mercedes benz a class a140 review

Have a picture of Mercedes Benz A Class A140?, please send it to us.
Picture courtesy of mparsons.

Average Ratings

Performance	6/10
Practicality	7.9/10
Reliability	6.6/10
Value for Money	5/10
Reviewer Rating	5.6/10
Overall Rating	5.8/10

33% Recommended6 out of 18 Reviews

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By Dee1 on 21st Nov 2005

Dee1's Ratings

Year Manufactured	2001
Length of ownership	4 Years
Doors	5
Performance	6/10
Practicality	8/10
Reliability	6/10
Value for money	5/10
Overall value	6/10
Dee1's recommendation

Good Points

Good legroom front and rear. Diesel gives reasonable mileage to the gallon. Higher than average driving position leading to good visibility. Comfortable. Pretty.

Bad Points

Niggling faults. Too regular replacement of the same items e.g. alternator idler pulley involving lowering engine sub-frame [part cheap, but labour far outweighs this], front anti roll bar links, rear springs, front calliper bracket, and early rusting rear wheel arches etc.
Under-trays damage too easily.

General Comments

The Mercedes Benz A-Class 170 CDi has good legroom front and rear. Diesel gives reasonable mileage to the gallon. I like the higher than average driving position leading to good visibility. I find it comfortable and good to drive. Once used to the bonnet being out of sight the vehicle is easy to park.

Unfortunately these points are outweighed by the negative aspects of owning a Mercedes A-Class. Expensive servicing. Too many niggling faults. We are on our third alternator idler pulley, the second replacement was just outside warranty. The part is not particularly expensive, but the cost of labour is because the engine sub frame requires lowering to gain access to fit a new one. Other items requiring attention sooner than you would expect are the anti roll bar links [we have had to replace these twice], rear springs, front calliper bracket and more.. Under-trays damage too easily.

The most recent item we have had to replace is the steering column, which is a first for me. I have driven for 28 years and never have I had to replace a steering column. My understanding is that they should last the life of the car, but ours is only four years old. It also bothers me that the wheel arches are rusting at an alarming rate, even though I religiously wash the car each week paying particular attention to sluicing the wheel arches.

All in all, we considered the A-Class a long term purchase, but are now considering selling it on. Our recent bills amount to £2000 on top of servicing, which in itself is expensive. Now we find the SRS warning light is always on - it has been plugged in once a couple of weeks ago, and is due to go back in in two days time.

It is too depressing to tot up the full amount of servicing and cost of work we have had done to the car. It is a beautiful car visually, but has too many design faults, making it a very expensive small car to own.

Total Respect: +1