Talk:Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Elk Test

The Elk Test failure paragraphs deserve their own section, rather than just be "lumped in" with the history of the vehicle. It was a very significant issue for the model and so should be highlighted. 94.175.102.211 (talk) 08:39, 6 April 2023 (UTC)

Dead or paywalled links

The section regarding the elk test failure of the A168 cites sources that either return a 404 or are behind paywalls. Also, it gives no explanation as to why the car failed the test. Odysseus Giacosa (talk) 06:25, 4 June 2021 (UTC)

Microcar?

A microcar ??? are you sure ?82.127.215.38 13:49, 19 Jun 2005 (UTC)

200.114.235.246

Dont worry that was me...on the table, switching mm to m...--Zzzzzzus 13:23, 26 October 2005 (UTC)zzzzzzus (shitEXP4... ok... dont tell me the internal links are Case Sensitive... the previous modifications were mine (included the big tables one) dont worry)... Yes, were case sensitive...--Zzzzzzus 13:30, 26 October 2005 (UTC)zzzzzzus

The Grammar In This Article Is Terrible

Mmmhmm...my guess is it was written by non-native speakers? I'll mark it in my watchlist to clean up some timeJD79 01:47, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

• Have worked through it as a first re-write. I think it now reads OK.Kcordina 14:02, 7 December 2005 (UTC)

I've done final fixes; should be okay. John Broughton 20:09, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

Should the timeline be in this article?

The Mercedes-Benz timeline for the 1980s through 2000s is from a common source (template); it's not unique to this article. Given that only the two top lines of the template are relevant to the article, should it really be here? (It takes up a lot of space, and is redundant.) Why not just mention that a complete timeline/listing of M-B models is available in the main M-B article? John Broughton 20:10, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

• I agree - all of the relevent information in the time-line is given in the introduction paragraph, I think it should go. Kcordina 00:11, 10 December 2005 (UTC)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=703598819723568&set=o.22893372268&type=1&theater&notif_t=like

W169 table

Information for A 200 and A 200 Turbo seems to be mixed up. 212.50.159.80 11:48, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=703598819723568&set=o.22893372268&type=1&theater&notif_t=like — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.83.109.54 (talk) 12:45, 5 October 2014 (UTC)

The A-Class is not a supermini!!!

I am editing this article, because the A-Class is not a B-segment supermini as the article states, it is actually a C-segment small family car.

It is a direct competitor for the likes of a VW Golf, Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series. The wheelbase is more or less the same length as a Golf and its both taller and wider than a Golf. The interior space is bigger than all three aforementioned cars. In the UK the pricing is similar to its competitors, and the engine lineup (80bhp base A160CDI model through to 200bhp A200Turbo) is an almost perfect match for a Golf which also has an 80bhp base model and 210bhp top end model (GTI).

The only part of this car which is supermini in any way is its exterior length, but that is not what a car is classed by as officialy the wheelbase and interior space are what we use to put cars into different classes.

Just to get some backup on this, I will provide some links to other motoring websites which clearly show the market segment of the A-Class:

4car - http://www.channel4.com/4car/rt/mercedes/a-class/237/2 - 'Category - Small Family'

Top Gear - http://www.topgear.com/uk/mercedes-benz/a-class - Rivals; A3, Golf, Focus, 147, 1-series, Golf Plus

Whatcar - http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews-by-type.aspx?RG=2 - Note how the A-Class is listed under family cars

Yahoo - http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/mercedes-a-class-range-1004055.html - "In trying to pinpoint direct rivals of the Mercedes A-Class, its easy to end up in a bit of a muddle. The obvious candidates are BMWs 1-Series and Audis A3 which, together with the A-Class, constitute the most affordable way of putting a new premium-badged German car on your driveway. If you take all that badge equity bit out of the equation though, the A-Class has more in common with slightly larger five-seater compact MPVs like Fords C-MAX and Renaults Scenic."

Major (or should I say mini) stub

There is more data on the A-Class article than on this article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.127.254.23 (talk) 03:21, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

Segment

Guys, A-klasse is not a small family car aka C-segment. Initially, A-klasse belonged to A-segment. Soon, a long whellbase version was offered that moved it to the B-segment. The 2nd generation, was longer so it belongs to B-segment. One thing for sure, A-klasse is not a C-segment car. If there are no objections, I'll change that in the article. Netrat (talk) 21:27, 11 August 2008 (UTC)

Who wrote this?

Who wrote this article? It seems it was the brand itself.

This article has a lot of technical data and photos but considering the car was envolved in one of the most serious blows to the Mercedes-Benz image, it should deserve a more detailed description than a couple of words praising how the said brand turned the issue around and recalled a lot of cars.

The article also doesn't point out that the car's interiors were bellow the brand's customers expectations, that due to the moose itsy, bitsy problem, Mercedes relaunched it with a suspension stiffer than a bed of nails or that generally the A Class never got to sell half as much as MB thought it would.

