Test drive Mercedes Benz A-class w169 2004-2007 hatchback

Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse (1998-2003)

A-Klasee shut up the last gap in the Mercedes-Benz line. The German concern boldly claims that he produces all types of cars: from powerful tractors to such urban babies.
The appearance in the spring of 1998 in the Mercedes-Benz model range of the youngest offspring, called the first letter of the alphabet, can be called an epochal event. The patriarch of the world auto industry, a universally recognized manufacturer of Lux cars, decided to go to the people and invaded the territory of manufacturers of mass-class mass cars. In addition, this car was the first to have a front -wheel drive Mercedes for more than a hundred -year history of the company.
The massive start of A-class sales was accompanied by a rather loud scandal: the testers and journalists of the Swedish automobile publication not only easily turned this car during a moose dough, which imitates a sharp detour of obstacles, but also chopped it on the whole world. But the German concern did not hide his head in the sand or sprinkle it with ashes, but quickly responded to the indicated shortcomings, organizing a massive review of all the already sold A-Klasse copies, including in our country. The suspension was finalized, which was made more rigid, and the road clearance was also reduced. In addition, the dynamic stabilization system, which before this case was installed at an additional fee, was included in the list of standard A-Klasse equipment.
Say A-A-A-A. Until recently, A-class in our country was not particularly popular: there were only a few dozen in Russian expanses in the first years of production of such cars. The main reasons for this, apparently, are only two. The first: although A-Klasse is the cheapest car with a three-beam star, it is still noticeably more than cars of a similar class of other manufacturers. And in our country, such machines were not bought for reasons of prestige or practicality, but, as a rule, because there was simply not enough money for anything more expensive. In addition, if our person wants to travel to Mercedes-Benz, then this combination means a machine at least a business class. That is-and this is secondly-the little Mercedes is not in the representation of the domestic buyer Mercedes.
Let's say right away: to accumulate solid statistics on operating experience in our conditions of A-class cars, neither official service stations nor gray dealers were able to. But in recent months, the offer of used A-Klasse from Europe in the domestic market is growing. We tried to summarize the existing experience of repairmen.
Simplicity is the key to health. In the bowels of Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse, it is called student-it is much cheaper and much easier to arrange all other Mercedes. So, the car has a minimum of electronics: instead of six dozen control units, as on S-Klasse W220, there are only a dozen of them. This is the ABS, the ESP exchange rate stability system, immobilizer, injection control system and so, on trifles. With the collapse of this electronics, unless, of course, cheap security systems were hung on it, they did not encounter services.
The highlight of A-Klasse is the so-called sandwich design of the bottom. Under an absolutely even clean floor, there are a release system, a gas tank, a battery and some elements of the rear suspension, covered from below with another black panel. Therefore, the owners of Ashka are less than other car owners with a word corrosion.
By the way, the rear suspension (as if Mercedes-Benz engineers did not have by that time, the 15-year experience of creating multi-link pendants) is very reminiscent of a similar node of Samara with its design. That is, the main blows of Russian pits are assumed by a motionless subframe, consisting of a transverse beam and longitudinal levers. The wheel is attached to a single longitudinal lever with an amplifier.
So to break in A-Klasse, in general, there is nothing much: all services argue that with a suspension and transmission they dealt only under force majeure circumstances. One citizen fell into the sewer hatch, the other - caught the hind beard at the entrance to the dacha. The most common problem is the replacement of bumper ($ 75-100 for work), which is associated with unimportant visibility. The bulk of customers (if one car per month is a mass) asks to change the brake pads or do it.
Candle factory. The main and perhaps the only problem, the specialists of Russian services Mercedes-Benz consider the difficulties of starting the engine in winter. In cold weather, German technique categorically refuses to consider a fuel variety. The problem is solved by the transition from the 95th plant recommended by the 95th plant. The engine controller electronics itself adjusts the operation of the motor, but for complete calm, you can contact any branded service where specialists reprogram brains, and on the 92nd you can ride not only in winter, but also all year round. It is best to do just that, because that package of additives, the addition of which magically turns the 92nd worker into a noble 95th, does not go to the benefit. Especially the spark plugs get, which, instead of the declared one hundred thousand kilometers of mileage, live twenty thousand. Well, at least Mercedes-Benz finally admitted that there are countries with poor gasoline, and now the official services have received good to replace platinum candles ($ 26 apiece) with ordinary ($ 4.8)-what difference does it make that in a year to throw away in the trash, Simple candles at least cost almost four times cheaper. Previously, for such a replacement, one could easily lose a guarantee. True, for some customers, good advice to switch to 92nd gasoline causes a strange reaction: what people will think when they see from which column I refuel my car! Here, let everyone choose himself, what is more important to him - the opinion of the public or his own calm. Any engine service is best carried out at the proprietary station-trying to achieve the compactness of the car, the designers have combined the motor compartment so tightly that a number of operations that are elementary on other cars are required not so much by specialties as skills and clear knowledge of the assembly and disassembly. So, to change the generator belt worth about $ 20, A-Klasse has to remove the engine from supports. This is at least two hours of work and at least $ 108. And to replace the spark plugs, you must first unscrew the engine control unit ($ 54 for work). By the way, this block is a single whole with an air flow meter and a cloth temperature sensor. In the case of refusal of any of the components, everything in the collection changes, and this unit costs almost $ 1 thousand. Therefore, the air flow meter sensor should be especially protected, which is the weakest link in this node. So that he lives longer, you need to change the air filter ($ 20 plus the same amount of work) strictly on time, and if you have to ride on dusty roads, it is better to do it more often.
Text Alexei Khresin, drawings Evgeny Zhukov
 
Mercedes-Benz A-Class 1.4 1.6 1.9
Working volume (cubic meter) 1397 1598 1898
Power (L.S.) 82 102 125
Maximum speed (km/h) 170 180 198
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 12.9 10.8 8.8
Fuel consumption 5.6/9.8 5.7/9.9 6.3/11.3
(city/highway, l/100 km)
 
The cost is for Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse 1.6
Mileage cost
After 15, 45, 75 ... thousand. $ 300
After 30, 60, 90 ... thousand. $ 470
Every 100 thousand $ 600
Norm is $ 54
The cost of spare parts and consumables for Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse 1.6*
Spark plug (ordinary) $ 4.8
Front pads $ 82 ($ 60.3)
Rear pads $ 82 ($ 70)
Oil filter $ 8.4 ($ 8)
Air filter $ 20 ($ 10)
Oil automatic transmission filter $ 13
Fuel filter $ 85 ($ 48)
Salon filter $ 15.5/63 **
Front belt $ 25 ($ 12.5)
Steering rack $ 1845
Stabilizer stand $ 25
Front suspension lever $ 134
Front bumper $ 227
Bamper rear $ 276
 
* The cost of non -original spare parts is indicated in the brackets
** For cars with air conditioning

 

Source: "Autopilot"