Faults:

Clunking steering column on RHD car; this is easily fixed by packing the splines on the lower column.

2 front springs broke due to road surfaces, and 1 top mount is now slightly creaky.

Battery is a bit small, so doesn't like lots of short journeys.

General Comments:

Huge space inside and economical enough.

Has only covered low miles, but serviced annually so the engine and drive train are perfect. Everything functions perfectly including the air conditioning which has never been serviced. Routine maintenance is a doddle; it's only major items that require more time to repair.

The packaging of this car is unique and it's the only small car that can hold 3 baby seats in the back and a double pushchair in the boot. It's wonderful, just look after it!

Faults:

Coil spring.

Alloy wheel repair.

New battery.

General Comments:

I first saw this limited edition A210 Evolution whilst I was on holiday in Germany and really liked it. It has AMG side skirts, 17 inch AMG alloys, unique black and white leather/alcantara heated seating, upgraded drilled front brakes and Bilstein sports suspension and cruise control that cost £20,000 when new. This limited edition production run on this A210 model ended in 2003, and is a rare sight to see on the roads in the UK, and looks very classy and sporty for its age. I was lucky enough to find the long wheel base version, which has more leg room in the back than much bigger, more expensive saloon cars for its small exterior size.

AMG reworked the 1.9 engine to 2.1 and 140bhp and fitted a sports back box exhaust, but it can easily achieve 30 to 40MPG+ on a run. They could not call it an AMG as it was not powerful enough, so it wears the Evolution badge.

Mine has an automatic gearbox (which adapts gear changes to driving style), and had its gearbox ECU control module and some other sensors replaced before I bought it. I would recommend if you buy any early A Class automatic, to get the gearbox control module and electrics checked, it is a weak point - and is a well documented problem. They do a manual version, which is a little quicker if you prefer a manual gear change.

Overall in my experience it's been reliable, safe and practical family car, but the interior cabin and switch gear are not as well built as an Audi of the same age. I would recommended to buy one with a full service history and well looked after. Its engine positioning is very restrictive for maintenance, remember to replace a starter motor or alternator, you have to remove the engine first! Parts are expensive too, but the engine is chain driven so no timing belt to replace and no expensive supercharger repairs since it doesn't have one. So do your homework first, take your time and find a good, well maintained one like mine.

Faults:

Battery went after 5 years, amazing it lasted that long, it only does short journeys.

Nothing else at all.

General Comments:

This car is what it is, it's no sports car but it's not designed to be. However it fulfill its design purpose perfectly.

It is amazingly roomy in LWB form, and actually it's very nice to drive. The steering is pretty vague and a bit heavy, but it's no trouble at all to use. The autobox is smooth as silk, it's a 5spd with tiptronic, but I used it once and then just left it in D!

It gets through brakes and tires quite quickly, but parts aren't expensive really.

I get the car serviced and MOTd annually at a german car specialist, and it's been perfect, however between MOTs 2008-2009 it only did 1500 miles so I would expect nothing less.

The ride of the LWB model is far superior to the standard length car, and when fitted with original spec Goodyear GT2 tires, it cushions very well, better than rubbish ECO tires we tried on the front for a while.

The Avantgarde is a good spec level and looks smart, being sportier than a Classic or Elegance. Spec includes half leather, A/C, 4x electric windows, cruise control etc etc very well appointed.

It cruises very well, and 5th gear is very tall, so economy on a run is excellent, at least 40mpg.

It overtakes very well and stops quickly and smoothly.

Don't go to Mercedes dealers for service though, the service is poor and the prices immense.

Nothing has gone wrong ever, and it will last many many years at this rate.