** Update 4 Begins - This is the final review as now sold **
At 3 years old, the car has covered only 32,000 miles.
The time has come to sell the A-Class ....... why?
Overall Experience
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A great car for versatility but ruinously expensive to run.
Far too fragile and a poor overall dealership experience.
Ride was always hard to this is mainly a run-about not a long distance cruiser.
Would I buy another - No (and I haven't).
Mercedes need to vastly improve the dealer network, quality of the cars and reduce the running costs. Then they may be able to charge the premium prices.
Costs
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3 years on, 1 MOT down and coming up to another B (major) service. With all servicing and routine costs like brake pads included, this will bring the grand total to nearly £2000 in 3 years for a brand new car !!!! Way to high for a supermini size car.
Why so high?
(i) service intervals are 9000 - 10000 miles or 12 months. This means an average user will require a service every 9 months. Usage varies this only slightly.
(ii) labour rates at Mercedes UK dealers are vast.
(iii) unexpected costs are high and happen too early in the life of the car.
(iv) depreciation - always a killer (and not included in the £2000 above). We have been offered 33% of the new price after only 3 years. Reason - the semi-auto ACS clutch. Not popular in the trade. Even MB dealers would not touch it !!!!!!!
Fuel Economy
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has only ever been average and has not improved with age. Do not expect the 1.6 engine to be frugal.
Problems in the last year
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Suspension problems have been rectified under warranty (just) as these were causing a major knocking sound under the car.
Further problems may exist but who knows........
The window sticking problem came back - at one point they would not close at all. The dealer could not find the problem this time and the issue went away by itself.
Dealer Service
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More changes at the local dealership - the first MOT visit was a disaster with appalling treatment of my wife. They outsource the MOT !!!! A 4 page complaint later and the new after sales manager sorts out the issue. Credit to him, but the service experience is way down again. Not what you expect on a premium marque.
Interior
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Showing signs of wear - not as hardy as you expect. I recommend picking the darker interior to hide the marks better. Our pale interior has dirt in places which is hard to shift. The dealer valet on servicing never cleans the interior properly.
Exterior
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Some minor paint chips. Body in reasonable condition, but appears to pick up scratches fromn hedges all too easily.
Wheel nuts have rusted and are spoling the alloy wheels. Some cover caps are lost.
The Drive
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Has not improved with age - the engine is okay for a 8 valve unit but sounds rough compared with 16 valve engines in other cars.
Still a hard ride and you know it after a long drive down to Cornwall.
*** ** Update 4 ends **
We bought our A160 Elegance ACS 12 months ago as a nearly new demonstrator (125 miles on clock).
Our key requirements for this car were:
A run around - easy parking;
Cost effective - low total ownership costs;
Safe - a car which does not compromise on safety;
Stylish - good on the eye;
Practical - needs to take two of us in comfort and all our clutter.
We selected the Elegance for a little touch of
luxury and some extra features. The basic Classic is a little too austere and there are too many on the ex-fleet market thanks to EasyCar.
The ACS (automatic manual clutch system) was a bonus - the dealer did not have anything in the right colour for a quick sale so he basically threw it in to sell.
Pricing is a little steep to start and options are expensive. Discounts are easy to obtain even at main dealers (where we bought this one). Just use the internet brokers to get you started and see how the prices fall!
For 125 miles used and being the second owner, we were able to secure a 15% discount and good trade in price for the old Honda.
This discount was key to the overall ownership costs being low.
Driving
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The A-class has suffered at the hands of the engineers ever since it failed the 'elk test' and was rolled over by a journalist. They have made the settings firm and the seats are not made to help cushion that hard ride.
It is okay for the driver but passengers can feel it more and I have had several comments to this effect.
The upside of this ride and the electronic devices to make the car stable, is a very good cornering and safe feel to the car. It drives like a sportier car and handles reasonably well.
Another problem is the blind spot created by the wipers being fitted for a left hand drive car. This is not fixable according to MB so you have to live with a broad rain band to the right of your eyeline in the wet. Couple this with the large A pillars and driving requires some head movement at times.
Driving
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A weakness of the A-class is the lifeless feel to the steering. Even though you feel perfectly safe, you get little feedback and very little fine control over the car position. It takes a very light touch to be precise with this car.
I was surprised how different it seemed after a US vacation when I would normally have expected a European car to handle better than the US leviathans we drove.
Interior
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Revised interior is nice. The look is one of class and the plastics show their quality.
Some minor rattles and squeaks appearing due to the pot holes in my road so we shall see how it performs at first servicing next week.
The extra touches in the Elegance trim help - boxes under seats for storage, arm rest and box. The cloth trim is light and already showing some signs of marks. I will have to see how a good valet can bring it up at service time.
Space wise, the A-class is excellent. Even in short wheel base, the interior space is unrivaled.
Seat layout and movement allow for excellent use of interior. Definately one of the strengths.
Equipment
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Never generous on a MB and costly to add on.
The A-class is reasonably well specified.
