A Class to buy? Help Please!

Tyniesha

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Hi there I have been looking at buying an A class I need something economical and reliable up to £6000. I have been looking round and liked the A class driving position etc but I have come across lots with gearbox problems.
I wondered if this is just an ebay thing where problem cars go to die or if there really is a problem.
I need an automatic (dodgy hip) but have looked at a semi but my local garage told me they do have problems at £900 a time for the part!
Please could anyone advise I couldnt afford a big bill like that and buy the car and I have to have something to see to my elderly Mum that I know will start and get me there.
Thank in advance for any help or information.
 

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Hello and welcome to the forum,,, hopefully some A class members will answer
 

Blobcat

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I would take a look at the Honest John websitem the original A Class doesn't get very good reviews :-(
 
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Tyniesha

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Thank You.

Thank you to all of you who took the time to reply I will now cross it off my list! I sort of had an idea but thank you for that information. I will maybe look at a Diesel auto estate just twice the size!!
Thank you again
 

MSG2004

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hi

The orginal car had afew probs inc the auto box niggles.
The newer one is better - sis has had the older and newer ones.

Why not got a nissan micra - very reliable and a bit higher than the avg car (to help withi getting in/out) and cheaper as well.
Welcome!
 

A180 Dream

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A Toyota Yaris is a good reliable car and will fit your budget

As stated,the later (W169) A-Class is a great improvement over the original (W168) model
 

Alex Crow

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i would take a180 dream's approach and suggest anything but an a-class.

however the poster has need of an automatic. in my experience although some have autobox trouble, far more do not but no-one makes much noise about cars running ok.

i would advise finding private cars for sale and being very picky about provenance. ie....
how long has the current owner had the car?
how many previous owners (less important than the former point)? good service history with bills?
owner seems honest (probably the hardest part, we sometimes convince ourselves of such subjective points because we don't want to walk away from another car and get back to searching again!!)?

and also obviously does the car start/sound ok. does it drive ok. is the seller relaxed about an extended roadtest. and most importantly do they have a plausible reason for selling. a really plausible reason???
 

Splatt

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This ongoing thread has puzzled me greatly ! Previously when I have posted with my criticisms of the A class there has been a volume of response from others who have praised and stated satisfaction with theirs. Member Tyniesha has posted an honest question seeking an opinion whether an A class would be a satisfactory purchase, not one positive reply has been posted. Does this indicate a general lack of confidence in it`s integrity ?
 

rhud

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This ongoing thread has puzzled me greatly ! Previously when I have posted with my criticisms of the A class there has been a volume of response from others who have praised and stated satisfaction with theirs. Member Tyniesha has posted an honest question seeking an opinion whether an A class would be a satisfactory purchase, not one positive reply has been posted. Does this indicate a general lack of confidence in it`s integrity ?
In answer to your final sentence - No. It's just that the 169 sub-group is fed up with answering ill-informed outdated criticism of what is now a very credible member of the MB family.
 

Splatt

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In answer to your final sentence - No. It's just that the 169 sub-group is fed up with answering ill-informed outdated criticism of what is now a very credible member of the MB family.
Is that a viable reason for silence when asked a relevant question by someone who was a possible buyer and was seeking advice ? Unless there was nothing good to say. I refrained from comment until the poster had given up waiting for positive feedback and departed to look elsewhere. At the price that they were contemplating they were into the Mk II market.
 
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shayes

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Hi I would try and buy one from a dealer and get a good warranty out of them, ebay and auction's do tend to be a place for offloading problem cars..
and you wouldn't have any way of getting it fixed or money back.. :)

Is that true today? I thought ebay could hold the purchasers money in certain circumstances which is why a lot of people are unhappy with ebay/paypal . And you don't have a choice of avoiding paypal.
 

brianbrian

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I sold a car on EBay Merc 4 Matic estate the buyer paid for the car through PayPal and came and collected the car and paperwork, when I checked our account he had reversed the payment because he did not have enough money in his account. We rang the number he had given us but had no reply-tried several times. After some very clever detective work and weeks without car and payment we managed to track down his father who lived 100 miles away from us. The father paid us immediately, very apologetic for what his son had done.
 

shayes

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Yes I think the palce for dodgy motors these days are auction houses - caveat emptor!

I would not sell a car on (the dear old flea pay) now, as from what I read some time ago about the rules changes and payment being "delayed" you could end up without a car or payment. Then you could find that you get the car back after use and abuse and what chance any compensation? You guessed it.
 

A180 Dream

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This ongoing thread has puzzled me greatly ! Previously when I have posted with my criticisms of the A class there has been a volume of response from others who have praised and stated satisfaction with theirs. Member Tyniesha has posted an honest question seeking an opinion whether an A class would be a satisfactory purchase, not one positive reply has been posted. Does this indicate a general lack of confidence in it`s integrity ?

I certainly spoke up in favour of the W169 version

"As stated,the later (W169) A-Class is a great improvement over the original (W168) model "

Unfortunately the OP's budget would not run to the W169 model :(
 

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