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      03-09-2012, 07:26 AM   #1
WULFFZA
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2013 Mercedes A-Class

Apologize if there is already a post on the topic, I did a search..

Looks like Merc got it right with the 3rd gen A-Class. I like it alot. Looks strong and serious. BMW and VW and Audi in Europe should be worried. If I had a choice of this or a 1 series hatch in the US, it would be the Merc. I don't mind FWD in a small car. Other contenders would be a Golf or A3, but look at this interior..!

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11203054...revealed-video
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      03-09-2012, 07:43 AM   #2
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Well that's an honest opinion even if I don't share it.
A-Class has been debated a lot, f.ex. here:
http://f20.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=657769
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      07-20-2012, 12:18 PM   #3
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      07-20-2012, 12:30 PM   #4
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I can't think of one single feature that I like better with the MB A-class than the F20.

I also think FWD would be okay in a small car, but neither the A-class nor the F20 are small cars in my opinion. In the original Mini it worked well.
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      07-20-2012, 12:31 PM   #5
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      07-20-2012, 01:08 PM   #6
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looks like they stuck an ipad on the dashboard
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      07-20-2012, 01:16 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by orcomma View Post
looks like they stuck an ipad on the dashboard


Wrong forum to talk about mercedes...
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      07-20-2012, 03:41 PM   #8
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I did have the new A Class on my shortlist of three (the other two being an F21 M Sport and a F30 320d ED).

However, I just cannot get excited about driving a Mercedes (with a Renault engine). I've always had BM's and in my opinion nothing else at a similar budget comes close with regard to driving pleasure.

For me, the final nail in the coffin for the Mercedes was a complete lack of interest and knowledge from my local Mercedes dealer.

So, I'm left scratching my head as to whether to order the F21 or the F30. It's a nice problem to have!
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      07-23-2012, 07:33 AM   #9
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Wife drives a MB C-class and we sometimes exchange cars for a day or two.
No denying that MB has the upper hand in terms of
premium car perception and high-quality interior.
(Fake) leather, glass-roof, classy dash, low cabin-noise and default sound system etc.
But I do miss my BMW at the end of the day.
I really hope I could have both (interior quality & awesome-driving) with a reasonable price...
Porsche is the way to go I guess
but that one is off limits for me.
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      07-23-2012, 09:06 AM   #10
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A-class compromise

I think the A-class with make the Mercedes brand younger and more dynamic (their global average age of customers has always hovered over 55!!) with a deliberate design skew to appeal to edgier youth

All the shocked Merc loyalists will hopefully buy the stodgier B-class.

But the A-class is according to road-tests, unsurprisingly, nowhere near the BMW in driving dynamics, handling or precision. So I don't see many BMW or Audi owners switching over to the three-pointed star. The 3 base variant A-class simply dont have the performance to match the looks (like the Volvo C30 / V40) unless you go for the A250 and A45/AMG both nerer £28500.

More likely the new A-class will find owners among the affluent Volvo / Saab / Ford owners looking for something worth switching to (and a smattering of BMW/Audi fleet customers)

I would say the 1er family [hatchback, sedan, coupe and GT] is a pretty incredible package and with the keen deals being offered by dealers, there is a lot to be excited about
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      07-24-2012, 02:29 PM   #11
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Today I saw for the first time the new A class from up close. Not impressed. Exterior look ok. Interior crap. Also the quality of the trim and materials not good. I suggest you have a close up look for yourselves, it's way different than pictures.. And you get a feel of a much smaller car than 1 series.
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      07-25-2012, 01:43 AM   #12
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I took a test drive in another FWD car yesterday, the Volvo V40 D3, and I have to say I was surprised. It was very eager to turn in with low body roll. The steering was a bit light but I later learned that it's adjustable in three settings. The 5-cylinder Diesel sounded very good too from inside the car, even at idle. Only from the outside you could hear the diesel idle sound.

For a FWD it was really nice.
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      07-25-2012, 01:50 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hsb View Post
I took a test drive in another FWD car yesterday, the Volvo V40 D3, and I have to say I was surprised. It was very eager to turn in with low body roll. The steering was a bit light but I later learned that it's adjustable in three settings. The 5-cylinder Diesel sounded very good too from inside the car, even at idle. Only from the outside you could hear the diesel idle sound.

For a FWD it was really nice.
I went and had a quick look at the V40 yesterday as it has just hit UK Volvo dealers. I'd also read a number of rave reviews in the motor press so was keem to give it a once over.

I have to say in my opinion it looked awful. It's aiming to take market share from BMW and Audi but based on looks it will struggle. It may compete with Ford and VW, but it lacks any kind of premium look/feel to step up a grade.

That's my view anyway.
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      07-25-2012, 03:11 PM   #14
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I am not sure if the new A class will win over BMW owners. I also have a 2010 C Class on 18 AMG/conties (company car). It drive reasonable well and has a quality feel about it, however it does not drive like a BMW does.

I have just looked at a 'drive' test model of the new A class park at the Merc dealer in Dubai. This is the one they drive around to get public opinion on.

It was decked out in AMG, looked good from a distance, until I got up close. Modern yes, interior looked cheap and it is a bit hyundai if you ask me. The grill is rediculously large for the size of car. You know, looks like a part copied from the CLS but not the quality.

I am very glad I ordered the M125. I like my one series to drive and think the new F20 125i M Sport is going to totally elclipse this one.

let us enjoy our 1ers in all the variants
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      07-26-2012, 05:44 AM   #15
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Is this the Mercedes forum? I test drove what was a 320 E and even with their sport suspension, it rolled a lot and performance was lacklustre ....boring!
My wife wanted the then new B class...and with options etc was up to about £37,000 .... we went to the stealer to ask a question. Ib their forecourt they had about 40 vehicles....all sorts A,B,C M and all new and all grey. The yard was full of grey Mercs ... so many that it became impossible to really distinguish one tries from another. Anyway, we entered the shop and instead of asking the question, she asked for her deposit back and cancelled the order!
We ended up test driving the X1, eventually getting the 125i which we took delivery of 2 weeks ago :-)
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      07-26-2012, 11:50 AM   #16
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Patrick,
Congrads on the 125i, give us a road test please
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      07-28-2012, 11:06 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WULFFZA View Post
Apologize if there is already a post on the topic, I did a search..

Looks like Merc got it right with the 3rd gen A-Class. I like it alot. Looks strong and serious. BMW and VW and Audi in Europe should be worried. If I had a choice of this or a 1 series hatch in the US, it would be the Merc. I don't mind FWD in a small car. Other contenders would be a Golf or A3, but look at this interior..!

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11203054...revealed-video
While the merc may look better on the outside, you're getting a much more premium platform with the f20, it is far better engineered and remember it part shares with the f30 (to a degree).

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sol01 View Post
if your opinion is based purely on looks then I agree that A class looks very nice but I doubt it that it would be as involving to drive as 1 sereis. real rival to A class is the future FWD 1series due in 2014
+1. All the more reason this generation of the F20 is so special, probably the last premium compact RWD hatch the world will ever see. Sounds like BMW will keep a shortened 3er RWD platform for the upcoming 2 series coupe, but future 1 series hatch will move to a FWD/transverse "city" platform shared with mini. I really hope they bring the LCI f20 to the states, but that seems unlikely for us poor saps over here.
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