The basics are all there in Elegance trim (air con, electric windows, remote central locking, ABS, airbags).
The one surprising omission is a unique fit stereo - MB chooses to use Sony or Blaupunkt and these are ready targets for thieves. The removable consoles are huge and cannot easily be carried. Overall the one interior let down.
There are also no controls on the steering wheel. A major safety gaff in my humble opinion.
Exterior
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A mud flap has come detatched due to a high sided curb. This required a replacement clip and not insubstantial 15 minutes with a dealer to fix. Ouch. My wallet is still crying.
The paintwork seems to be holding up well with no attrition in a year.
The windscreen wipers are a pain as this are seated high on the windscreen and collect dirt. The washer jets are feeble and do not do their job well enough. Result - a dirty, streaky screen on many days.
What I like
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Fuel consunption is good. Space is good.
High up ride gives a safe feel and good long distance views.
Boot is a good size and can be increased by sliding seats.
Manual and ownership backup is second to none. 30 year cover (providing you service with MB)
Parking is soooooo easy.
What Could be Better
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Visibility - the position of the wipers and A pillars is a major blind spot provider.
Steering - needs more feedback.
Seating/Ride - oh for a soft cushion down those country lanes.
Servicing - a routine minor service (A service) in Surrey will set me back £250. The B service is apparantly £450. These are timed by the car by according to the dealer are usually 12 months or 12000 miles.
Problems
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I have returned home on a number of days to find wholesale condensation on the inside of the windscreen. No leaks or water problem, merely the angle of the screen and weather conditions. The dealer has confirmed all is well.
It is a real pain though having to scrape ice from the inside of the windscreen on a cold night.
Luckily this appears infrequently and does not seem to be a leak issue.
** update ** - this issue seems to have goine away suggestion that there may have been a pre-delivery leak which left too much moisture in the car
Overall
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The A-class fulfils my needs as a run around and I have taken it on motorways too. It is a car that could be better though and I am sure MB will fix many minor niggles when it is replaced in 12-18 months or so.
Would I buy another? Yes - but I would make sure I had the (softer) leather seats and would probably try to have a full automatic. The ACS systems is neat and effortless but really a halfway house to a full auto.
I look forward to excellent residuals when the time comes to sell on.
** update **
The Story 18 months on ...
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The car with a star that is becoming a little more problematic than I would have expected:
We have had to have some issues with all electric windows fixed (fortunately oil and adjustment sufficient).
The air con compressor started to make some very strange noises and is due for replacement under warrantly soon.
The drivers seat base broke and is being replaced under warranty - apparently they have modified the design of the sensor as well in the new seat (breakages are common!)
We suffered an engine management warning light 'event' one cold morning - the car refused to start initially and then produced the amber warning light. The **really** worrying aspect was that MB Assist provided inaccurate information when my fiance called for help - they indicated that it was only problematic if it went red (which it does not) and it took 3 hours to get her mobile again once they eventually deigned to come out. Additionally they took no notice of the local garage which we had contacted and the service engineer came from one further away! Perhaps the reason for the 3 hours, or was it that the man had left the diagnostic kit in his previous callers car?!!
The last nugget for future updates - we are currently starting to experience problems with the ACS selection of gears. The garage are supposedly investigating this when the air con and seat are fixed soon.
** update #2** The garage appear to have oiled or tweaked it - no feedback on returning it. It is better but we still have some selection problems. Full service soon so will reiterate this problem.
Overall - ownership happiness down. MB quality under question. Service call out a disaster. On the good side though, the Redhill dealership has improved markedly and have extended opening hours.
I have downed Reliability to Satisfactory.
*** Update #2 ***
Recently we decide to change our large car for another run around. After much soul searching and consideration we have chosen another A-Class. The Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris came in 2nd and 3rd in the honours.
We have chosen an A140 long wheel base in an automatic. It was purchased from MB Direct with 14,000 miles after 8 months of fleet use. Our low mileage should balance this out over time.
We selected an automatic this time (rather than manual or semi-automatic ACS) for an easier life - now I do not have to move the left hand or the left leg at all!
The Purchase
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An absolute disaster from MB Direct with the car not having been prepared properly on initial collection, loose trim under the bonnet causing rattles and an indifferent sales team who were incapable/unwilling to check the car prior to our collection.
MB claimed it is like buying a new car - it was not.
MB claimed an extensive preparation and check - it was not.
Example - the floor mats were not fitted with the retaining straps to hold them in place. Small attention to detail that should have taken place.
Next time we will go to a dealership for better service.
The Car So Far
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Extra space in the long wheel base (LWB) is excellent - wish we had chosen this for the other one.
We decided on this after Christmas when the dogs, presents and luggage struggled in the short wheel base (even with the rear seats out).
Note - even with the LWB model, the rear seats do not slide any further than in the SWB model. Hence the boot cannot be made any bigger without rolling forward or removing the seats.
It would have been so easy for MB to insert longer runners for the seat and added even more space options.
