A Class - worth a look.
Discussion
Looking for a 2nd hand car for my Wife. It'll be a city car 100% of the time and she wants something a bit more unusual than the obvious Fiesta/Corsa default choice. Audi A2 has been a recent favourite but finding a good one is proving tricky. The only criteria really is cheap insurance and less than 7k all in purchase price. I noticed yesterday that three year old A150 Classic SEs tick all the boxes on paper. These would be the first of the facelift ones.
So, before I drive an hour to look at some. What does the PH Merc collective think? Any good? Anything to look out for? Running costs etc etc.
So, before I drive an hour to look at some. What does the PH Merc collective think? Any good? Anything to look out for? Running costs etc etc.
The 2005 onwards W169 models seem to be considered to be OK, although I've driven an A150 as a courtesy and it was staggeringly gutless.
Whatever you do, don't buy the original W168 model.
The snag with these cars if they do go wrong is some fairly routine jobs like changing the starter or replacing the clutch require the engine to be removed.
Older autos are being written off before their time due to auto box failure.
A & B Class Mercs seem to have ongoing random issues with door seams not being sealed properly so the doors rust through.
I have a Merc C Class and for our city car we bought a Honda Jazz EX.
If you do go ahead, then make sure you have a trusted Merc indie lined up to look after it if you're not going to do the spannering yourself.
Whatever you do, don't buy the original W168 model.
The snag with these cars if they do go wrong is some fairly routine jobs like changing the starter or replacing the clutch require the engine to be removed.
Older autos are being written off before their time due to auto box failure.
A & B Class Mercs seem to have ongoing random issues with door seams not being sealed properly so the doors rust through.
I have a Merc C Class and for our city car we bought a Honda Jazz EX.
If you do go ahead, then make sure you have a trusted Merc indie lined up to look after it if you're not going to do the spannering yourself.
Deva Link said:
The 2005 onwards W169 models seem to be considered to be OK, although I've driven an A150 as a courtesy and it was staggeringly gutless.
Whatever you do, don't buy the original W168 model.
The snag with these cars if they do go wrong is some fairly routine jobs like changing the starter or replacing the clutch require the engine to be removed.
Older autos are being written off before their time due to auto box failure.
A & B Class Mercs seem to have ongoing random issues with door seams not being sealed properly so the doors rust through.
I have a Merc C Class and for our city car we bought a Honda Jazz EX.
If you do go ahead, then make sure you have a trusted Merc indie lined up to look after it if you're not going to do the spannering yourself.
If we bought one, it would be a 2008 or later W169, i.e. the latest facelift. Have Merc acknowledged the random rusty doors problem? I usually service our cars myself once they are out of warranty but I'm not interested in taking engines out on regular basis!Whatever you do, don't buy the original W168 model.
The snag with these cars if they do go wrong is some fairly routine jobs like changing the starter or replacing the clutch require the engine to be removed.
Older autos are being written off before their time due to auto box failure.
A & B Class Mercs seem to have ongoing random issues with door seams not being sealed properly so the doors rust through.
I have a Merc C Class and for our city car we bought a Honda Jazz EX.
If you do go ahead, then make sure you have a trusted Merc indie lined up to look after it if you're not going to do the spannering yourself.
blueST said:
If we bought one, it would be a 2008 or later W169, i.e. the latest facelift. Have Merc acknowledged the random rusty doors problem? I usually service our cars myself once they are out of warranty but I'm not interested in taking engines out on regular basis!
They made some changes in 2007 - pictures in this thread: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/87353-w169...Snag with servicing it yourself is claims on the Mobilo 30 year warranty get messy, but they're not straightforward anyway.
Deva Link said:
They made some changes in 2007 - pictures in this thread: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/87353-w169...
Snag with servicing it yourself is claims on the Mobilo 30 year warranty get messy, but they're not straightforward anyway.
Thanks for the pics, looks like they've changed the way they apply seam sealer.Snag with servicing it yourself is claims on the Mobilo 30 year warranty get messy, but they're not straightforward anyway.
