Introduction: My Latest Automotive Adventure – The Mercedes A-Class

In today’s video, I’ll be diving into my latest and most peculiar automotive purchase yet—a 1998 Mercedes-Benz A140. This isn’t your typical luxury Mercedes; it’s a tiny, quirky European hatchback that never made it to North America. And yes, I imported one! This A-Class is as unique as it gets, and today, I’ll take you through all the quirky features and explain why I decided to buy this oddball car.

The History and Controversy of the Mercedes A-Class

The Mercedes A-Class made its debut in the late ‘90s, and it wasn’t like anything the brand had done before. Mercedes, a company known for its high-end, luxury sedans, surprised everyone by launching a front-wheel-drive compact car aimed at a younger audience. When the original A-Class rolled out in 1997, it stirred controversy because it was a stark departure from Mercedes’ upscale image.
You had two engine options when the car launched. The base model, which I have, is the A140, equipped with a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that pushes out around 80 horsepower. The A160 came with a slightly more powerful 1.6-liter engine offering 100 horsepower. My car is definitely not winning any speed awards, but it’s got plenty of personality to make up for it!

Quirky Design and Safety Features

One of the most interesting features of the A-Class is its “sandwich engine” design. The engine is mounted at a 60-degree angle inside the bay, allowing it to slide under the passenger compartment in the event of a collision. This design was aimed at improving safety, especially since the A-Class is such a compact car with a short front end.
Speaking of safety, the A-Class encountered some rough patches early on. Shortly after its release, a Swedish car review magazine put it through the “Moose Test,” where the car has to swerve to avoid a moose or elk. Unfortunately, the A-Class failed spectacularly, rolling over during the test. This led to a widespread recall where Mercedes added stability control to all models, saving the car from what could have been a catastrophic flop.
Despite this early misstep, I’ve always found the design of the A-Class incredibly appealing. The unique triangular rear windows and the sloping front end give it a quirky charm. It’s short, just 142 inches long—eight inches shorter than a Mini Cooper—but much taller, giving it a look that’s both compact and commanding.

A Quirky and Fun Interior

The interior of the A-Class is just as quirky as the exterior. The first thing you’ll notice is the playful design touches, like the patterned cloth upholstery that screams ‘90s. Mercedes was clearly trying to appeal to younger buyers with this model, offering a more fun and laid-back vibe compared to their more serious luxury models.
The key itself is an Easter egg, shaped like the A-Class with the slot as the windows—how cool is that? The dashboard design also stands out, with wavy lines for the climate controls instead of the usual straight arrangement. It’s as if Mercedes wanted to say, “Hey, we’re fun too!”
But despite these fun touches, the A-Class interior is a mix of high-end and budget. For example, the turn signal stalk is the same one used in high-end Mercedes models like the S-Class, while the steering wheel is made of vinyl—no leather, no stitching, just plain vinyl. The power window controls are also a bit of a compromise. While you do get power front windows, the rear windows are manual, which is unusual for a car that tried to position itself as somewhat premium.

Surprisingly Practical for Its Size

For such a small car, the A-Class is impressively practical. The back seat, while not spacious, offers enough room for short trips around town, and the rear cargo area is surprisingly large given the compact dimensions of the vehicle. You even get a split-folding rear seat to increase storage, making it a genuinely useful city car.
Of course, it’s not without its shortcomings. The back seat is fairly barebones—there are no climate vents, storage pockets, or dedicated cup holders, and those lucky enough to sit in the back will have to roll down their windows manually. But the quirky design of the rear windows makes up for some of these downsides. The triangular shape of the windows adds a distinctive flair, unlike anything you’d see on a conventional hatchback.

Why Did I Buy This? The Appeal of Quirky Cars

After owning some serious exotic performance cars like the Carrera GT, I felt the need to return to my roots as a lover of quirky, unusual vehicles. The A-Class was a perfect fit—it’s the kind of car that turns heads not because of its speed or luxury, but because of its rarity and oddball charm. In fact, I believe I’m the only person in the United States who owns one!
Finding this A-Class wasn’t easy. I initially set out to buy something even weirder, like an Audi A2 or a Fiat Multipla, but those weren’t old enough to import. That’s when I turned my sights to the A-Class, and after a long search through various models, I found this one. It’s a one-owner A140 from Germany with only 60,000 miles on the clock, making it one of the nicest examples of this car you can find. Plus, it has air conditioning, which was a rare option in European models of that era.

The Driving Experience: Basic but Charming

Driving the A-Class is, admittedly, not the most thrilling experience. With only 80 horsepower, acceleration is modest at best, and the handling is more practical than sporty. But the car wasn’t designed to be a performance machine—it was made to be a reliable, economical city car.
The manual transmission is incredibly soft and vague, not something you’d want for spirited driving. However, it adds to the car’s charm. You can think of it like driving a Honda Fit or Chevy Sonic—it’s basic, it gets you from point A to point B, but with a touch of European flair.

Conclusion: A Weird, Wonderful Addition to My Garage

The A-Class may not be the fastest or most luxurious car in my collection, but it’s definitely one of the most unique. It’s a reminder that cars don’t always have to be about performance or prestige—sometimes, they’re just about having fun. I’ve always been a fan of weird and quirky cars, and the A-Class fits that bill perfectly.
If you’re interested in seeing more of my adventures with this strange little car, check out my video review where I dive even deeper into its quirks and features: I Bought a Ridiculous Mercedes A-Class From Europe. Trust me, it’s a ride you won’t want to miss!