A-Class 210///AMG

[npuk]

In the W169 the length of the wheelbase is the same in both the 3dr and 5dr. Obviously there was no 3dr in the W168 only a 5dr SWB and LWB.

W169 A200 Turbo is 193 bhp. They stopped making it in when the W169 had a facelift. W168 A210 was 140 bhp.

 

[J400uk]

In the W169 the length of the wheelbase is the same in both the 3dr and 5dr. Obviously there was no 3dr in the W168 only a 5dr SWB and LWB.

I realise that, but in terms of pricing and market position the 3dr is equiv to the swb and 5dr equiv to lwb.

W169 A200 Turbo is 193 bhp. They stopped making it in when the W169 had a facelift.

True, but they didn't stop making it, just stopped selling in the UK. Same with B200 Turbo. Neither really sold.

 

[Vlad]

Actually thats a good point which I forgot to mention.....do not buy an Auto A Class....gearboxes are prone to failure.

 

[Tan]

My Dad has a W168 2003 A140 LWB Elegance and we are more than happy with it, it has bags of space and the leg room in the rear is better than in his S-Class.

We recently spent £400 having bits and bobs done, but apart from that and two services we have spent no more on it since we bought it in 2004.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello....


Here I am


Yes my wife when expecting our first swapped an MX5 for a A210 Evo LWB.

We have had it over three years now and its been great, Cheap to run, Its needed front brakes / pads / exhaust back box and tyres all round.

Its also a manual (I read up and manuals are the ones to go for) and gets over 40mpg almost all the time which for a 2.1 is pretty good. Inside there is loads of room (its a LWB) and in the rear if I set the drivers seat to me then there is far more room in the back than my ML or my Dads E class estate.

I like it as its rare, very rare I have only seen two others. Fun to drive with a bit of poke and I think hard to age as with the body kit it looks different to normal A class's (it also has the indicators in the mirrors which keeps it looking updated).

My brother was so impressed with ours they bought a A170Cdi when his wife was exspecting. Good little cars for not a lot of money and a bit different.


Bad points....


OK its NOwhere near as nice as a modern merc inside, ours was over 21K new and there is no way I would pay that. However it does all work, keeps working and it 3yr old friendly

Harsh ride on the 17" rims (and thats from me coming with a car with 19" alloys) however my current ML soaks up the bumps.

Thats it really we like ours, and I have looked at swapping it for a new shape 169 but out side they are so plain and don't look anything special, the A200 turbo is a possible I guess, athough my wife likes the B class also.

 

[A210AMG]

Update...

I think it was marketed as an A210 EVO although I do have a couple of hard back older AMG brochures and its in there along with the C32's, SLK32's etc.

It has 140bhp so its Nothing like AMG quick, however its light, it has plastic wings !! etc, its certainly nippy enough for carrying the little one and pram. Being FWD I can also have more fun in the wet than I dare in a RWD car.

Yes they (the early) A class did get a bad press, however the facelifted ones are much better. The only real issues I have heared generally come from:-

1) The auto gear box's that cost a lot to fix.
2) The full sunroofs (which I would like) However these can rattle and leak.


Other than that for the money as a small..ish trolly not alot around, At the time we also looked at the A2's but much smaller inside.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Maybe it was a forerunner to the Aston Martin Cygnet. A practical car which matches others in the collection for well heeled fans?

I like 'em myself. A210AMG's car looks fantastic.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

I like them a lot too, we had a W168 A160 Avantgarde (hence my forum ID ). Ours was a facelift 2003 car (but without the mirror indicators). As others have said the manual's are fine. If I needed another smaller car I'd seriously consider an A210.

I think they're great cars. I'll echo some of the other comments it may not be as modern as some other cars and it may not have exactly the same Merc feel as some of it's bigger brothers they are unique cars in terms of space, packaging and in my view image.

Ours was black, had AMG alloys the A210 evolution front grille and the full length sunroof it attracted a lot of attention considering the size of the thing. My missus really misses it (in fact she cried when we sold it)...

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

My missus really misses it (in fact she cried when we sold it)...

You cruel, cruel, man

 

[Sonny Burnett]

in my experience the MAFs go easily and will probly go around the 100k miles mark. now with the 210 and 202 ect, a failed MAF can be simply removed and swapped for a new one for a relativly small price but with the W168 the MAF will eventually go the and it cant be swapped the MAF is linked with the ECU and requires that the whole ECU/MAF be changed costing near the £1000, i have seen one changed recently for just a bit over £900.

i know its not a complete guarantee that the MAF will fail.. but theres a very high chance it will out of my 4 benzes that i have owed 3 of them have had MAFs fail..

just my 2 cents

 

[npuk]

There is a company that fixes them and provides a 2yr warranty.

