Vs 2013 Audi A3 vs Mercedes A Class vs Volkswagen Golf group test - What Car?
- Thread starter JHF
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Poor little Merc, it seems it drives as crap as it looks, the Audi interior is a masterclass.
Badge snobbery plays a big part at this price bracket, especially if it's a company car like it was for our manager. He flatly refused to even consider the Golf despite every review stating it to be far superior to the A-class, on it's own the A-class seems decent enough but after driving the new Golf again that was on loan while the son's Polo was in getting a repair I'm more convinced than ever that he picked the wrong car and by a country mile.
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- Derek
Seems like your Polo has more than its fair share of issues. As a manager, shouldn't he be the one looking after the company's budget and be more rational and economical with his choice of vehicle?
I think I know how to handle my business affairs better than anyone as it is my company he's working for, the leasing deals were within a few pounds of each other so I left it to him to chose which he preferred, the main manager chose an A5 coupe and was given similar freedom.
As for the son's Polo having issues, well this has been the first one and I hardly think a drip of water occasionally from the driver's seal when it rains is a biggie but did require them holding the car for a couple of days to make sure which is why the loan car.
mini_cooper4
Autotechnik Ace
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Another review telling the truth about the HA-Class 
It's just what it is... less practical, ride is not on par either, cheap interior and there's a lot more.
The badge is where it shines and what sells it
It's just what it is... less practical, ride is not on par either, cheap interior and there's a lot more.
The badge is where it shines and what sells it
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The badge is where it shines and what sells it
Same goes for the propeller brand.
I've yet to see a Bimmer not be there or there abouts in any comparison unlike the A-class which hasn't been close. Mercedes make some of the best cars at any price but on this occasion they dropped the ball and are hoping brand image is enough.
Human
You. The Road. Nothing else.
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- Naas
LOL. Levi
A3's Cabin quality alone really sh!ts on M-B's balance in their brand portfolio's quality/Premium perceptions. I mean W222 vs A-class, can they really, honestly be from the same maker or is the A-class (development and engineering) secretly outsourced to say....Renault?
A3's Cabin quality alone really sh!ts on M-B's balance in their brand portfolio's quality/Premium perceptions. I mean W222 vs A-class, can they really, honestly be from the same maker or is the A-class (development and engineering) secretly outsourced to say....Renault?
Gianclaudio
Aerodynamic Artisan
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LOL. Levi
A3's Cabin quality alone really sh!ts on M-B's balance in their brand portfolio's quality/Premium perceptions. I mean W222 vs A-class, can they really, honestly be from the same maker or is the A-class (development and engineering) secretly outsourced to say....Renault?
Another review telling the truth about the HA-Class
It's just what it is... less practical, ride is not on par either, cheap interior and there's a lot more.
The badge is where it shines and what sells it
I really couldn't put any better. I was shocked at the A class quality and price (at least in my country). An A class here starts over 43k us dollars, whereas an A3 starts at 33k and Renault Megane (to name a non premium, european offer) is at 24k. Whoevers pays 20k more for an A class over a Megane is quite simply a badge snob. The A3 interior on the other hand... wow
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Agreed. The a class interior is beyond terrible. Cheap materials, ugly design and lousy put together. By far the worst 'premium' interior coming from Germany right now.
And the A3 is looking better every time I see one. Fantastic little car. Best in segment if 1er wasn't there. The driving alone makes the 1er an instant winner.
And the A3 is looking better every time I see one. Fantastic little car. Best in segment if 1er wasn't there. The driving alone makes the 1er an instant winner.
Whilst I'm not a huge fan of the 'floating sceen' design used by BMW because I don't really see the point in not integrating it if it doesn't fold away but at least it's a well constructed unit and compliments the overall design of the dash, the one in the A-class REALLY does look like an after-thought where they've run down to Halfords and picked the cheapest they could find. When they got it's looks right and they really did, would it not have been worth going the extra mile and fitting it with an interior worthy of the brand and while they were at it develop the chassis as well.
What good enough for a Kia isn't anywhere near good enough at this price bracket. IMO it just shows how little care or desire they want to be in this sector.
What good enough for a Kia isn't anywhere near good enough at this price bracket. IMO it just shows how little care or desire they want to be in this sector.
