AMG A class A21

[Howard]

Does anyone have specs / times for this ? I can't see how a bus like the A class can be considered 'quick' with 140 bhp ? #

It's called 'Evolution' because AMG didn't want their name anywhere near it , and MB had to somehow differentiate it from the lesser models ...

 

[hawk20]

Does anyone have specs / times for this ? I can't see how a bus like the A class can be considered 'quick' with 140 bhp ? #

It's called 'Evolution' because AMG didn't want their name anywhere near it , and MB had to somehow differentiate it from the lesser models ...

The A class gives a lot of people a lot of pleasure including me, my daughter and my brother. His March 2005 A160cdi has been faultless and has averaged 60 mpg from new.

The A class has a very low drag coefficient (CD around O.3) and is not unduly heavy. The Evolution version did 0-62 in about the same time as an S320cdi. Around 7.5 seconds. That is quick for a small car or even a big one. I owned an S320cdi and the acceleration was very good indeed. But when I drove the A200 turbo it felt a lot faster. Small cars going fast do feel faster IMO. In the S class even 100 could feel like a gentle potter.

AMG had better start re-thinking its pompous priorities as large petrol-engined cars are dropping off a cliff in the sales charts. Even BMW are saying it is questioning whether it is worth going on making V8s. And in October you will see the 500 dropped from at least one Mercedes model. And quite possibly the 350 too. Little bird told me.

 

[Howard]

The A class gives a lot of people a lot of pleasure including me, my daughter and my brother. His March 2005 A160cdi has been faultless and has averaged 60 mpg from new.

Sorry , which part of my statement said it didn't A) give a lot of people pleasure , B) said it has a lot of faults or C) had poor economy ?

I merely stated that AMG didn't want to be involved with making a hot hatch , as it went against their ethos and would dilute the brand name , not that the cars , per se , are crap ....

Mercedes A210 Evolution LWB Specifications.

Engine:

Engine Size:
2084cc

Number of Cylinders:
4

Number of Valves:
8

Power: HP:
140bhp

Power: Torque:
205 @ 4000rpm

Performance:

Times are the same for Short and Long Wheel Base.

Max Speed: (Mph) 127 (124 Auto)

0-100kph (62.5Mph) 8.2 (9.0 Auto)

8.2 seconds to 60 isn't quick ( in my eyes ) .... sorry ...

I know you're an eco crusader , but continually banging on about your views on large engined cars is wearing a little thin. There will always be people who want to drive large engined cars and you droning on about them isn't going to change their views..

I'm glad you like yours though.

 

[SportsCoupeRich]

If driven off a cliff ...

 

[SportsCoupeRich]

I reckon 8 secs would feel quick in a car you knew might flip on to its roof at any point....

 

[wemorgan]

I reckon 8 secs would feel quick in a car you knew might flip on to its roof at any point....

Mercedes are known for it

[YOUTUBE]rQbgSe9S54I[/YOUTUBE]

 

[hawk20]

Sorry , which part of my statement said it didn't A) give a lot of people pleasure , B) said it has a lot of faults or C) had poor economy ?

I know you're an eco crusader , but continually banging on about your views on large engined cars is wearing a little thin. There will always be people who want to drive large engined cars and you droning on about them isn't going to change their views..

I'm glad you like yours though.

1. Nowhere do I say that you had said the things in your first paragraph. Where do you think I did?
2. I am the opposite of an eco crusader. You clearly haven't read my posts or not properly. I have said often I do not believe anything we do in Britain will make any worthwhile difference to global warming.
3. I am not "against" large engines; I merely notice that they are fast disappearing in the sales charts. I also think that if car makers wish to be taken seriously in saying they are doing all that politicians have asked/forced them to do, then they should bring an end to the arms race. Fat overweight businessmen should not be sold 200 mph cars IMO. Nor do they make any sense with 70 mph speed limits the norm in Europe.

What you can fairly say is that I'm not a huge fan of people sneering at the A class. Two million sales are important to Mercedes and it is the safest and roomiest compact car and as such is important to many MB customers. We greatly enjoyed ours.