Bert Rowe's-Mercedes-Benz 'A'-class info. Mass Air Flow/ECU problems and the alternative to purchasing a new unit costing £1200.00 + Fitting from Mercedes-Benz, Special discounts available to readers of this site on guaranteed repairs.

 

[Matt32AMG]

Update...

I think it was marketed as an A210 EVO although I do have a couple of hard back older AMG brochures and its in there along with the C32's, SLK32's etc.

It has 140bhp so its Nothing like AMG quick, however its light, it has plastic wings !! etc, its certainly nippy enough for carrying the little one and pram. Being FWD I can also have more fun in the wet than I dare in a RWD car.

Yes they (the early) A class did get a bad press, however the facelifted ones are much better. The only real issues I have heared generally come from:-

1) The auto gear box's that cost a lot to fix.
2) The full sunroofs (which I would like) However these can rattle and leak.


Other than that for the money as a small..ish trolly not alot around, At the time we also looked at the A2's but much smaller inside.

Many thanks for the feed back A210AMG, (Same to everyone who has added to this thread BTW), this is really useful, particularly as you own, to all intent and purpose, the exact same car that I am considering. It would seem reading between the lines the fact it is a manual, is an advantage. and that its having a clutch replacement, a plus.

Anyway there is much to digest and consider that will all be truely brought into focus once I veiw the car proper. Thanks to everyone again for all the input

 

[Matt32AMG]

I like them a lot too, we had a W168 A160 Avantgarde (hence my forum ID ). Ours was a facelift 2003 car (but without the mirror indicators). As others have said the manual's are fine. If I needed another smaller car I'd seriously consider an A210.

I think they're great cars. I'll echo some of the other comments it may not be as modern as some other cars and it may not have exactly the same Merc feel as some of it's bigger brothers they are unique cars in terms of space, packaging and in my view image.

Ours was black, had AMG alloys the A210 evolution front grille and the full length sunroof it attracted a lot of attention considering the size of the thing. My missus really misses it (in fact she cried when we sold it)...

Thanks for the comments...BTW Hope you made it up to Mrs A-AvantGarde properly for her loss

 

[Matt32AMG]

in my experience the MAFs go easily and will probly go around the 100k miles mark. now with the 210 and 202 ect, a failed MAF can be simply removed and swapped for a new one for a relativly small price but with the W168 the MAF will eventually go the and it cant be swapped the MAF is linked with the ECU and requires that the whole ECU/MAF be changed costing near the £1000, i have seen one changed recently for just a bit over £900.

i know its not a complete guarantee that the MAF will fail.. but theres a very high chance it will out of my 4 benzes that i have owed 3 of them have had MAFs fail..

just my 2 cents

Hey,all input is good input and helps to form an overall considered judgment at the end of the day, so thanks for this....

 

[wemorgan]

At the time we also looked at the A2's but much smaller inside.

The disadvantage of the Audi A2 is that it only came in 1 wheelbase format and the most powerful petrol engine was only a 1.6 FSI (110PS). This made the A-class 210AMG a very unique car and worthy consideration, if you need a small but flexible warm-hatch.

 

[Sonny Burnett]

There is a company that fixes them and provides a 2yr warranty.

Bert Rowe's-Mercedes-Benz 'A'-class info. Mass Air Flow/ECU problems and the alternative to purchasing a new unit costing £1200.00 + Fitting from Mercedes-Benz, Special discounts available to readers of this site on guaranteed repairs.

damn thats a good.. piece of information.. cheers mate

 

[A210AMG]

Over the past several cars I have owned I have joined forums. Now what I tend to see is that people do jump on the band wagon over cars.

People may have heared people that have heared people that have had problems with certain models. With any car its bound to happen. Look at the brand new E-class. Its seems that many time this seems to escalate and make a problem seem much worse.

Anyway it is best to hear off people that have actually bought the car in question and ran it.

Then obviously you need to view / test the car for yourself. I agree its no 'proper' merc but in LWB form its a very handy little car and rare more so than anything similar.

Keep us updated with what you think.

 

[Sonny Burnett]

i tihnk its a great little car and would own it over say a brand new mini or something such the same like a fiat, or a little audi hatch... all day id take the 210 amg..

 

[Matt32AMG]

Just a quick update...
I'm still waiting to view and test the car in question, hopefully this weekend if the clutch has been sorted
I'll keep you posted and hopefull post some pictures.