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- Martin
Has anyone fiddled with the plastic trim surround for the instrument (clocks) binnacle on the A-Class. I have seen more solid fit and securing in my Tupperware WRX. Horrid. Merc's console buttons feel the cheapest of the trio too. My opinion is this:
The A3 murders the segment in terms of overall perceived quality in terms of primary surfacing material texture, detailing trim quality and trim panel tightness-of-fit. The new A3 interior is let down by rotary control dials that just don't feel as well put-together as those in the previous generation car, buttons that seem slightly flimsier and the circular air vent quality of materials and operation which, feels cheap.
The F20 has good eye-level material perceived quality and its cabin controls feel robust and well damped. The 1er is let down by the less than good quality of the out-of-the-way surfaces and the cheap-feeling gearknob on manual models.
The A7 Golf's interior can't be faulted at its price point - it feels solid, is nice to touch in most places and the switchgear feels pretty good to use too. Only criticisms from my part is the slightly staid shape of the dashboard and the less-than-solid feeling, metallic look hangdown console trim in cheaper models.
The A-Class' interior is the biggest let down here and is in stark contrast with what the brand traditionally espouses even though it's not the first time than an A-Class has had a cabin of dubious quality.
The A3 murders the segment in terms of overall perceived quality in terms of primary surfacing material texture, detailing trim quality and trim panel tightness-of-fit. The new A3 interior is let down by rotary control dials that just don't feel as well put-together as those in the previous generation car, buttons that seem slightly flimsier and the circular air vent quality of materials and operation which, feels cheap.
The F20 has good eye-level material perceived quality and its cabin controls feel robust and well damped. The 1er is let down by the less than good quality of the out-of-the-way surfaces and the cheap-feeling gearknob on manual models.
The A7 Golf's interior can't be faulted at its price point - it feels solid, is nice to touch in most places and the switchgear feels pretty good to use too. Only criticisms from my part is the slightly staid shape of the dashboard and the less-than-solid feeling, metallic look hangdown console trim in cheaper models.
The A-Class' interior is the biggest let down here and is in stark contrast with what the brand traditionally espouses even though it's not the first time than an A-Class has had a cabin of dubious quality.
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Levi have you seen the interior of the A-Class? Have you noticed that the A-Class screen is designed similarly to the one from the 1er? Both cars have a "floating LCD screen".
Yes I have. Mercedes was very stupid by wanting to compy BMW, and doing even worse, with a fixed "removable" TomTom Go screen. That A Class is interior is of worse quality, doesn't make the 1 Series' interior any good. Design only, without navi screen, A Class is better. Good that the 1 Series' driving dynamics compensate that ugly interior, not the exterior however. 2 Series will only suffer with that interior, good its exterior is now "fixed".
Human
You. The Road. Nothing else.
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- Naas
Why don't you just try for once at being factual? Stay with reality and stop making accusations you simply cannot proof.
How? Let me show you how. Take a normal household measuring tape (and Caliper if you have one) go visit the Premium German car dealer showroom and take your time. Feel, knock, lightly scratch with your finger nails. every surface from seat bottom trim to the cars roof lining, the dash, switchgear and HVAC control opertion etc. Those 'nasty' surfaces you measure to compare later with the oppositions offerings. I use my Blackberry 9900 Bold to take photos, make voice notes and use the calculator for per square cm, measuring.
Martinbo was correct with the F20's cabin and me without the fanboy, bias, non-bias BS, gives the F20 thumbs-up for being Premium regarding the cabin in it's respective segement and price range. So you KIA day dream is fictional BS. The A-class comes the nearest to the Koreans and nor the Audi or BMW F20 comes even close at being nearly that bad.
Some may think I am a brainless idiot, nevertheless this f-en idiot does do his homework thoroughly
I am not going to clutter this thread with hundreds of photos. But here is an example of a photo I took with my phone whilst inspecting the new A-class at my local dealer. Some things just do not need measuring or licking, just good o'l eyes.
Pay attention to the inner door rubber and how it overlaps with the inner B-pillar hard plastic trim, this can be bought from your local Aftermarket Automotive Retailer, also the exposed paint is Renault, Golf, KIA (see What Car video also) not Premium and below KIA quality currently in use.
This ^ can't be the little brother of the W222, no-way! Yet the badge says otherwise.
Zafiro
Supreme Roadmaster
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This can't be the little brother of the F10!
The A may be close to the Koreans, but even the Koreans know better than this.
As far I know, BMW rust issues been taken care of.