Ride seems less harsh than the short wheel base. Probably due to the extended chassis. Certainly feels more comfortable but still quite hard to ride.
We upgraded to a MB stereo as part of the purchase deal - definately an improvement over the Sony system in the other car. Much easier to use, safer, better sound quality. Fits to dash and is better colour co-ordinated to the car interior. Should improve resale.
Fuel consumption is good vs, the A160, even with the auto box. Seems to go forever before I fuel up (indeed I still haven't after 3 weeks of commuting and pottering around).
There are a few more rattles and squeaks than I would like - these will be mentioned at next service. It reinforces our view that the MB quality was diluted with the smaller A-Class. Still a cut above the rest in many areas though.
Comparisons
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A160 semi-auto SWB vs A140 auto LWB
I would always now go for the LWB - it adds that much more room. With the seats removed it is as cavernous as many estate cars. The rear seats have so much leg room it is as good as, if not better than, my old Vauxhall Omega!
A160 better and suits the car more - the A140 is more frugal and economic. The A140 struggles on our steep hilled lane and needs to be driven much harder to get up to a decent motorway speed. No surprises there though.
Auto vs ACS - always would now go for the auto box. The ACS is better than a manual (saves left leg some work) but takes some mastering to get proper clutch control on hills. The auto box is not bad but a little harsh and jerky when compared with the auto boxes in larger MBs.
** update #3 - Mar 05 **
2.5 years into the ownership prospect and some more views:
Servicing
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Assist service interval comes round again - according to MB Service this is 10k miles or 1 year for and 'A' and 13k or 1 year for a 'B'. Came back from an 'A' with 10k reset on the Assist computer !!!! I will follow this up as it seems to be at odds.
With mixed driving the intervals are regular as clockwork - 1 year or 10k miles with little or no variation. We are at 24k miles and on the 3rd service in 2.5 years so far ..... Not sure why they bother with a computer if it is so 'guessable'.
The cost was eye-wateringly high = £560 for an 'A' service (base price was £250).
This included a 2 year brake fluid change (apparently needed) at £160 and replacement of pads and discs (front only - rear are drums).
After I queried why discs had worn at same rate as pads, they kindly refunded the cost of the discs (but not the labour) - so £100 for this too !!!
Overall the servicing is turning out to be hugely more than suggested by the estimates in the car magazines.
Tyres
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Have just replaced the front 2 with Continental Eco to match the originals. They lasted 24k miles (not bad) and were a decent £50 each to replace. Overall very happy with this.
Fuel Consumption.
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Seems to be improving with age but nowhere near the quoted figures by the manufacturer - all too common I hear. Still pretty good for a 1.6 in a small car.
Performance
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Handling is a surefooted as ever, and the engine is 'peppy'. The note of the engine has changed since the service to a more throaty sound and the car is very nippy both on motorways and around town. Seems to be improving with age.
ACS Gearbox (automatic clutch)
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The selection niggle has largely disappeared but we are monitoring this. There are reputedly selection problems with manual gearboxes historically from MB and this may be a cause of this. Not an issue currently.
Windows
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Had another 'gremlin' with the windows where they would not go up properly. Cured itself but seems to be when they are not used for any length of time (it was our rear ones that stuck).
Servicing were notified and could not replicate the issue.
Interior
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The pale colour is showing marks and looks less than pristine. The clean-up at service does not even touch this.
Plastics are starting to creak and there is a persistent rattle from the rear when the seats are up - possible the parcel shelf or seats themselves. To be investigated before warranty is up!!
Overall the interior is not wearing well and the cost cutting is starting to show through. It does not have the interior that I would expect of a 3 year old car.
Other
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Some mindless git of a vandal keyed down the side of the car - respray of one whole side was required at a cost of £1500 !!!!! Almost all parts removed have to be replaced due to modern glue technology. Thankfully insurance covered this. ** make sure your insurance is tops if you own a modern MB **
The service from the dealers was poor - they abdicated all responsibility to 'authorised repairers' over whom MB have no real control. Hence you get a variable service level, loan cars are not necessarily MB and they are not on the insurer recommended panels (you have to insist on them though to get your 30 year cover protected).
The MD and Chairman of Daimler Chrysler have implemented a pilot in Croydon branch to take responsibility for the process - all credit to them for responding positively to my moan. Let's hope this is taken up nationwide.
Overall
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The cost aspect is becoming an issue. The per mile cost is huge compared with mainstream rivals.
The interior quality is evidently not as great as it first seemed.
Dealer service levels are improving.
I have downed the rating to 'Average' in the light of the above.
** Further Updates Will Be Added Over Time ** 
by (15%):
24.03.2006 10:02
Another really well written, detailed and informative review from you here, I used to respect Mercedes until I started dealing with them, now I got no time for them all, our local one keeps closing down, then reopening, with the same smug people working there..........Roy.....
11.08.2005 00:42
An excellent report which tells me all I need to know as a potential MB A class purchaser.
27.06.2005 20:39
a bloody good review, you obviously have put a lot of effort into it, gp105