Original and safe choice as your first
With the current generation of Mercedes-Benz A-class, the brand seems to be succeeding quite well in attracting the attention of younger buyers or leasers. The original ‘A’, which came on the market 25 years ago, however, did not appeal to the young among us. Still, we’d like to argue that the example we’re highlighting from our used car range today is a solid choice as someone’s first car – provided you can appreciate the model’s charm.
A Mercedes-Benz A160 Avantgarde: when the model was introduced in 1998, it was the fastest and most luxurious version. By the time the offered copy rolled out of the factory, more powerful engines were already available, but still: this was once a very neat A-class. And it still seems to be. The A160 shows no significant damage or disproportionately advanced wear, either inside or out. The lower chrome strip of the grille is missing, the back of the left sill seems to have been repaired at some point and the front bumper on the left no longer connects nicely with the headlight, but in the interior you can only detect somewhat tired leather on the driver’s seat. All buttons still look fresh, as does the rest of the interior.
The owner’s history of the car also offers little cause for concern. It started life in business, but after four years it was time for a first private – and that kept it from 2005 to 2021. The owner then drove it for only 2 years and now the car is for sale for just under €2,500. What you get for that? A Mercedes-Benz A-class with a metallic color, alloy wheels, air conditioning and cruise control. The car also has – of course – ESP on board and there is more than one airbag in it. At the time, Mercedes’ first little one had to be able to compete with the larger models of the brand in terms of safety and scored a very decent 4 Euro NCAP stars for a compact car from that time.
Maybe one day it will become a cult model. In any case, many will not be preserved in good condition.
Safe, spacious and cheap in fixed costs
The relative safety of the model makes the car much more advisable for a novice driver. Inexperienced on the road is more likely to be involved in an accident and in this car you are still somewhat protected. Especially if you look at it in a relative sense: an older car with an empty weight of just over 1,000 kg (nice and cheap in road tax) and a modest purchase price, which still manages to offer some safety? There aren’t that many of them.
At the same time, with about 100 hp at 1000 kg, the A-class is easy enough, you can easily drive it to McDonald’s with your friends or take it on holiday with your sweetheart – enough stuff fits in the back. In fact, the offer only has two drawbacks. Firstly, due to the design of the A-class, the engine compartment has fairly limited access, making tinkering more difficult. And second, he’s definitely not sexy. Although you can also see the charm of that. Who knows someone who is looking for a first car?
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl