2000-2003, A class cdi info and advice needed!

[London luke]

With a baby coming soon..... its time for me to enter the MB world and buy a Automatic CDi. The main reasons for the fully auto is i have heard too many horror stories about "clutchless" manual and i dont think MB do great Manuals !
But also it will mean a more relaxed drive etc.

I am doing the usual and trawling through "Autotrader" etc and i know i can at least get a 2003 for my budget of about £3700. But have seen a couple of 2001 that are about 2800.

Other than the dash lay out etc , what are the main differences and do i really need to buy a 2003? Tonight i promise the Forum "search" Police to do a few hours worth of search ! But Any advice i can get focused towards this thread makes my life easier !!
Many thanks

And if you have a Cdi with fully working Aircon for sale ...... Get in contact !!

 

[rhud]

I note your budget - but many on this forum,including me, will say that the re-launched A Class (from 2005) is in a completely different league from the earlier incarnation - better built,roomier,better ride etc etc. 'The car it should have been from the start' as more than one reviewer has put it.

 

[London luke]

I understand ! And its a great looking car also. But with the current economic situation (says me , who is busier than ever !!)
i feel i need to keep to a budget and hold a min of £600 to sort any issues out etc ( i am a real anal about having good quality tyres etc )

its dealing with dealers that dont even know if their cars aircons work etc that makes me laugh !! do they not even check these things when they buy themselves?????

then after a few more years a 2005 etc will be in my price range !

thanks


luke

 

[Phil D]

have a trawl through the site & I'm afraid you'll find no end of horror stories about this car - repair bills exceeding the value of the car & often for things which wouldn't be such a big deal on a more conventional motor - the general consensus as far as I can see is don't even think about it unless you've got an absolutely bullet proof warranty - in writing of course
the new model attracts many fans on the other hand and is considered by some to be a very fine machine indeed

 

[London luke]

Ive stopped about 9 owners over the last week and asked them what they thought. 0ver 80% said they loved their 2000-2002 versions and would buy another.All had babies !

 

[Rockhopper1]

i have a w210 e320 cdi estate triptronic and love it. We have a 8 week old daughter and its great for all the stuff you need to carry. Putting a pram in the boot for instance is a doddle. Its a nice smooth car with loads of safety built in and when you have your precious cargo on board thats what matters.
Sure the w210's have there problems, but what car doesn't?? I've owned mine for 9 months and its cost me 2 tyres, anti roll bar bushes and drop links, front discs and pads. Now all thats ware and tare. Just passed its mot with flying colours.

Hope you find a good one. Up in scotland there a liitle dearer than what your budget is but probably rarer.

 

[television]

If you go for a 04- 2003 or later that will be your best bet as it is galvanized

 

[London luke]

Budget will not allow for a 04 !!

cheers

what is amazing..... the people i have spoken to who have A class for sale on Autotrader etc ! what a bunch of muppets. Most have no idea about a car they have owned for 2-3 years etc ! the rest are all "dealers" pretending to be private sellers.

But i have found one on ebay that from the single phone call to the guy could be a "honest " car ?


lets see....!

 

[madf]

Honest John says don not buy a Mark1 A Series: it's a money pit.

Almost everything goes wrong..


http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=230
"
NOT RECOMMENDED. MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU DO NOT BUY A MK 1 A CLASS
"

A £4,000 car is not cheap if repairs cost £3,000..

 

[Phil D]

you can lead a horse to water...............................