New A Class

[TNblkc230wz]

Has anybody heard anything about the new A class? Looking for specs, pictures, and on-sale date.

[jpb5151]

Originally posted by TNblkc230wz
Has anybody heard anything about the new A class? Looking for specs, pictures, and on-sale date.

Would people in the A Class forum know? I don't know a thing about it.

[TNblkc230wz]

Originally posted by jpb5151
Would people in the A Class forum know? I don't know a thing about it.

There is only one post in the A class forum in the last 60 days.

[pokerFACE]

they'll be over here in 05 i believe, as the 2nd gen Aclass

[TNblkc230wz]

Thanks!

[trench]

Originally posted by pokerFACE
they'll be over here in 05 i believe, as the 2nd gen Aclass

Sometimes, considering MB's US market postion as a "luxury" auto maker, I wonder if they will sell the A class as a Mercedes Benz or if they will sell it as a completely different marque, such as BMW does with the Mini, to avoid soiling their image by selling what will be perceived as an "economy" car.

- BT

[David N.]

trench, you make a good point. I remember reading somewhere that the A class would be sold under the Chrysler brand. Don't know if it's true though.

As for BMW, from what people are saying they have every intention of bringing the 1 and 2 series over to North America, and boosting the price of the 3 series. That would be a big mistake. North American consumers are a totally different animal from the rest of the world. MB and BMW will really hurt themselves with these lower series and classes.

[trench]

Originally posted by David N.
North American consumers are a totally different animal from the rest of the world. MB and BMW will really hurt themselves with these lower series and classes.

The main factor MB and BMW have to take into account is will they be able to sell enough "lower-class" models to offset the potential loss of customers who won't purchase higher-end models due to a perceived diluting of the brand.

This requires a serious consideration because there is much more profit made from the higher-end models. My guess is that in terms of actual build costs, the E Class and C Class probably cost MB about the same to manufacture (the difference is probably only a couple of thousand dollars at most), making that big difference in retail price almost all profit.

Cheers, BT

[Outland]

Originally posted by David N.
trench, you make a good point. I remember reading somewhere that the A class would be sold under the Chrysler brand. Don't know if it's true though.

As for BMW, from what people are saying they have every intention of bringing the 1 and 2 series over to North America, and boosting the price of the 3 series. That would be a big mistake. North American consumers are a totally different animal from the rest of the world. MB and BMW will really hurt themselves with these lower series and classes.

The 1 series is gonna suck. It'll sell like hotcakes- for the 20-25K asking price, but its still gonna suck. Its got a wheezing 118HP motor, nasty ugly styling, and the rudest dealer network around. Not much of an enjoyable ownership experience there.

[yodlebenz]

i swear i saw one of these coming up the hiway a couple of weeks ago. i lost it in traffic before i could get a good look. was really weird looking.

[lovin_my_C230K]

Originally posted by pokerFACE
they'll be over here in 05 i believe, as the 2nd gen Aclass

Sweet I would love to buy one! I saw one in New Braunfels (sp?) TX. The car was from Mexico.

Very nice.

If we could only get out of the "bigger is better" auto mentality around here, I think that car would sell.

[VoyagerDude]

Sorry Trench, but, you know, you sound exactly like those S or E class owners from a few years ago when MB decided to sell the C class in North America.

There was a lot of BS talk from E class drivers in US about MB dilluting the brand with the econobox C class. And where are we now? These guys need to grow up.

Originally posted by trench
Sometimes, considering MB's US market postion as a "luxury" auto maker, I wonder if they will sell the A class as a Mercedes Benz or if they will sell it as a completely different marque, such as BMW does with the Mini, to avoid soiling their image by selling what will be perceived as an "economy" car.

- BT

btw that A class is butt ugly

[Viggen]

In Europe, when MB decided to sell the A-Class, a lot of people said it wasn't a Mercedes, just an economic car...
Well the A-Class have been sold for 6 years now and MB considers it as a success, because they sold more A-Class than what they tought.

My grandfather has one for 6 years. Not a single problem, running perfectly.

[maguzma]

I was flying back to San Diego and was on the way to the Airport (to return rental) and say this blue blob of a car with MB chrome star on back. It looked like someone put a very high pressure hose into a C230 Coupe and blue it up. Short and fat with lots of windows. I had to talk to the lady driving it and she said he company purchased a few of them because of the size and gas mileage.

