A in Class - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dtanesq · #1 09-03-2002, 08:15 PM

Just spent a week in Scotland and saw a number of the little A-Class cars wandering around St. Andrews. Pretty nifty looking little vehicle. I wonder how it drives. If one were available here, it might make Honda go screaming for the hills. (Before I get flamed for that - I mean it in the best possible way - if it were available here and affordable - no reason why it wouldn't be affordable, it would blow the sales door off of the Civic or other little econo coupes...)

Question for those of you who live or spend significant time in the UK. We noticed that a fair number of traffic control signs appear on BOTH sides of the roads there. Here, speed limit signs, etc., appear only on the right side of the roads. Do the signs go on both sides because there are a fair number of drivers from left-hand drive countries wandering your roads, or has it always been that way? Curious. I enjoyed roaming the little roads around St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Crail (you can guess why I was there....) Beautiful country and I also greatly enjoy the south of England...

Holson Adi · #2 09-03-2002, 08:45 PM

I wish I had a camera but while crawling on Storrow Dr. heading to Cambridge I saw an A190 with AMG add-ons on the right hand side of the road exiting (probably being smart unlike me)
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I was like "ain't that car illegal in the US?"

but yes I am very very sure that it was an A190 Mercedes.

timhcollins · #3 09-06-2002, 02:35 PM

My father lives in the UK and has an A Class, A160 Elegance from memory. It has needed total suspension replacement (under warranty but was in the shop for a week)

I have driven it extensively when visiting. Interesting Manumatic (clutchless manual) transmission highlights an otherwise very ordinary driving experience in my opinion. Many better small cars on the market in Europe with better build quality than the A Class. It would need to be in the shop for months to quieten the squeaks and rattles.

He also has a 2002 ML 270CDI (Diesel) I eagerly looked forward to driving it as a comparison with my wife's 99 ML320. What a disappointment. The ML 270CDI is slow and noisy throughout the rev range and under any driving conditions.

Our 99 ML320 is a much better drive and a lot quieter under all conditions, as well as having something happening when you push the gas pedal!

99 ML320
98 Range Rover

jsmith · #4 09-06-2002, 03:45 PM

you can own and drive a A class in the US, but it has to be through a diplomatic passport or something like that. they can't be titled here because they are "illegal", just like those smart cars which was a topic for discussion some time back. i'm a sucker for zippy little cars, just not the run of the mill types (like a civic). BTW that's me beside an A in my avatar pic

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