Vs Poll: BMW 1er vs. Audi A3 vs. MB A-Class

[Sunny]

Screw the 1er exterior, this is what makes it tempting.



Though I am not sure about the LEDs on the steering wheel.

 

[K-A]

I don't have a 3er interior pic handy, but based on my remembrance from sitting in the F30, that looks eerily familiar to it. I guess for 1 buyers it's indeed a good thing.

 

[martinbo]

Well, let's be quite frank: as an outright driver's tool, M135i over anything still to come out of the new A3 or A-Class ranges. Great body, pity about the face - and that's really all the criticism that can be levelled at the 1er.

The A3 is magic - a really thorough evolution of the theme and a great car to buy. It's the Merc A-Class that I see nothing remarkable in. To me it's most ironic that the marque synonymous with class and elegance (vis a vis C-Class, E-Class+Coupe, CLS, S etc) would produce the most "youthfully oriented" car in the class.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Well, let's be quite frank: as an outright driver's tool, M135i over anything still to come out of the new A3 or A-Class ranges. Great body, pity about the face - and that's really all the criticism that can be levelled at the 1er.

The A3 is magic - a really thorough evolution of the theme and a great car to buy. It's the Merc A-Class that I see nothing remarkable in. To me it's most ironic that the marque synonymous with class and elegance (vis a vis C-Class, E-Class+Coupe, CLS, S etc) would produce the most "youthfully oriented" car in the class.

It's because of this image of 'elegance and class' that they have to try the hardest to attract the 'youth'. It's common knowledge the average age of an MB buyer is notably higher than that of BMW or AUDI. MB knows this. They also know they have to attract buyers into the fold at a younger age if they have any hope of achieving poll position. No 18 year old would pine after the previous A or B-class, and there were no cars in the range accessible or appealing to them, yet I’m certain many would openly aspire to 'one day' owning a Mercedes. I can't even count how many times I have had a conversation in which people have said, 'Oh I'd love to own a Mercedes, but only when I'm older.' And its because of this predicament we have the flamboyantly youthful, and perhaps slightly over the top, A-class. I love it and my wife wants it.

 

[fortuner]

Mmmmm Those LED on the steering wheel look like some kid decided to have fun and fitted some aftermarket crap....I think it would suite a Honda or some Japanese wanna be sports car not a German Brand...

 

[fortuner]

I am with Mr. Mercedes here..I agree that MB has done what they need to for the particular market and i think they should get 10/10 for planning,studying the market and implementing it the way it needs be...I have shown these pics to a few off my friends mostly younger then me i also have at as my BBM profile picture...I tell you what i have three cousins who are die hard BMW fans and the two off them admit MB has done a outstanding job the one who is 25 says he never ever dream he would buy a Mercedes but he says if this is what a Benz is he said i will definitely buy one he currently owns a 2008 year model 1 series hatchback he bought used two years back...Also mots off my friends on BBM are loving the car and all asking me when this car comes to SA...I always put car pictures on my BBM status yes always Mercedes i am a Fan boy as some say...I tell you the way people are responding to the Aclass especially the youngsters 20 to 30 i think Mercedes if prices are fair have hit the jackpot as i think K-A said the MB board room must be smiling from ear to ear in my view...

I just wished for me personally they had a more powerful diesel motor and also i cant wait to read the reviews...I would consider a A AMG but for daily use at like R11.00 a litre of petrol that will have to be really well thought of.

 

[Human]

By now well know fact that I like the A-class (only criticism from me is some plastic and the B-pillar saga - but that's me). Know no need to jump on me because of the opinion I am about to give.

I DON NOT view the A-class as a 'girly' car, but there is something jewel like in the AMG grille + the A-class has a 'softer' face than the A3 (let's leave F20's droopy eyes out of this - that is a love it or despise it design) my point being if I was a moody, progesterone factory that wears Prada and makeup from Esteè Lauder, out of the three A3,F20, A-class I'd also have the A-class it's a much better buy, with a much better badge and much better looking that say a Alfa Mito, MINI or A1 and more upscale...
Thus IMO the A-class could find it's biggest market in women, that could spell trouble for the well known competing brands as mentioned above.