This is what was said when the 169 A200 turbo came out: -

The new Mercedes-Benz A 200 TURBO is the most powerful model in the compact A-Class, and rounds the model range off at the top end. With an output of 142 kW/193 hp, its new, up-to-date lightweight power unit with turbocharging and sodium-cooled exhaust valves is among the most powerful in its displacement class, and generates a maximum torque of 280 Newton metres which remains constant from just 1800 rpm. Accordingly the four-cylinder petrol unit guarantees outstanding performance characteristics. The A 200 TURBO takes just 7.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h from standstill and achieves a maximum speed of 228 km/h, yet its fuel consumption remains comparatively modest at 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres.
Like all the models in the A-Class, the new A 200 TURBO is available in a versatile five-door or three-door version.

 

[Howard]

It did that because it was too quick and it's engine was too big ...

Should have had a 1.6 L diesel , that would never have happened .

P.S. we weren't taking about the 200 turbo ( which is reasonably nippy ) , but about the A210 ( which isn't , and isn't an AMG )

I wasn't sneering at the A class , merely noting that AMG didn't want to be associated with it ...

But if fat overweight businessmen , who have the money , want to buy a 200mph car , who are you to tell them otherwise ? Its a free world

I actually quite like the A class , they're quirky.

 

[hawk20]

Mercedes are known for it

[YOUTUBE]rQbgSe9S54I[/YOUTUBE]

Because of the A class and the 'moose test' ESP has become standard in many small cars and saved thousands of lives. NCAP have rated ESP one of the greatest safety features of all time and called for it to become standard on all cars. The A class is far less likely to flip than most small cars as it has ESP standard. It also has adaptive damping.

The A class is the class leader in safety in the NCAP tests.

 

[verytalldave]

These are the performance figures for a MK1 Lotus Cortina.
Considered a VERY fast car in its day.......

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Performance:
Top speed (5700), mph: 100
Shifts (rpm) @ mph:
3rd to 4th (6100): 77
2nd to 3rd (6100): 51
1st to 2nd (6100): 33 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Acceleration:
0-30 mph, sec: 3.8
0-40 mph: 5.3
0-50 mph: 7.2
0-60 mph: 9.7
0-70 mph: 12.9
0-80 mph: 17.8
0-90 mph: 29.9
0-100 mph: n.a.
Standing 1/4 mile, sec: 17.6
Speed at end, mph: 80
Passing, 30-70 mph, sec: 9.1
[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The A210 in comparison is an absolute rocket.
[/FONT]

 

[Howard]

But there's 25 years between them , anything is going to be a rocket ... it's not a fair comparison ...

 

[hawk20]

But if fat overweight businessmen , who have the money , want to buy a 200mph car , who are you to tell them otherwise ? Its a free world
.

That is nonsense and I'm sure you know it. We can exercise our freedoms in so far as doing so does not interfere with the freedoms of others. But there are thousands of laws and regulations about what we can and cannot do when our freedoms affect others. Driving at excessive speeds can kill and often does. Driving huge engines at high speeds burns disproportionately more fuel in a world that will run short of fuel fairly soon -probably. So perhaps it makes sense for man to try to conserve fuel.

Then there is the whole global warming thing if you believe we can do much about it.

The faster the cars we sell, the more taxes we must pay so the police can buy cars to keep up with them. And the faster the car can go the more you feel tempted to try it out. Human nature. Certainly mine.

MB tried to get all to accept a 155 mph limit. But they all want to outdo each other. So now we have a 200 mph Golf. And a 180 mph cinquecento. A Lotus on sale in the USA that does 260 mph isn't it? It is madness. Nobody can legally use the speed. Even my estate does over 130mph. What harm would it really do if we limited all cars to (you choose) say 100 mph. At least joyriders could not make car chases quite so fast could they?

 

[hawk20]

These are the performance figures for a MK1 Lotus Cortina.
Considered a VERY fast car in its day.......

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Performance:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Top speed (5700), mph: 100[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Shifts (rpm) @ mph:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]3rd to 4th (6100): 77[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2nd to 3rd (6100): 51[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1st to 2nd (6100): 33 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Acceleration:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]0-30 mph, sec: 3.8[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]0-40 mph: 5.3[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]0-50 mph: 7.2[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]0-60 mph: 9.7[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]0-70 mph: 12.9[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]0-80 mph: 17.8[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]0-90 mph: 29.9[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]0-100 mph: n.a.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Standing 1/4 mile, sec: 17.6[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Speed at end, mph: 80[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Passing, 30-70 mph, sec: 9.1 [/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The A210 in comparison is an absolute rocket.[/FONT]

Well said indeed.

