Practically Classics Forum

As a youngster, I had a pretty good knowledge of cars on the roads, even to the extent of knowing cars by sound. Now, unless it's an old one, I usually have to rely on the badge.

Last night, I spotted a Mercedes in my street (Not the one mentioned in the Dosy prawn thread....though I suspect I might draw similar conclusions about the driver but for other reasons) but until I saw the badge, I would have sworn it was a Vauxhall Astra. I know some cars are produced to wear different badges (Like the Ford Galaxy that was a VW) and I was just curious as to whether this is another example

They're in bed with Renault

Merc Citan


Kangoo

Yep, and the current A class, a painfully uncomfortable but otherwise almost adequate medium sized front wheel drive device from Mercedes uses the same 3 cylinder, 1500cc engine that also appears in various Renaults, Dacias and Datsuns. It's not a bad little motor but it's no OM660 'cos when it comes to making Diesels, MB do know their stuff which is why this borrowing of the Renault Diesel baffles me. Come to that, Datsun used to employ Briggs & Stratton Dizzlers back in the days when they were called Datsun last time around so what are they thinking about using an engine with a mere 130Lb/ft in a bulky fake 4x4, or actual 4x4 if you specify that option.
Thinking about it, Martin, I suspect that you might easily have glanced upon an A class and thought that it looked like an Astra, it's an easy mix up to make, see here:

Renault engined car with German badge and no detectable form of springing or damping that I could detect before I handed it back and swiftly went back into the VW dealership shaking and yelling "OK, OK, just give me that pen please, now, where do I sign?":



And a Vauxhall Astra:




Separated at birth.

JPB wrote:Yep, and the current A class, a painfully uncomfortable but otherwise almost adequate medium sized front wheel drive device from Mercedes uses the same 3 cylinder, 1500cc engine that also appears in various Renaults, Dacias and Datsuns. It's not a bad little motor but it's no OM660 'cos when it comes to making Diesels, MB do know their stuff which is why this borrowing of the Renault Diesel baffles me. Come to that, Datsun used to employ Briggs & Stratton Dizzlers back in the days when they were called Datsun last time around so what are they thinking about using an engine with a mere 130Lb/ft in a bulky fake 4x4, or actual 4x4 if you specify that option.
Thinking about it, Martin, I suspect that you might easily have glanced upon an A class and thought that it looked like an Astra, it's an easy mix up to make, see here:

Renault engined car with German badge and no detectable form of springing or damping that I could detect before I handed it back and swiftly went back into the VW dealership shaking and yelling "OK, OK, just give me that pen please, now, where do I sign?":



And a Vauxhall Astra:




Separated at birth.

a college at work has just taken delivery of a new A class.
a stunning looking car in the flesh with a lovely 'looking' interior. its a sporty number and sounds fantastic.
it is an auto box with trick paddle gear selection if you need to have involvement.

he hates it!

very very harsh ride and the recaro sports seats look great but not very good for sitting in.
his main criticism is lack of build quality.

only saying like

Kev

No argument from me about the A class generally, but the one I tried didn't feel too badly built compared to some of the machinery I tried on for size before choosing the Glof, and maybe some potential buyers will find its hard plastics and creaky fittings less bad than some of the alternatives. But the Dacia Logan is better in most significant respects than the A class that comes with the same engine!

Have Mercedes actually bolted anything together properly in the last 20 years?
(he says lighting the fuse and running for the hills)

and is considerably cheaper to boot! I don't think the Sandero is a bad looking car, if I was after a cheap motor for a work hack then I'd consider one. Not had the chance to sample one on the road yet however.

does this mean they will be involved with nissan soon?? mercedes micra amg

TerryG wrote:Have Mercedes actually bolted anything together properly in the last 20 years?
(he says lighting the fuse and running for the hills)

Well the rustproofing has been more beancounter than engineer until recently