 

[braaf]

By now well know fact that I like the A-class (only criticism from me is some plastic and the B-pillar saga - but that's me). Know no need to jump on me because of the opinion I am about to give.

I DON NOT view the A-class as a 'girly' car, but there is something jewel like in the AMG grille + the A-class has a 'softer' face than the A3 (let's leave F20's droopy eyes out of this - that is a love it or despise it design) my point being if I was a moody, progesterone factory that wears Prada and makeup from Esteè Lauder, out of the three A3,F20, A-class I'd also have the A-class it's a much better buy, with a much better badge and much better looking that say a Alfa Mito, MINI or A1 and more upscale...
Thus IMO the A-class could find it's biggest market in women, that could spell trouble for the well known competing brands as mentioned above.

It's funny you mention that cos I.M.O more women drive a 1 series than men.

 

[Tumbo]

Sure, its an improvment over the old one.
But I think we all easily agree (as we all talked about in the A3 thread) that the A3 interior blows anything else in this class away quite easlity, when it comes to the quality and design. It takes the whole thing to another level.

 

[martinbo]

Style-wise the new A3 interior murders both the F20 1er's and new A-Class'; and that's not to say that the latter two have bad interiors - not at all - it's just an indication of how good the Audi's is. Mind-blowing really.

 

[K-A]

It's because of this image of 'elegance and class' that they have to try the hardest to attract the 'youth'. It's common knowledge the average age of an MB buyer is notably higher than that of BMW or AUDI. MB knows this. They also know they have to attract buyers into the fold at a younger age if they have any hope of achieving poll position. No 18 year old would pine after the previous A or B-class, and there were no cars in the range accessible or appealing to them, yet I’m certain many would openly aspire to 'one day' owning a Mercedes. I can't even count how many times I have had a conversation in which people have said, 'Oh I'd love to own a Mercedes, but only when I'm older.' And its because of this predicament we have the flamboyantly youthful, and perhaps slightly over the top, A-class. I love it and my wife wants it.

I personally don't subscribe to the theory that people think M-B's are for older people in the sense that only older people desire M-B's. It couldn't be further from the truth. I've also seen studies that show BMW's as having just 1-2 year younger buyer averages.

What has been the case, is that M-B has been for WEALTHIER people, because they've always been seen as more upmarket, classy, and expensive. This is also why M-B is far more a Pop Culture "Dream Car" than any of its German competitors, Porsche included. Every Rap song, Movie, young rich Star has a Benz, talks about a Benz, etc.

It's a knee-jerk reaction to the logic that Benzes are only "coveted" by older people, when in reality, it's the opposite.

Proof of how powerful the M-B brand IS with youth, is how well this A-Class will do. And how well the C-Class does (I see just the same age demographic of people driving C's and 3's).

Ironically, I feel like the long term effects of M-B now *pandering* to youth is going to eventually decrease that "Dream Car" aspect that has youth "Wanting it when I'm older/wealthier". Sure, the new A is obviously desperate to get younger people to like it, but M-B never had to be desperate to get younger folk, the wealthy younger folk just would flock to them when they could afford it (i.e, listen to any Teenage Rap song or Pop Star and see what they drive/rep).

The way I see it, in the short term, the A will get a youthful attraction, however, this isn't a big deal for most car manufacturers, as getting young people coincides with building more economical and cheaper cars (i.e, young people drive Fords, Nissans, Honda's, etc. which makes it interesting as to M-B trying so hard as to move into their territories, albeit the business reasons are obvious), however in the long term, it can and will diminish M-B's presence as a "Dream Car" to work up to.

 

[south]

Sure, its an improvment over the old one.
But I think we all easily agree (as we all talked about in the A3 thread) that the A3 interior blows anything else in this class away quite easlity, when it comes to the quality and design. It takes the whole thing to another level.

