Mercedes A180 vs SmartCar

**AG4** · October 19th, 2007 08:14 PM

Buying one?
I guess you're prepared to pay more for the maintenance of one of these rare for the RP cars, since you ignored common city cars & subcompact hatchbacks like the Picanto, Spark, Getz, Yaris, Jazz, Swift etc.
The Smart Fortwo is an interesting unique ride its also more fuel efficient, but being a smaller 2 seater car its not as practical as the bigger 5-seater A160. I guess it all depends on whats more important for you.

**drey** · October 19th, 2007 10:48 PM

Sir, for me I'd go with the A160, because its more comfortable and it is still easy to maneuver around the city. However, it doesn't save as much gas as a Smart ForTwo. But then the Smart has a compromise on it's ride comfort. I don't know so well of maintaining a Smart if it would be more easier to find parts since it shares close to Mitsubishi 660cc engines.

**niky** · October 20th, 2007 12:15 PM

Commuter car or high class scooter replacement? For the price range of these two babies, there's a lot of bigger metal out there that's just as economical or more economical than the A160, and a lot more practical (heck, almost anything is) than the Smart Car.

**tanoshi_637** · October 21st, 2007 12:30 AM

someday...

magkakaroon ng gawang pinoy ang tatapat sa mga ito...
(impluwensya ng kababasa ng ibang thread)

"Action without vision is a disaster, Vision without action is just a dream"

IMO

**bruno787** · October 22nd, 2007 07:26 AM

I had an A160 way back in 1998 when it was launched. At that time (9 years ago) the car was a technological marvel since it already had: Side Airbags, Acceleration Slip Control-ASR, Electronic Stability Program-ESP, Electric Power Steering, Dual Sandwich Floor, Flexible Service System-FSS, and note: Its got Plastic Fenders, and Rear Hatch. All seats are also removable should u want to use it like a minivan. My unit also had a LAMELLA louver sunroof which opens 60% more than a conventional sunroof. The instrument cluster needles even hide from view when the car is off. Ignition cranks itself, u dont have to hold onto the key to start it up, just twist, and it does ther rest. Smaller details....all windows have auto up/down feature with pinch protection, if u turn off the rear windows from the front, the rear window switches do not illuminate. It cost P1.7M back in 1998. (btw, the pic u attached, the rims do not seem to match the car, get the orginal ones should u purchase it)

Things that new 2007 LOCAL cars do not even have. So its not comparable to the Picanto, Swift, Yaris etc..... Imo. And the Benz is heavy, i can hardly push it.

**empy** · October 22nd, 2007 07:49 AM

i did a consulting project with Daimler a long time ago. during this project i got to visit their A-class factory in Cordoba, Argentina.

the A-class is truly a Benz in many ways, imo. engineered for safety, it did not spare any comfort or luxury features (of course, you can't expect it to have everything that an S-Class has, but it has a lot of goodies for its class) and top-line materials. it's also a little bit bigger than the Smart, which gives me claustrophobia if i so much as look at it.

it's not engineered for high performance, as bruno mentions, but it's adequate for low-speed tooling around town.

i think the A-class is a very very small car that still manages to coddle and protect its occupants. the Smart is more like a big scooter or toy.

**drey** · October 22nd, 2007 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by bruno787

I had an A160 way back in 1998 when it was launched. At that time (9 years ago) the car was a technological marvel since it already had: Side Airbags, Acceleration Slip Control-ASR, Electronic Stability Program-ESP, Electric Power Steering, Dual Sandwich Floor, Flexible Service System-FSS, and note: Its got Plastic Fenders, and Rear Hatch. All seats are also removable should u want to use it like a minivan. My unit also had a LAMELLA louver sunroof which opens 60% more than a conventional sunroof. The instrument cluster needles even hide from view when the car is off. Ignition cranks itself, u dont have to hold onto the key to start it up, just twist, and it does ther rest. Smaller details....all windows have auto up/down feature with pinch protection, if u turn off the rear windows from the front, the rear window switches do not illuminate. It cost P1.7M back in 1998. (btw, the pic u attached, the rims do not seem to match the car, get the orginal ones should u purchase it)

Things that new 2007 LOCAL cars do not even have. So its not comparable to the Picanto, Swift, Yaris etc..... Imo. And the Benz is heavy, i can hardly push it.

How was the maintenance sir? What kind of stuff that usually goes wrong in the car?

Originally Posted by empy

i did a consulting project with Daimler a long time ago. during this project i got to visit their A-class factory in Cordoba, Argentina.

the A-class is truly a Benz in many ways, imo. engineered for safety, it did not spare any comfort or luxury features (of course, you can't expect it to have everything that an S-Class has, but it has a lot of goodies for its class) and top-line materials. it's also a little bit bigger than the Smart, which gives me claustrophobia if i so much as look at it.

it's not engineered for high performance, as bruno mentions, but it's adequate for low-speed tooling around town.

i think the A-class is a very very small car that still manages to coddle and protect its occupants. the Smart is more like a big scooter or toy.

I wasn't expecting a serious reply.