I've been reading about other brands and most of them question the vehicles reliability even without the smallest hint of proof, while this one looks like a never ending praise to the stuttgart company's products.

I wonder if marketeers aren't allready taking a shot at Wikipedia? Southwestsoul (talk) 16:11, 13 April 2009 (UTC)

It says the Mercedes a160 (168)has 60 hp or similar but my dad bought a 2000 a class and it did 104hp and 0-60 in 10.8 so I think there should be a major correction —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.2.158.254 (talk) 18:07, 7 October 2010 (UTC)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=703598819723568&set=o.22893372268&type=1&theater&notif_t=like

And WTF is this? "One innovation of the W168 was a frontal-impact absorption system called the "Sandwich bar" (see patents DE4326 9 and DE4400132 in the name of Mercedes-Benz). In the event of a violent frontal impact, the engine and transmission would slide underneath the floor below the pedals rather than entering the passenger compartment." Breakaway mounts have been ubiquitous since the 70s (if not mandated). This is the kind of "baffle 'em with bullshit" line used car salesmen use on low-information looki-loos. Or admen put in PR releases. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:192:427F:CEE9:CFE:BD6E:4E17:B9F2 (talk) 18:33, 19 June 2020 (UTC)

Splitting the article?

Suggesting two A-Class articles, but their headings are considered highly interesting to discuss.

The "third generation" A-Class (to be described in a new article? (a paragraph already exists in the present article at Mercedes-Benz_A-Class#Successor_of_W169)) is a complete diversion from the original first- and second -generation A-Classes (described in the present article). The original W168 and W169 chassises were based on a sandwich, double floor concept - which made "short and tall"  cars possible to build. In order to make these models "safe", a special engine construction and placement were also used, so that the engine would be pushed under the body during a collision, diverting the energy absorption away from the front seat passengers. See [Ref1].

All these design traits have been left with the new "A-CLASS", to be shown as a concept car at the Shanghai Motor Show 21 to 28 April, 2011. Describing the third generation A-Class in the context of the two earlier models seems lexically wrong, as having the name and MB star in common is not enough. At time of writing it is not certain whether Mercedes-Benz will profile the 2013 model A-Class as a "third generation". Indication from the concept car description, where capital letters only were used in the name of the "A-CLASS", this may be a distinguishable nomenclature. Speculatively we may have a "capital A-CLASS".

An argument for the "generation" terminology is the fact that MB calls it an A-Class, and also this heading from the linked article below: "The generation gap has never looked so good".

Ref1: http://mb.mercedes-benz.com/en/article/48/Dots+and+Pins%3A+Mercedes+Concept+A-CLASS — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aclassifier (talk • contribs) 14:02, 16 April 2011 (UTC)

"TopGear" notes that the new A-Class "could hardly be more different from today’s super-utility but decidedly unglamorous A-class". However, they also write that the new A-Class "will also come in double-floor versions with a laid-flat engine designed to slide between the floors in the event of a crash. This means the micro-MPV buyers who loved the rather tall and roomy old double-floor A and B (and they did, there just weren’t enough of them) will still be served." See [Ref2]. This may be an argument against splitting the A-Class article. Finding a reference for TopGear's knowledge is important.Øyvind Teig (talk) 15:03, 21 April 2011 (UTC)

TopGear also writes [Ref2] that "The new double-floor version will also allow the mandatory fuel-cell and electric and plug-in hybrid versions, and the electrical gubbins, batteries and hydrogen tanks will fit between the floors". This could cause any single A-Class article to become rather lengthy in the future - counting for a split now? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aclassifier (talk • contribs) 15:07, 21 April 2011 (UTC)

Ref2.: http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/mercedes-a-class-concept-2011-05-08

A45 AMG engine

The engine is called M133 and not M132 Source: Mercedes-AMG GmbH --Andi — Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.156.248.97 (talk) 05:30, 23 October 2012 (UTC)

Advert?

What's with all the text giving painful detail on available colors (how is "alacantra" white different from regular white?) and special option packages? It smells like Mercedes marketing dept has been busy here. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.122.158.126 (talk) 10:28, 20 May 2013 (UTC)

I've trimmed some of the rather detailed lists that appear to have been copied from sales literature. Also removed the minor limited editions from the Japanese market as refs don't profess any notability. Warren (talk) 10:55, 20 May 2013 (UTC)

Where is the A-Class electric vehicle ?!?

The A-Class electric vehicle was one of the first: http://www.meridian-int-res.com/Projects/AClass_EV.pdf

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class “F-Cell” based on the "A-Class electric"! --Joes-Wiki (talk) 08:28, 12 April 2016 (UTC)

Good point - well worth a sentence or two in the history section as it was an important prototype. Warren (talk) 11:12, 12 April 2016 (UTC)

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