New Merc A class is here..

A very great pity that MB has abandoned the concept that their A and B class cars have had for years. The new one looks like a clone of a BMW.

Last year when I found out that the present series was going to be discontinued, I bought a 2012 A180 for my parents. It was discounted down to R 330000 and has all the bells and whistles, including park assist which takes some getting used to. No way was my Pa going to drive in a yuppie looking car like a BMW 1 series. I mean he is 70 this year, so it was either a Honda Jazz Hybrid or a new A180
 
louisek said:
A very great pity that MB has abandoned the concept that their A and B class cars have had for years. The new one looks like a clone of a BMW.

Last year when I found out that the present series was going to be discontinued, I bought a 2012 A180 for my parents. It was discounted down to R 330000 and has all the bells and whistles, including park assist which takes some getting used to. No way was my Pa going to drive in a yuppie looking car like a BMW 1 series. I mean he is 70 this year, so it was either a Honda Jazz Hybrid or a new A180
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I fully agree with you!

Just shows that Mercedes is seriously lacking direction.

I believe the innovation is there, but when you start to confuse your customers, you are just plain stupid.
 
kingrob said:
I fully agree with you!

Just shows that Mercedes is seriously lacking direction.

I believe the innovation is there, but when you start to confuse your customers, you are just plain stupid.
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Lacking direction? LOL
Out of my entire circle if friends and family, nobody would buy the old A series. The new one however, everyone would consider if they were looking in that price bracket. Everyone. So from a guaranteed zero sales, to a potential quite a dam lot, thats seems like a pretty good business move to me. Now of course this sentiment will vary between people/groups, but with this car I think that MB has firmly shaken off their "its only for old people" tag. So you get young(er) people hooked with the A series, and as they get older they move on to the other cars on offer. See how that works? Building brand loyalty so that you get (and keep) more customers...

But of course this is mostly my opinion, and your point of a worldwide, highly successful car manufacturer being stupid and lacking direction could be valid too
 
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Archer said:
Lacking direction? LOL
Out of my entire circle if friends and family, nobody would buy the old A series. The new one however, everyone would consider if they were looking in that price bracket. Everyone. So from a guaranteed zero sales, to a potential quite a dam lot, thats seems like a pretty good business move to me. Now of course this sentiment will vary between people/groups, but with this car I think that MB has firmly shaken off their "its only for old people" tag. So you get young people hooked with the A series, and as they get older they move on to the other cars on offer. See how that works? Building brand loyalty so that you get (and keep) more customers...

But of course this is mostly my opinion, and your point of a worldwide, highly successful car manufacturer being stupid and lacking direction could be valid too
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I think we are not on the same page here, Archer.

I'm more talking about the fact that investors value Mercedes at half of BMW.

Read more here, then come back and we continue the discussion : http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...f-of-bmw-as-zetsche-loses-investors-cars.html
 
Archer said:
Lacking direction? LOL
Out of my entire circle if friends and family, nobody would buy the old A series. The new one however, everyone would consider if they were looking in that price bracket. Everyone. So from a guaranteed zero sales, to a potential quite a dam lot, thats seems like a pretty good business move to me. Now of course this sentiment will vary between people/groups, but with this car I think that MB has firmly shaken off their "its only for old people" tag. So you get young(er) people hooked with the A series, and as they get older they move on to the other cars on offer. See how that works? Building brand loyalty so that you get (and keep) more customers...
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Doesn't change the fact that the car has gone from having it's own distinctive look to just another variation on what everyone else is doing.
 
kingrob said:
I think we are not on the same page here, Archer.

I'm more talking about the fact that investors value Mercedes at half of BMW.

Read more here, then come back and we continue the discussion : http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...f-of-bmw-as-zetsche-loses-investors-cars.html
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You replied to someone commenting on the A/B class... how did we get to investors? On top of that, in the very link you provide there is very clear direction from MB, which you say they lack... You're almost contradicting yourself :D And some of the things they said they would implement in that article, have already happened. So again I must ask, they are lacking direction?

noxibox said:
Doesn't change the fact that the car has gone from having it's own distinctive look to just another variation on what everyone else is doing.
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IMO, the look is unique enough. Being a subjective thing, thats all I can really say on the new one. The old one wasnt a distinctive look either, it was just plain boring. But again, its subjective
 
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Kbeat said:
I love it, especially the 125i. I am happy to be called blind .
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Have to agree with you. Looks much better in the flesh and I am currently saving for my M135i. Will hopefully have it by next year this time!! Can't wait!!
 
Type RSA said:
Have to agree with you. Looks much better in the flesh and I am currently saving for my M135i. Will hopefully have it by next year this time!! Can't wait!!
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Nice man, good luck with that. If people like the current A class shape they can still buy a B class. I think this was the best decision by MB to introduce a traditional Hatch, they should have done this long ago. I am sold.
 
satanboy said:
Now you are comparing a 1 series to a AMG? wtf

your posting sounds like that of a fanboi
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A45 AMG. and yes, AMG front ends tend to be aggressive. Even certain ///M models / Audi RS models. A regular 1 series? sad car is sad

not a fanboy, but its quite clear that BMW dropped the ball styling wise on the new 1 series. Its better than the old 1 series, but thats not saying much. Compare this with the 6 series and 4 series coupe, even the 3 series sedan (which all look pretty damn good), and you wonder WTF was going on in teh 1 series design studio
 
wikk3d88 said:
A45 AMG. and yes, AMG front ends tend to be aggressive. Even certain ///M models / Audi RS models. A regular 1 series? sad car is sad

not a fanboy, but its quite clear that BMW dropped the ball styling wise on the new 1 series. Its better than the old 1 series, but thats not saying much. Compare this with the 6 series and 4 series coupe, even the 3 series sedan (which all look pretty damn good), and you wonder WTF was going on in teh 1 series design studio
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I was one that hated on the 1 series pics pre launch, in the flesh though, ive eaten my words, really stands out, not a bad looking car at all.
 
I too don't mind the new 1 series... really good vehicle for the price (or is it just that other cars have caught up in price? I mean a entry level Golf or i30 is seriously close to the price of the turbocharged, rear wheel drive BM that has maintenance plan)
 
CLA is also nice but what is it really? Where does it fall under, what is it competing with? Is it bigger than c-class? Whats the difference between CLA and the C-class coupe?
 
Kbeat said:
CLA is also nice but what is it really? Where does it fall under, what is it competing with? Is it bigger than c-class? Whats the difference between CLA and the C-class coupe?
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Its a smaller CLS basically and the CLS did not have any obvious rivals when it came out, yet look at the market now. But I think one could say the VW CC is one and the much bigger A5 Sportback? It will create a new niche I think
 
sox63 said:
Its a smaller CLS basically and the CLS did not have any obvious rivals when it came out, yet look at the market now. But I think one could say the VW CC is one and the much bigger A5 Sportback? It will create a new niche I think
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VW CC and A5 are both much bigger cars. Competitors would be the upcoming A3 sedan and if the make a next gen 1-series coupe with 4 doors.
 
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