[TNblkc230wz]

I hope they bring it here by 05, even if it is as a chrysler. I'll be shopping for a safe, solid, small car for my daughter in early 06. I don't think she will consider the current body style, but I've heard the new one should be a little more stylish. I don't need a real expensive or fast car for her, just something small and reasonably safe.

[amb9800]

Definitely will not be sold as a Chrysler - it is confirmed that the next-gen model is coming to the US in 2005 or '06 model year, along with the Smart ForFour.

[TNblkc230wz]

Originally posted by mbakshi
Definitely will not be sold as a Chrysler - it is confirmed that the next-gen model is coming to the US in 2005 or '06 model year, along with the Smart ForFour.

What is the "Smart ForFour"?

[Rincewind]

what kinda MPG does this smart car get?

[amb9800]

Originally posted by TNblkc230wz
What is the "Smart ForFour"?

The ForFour is Smart's new four-door four-passenger model (hence the name ForFour). Many of the platform's components will be used in Mitsubishi's new Colt (not for US).

See TechAutos' page on the ForFour for photos and info:

http://www.techautos.com/modules.php...article&sid=13

[TNblkc230wz]

Originally posted by mbakshi
The ForFour is Smart's new four-door four-passenger model (hence the name ForFour). Many of the platform's components will be used in Mitsubishi's new Colt (not for US).

See TechAutos' page on the ForFour for photos and info:

Nice looking little car. I'm just not sure about the two-tone paint scheme.

[S_kLaSse]

When this car is on sale. Honda will go bankrupt. hehe....

[jimong]

Originally posted by TNblkc230wz
Has anybody heard anything about the new A class? Looking for specs, pictures, and on-sale date.

Guys,
Check out this link http://c-klasse.mercedes-galerie.de/w169news.htm

[TNblkc230wz]

Nice Pics, but I need a translation!

[jimong]

Pls visit http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr for translation.


Regards
Jim

[mb-c-klasse]

Hi

There's no need to translate this page. There is an english version of this page.


http://c-klasse.mercedes-galerie.de/w169news_e.htm

To view other Mercedes News check out this http://c-klasse.mercedes-galerie.de/index1_e.htm

Regards

[Whitey]

Originally posted by TNblkc230wz
I hope they bring it here by 05, even if it is as a chrysler. I'll be shopping for a safe, solid, small car for my daughter in early 06. I don't think she will consider the current body style, but I've heard the new one should be a little more stylish. I don't need a real expensive or fast car for her, just something small and reasonably safe.

How about this for body style?.....

[amb9800]

Well here's some bad news if you've been waiting to get the A-Class - MB released an official report that the next-gen A-Class, which was previously confirmed to come to the US, has been canceled for US production and sale.

The reason - the A-Class will be 'too boring' for US customers.

Instead, they will be only bringing in a Smart model (the other vehicle they confirmed when they 'confirmed' the A-Class for the US) and the CST.

For the Smart, it is unclear which one, possibly the ForFour but now it is likely the ForFive (one of the possible names), which is Smart's upcoming SUV, will come.

The CST (Compact Sports Tourer) will be a very small version of the GST (Grand Sports Tourer) built on the next-gen A-Class platform. Basically a sporty compact crossover-type vehicle - which basically equals A-Class + sporty .

[TNblkc230wz]

Well the verdict is in. My daughter doesn't like the look of the forfour or the CST. Guess I'm back to the Mini unless they look better in person than in pictures, which is the case for the Mini.

[amb9800]

Originally posted by TNblkc230wz
Well the verdict is in. My daughter doesn't like the look of the forfour or the CST. Guess I'm back to the Mini unless they look better in person than in pictures, which is the case for the Mini.

Well the CST isn't out yet, so all pictures at this point are guesswork. I'd say wait until the CST comes out at the end of '04 as a 2005 model year (assuming that's not outside your time frame), and then see.

The Mini's a cool car, although it does have some big disadvantages as compared to the CST, A-Class, ForFour, ForFive, etc. I can list some that I found after some time in a Mini if you want, but I'm guessing you must have already test driven and tried out the Mini so it may not be useful.

The Mini convertible looks cool (although it probably means even less space inside ).