I didn't know about mobilo, so I just Googled it. On the MB web site it just looks like a 30 year roadside assistance programme. Is it more than that?
We've been really pleased with our W169 A150 Avantgarde. Its an excellent car, reliable, well built and nice to spend time in. Can't fault it really, and the dealer service is also generally excellent. Far better than VAG vehicles which have proven to be consistently unreliable and backed up by terrible aftersale care.
With regards to the rust problem, they changed the build process in mid-2006 so anything 2007 model year and onwards (Basically 56 plate or later) should be OK.
If I was buying again I'd go for the A200 Turbo. Rare but they are seriously cheap for what they are, and come fully loaded as standard. Near enough the same power as a Golf GTI but for a lot less money. Been sensible though a 2008 facelift A150 (re-badged A160 in 2009) is probably a smart buy. The service intervals are long and the engines are all chain-driven so maintenance is fairly cheap, and although servicing is a bit more expensive it sort of makes up for that by including the 30-year MOBILO break down cover if you keep up FMBSH.
Definitely one of the best small cars on the market, along with the Honda Jazz.
With regards to the rust problem, they changed the build process in mid-2006 so anything 2007 model year and onwards (Basically 56 plate or later) should be OK.
If I was buying again I'd go for the A200 Turbo. Rare but they are seriously cheap for what they are, and come fully loaded as standard. Near enough the same power as a Golf GTI but for a lot less money. Been sensible though a 2008 facelift A150 (re-badged A160 in 2009) is probably a smart buy. The service intervals are long and the engines are all chain-driven so maintenance is fairly cheap, and although servicing is a bit more expensive it sort of makes up for that by including the 30-year MOBILO break down cover if you keep up FMBSH.
Definitely one of the best small cars on the market, along with the Honda Jazz.
Mr Gear said:
I've just been browsing A-classes to replace my everyday banger... why are they so cheap? Are they crap or something?
They may not be the most stylish or dynamic, but they look pretty practical.
You have said it all. The A class is a mediocre car, but is reliable and cheap to run. A friend has at a 2003 car - the LWB one - so much space. Dull, but gets you from A to B, cheaply.They may not be the most stylish or dynamic, but they look pretty practical.
blueST said:
I didn't know about mobilo, so I just Googled it. On the MB web site it just looks like a 30 year roadside assistance programme. Is it more than that?
Merc's have 30 year corrosion warranty and that tends to get merged in with Mobilo (as that's 30yrs too) although it is in fact a separate thing. I think the confusion is that to maintain the corrosion cover the car needs a full service history but it also needs that to maintain the Mobilo coverage, so people tend to lump them together.In practice, a lot of the rust repairs MB do, they say they're doing under goodwill, but they'll usually only do those on vehicles up to 8yrs old.
va1o said:
The service intervals are long and the engines are all chain-driven so maintenance is fairly cheap, and although servicing is a bit more expensive it sort of makes up for that by including the 30-year MOBILO break down cover if you keep up FMBSH.
They used to have long service intervals but changed to fixed interval of 12mths / 15,500 miles in 2007. Low mileage users used to be able to go up to 2yrs between services, although it's mainly the diesels that stretched out the time.Most MB dealers will heavily discount servicing though, so don't take the first price offered. Like most cars these days, "service" is pretty well an oil change. MBs have a bunch of things that need doing at 4yrs - spark plugs on a petrol, air & fuel filter, brake fluid etc so is someone buys one at 3.5 yrs old, the price of the next service can come as a bit of shock, but then you'll have the next 3yrs of little more than oil changes again.
Bear in mind the Mobilo cover is pretty well limited to breakdown cover - you might not think that's adequate if a woman is using the car as it doesn't cover things like wheel changing etc.
