A class info

[Maxi4]

Guys - need some info on the A class (not the newest one out just now, but the previous model - 169??). Looking to get one of these for the better half, she doesnt like the newest model anyway, so going for the older one. We looked at both Peterol and Diesels, she will do around 5K miles a year, so not fussed with either. I would prefer a diesel, just because Ive got used the oil burners. We are looking at cars from 08 onwards.
Questions that I have are:
1. Do all diesels (08 and later) have DPF?
2. Petrol vs diesel models, whats differnt in these (apart from the obvious)
3. I rather like low mileage models (bet 10-20K), i feel like the higher milage ones may have issues that I may need to fix in the next 1-2 yrs. Am I right to be worried? whats a good cieling for milage that I should be looking at?
BTW budget is 9-10K, although I may spend a bit extra for the right model.

Thanks all

Pete

 

[kingdave]

Hi Pete,
We've got on very well with our W169 bought approved used as an ex demo/staff car at 8 months old in late 2010.
No significant problems to speak of, but we're still < 30k miles and 3.5 years old.
Best advice is to drive some to get a feel of petrol vs diesel. The 160 cdi is bit gutless at motorway speeds, but it's our efficient town car for my wife to ferry the kids around in and for that it works perfectly.
The forums seem pretty quiet on these cars - either that means that noone who would want to chat online about them buys them or there are no real problems surfacing yet. There are stories of door corrosion which you'll avoid with the age you're looking at.
Cheers,
Dave

 

[Maxi4]

Thanks for that Dave. I was looking at the 160 too. What is your real world MPG figure on the CDI?
Pete

 

[kingdave]

Hi Pete,
Delayed while running the numbers from my book... 2013 so far over 5421 miles we've bought 554 litres of diesel which is 44.2 mpg by my calculation. This is pretty much all round town driving.

Calculating brimful to brimful best we sometimes see more like 53 mpg, I'm not generally concerned about fuel and don't hang about.
Cheers,
Dave