At present I've settled on a toss-up between a diesel A-class or a diesel golf. I quite like quirky and unusual, and hate the ordinary, which is why, I have to say, the Golf doesn't appeal to the heart very much...
Wassup with the A-Class, then?
The ones we run are all petrol so could be different as a derv, but they are very inefficient. The average in the office is 32mpg, the most light footed guy gets 35mpg. The Merc economy range (bluesomething), comes with stop start, but based on brim to brim tests it uses about 5 extra litres a week by having the econo turned on. Turn it off and you turn off stop start, saving fuel. Also save your battery, stop start in the winter kills the battery in no time.
For long drives the driving position and seats are unforgiving. I constantly hit my head on the sun visor when it is in its up position, which is annoying. Overall head and leg room leaves something to be desired and although it supposedly seats 5 adults, we struggle to get 4 in as we're all around 6ft.
The brakes behave more like a switch, you get nothing for ages then suddenly you're catapulted through the windscreen.
The power steering is far too sensitive to the point where it is numb. You can steer by blowing on the steering wheel.
One of them failed its first MoT Test because the drivers door indicator has died. But it turns out you cannot replace the bulbs, you need a whole new wing mirror. Unfortunately Merc cannot find any in the UK (the sets they did find was for a different model so had to be returned), it has to be special ordered from the factory so we have a car out of service until the part arrives.
As we replace the A-Classes we're going to Mitsubishi Lancer hatchbacks. Much nicer cars, get more miles per gallon, better driving position and we can fit more in them.