We already have a comprehensive breakdown policy through Britannia so I'm not fussed about Mobilo. The 30 year corrosion warranty doesn't appear to be worth anything according to threads on mbuk. If I didn't want to service it myself, there is an independent Merc specialist not far from here, so I'd just see how much they undercut a Main Dealer by and take it from there.
Can I just ask what owner's thoughts are on some of the intangibles? What's the perceived quality like and does it last? I suppose we want better than say an Astra or a Focus. What are they like for sqeeks and rattles etc.?
I was concerned the image was a bit, errr, mature. The Wife seems to like it but I'm not convinced. The Three pointed star is a draw, but you do tend to see a lot none-young folk driving them I think.
I was concerned the image was a bit, errr, mature. The Wife seems to like it but I'm not convinced. The Three pointed star is a draw, but you do tend to see a lot none-young folk driving them I think.
Put a deposit on a 58-reg A150 SE at Merc Leeds today. Drove it, seemed very smooth and nicely put together. Definitely a bit underpowered but it will spend all it's life in the city so that won't be a problem.
It's got something called Universal Media Interface. Can anyone explain exactly what means? Can I plug an iPod in and control it through the stereo? The salesman was a bit vague about it, and then I forgot to mention it again.
It's got something called Universal Media Interface. Can anyone explain exactly what means? Can I plug an iPod in and control it through the stereo? The salesman was a bit vague about it, and then I forgot to mention it again.
blueST said:
It's got something called Universal Media Interface.
The salesman was a bit vague about it,
It's Media Interface on the A Class - C & E Class have the Universal version, now called Nav20 (which adds nav capability, but costs about a grand - vs £300 on the A Class).The salesman was a bit vague about it,
It won't have the aux socket (you don't need it) and comes with cables, so make sure you get them.
Best thing to do is tell the salesman what you want to do and get him to agree it will do it - then it's down to them to make it work. This stuff is hideously complicated with MB and no one in the dealerships seems to have a clue about it.
New A class is a greart car the revised facelifted model has bluetooth as standard and better built, but sayin that the older model is also very good try and find at least elegance or avantgarde much better spec than classic uncomfortable and plian boring. if auto is your choice make sure history is up to speed gearboxes should also be serviced.
Deva Link said:
It's Media Interface on the A Class - C & E Class have the Universal version, now called Nav20 (which adds nav capability, but costs about a grand - vs £300 on the A Class).
It won't have the aux socket (you don't need it) and comes with cables, so make sure you get them.
Best thing to do is tell the salesman what you want to do and get him to agree it will do it - then it's down to them to make it work. This stuff is hideously complicated with MB and no one in the dealerships seems to have a clue about it.
Thanks for the info It won't have the aux socket (you don't need it) and comes with cables, so make sure you get them.
Best thing to do is tell the salesman what you want to do and get him to agree it will do it - then it's down to them to make it work. This stuff is hideously complicated with MB and no one in the dealerships seems to have a clue about it.
There is a cable(s) in a bag with the handbook, from memory I think it just had connections for USB and 3.5mm line in. Didn't see anything that looked like an iPod connector. Maybe I need this?... http://www.comandonline.co.uk/ipod-5v-charging-lea... will see what's what when we collect it next week.cyptony said:
New A class is a greart car the revised facelifted model has bluetooth as standard and better built, but sayin that the older model is also very good try and find at least elegance or avantgarde much better spec than classic uncomfortable and plian boring. if auto is your choice make sure history is up to speed gearboxes should also be serviced.
Couldn't run to Elegance or Avantgarde with our budget, but as the Wife is coming from a 2000 Polo the lowly Classic SE seems like a pretty substantial upgrade!Deva Link said:
They made some changes in 2007 - pictures in this thread: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/87353-w169...
Snag with servicing it yourself is claims on the Mobilo 30 year warranty get messy, but they're not straightforward anyway.
Checked the one we bought, it's got the later type smooth seems so hopefully Merc have got that problem fixed, fingers crossed.Snag with servicing it yourself is claims on the Mobilo 30 year warranty get messy, but they're not straightforward anyway.
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