Best first Mercedes

[ChrisEdu]

My son is on the graduate management scheme at Enterprise. In his role he gets to drive lots of different cars. His favourite, so far, has been the A-class. As such, he's thinking about saving to buy an A200d (newer shape) in several months' time.

However, he's interested to hear what the hive mind thinks would make the best first Mercedes for him to buy. Budget would be approx £7.5k-£10k. He wants something reliable, not with a stellar milage, and automatic, preferably a 2L due to insurance.

What does everyone think? Should he go A-class, or would a C or even E be a better choice, or something else?

 

[HappytalkAgain]

A fun A Class whilst he’s young enough to look cool. Plenty of time for older boring C & E Classes.

 

[liamt]

My first Mercedes was an A200d albeit the W176 which I bought when I was 26. I then had two W205 C Classes which were both excellent. I've now got an A35 and don't really miss the room the C Class offers like I thought I would. If he isn't going to be regularly ferrying people around in the back or needs the bigger boot space, I'd go for the A Class.

 

[ALFAitalia]

No Mercedes should get its power down through the front wheels IMO!.....so it's C from me. Personally it would be an E....but as he is considering an A I'm guessing he wont need anything like that big a car.
Front wheels for steering, rear wheels for driving, anything else is for shopping.........
.......says the man currently driving his first FWD car in about 20 years!....but it's not a Merc.

 

[Piff]

Deffo A class. Good starting point to progress through the ranks in future years

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Definitely A class. Forget the C, he's not there yet.

A modest engine is fine and worth the insurance saving when he has such bills to pay

Can he source them through Enterprise?

Why doesn't he want....

 

[ChrisEdu]

He was saying, only this evening, how smooth the A-class was.

He has some Qashqui(sp?) thing for a trip to the home of Ali G tomorrow.

I suggested he considered a SLK, as he might find they'd have a lower milage generally being a toy car.

Any issues with Renault engines in Mercs?

 

[liamt]

He was saying, only this evening, how smooth the A-class was.

He has some Qashqui(sp?) thing for a trip to the home of Ali G tomorrow.

I suggested he considered a SLK, as he might find they'd have a lower milage generally being a toy car.

Any issues with Renault engines in Mercs?

My Mam has a 72 plate A Class and it is really nice and comfortable, I'd try going for an AMG Line if the budget allows as they look smarter than the sport in my opinion. Regarding the Renault engines, these were removed from 2021 onwards. The diesels now have the 2 litre Om654q engine which is the same as the C and E Class. The Q designation stand for quer (placed transversely) to fit into front wheel drive cars.

 

[rayaans]

Itd be the C class as a minimum for me.

If it has to be an A class then the petrol ones are better IMO and reasonably refined.

Having said that I'd skip the A class and get the new A3. Much better in almost all areas apart from maybe inferior "ambiance"

 

[Chrishazle]

The first generation A class is one to avoid like the plague. I had one once as a one way rental from the Humber to Ashford, scared the living daylights out of me. Many years ago, now consigned to history. Insurance is going to be a big decider here, maybe a more sedate C/CLK until he can get decent insurance in something more interesting.

 

[ChrisEdu]

My Mam has a 72 plate A Class and it is really nice and comfortable, I'd try going for an AMG Line if the budget allows as they look smarter than the sport in my opinion. Regarding the Renault engines, these were removed from 2021 onwards. The diesels now have the 2 litre Om654q engine which is the same as the C and E Class. The Q designation stand for quer (placed transversely) to fit into front wheel drive cars.

He won't be getting anything anywhere near as new as 2021!

 

[Smiley]

Any issues with Renault engines in Mercs?

I don't know too much about the Renault engines but it would seem to me to be asking for future problems when buying manufacturer A car with competing manufacturer B engine - parts availability from A or B, is it 100% A or mostly A with some ancillaries added by B? It would not be so bad if the engine supplier was from Toyota or Honda where there is a good chance it will not need any parts or go wrong - but a Renault engine in a MB? I would not even consider it.

 

[ALFAitalia]

The real killer for me on the A class is the very oppressive all black (including headlining) interior thars makes a smallish far feel very claustrophobic....if they ever built one with a light inferior we could not find one....it's the only reason my wife did not change and stuck with her w169.

 

[noogieman]

Any non rustbucket Merc is a good buy.
Finding a rust free car is a whole different thing.