest of any sub £30k car.
Yes there are one or two areas of cheapness and the use of Renault engines isn't ideal, but other than that really it's hard to fault.
I read a review recently of the new A Class and with all the new technology involved and - in the model they tested - a mouse tracker for moving about the screens, they said it took about a week to really "in" to it and fully flow with it. Great if you own one for three years, but a pain if one is a loan car for a day or two.Yes there are one or two areas of cheapness and the use of Renault engines isn't ideal, but other than that really it's hard to fault.
I quite like the new A. We had a previous gen A45 and i can see theres a real evolution there in the new model in terms of dynamics of the standard car. That should translate very well to the AMG models.
I guess its USP is the technology, and in that sense it would interest me more than a Golf which is dynamically good but as dull as dishwater (in standard form).
If we were in the market for a 5 door hatch (which we might be in the next year or two), i'd definitely seriously consider one of these in cooking form. I dont think it would would out much dealer than a Golf, particularly on a PCP or lease, if that was a persons inclination.
I thought it was a great interior despite the screens. If you ignore them it really is a lovely place to be for a sub 30K hatch.
I also thought the Renault engine was fine, for what it is. It's not a hot hatch. It doesn't have super hard 'sports' suspension so actually rides well. Unfortunately, for some bizarre reason Mercedes have chosen to only offer "lowered sport comfort suspension" in the UK. comfort = good. lowered is ridiculously low. Also, the amg-line trim comes with multi-link rear suspension in all petrol engine sizes, something a lot of the alternatives don't. It's strange it isn't advertised.
I also thought the Renault engine was fine, for what it is. It's not a hot hatch. It doesn't have super hard 'sports' suspension so actually rides well. Unfortunately, for some bizarre reason Mercedes have chosen to only offer "lowered sport comfort suspension" in the UK. comfort = good. lowered is ridiculously low. Also, the amg-line trim comes with multi-link rear suspension in all petrol engine sizes, something a lot of the alternatives don't. It's strange it isn't advertised.
Edited by page3 on Saturday 19th January 09:35
littleredrooster said:
I really think the new A-class isn't bad.
They've finally got it to ride and handle as good as a Focus did 10 years ago...
I test drove the Focus ST-Line X and straight after the A200 Amg-line. I much preferred the Merc. The interior (of the A-Class) was leagues ahead. Even the engine was better than the 3 cylinder Focus one. The Merc was also slightly cheaper on lease.They've finally got it to ride and handle as good as a Focus did 10 years ago...
theplayingmantis said:
pointless cars for pointless people, only interested in getting into a 'premium' marque for not a lot of dosh on the monthlies, mostly driven by bell ends who want style of substance.
imo of course. and as we all think we have the prettiest wife at home, my opinion means naff all.
Agree- hire car pilot hire car.imo of course. and as we all think we have the prettiest wife at home, my opinion means naff all.
Horrid things.
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