Newbie saying 'Hi' and seeking A Class advice

[slender]

Hello.

I thought I'd introduce myself properly before jumping in and asking for help and guidance. I currently drive a Volvo S80, have done for the last five years, but it's time for it to go - that decision hastened compliments of the Chancellor of the Exchequer; £415 road tax looming and the ever spiralling cost of fuel! Quite simply Volvo do not have any product that comes close to what I am looking for (something with the feel and room of a big car but in a small car with small car costs) or else my flatcap and I would be happy to remain with them. That brings me to the A Class.

Now, after an exhaustive armchair search I have stumbled across what appears to be (on paper at least) the perfect vehicle to replace the S80; a diesel, automatic, post 2005, 5 door, A Class. Now, this is where I could do with a little bit of help and advice. I'm 6' 4" tall and have two injured knees. I'm currently recovering from a cartilage graft in my right knee (German grown cartilage, I'll have you know!!) and will shortly be having the same operation done on my left knee. So, an automatic is essential, as is huge amounts of front leg room and a supportive drivers seat. I found a fantastic review of the A Class whilst I was mooching here yesterday (Hawk20, I think??) who had stated that his A Class (a replacement for an S Class, I noted) had a Comfort Seat Pack and adjustable reach and rake on the steering. That is just what I'm looking for but couldn't find out when it became available. So, basically, my first visit here is to seek clarification of the following points;

1. At 6' 4" can I expect to get into an A Class and be reasonably comfortable?
2. When did the Comfort Seat Pack and adjustable reach and rake become available?
3. Of the three diesel engines available is any considerably better, or worse, than the others. Performance is of little importance to me - I am a Volvo driver after all!

I'm still hobbling about on crutches but I'm hoping to be able to get to a dealer sometime soon to check out the passenger seat if nothing else.

Well, apologies for the life story, but, as I said about five chapters back, I do like to make a proper introduction.

Thanks in anticipation for any help.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

Hawk will be along soon to tell you how great the A class is having himself swapped from an S class merc.

I have an older shape one and am 6ft 2 and fine no problems at all, there is still more romm behind me than in my ML or my dads E-class estate.

The New A class's are very nice cars, so much different to the old one. Also have you considered a B class? very rare but a little bit bigger yet still with the same great engines and auto with the dervs.

Sounds like you will be more than happy with the A160Cdi although if heading to the B class maybe the A180cdi given the extra size.

good choice. as I say wait for Hawk he's the A class man (think he's on commision form merc myself

 

[slender]

That sounds promising, A210AMG, thanks. I hadn't really considered the B Class as I perceived it to be too expensive as the A Class is the top end of what I'm prepared to pay.

 

[rhud]

I can't help you with diesel options as I have an A150 Classic SE. But I do have a parallel experience in that my last car was a BMW (sorry to have to mention the dread rival) 7 Series which I had driven for 13 years.

I think the A Class is great; but I think you will have to be prepared to adjust to the radically different driving experience. It is a big change to go from a limo priced originally at nearly 50k designed to waft from one end of Europe to the other without breaking into a sweat, to an A Class and has taken me a few weeks to come to terms with the transition. (My wallet achieved the transition more easily!)

There is general agreement that for all its many excellent qualities, the A is not the best around for ride quality - it errs on the firm side. So apart from other considerations, it would be good to have a test drive on a range of road surfaces to judge whether you would be able to
adjust to very different ride characteristics.

On the diesel front, although not philosophically opposed to diesels, I did yesterday drive a B180 CDI - a loan car while mine had a small rattle fixed - and did not like it all. J Clarkson's view - 'diesels are absolutely fine - in farm machinery' - unfortunately came to mind.

 

[slender]

Thanks, Rhud. I'm semi-prepared for the seismic change in ride quality and the general feel of being in a large car to a small car as my partner has a cracking little Toyota Aygo which I have driven quite a number of miles in. Unbelievably I can get in and out of the Aygo in relative ease and have not found it uncomfortable but it is just a tad too small to be my permanent car and just a touch too basic to be a direct replacement for the S80. Not only that but we don't want two!! We're hoping that the A Class will slot in just perfectly for what we want in terms of comfort, size and costs. I must say I shall be quite disappointed if I don't fit in as the more I research the car the more I'm convinced it represents the perfect replacement. As I'm unable to drive just yet it'll be a day or two before I actually get behind the wheel for a test drive, though I'm talking myself into getting chauffeured to my local dealership to take a look at one in closer detail this weekend.

Out of curiosity, Rhud, what real-world mpg figures do you get? I'd happily buy a petrol A Class if I thought the mpg returns were good enough.

 

[rhud]

If you're familiar with an Aygo I'm sure you'll be more than happy with the driving characteristics of the A Class.

On consumption, I am getting around 38mpg - all of it urban. I haven't been on a trip longer than about ten miles since I've had the car - many trips three miles or so to nearby family. I am unlikely to do more than about 5,000 miles a year - hence the advantage of more mpg from a diesel is much reduced as a consideration. The 7 series was managing 19mpg - so I'm happy.

 

[slender]

If you're familiar with an Aygo I'm sure you'll be more than happy with the driving characteristics of the A Class.

On consumption, I am getting around 38mpg - all of it urban. I haven't been on a trip longer than about ten miles since I've had the car - many trips three miles or so to nearby family. I am unlikely to do more than about 5,000 miles a year - hence the advantage of more mpg from a diesel is much reduced as a consideration. The 7 series was managing 19mpg - so I'm happy.

Is that with a manual or automatic?
My annual mileage has rocketed from 8000 to 15000 a year, hence the initial thoughts to go for a diesel.

 

[rhud]

My car is manual - with only 2,000 on the clock the mpg should also, by all accounts, improve. But I can see that annual mileage of 15,000 could decisively swing the argument in favour of diesel.

 

[slender]

Impressed? Very.

Well, I got myself down to my local Mercedes Direct this morning and hobbled across to a 2007 Elegance A Class which somebody had forgotten to lock! My partner and I were able to have a good look around before a, admittedly friendly and laid back, salesman pounced.

We were both very impressed with the front leg room - easily as good as that to be found in my S80 - and the seats were the best 'small car' seats I've ever experienced. So far, so good. The overall feel of the cabin was functional and classy - just what I like. Everything felt solid and well screwed together. I then tried to get into the drivers side and the higher set drivers seat and incredible leg room meant getting in was easy. I was very, very, impressed by this stage and started to tinker with the seat position. My only criticism is that a reach adjustment would have made the driving position absolutely perfect. That said, with a knee that can only just bend I was mightily impressed that I could get in at all and have a huge amount of room from the top of my knees to the bottom of the steering wheel. We're yet to test drive an A Class (hopefully next week as I should be able to drive) but we're really keen to do so. Unless something very unexpected occurs I cannot imagine that my next car won't be a Mercedes A Class diesel automatic. In fact, I'm drawing up a short-list of suitable cars right now in readiness to buy.

 

[Splatt]

Hello.

a small car with small car costs) or else my flatcap and I would be happy to remain with them.


1. At 6' 4" can I expect to get into an A Class and be reasonably comfortable?
.

In the "A" class you will not only fit comfortably but be able to dump your cap for a top hat.

 

[slender]

In the "A" class you will not only fit comfortably but be able to dump your cap for a top hat.

You're absolutely right about that! My Tilley hat will be my regular headwear of choice if and when I become an A Class owner!!