And my favourite statistic on how much faster cars are being made is the ever so sporty Ford Mustang (remember Steve McQueen in Bullitt in his Mustang and the best car chase of all time as some would have it). Well the 5.7 litre V8 Mustang did 0-60 in 10.8 seconds and had a top speed of about 116 mph. Almost exactly the same as my 180cdi diesel automatic A class. Boy have times changed.

 

[wemorgan]

Because of the A class and the 'moose test' ESP has become standard in many small cars and saved thousands of lives. NCAP have rated ESP one of the greatest safety features of all time and called for it to become standard on all cars. The A class is far less likely to flip than most small cars as it has ESP standard. It also has adaptive damping.

The A class is the class leader in safety in the NCAP tests.

My video was very much tongue in cheek

I'm a supporter of the A-class and similar class cars.

 

[hawk20]

My video was very much tongue in cheek

I'm a supporter of the A-class and similar class cars.

Fine. Just as well really because there is no doubt that politicians pushed by the green lobby are going to drive people into smaller cars. They will do so by fuel taxes (up next week again), by massively increasing VED on bigger engines (to 'repay all the govt debt' and 'to save the planet'), by increasing VAT especially after the election next year, and by having showroom taxes on new large engined cars.

In addition, petrol/diesel prices after the recession is over will rise to over 120p per litre quite fast and later to much higher levels and drive even more to smaller cars.

Already the saloon-type cars that have been Mercedes bread and butter for years (and which I love) have now dropped to only 13% of the market (just over 1 in 8 cars). Mercedes could not expect to survive long term unless it got into the hatchback market and others (4x4's etc).

 

[Howard]

Well we'll have to agree to disagree.

If you have the cash to buy something that is legally produced , whether it does 100 mph , 200 mph or 300 mph is entirely your prerogative.

Luckily we live in a society where we still have this option.

Soon we may ( unfortunately ) live in one where we are all forced to drive tiny small engined cars , due to the outspokeness of the green lobby and the apparent eagerness of the government to pander to their demands , but until then everyone has the right to decide what they want to drive.

 

[hawk20]

Well we'll have to agree to disagree.

If you have the cash to buy something that is legally produced , whether it does 100 mph , 200 mph or 300 mph is entirely your prerogative.

Luckily we live in a society where we still have this option.

Soon we may ( unfortunately ) live in one where we are all forced to drive tiny small engined cars , due to the outspokeness of the green lobby and the apparent eagerness of the government to pander to their demands , but until then everyone has the right to decide what they want to drive.

No need for me to disagree. With this new statement I entirely agree.
Just as I hope you agree that in a democracy the govt has the right to decide what we can and can't do.

 

[Vlad]

Back to the A210...story of its development is as follows.

Was developed by AMG, ie bodykit, revised suspension etc (no engine mods), exhaust etc, but they were not happy to put their name to it as it only produced 140bhp....MB themselves did not want to up the power as they were afraid it would start taking sales from other models, ie the relatively new C Class Coupe, and were aware that 140bhp through the front wheels on an A Class was probably enough, so they called it an Evo or Evolution instead of an AMG 210.

Produced in limited numbers in short wheel base and long wheel base and only available in Black or Silver and auto or manual....no semi auto as per other A's

Very costly when new ie a LWB model with some nice extras would come in at over £21k

My wife had one for three years, was completely reliable and was pretty good fun to drive, but torque steer was a problem when you put your foot down.

 

[Colin_b]

Well said indeed.

And my favourite statistic on how much faster cars are being made is the ever so sporty Ford Mustang (remember Steve McQueen in Bullitt in his Mustang and the best car chase of all time as some would have it). Well the 5.7 litre V8 Mustang did 0-60 in 10.8 seconds and had a top speed of about 116 mph. Almost exactly the same as my 180cdi diesel automatic A class. Boy have times changed.

I'm afraid your favourite statistic is either extremely selective, or complete rubbish. I once owned a 1969 Mustang 351 GT. In many ways it was a terrible car, but slow it wasn't (in a straight line). The only remaining auditable performance statistic I have from it is a record of it doing a 12.95 sec standing 1/4 mile at santa pod in about 1974. It would have been less with an LSD.

I suspect your 180 might just be a little slower, but much more economical (and 39 years newer).

 

[BTB 500]

Nor do they make any sense with 70 mph speed limits the norm in Europe.

The UK is virtually the only country with a 70 mph limit. In most other European countries it's 130 kph (80) or 120 kph (75).