Valid point about design. It remains to be seen however if the A3 interior's quality is actually better than the competition. A4 and A5 interiors as of late aren't that stunning in that regard.


Best regards,
south

 

[Levi68]

Mmmmm Those LED on the steering wheel look like some kid decided to have fun and fitted some aftermarket crap....I think it would suite a Honda or some Japanese wanna be sports car not a German Brand...

I think only Ferrari has LEDs on the steering wheel and maybe Honda.

 

[speed_kills]

A3 interior is boring, but for me interiores must be driver oriented.
In this segment I don't think that exists.

 

[fortuner]

I meant it looks so like tacky and like it was just added on i don't know maybe the angle off the picture...It just looks very cheap to me.

 

[Deckhook]

Valid point about design. It remains to be seen however if the A3 interior's quality is actually better than the competition. A4 and A5 interiors as of late aren't that stunning in that regard.


Best regards,
south

Disagree here, the 3 series is a new car with new interior design and the same is true for the face-lift C-class but in each case their interiors aren't any better than the design Audi release all those years ago. If anything with this latest A3 Audi has shown their has increased their gap and continue to be the best at interior design and finish.

I think if I owned an F20 and went into an Audi showroom and sat my ass in this new A3 I would feel properly short changed by BMW and royally pissed off.

 

[martinbo]

Disagree back. The A4/A5 interiors - especially the dashboards - are easily Audi's worst both visually and tactically. This has been corroborated by actual owners of these models here on GCF. But that's not what we're debating here...

Whilst I personally feel that the new A3's interior quality shames that of the B8 - both aesthetically(fact) and in tactility(educated guess) - only a good and proper real-life sniff around the inside will reveal the extent to which is it superior in quality to that of the 1er or A-Klasse. I have the feeling that it's another exceptional Audi interior from a quality and tactility point-of-view.

Using the A4/A5 as an example for comparison with the new F30 and W204 FL on the other hand is pointless because it's well behind them. Audi hit a wobble with that interior imo.

 

[Human]

Disagree here, the 3 series is a new car with new interior design and the same is true for the face-lift C-class but in each case their interiors aren't any better than the design Audi release all those years ago. If anything with this latest A3 Audi has shown their has increased their gap and continue to be the best at interior design and finish.

I think if I owned an F20 and went into an Audi showroom and sat my ass in this new A3 I would feel properly short changed by BMW and royally pissed off.

I posted so many posts about how good the new A3's interior is and it is, I may have actually overdone it. Also gave my honest opinion on the nasty bits that bothers me in the A-class.
And see this as you may, I am not and nor do I need to defend the F20's interior. There is absolutely nothing whatsoever wrong with the F20's interior nor dash or layout. For tactile quality from the hi-res pics it is clear and given the A3's perceived quality looks as to give the F20 a run for it's money BUT me I feel the driving position of the F20 who does not differ from the F30 that much. I feel @ home with familiar BMW's perfect ergonomics, layout and sporty cockpit architecture and the perceived quality in the new F20 is op to Naas Human's sickly and tiresome high standards, for this class (it can always be better BUT I will IRL find someting in the A3's materials [as I did with the A6/A7 @ JIMS IRL in that thread with photos] that will p!ss me of) the F20 is correct.

 

[Deckhook]

Well here's one GCF member who actually owned one and found the interior to first class with not problems what so ever either in design or quality and in my opinion it's still the match of the F30 and FL C-class.

 

[Tumbo]

I have spent a lot of time in a A4 Avant 2011 and yeah, I didnt fall in love with the interior at all. The plastics around the MMI screen, is the biggest fail.

To me, Audis less succesful interiors are: A4, A5, Q7

While the Q5, that builds on these interiors above, doesnt have those plastics, and feels much more solid and is a really amazing interior.

Still though, the new interiors of A1, A3, A6, A7 and A8, are perfections on totally another levels. They really show that Audi steps up even more, in what they already are best at: The interiors.