A-Class [Official] Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176)

[Zafiro]

What is making me nervous though are the extremely disparate reviews, with some complaining about high levels of road noise and a ride that is borderline harsh. But it seems that this is the case of vehicles fitted with 17 or 18 inch runflats. So i've put the question to the dealer if our A250's will come with runflats or standard tyres. If I recall the spec sheet at the dealership correctly, our 250's are getting standard tyres. I really hope I get to test drive the vehicle before I pick mine up, which will be in Victoria incidentally.

Replacing run-flats to normal tyres are easy I did it with my 1-series.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

It's an expensive exercise here with a set of 4 18" tyres costing $1500-$2000 easily. Also what did you do about a spare Just Me? Did you notice a big improvement in ride and noise?

 

[Zafiro]

I got a Mobility-Kit from BMW.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Genui...ressor-Mobility-Kit-71100415035-/170888275190

My runflats only lasted one summer then I had to replace with Goodyear F1 Asymmetric. After I replaced my tyres the car did get a better ride and the car felt better when taking a fast corner, not as stiff as my runflats. My wintertyres are still runflats though.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I got a Mobility-Kit from BMW.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Genui...ressor-Mobility-Kit-71100415035-/170888275190

My runflats only lasted one summer then I had to replace with Goodyear F1 Asymmetric. After I replaced my tyres the car did get a better ride and the car felt better when taking a fast corner, not as stiff as my runflats. My wintertyres are still runflats though.

Wow, a set of tyres only lasting one summer. Did you notice an improvement in road noise?

 

[Zafiro]

Wow, a set of tyres only lasting one summer. Did you notice an improvement in road noise?

I honestly don't remember, its almost 5 years since I made the change. I know I wrote my impressions here when I made the change but I can't find my post.
They say runflats have become better in time but if I have the choice I'll be better without runflats.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Well I recall you writing recently that when you test drove the new F20 you thought there was more road noise than in your current vehicle. This may be the runflats again.

 

[Zafiro]

Well I recall you writing recently that when you test drove the new F20 you thought there was more road noise than in your current vehicle. This may be the runflats again.

That or bad isolation. I've driven some new cars and many of them are noisy. Seem to be pattern with new cars.

 

[alebonau]

Great link! Externally the 250 sport will be pretty much the same except for the red srtripes front and rear, which will barely be noticeable on a red car, the blacked out side mirrors and different alloys and grill.

You and I appear to be in the exact same situation. I was so tempted by a 125i M sports in Estoril Blue because I could get the car immediately, but even after I specified an A250 Sport with all the options' Command, AMG Exclusive and Driver Assistance Package ,it would still be $10K cheaper than a BMW with much less equipment. Furthermore the interior of the BMW just seemed to lack the WOW factor the Benz appears to have.

What is making me nervous though are the extremely disparate reviews, with some complaining about high levels of road noise and a ride that is borderline harsh. But it seems that this is the case of vehicles fitted with 17 or 18 inch runflats. So i've put the question to the dealer if our A250's will come with runflats or standard tyres. If I recall the spec sheet at the dealership correctly, our 250's are getting standard tyres. I really hope I get to test drive the vehicle before I pick mine up, which will be in Victoria incidentally.

hi mr merc, I thought speaking to dealer here, was run flats for the a250. as they are standard item on all mercs and bmws these days. the dealer did say they will be 2nd gen run flats and they are not like run flats of old with their issues. keep in mind if you get the command pack where a space saver might go is where the sub and amp goes. so you'll end up carrying a can of foam instead ! I hate those cans of foam ! if you do get to confirm this with the dealer let us know

with regard ride on the a250, keep in mind anything with amg and running low profile 18" wheels is going to be pretty stiff and taught in its ride. It wouldnt have its sporty handling otherwise and imagine amg gone through a bit of trouble to tune the cars handling on the tyres supplied. That said from all accounts the a250 is well insulated from road noise etc. so I have my hopes up.

yes was a bit shocked how expensive the 125i was getting trying to spec upto a250 level. and agree while the 125i I felt a nice car overall, the interior is a bit dissapointing run of the mill for the car costing what it is !

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Hello again Ale. I was at the dealer again today and confirmed that the Australian A250 Sport does indeed NOT have runflats and instead will have a Tyrefit repair kit. This was specifically noted on the spec sheet the dealer has. It's not yet available online. I'm happy about this as I think the combination of sports suspension and ruflats would have been too hard for my liking.

If the dealers representations are accurate these A is selling fast and the A250 is proving the most popular. Have you ordered a vehicle yet?

Have you read any specific reviews relating to the A250 and road noise?

