Swapping an SLK for a A-Class - have I gone insane?

[stu99]

I'm in the process of trading in (obviously to my financial advantage) a much loved 2002 SLK for a 2004 A-Class and now having second thoughts about the wisdom of this decision. Let me explain.

I think the SLK is a great motoring experience, sleek, luxurious, powerful and relaxing to drive but the downside is that it can be heavy to steer and manoeuvre, lacks immediacy and is limited in term of space (I need to occasionally transport a bike and I'm reticent to stick a carrier on the rather fragile boot lid). I've reached the conclusion that it's more of a motorway cruiser than a city car (I do a bit of both in roughly equal amounts). For better or worse, I observe urban and suburban speed limits and feel that I'm not doing justice to the car's capability. Last week I got a one finger salute from a passing motorist - not clear on whether the offence was to be driving in the motorway slow lane at 70mph or having the social insensitivity to display my apparent wealth by driving an upmarket open top car on the way home from work - maybe it was both.

The A-class seems better in terms of space, fuel economy, ease of driving, parking and I'm attracted by its size (i.e. it's more of a city car). Unfortunately there appear to be some horrendous reviews of A-class vehicles on some internet sites (e.g. carsurvey.org) and this has fuelled my uncertainty. The windscreen wiper issue is particularly worrying.

Is there anyone out there who has owned/driven both?

Don't hold back on your sanity appraisals if you feel I'm sailing dangerously close to the wind.

 

[Blobcat]

If your SLK is as much loved as you say, you will miss it. I would speak with the dealer and say you are unsure of the 'A' class and need to drive it for a couple of days to make you mind up.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

I had an A class (well, my wife did actually) and I hated it and was glad to be rid of it. The car before that was a company Golf SE TDi, only 90hp but fantastic and all the car you could need. The car she has now is a private owned Astra 1.8 CDx estate which again is fantastic and all the car you need. I often take it upto 110-115mph with little problem and it's easy to get a couple of mountain bikes in the back.

In my opinion, DONT get the A class, you will regret it. They are for women that are interested in women's things, not for drivers.

talking of financial gain, I sold the 1998 A class and bought the 2001 Astra and still pocketed nearly 1k from the deal.

 

[MercAl]

My brother bought one for his wife. He only kept it for three months. Could'nt get shot of it fast enough. He hated it. Sold it and bought her a Daewoo Matiz...which he claims is a much better car! Think that might be taking it a bit far! But on the other hand...I have a friend who has one, and loves it.
It's like everything else...all down to personal choice.
Good luck whatever you choose!
IMHO...Sorry Stu, but I'd keep the SLK!

 

[luders79]

You must be mad!
I work for a mercedes specialist and having driven plenty of both models I would suggest sticking with the SLK. They to me are a better drive and don't fall apart as much as the A class. If you do go for the A class you would be getting one of the better built ones, as its one of the last 168 chassis A class's which are alot better than the early ones. Would ask dealer to try for a couple over days as someone has already said and see what you think using it for everyday tasks.
All the best and good luck!

Luders79

 

[crt]

I've had both: a 1999 SLK (bought in 2000, finally sold last month) and 2002 A class LWB (owned from new). The SLK was a load of expensive trouble, particularly the roof, and depreciated heavily; fun to drive though. The A class has been great until the ECU and other electrics blew up recently. It's also depreciated horribly (the effect of all the Easy cars flooding the market apparently). Nonetheless, it's much more practical obviously and, ECU aside, it's been very reliable and economical: up and down to the south of France, to and from Devon and other parts of the country, as well as commuting across London, all in comfort with pretty good fuel economy. Spacious, too, but that's probably the LWB effect as my recollections of rented SWBs is that they seem much more cramped. We need to go up to a W124 estate now though - anything to escape electronic engine management systems.

 

[swift]

driven an A class and fully hated it. If it where me i would stick with the slk.

 

[Blue_Straggler]

My other posts reveal that I am unqualified to comment, having never eve driven a Merc, let alone owned one (indeed I think the only times I've been IN a Merc have been in taxis when I lived in Greece!)

However.
Aside from the handling issues that you mention, it sounds as if your only problem with the SLK is the storage space and your reluctance to fit a bike carrier. Forget about someone giving you the finger.

Sit and work out how much of an issue the storage space thing REALLY is - how many times have you REALLY had a problem with not being able to get all your stuff in there?

My only concern on your behalf is that, as someone else said, you are going to take a massive depreciation hit on the SLK. That might be acceptable if it was a car that you hated, but to get rid of something you love AND lose a load of money on it, could be upsetting. I understand that you'll have some change left over after getting the A-Class, but you know what I mean. It would be akin to me selling my lovely, utterly unique but not wholly practical house for less than I paid for it, in order to buy a smaller crappy house that had a bit more practicality to it (this is not a hypothetical comparison, by the way - my house is mad and I love it despite it being: tall and skinny, very exposed (no garden or driveway, just straight onto an A-road!) and not even having on-street parking - have to abuse the car park for the flats opposite...).
I know you can't compare a house to a car as one appreciates in value and the other depreciates, but aside from that, I think the allegory holds.

Investigate the bike-carrying thing a bit more, and also consider renting bikes when you get to wherever (unless you have a snazzy tailor-made frame or something?)

 

[Blue_Straggler]

For better or worse, I observe urban and suburban speed limits and feel that I'm not doing justice to the car's capability.

I really wouldn't worry about this. OK there's that thing about how you need to "open her up" from time to time but hey, just drop a gear or two at 70; job done!
I mentioned on another thread that I thought I don't "deserve" a nice 280, as I drive like "grandad", someone put me right.

