SB

Need to hire a car next week and was looking at easycar, just wondering has anyone ever driven one of the little mercs?

Cheers

Diablo

Yes, and they are (after some acclimatisation) extremely good little cars.

Looking to replace the company car next year (scheme is no more) and for a runabout thats safer and more exclusive than your average golf/astra/focus whatever.

D

ProperCharlie

yeah but they are the ultimate noddy car.. would rather drive a festa, meself.

PG

Very good practical cars with a nice driving position.

sebastian

Yes, when my E class was serviced.

Very dissappointing IMHO, a puny engine mated to an autobox is a recipe for awful performance and driving experience. That,allied with lots of noise, cheap trim and poor handling and tooth-loosening ride means it's off my list for the wife's shopping car.

Wouldn't go near it - get a proper hatch instead.

Diablo

I've driven a few (all manual) and found them to be of good quality (although on initial impression they are a bit drab)reasonably refined with very safe and predictable handling.

Agree the ride is a bit firm but they corner in my experience with little roll.

Driving position is excellent (as Paul has said). The extra height is a huge safety benefit IMO.

shunty

our company has loads of the little bu55ers...

I had one for 1 day as a loaner, when driven with a balaclava they arn't bad to be honest

shunty

Alas

Wife had one for a year and loved it. says it all really.
Was the 1.4 and could'nt overtake a granny with a zimmer. Lots of room inside though.
Alasdair

12LEE

Ran an A160 AG manual for a year. Hateful little ba$tard with crappy service from the franchised dealers.

It's a very clever car. Very practical. Very well and intelligently designed. No grunt. IIRC, the A160 was about 1500Kg and c.110 bhp. Tiny disc brakes up front. Drum brakes on the rear FFS!

I found that I ended up driving it like a madman just to maintain momentum.

Never again. Ditto for the whole marque.

Simon S3

Yep, had a 170CDI from easy-car for a couple of days. Was very impressed but I wouldn`t spend my own hard earned on one. Once you`re used to it, it actually feels quite nimble.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

My in laws used to have a 190 Tiptronic in purple (!)

Quite nice, not much fun, engine sounded very course, fairly well made, the A pillar obstructs your view quite badly.

WISHING

My Mum has the A210 2.1cc engine.
And its the worst car she has ever owned.
The thing is always in the garage and the mercedes customer service is rubbish as well.

Dont touch one with a barge pole

GTI

Yes and you don't want too!
Slower than a 1.4 Golf. For people who can't afford proper Mercs, awful driving position and just plain cheap!
Squeak to **** after a year aswell!

ADL-ATR

There is a barbus A Class 1.9 on pistonheads, or there was last week looked the bollox, 13k for a 30k+ car, 3 years old!

[Edited by ADL-ATR - 8/14/2003 8:04:54 AM]

Diablo

Interestingly varied opinions

BTW A160 is 102ps and 1115KG kerb weight.

Slower than a 1.4 Golf

Golf 1.4 has less power/torque than 1.4 A class and is 25 kilos heavier.

The 1.6 is the sweetest of all the A class engines, if not the fastest.

TBH spending £20k + on a 2.1L A class is kind of missing the point of the car. @ £14/£15k they make more sense.

Shed loads of character that you won't get in a Golf.

I'll agree that the MB franchised dealer service is cr*p. Makes you think how it feels if you've just blown £90k on an S lass

But then, VW,Ford,Vaxhaull,Audi hardly do better.

Each to their own I suppose.

D

Burt

If your goining with easycar make sure you read the small print... seem to remember a large excess if you bin it.

bdrought

Hmmmmm

I had a chipped A170 CDI and it was a great car. Took it on many evo/scoobynet meets and it kept up just fine. Brakes were fantastic and the handling really was idiotproof in the wet or dry.

Car is now being run by my ex and has 80,000miles on it. Runs like a dream.

They're more than capable of being chucked about... just ask IanW or ChrisB !!

Luke

sorry ..but the biggest worry is the rental company. make sure you understand their terms and conditions.... they make a lot of money with extra charges. Make sure you are with them when they inspect it. .... they play a long waiting game to get you to sign beforehand ....

back to the Merc.... pile of poo.

tiggers

Be careful, as I found out recently you may well not get an A class Mercedes as the small print says "or equivalent" and their idea of equivalent is a base model Corsa which I personally disagree with.

The A class may not be any great shakes, but it is a much classier car than a Corsa. The only equivalence I can find is they are both small. Easycar of course diagreed with me so I walked away - damn principles as I ended up paying more at Avis - never mind.

Regards,

tiggers.

289

Used one last year (170TDI) and it was great. It doesn't handle especially well, but it's not really meant to. Fast enough, didn't use much fuel, bit plasticy inside, but overall OK.

Not sure I'd buy one cos they're probably £3-4k overpriced, but then they keep theyr value quite well.

bdrought

"It doesn't handle especially well"

Mine did !

It had the slightly stiffer springs and the 205/45R16 tyres.

Even did a trackday in it.....