 

[alebonau]

that is good to hear mr merc, thanks for confirming. It certainly opens up the options tyre wise ! and yes pleased to hear as well

I too have heard the a250s particularly are proving very popular. am keen to get one too, but I do wish can drive one or atleast see in the metal !

re reviews only this one from topgear mentioning what it is like to drive, and that it is apparently "cosetting" and how quiet it is etc. but this was the a200, not sure if the a250 is different animal ! though am sure I did read someplace the a250 wasnt an out and out raw hot hatch as some can be,

http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/First-drive-the-new-Mercedes-A-Class-2012-06-27

So what's it like to drive?
Mercedes-ish. In a good way. If you're after a lithe, snappy rival to the BMW 1-Series, look elsewhere: Mercedes has taken quite a different tack. The A-Class feels brilliantly solid and expensive: not bulky, just superbly built and cosseting.

In the cabin, you're isolated from the outside world to an astonishing degree. Road and wind noise are near non-existent, the A-Class hushing along like a far bigger, pricier machine. Bumps are absorbed expertly, miles are devoured like plankton by a big... metal whale. That metaphor sort of unravelled as it went along, didn't it?
It is very, very quiet though. We mainly drove the mid-range A200 CDI, a 1.8-litre diesel, and kept bashing it into the rev limiter. Not because the four-cylinder diesel is particularly low-revving, but because you're so insulated from its chunter that you've no idea it's reaching its redline.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Some dealers are willing to order you a vehicle and sell it to someone else If you don't like it once you've had a chance to look at a demo and drive it. So that might be worth considering. That's the arrangement I have in place.

I did read the review, but there have ben numerous reviews slamming the car for its ride quality and road noise. But they seem to be A's with the 17 and 18 inch runflats.

 

[alebonau]

thats good to know mr merc, there is also the statuatory cooling off period we have where can walk away if think if made a mistake

below a local review specific for the amg sport / engineered by amg model we're gettting, and mentions stickier non-runflats...

Engineered with help from AMG, the A 250 Sport is a very different machine from the cooking model A, and even the not-for-Australia standard 250 with which it shares its base engine.

There's a unique front suspension set-up that adds almost 3 degrees of camber (from the standard car's +1 to -1.8) and a thicker antiroll bar (25mm v 23). At the rear the roll bar is upgraded too and geometry changes reduce roll steering for a more neutral feel at high levels of commitment. Stickier non-runflat tyres are also fitted.

http://www.carpoint.com.au/reviews/...ss/mercedes-benz-a-250-sport-quick-spin-31167

 

[alebonau]

ps though the mb sites a250 shots in red look a little computer generated I do still like the way the a250 looks in red

 

[twistedlifestyle]

They are computer generated or they're shot in a studio and placed into the picture. I've seen Porsche and BMW do this before. Those photos are shot here in Cape Town and I've not seen the new A Class here yet.

example:

 

[Kdcorp]

Hello,
Long time lurker, first time posting
Got an A250 Sport order (in cosmos black) so thanks for posting those pics Wolfgang, first time is see some real pics of a black Sport version!

Wondering if anyone has any pics of a Mountain Gray one, as hesitating to change!
Also looking for any vid/recording of the A250 Sport sound..

Many thanks, and keep the pics coming!!

 

[Giannis]

Congrats on your order Kdcorp! I hope we'll read more from you now that you started posting

 

[Kdcorp]

Congrats on your order Kdcorp! I hope we'll read more from you now that you started posting

Sure will, car ETA only in April 2013

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Hello,
Long time lurker, first time posting
Got an A250 Sport order (in cosmos black) so thanks for posting those pics Wolfgang, first time is see some real pics of a black Sport version!

Wondering if anyone has any pics of a Mountain Gray one, as hesitating to change!
Also looking for any vid/recording of the A250 Sport sound..

Many thanks, and keep the pics coming!!

Hi Kd. Congratulations on the order. Where do you live? Have you had a chance to test drive the vehicle?

I'd love to see more pictures in Cosmos black. If it's anything like magnetite black it will be awesome.

 

[Wolfgang]

I'd love to see more pictures in Cosmos black. If it's anything like magnetite black it will be awesome.

An A250 SPORT in cosmos black metallic

RED CUT leather

http://www.motor-talk.de/bilder/det...mantgrill-g52885171/red-cut-1-i205711064.html

 

[Kdcorp]

Hi Kd. Congratulations on the order. Where do you live? Have you had a chance to test drive the vehicle?

I'd love to see more pictures in Cosmos black. If it's anything like magnetite black it will be awesome.

Hi Mr Mercedes, thx, looking forward to it.
I'm in Switzerland, and seems Swiss market isn't getting much love from Mercedes as my order of Sept 28th is only scheduled for production on third 3 of April 2013. That being said, I've been hearing there's been lots of early deliveries, so I'm crossing my fingers

I haven't tested the A250 sport yet, but did test the A200 BE, A200 cdi and A250 BE, no surprise that I liked the extra kick the 211hp engine offers

Meanwhile, i'm feeding on pictures, forums, reading manuals, playing with the online configurator...and calling up my dealership to add options every second day (to the point where I've ran out of options to add..)

Only black A250 Sport pics I've found are Wolfgang's (Passion MB ones)


And a black A200 cdi youtube video here

Not sure if these are the "cosmos" black or normal black, but I like it! (even though mountain gray looks sweet too)