TIL You Can Get One Of These With 193HP (factory)

"The Prince of Peugeot" (AbstractObject) 01/09/2014 at 09:13 • Filed to: None

0

5

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class looks like a German kei car, but in a grown-up, smart-car's-older-brother kind of way. Don't think it's just a larger smart-car though, as it could come with up to 193HP stock. My new favourite European sleeper, the "A 200 Turbo", was available in the years 2004-2012. The 2013-onward A-Class still looks nice, but it lacks the inconspicuousness of the last version.

BJ > The Prince of Peugeot 01/09/2014 at 09:20

0

Years ago I drove an A150 (I'm guessing it was a turbo?) and it was a pretty nice car. Solid MB construction, quiet, smooth, comfortable. It wasn't terribly fast off the line but it could hold 175 km/h without any trouble at all and felt solid and safe at that speed.

And you know what? I think the new A class looks awful, like they're trying too hard, and I'd rather have the old one, the one that looked like a car for middle-aged housewives... Either I'm growing up, or just getting old.

. . > BJ 01/09/2014 at 09:26

0

Comfortable? I remember the ride being pretty bloody boneshaking for what the car was.

Apollon > BJ 01/09/2014 at 09:42

0

The new A-class is a mess, Try-Hard could be its name. All for style, forget about usability and boy, has this become an even uglier car.

My impression of the first A-class isn't particularly good either. My experiences are limited to a former friend's car that was anything but Mercedes quality. Cheap and somewhat rattling interior, RUST coming through the paint and an anemic engine that qualified for 'better than walking'. Not to mention that this car is a joke whereever it appears, no matter its success. The moose fail jokes won't ever die...

(Yet the idea of the A190 twin isn't bad: stuff in two engines and make this clowncar go like hell.)

duurtlang > The Prince of Peugeot 01/09/2014 at 10:00

0

The A-Class is nowhere near Kei-sized, but I understand the reference as the older ones are tall and narrow as well. The new one is completely different, it's like the opposite of a Kei, it's even available in the the US with a sedan trunk latched on (CLA). The new A is available as the 45 AMG, with 360 hp.

Anyway, the first two generation (1997-2012) are, to me, transportation appliances for old people. The new 2012+ A-Class seems more attractive to me, mostly because it's not the old people carrier it once was anymore. It is a bit overstyled though.

BannedAndFurious > The Prince of Peugeot 01/11/2014 at 17:34

0

I wanted one of those W168 A class with mclaren F1 colors so bad as a kid. Crappy car but looks cool. Too bad orange paint faded like a cheap shirt.