 

[jberks]

I'll pop in my two penneth.
The A class is ok - driven a few but I can't say I'd swap the E class for it. I agree, mercs are not really city cars. Too heavy and a bit unwealdy. I quite enjoy my occasional jaunts in a loan A class or corsa. I actually loved the Fiat Punto I has on holiday a few years ago. Extremely easy to drive and park and very chuckable, but after taking a corsa on my 90 mile commute a few weeks ago, I got back into the merc and thought mmmmm.

As you say, the slk is a great cruiser but a poor city car, probably due to it's sporting pretentions. The A class is somewhat the other way around. Greast city car, but not in the same league on the motorway, plus it's not as 'Merc' to drive or sit in.

All car choices are a compromise between comfort and feel or economy and performance, handling and space etc. I just feel you've gone from one extreme to the other. For something in the middle, try a C class perhaps, maybe an estate. This has the practicality you're looking for, the roads are full of them so you shouldn't get noticed and you still have that legendary merc motorway ability and feel.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

I think you would be crazy to trade in such a beautiful looking car for an A Class. I think of all the cars Mercedes have brought out, the A Class has to be the ugliest thing ever. Whatever possessed them to design such an ugly car? You couldn't give me one, never mind sell me one.

I think jberks suggestion of a C Class Estate is a good one, although they are a bit big for city driving in my opinion, but at least they look good

 

[Brett]

I personally couldn't find a seating postion that suited me, and neither could my missus. I had fully intended to buy her an A-Class when I got one as a loan car whilst mine was in for some work. Neither of us enjoyed the experience, but it helped eliminate it from the list of options.

I'd suggest that if you're having second thoughts about trading the SLK at this point, don't do it. Go and put yourself on the stairs and have a time out to think what you're doing and what is motivating you to change.

Good luck!

 

[dagd]

I think there is some type of roof rack made by MB mentioned in the handbook. If it were me, I'd look into this and other carry options first. With regard to heavy steering, tyre pressure and tyre types can exacerbate the situation. You can’t do much about the fuel or insurance costs though.
Personally, I’d want to explore every single option before getting rid of my SLK.

With regard to the one finger toser, ignore them. I get it all the time in one form or another, ie getting cut up, cars right on my boot, drag starts by cars and vans when I stop on their outside at the lights, snide remarks about hairdressers and mid life crises etc etc. At the end of the day, it’s mostly jealousy!

 

[brakes508]

Please oh please tell me you can pull out this deal! an "A" class for an SLK bet the dealer was about ripping your arm off for a trade even if he was offering you an amazing deal (and he should to get rid of one of those ugly pigs) I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole! I know a few people who have had nightmares with the A class, but there again you pay your money you take your chance. p.s. I love driving my wifes SLK always feels how a real merc should be and some plastic pig like the A class!

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Don't hold back on your sanity appraisals if you feel I'm sailing dangerously close to the wind.

Insane :lol:

 

[Brett]

Insane :lol:

Yep, the men in white coats are coming to take you away ha ha, hee hee, ho ho, etc.

 

[Garrycox]

Not sure I could swap an SLK for an A-class....however my wife has owned two A classes, a 2001 A160 elegance and a 2005 A200 Avante garde. There is a big difference in the overall drive and level of comfort in the two models.

We thought the old A class was ok. The new one feels much more like a merc should. So if you can spend a bit more it might be worth looking at the new model. Better still rent one for a week and then make your decision.

 

[hawk20]

Amidst all the opinions for and against, some things are facts. 1) The A class does relatively well compared to other Mercs in Customer Satisfaction (J.D.Power)
2) It has sold over 1 million.
3) This is the important point: all reviews agree the new A class is light years ahead of the old one. So dismiss all bad comments about the old one and try the new.
4) I have had many E's and now own an S but I found driving the new A class remarkably satisfying. Took my brother, just to try one, out of interest, and he liked it so much he bought the funky looking two door coupe. His first Merc.
5)Jeremy Clarkson rated it highly and descibed it as the funkiest looking car ever to come out of Germany.
6) Read the Autocar road test. It rated it way ahead of the BMW 1 series and the relevant Audi.
7) NCAP rate it the safest car in class.
8) The diesels are fantastic for low rev grunt and my brother gets over 60mpg from his 2 litre diesel A class.
9) Inside it looks and feels like an E class.
10) Now what it was meant to be - the Rolex of small cars. Go for it.

I drove 5200 miles in its big sister, the B class. Another great car. Roomy as an E.

 

[NewMB]

Having driven the SLK on more than one occasion, all I can say is that yes, it is fun to drive. But it was never a car for me, way to small. The 230 Kompressor fitted to that car was very noisy and rough, but very quick.

My collegue has a new 2006 A180 Cdi Avantgarde which is superb. Very fast (at least feels that way) and on the german autobahns he does 120-130 Mph on a daily basis with it (I also tried, amazing stability for such a small car). The gearbox is smooth and I think the overall quality is fantastic, compared to the old model.

But to compare an SLK with an A-Class is like comparing apples and pears. Just can't do it. It all comes down to what you need the car for. City driving or perhaps some good sunshire on a sunday blasting around B-roads.

Difficult one....

 

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

I had an A-class as a loaner from the dealership when my 124 was in getting a new windscreen. I couldn't wait to take it back and get back in my diesel- horrible gear change, plastic inside felt cheap and the steering was too vague and heavy. Difficult to park for a tiny box too. Only thing I liked was the air-con. Nothing apart from the badge on the steering wheel made me feel like I was driving a Merc.
It got lots of admiring glances from old people though.