[TryingVolvo]

Hi all

Been thinking about a new car in this class for a year or so.
Used to be a big fan of BMW, but the 1-series?? It was ugly in it's first generation, and it's ugly in the new gen..
Considered waiting for the new Golf, but couldn't stop thinking about how dull VW's are.
When I first got to testdrive the V40, I was already having the dealer make me an offer, and was about to sign the contract.

I realized that the V40 was my new benchmark for comfort and looks, but suddenly the new MB A-class was there, and I thought it looked great, so i still didn't want to make my decision.
Got to testdrive the A-class a few weeks ago, and i have to say.. It's rubbish! the ride is nowhere close to the V40, the noise level on rough Norwegian asphalt is just to loud, the seats leave a lot to be desired and that silly screen sticking out in the middle of the dash just looks stupid to me.. Felt stupid for turning down the rather good offer on a V40 i got before.

New offer from my Volvo dealer, a bit of discussing prices, and I finally signed the contract!

Here's my spec: (i guess the packs are Norway-exclusive)
D2 R-design Caspian Blue
Full leather interior
Intro Pack: (Rear park sensors+rear park cam)
Tech Pach: (High Perf Audio 7" + PCC) Plus Pack: (Park heater, VOC++)
Dark tinted windows
Flexible load floor (double floor)

What do you guys think?
I know.. tiny engine.. But this is Norway. The taxes on power and emissions are ridiculous..:s
Tried to spec the car to be economical, yet good looking and well equipped.

 

[uzbek]

I think your impressions of the new A Class are similar (if a bit harsher) than mine when I tested it (see thread in general discussion).

I went expecting to order a D3 but was so impressed by the real-world effectiveness of the D2 I also went with the smaller engine. I get my car next week.

Parking heater but no heated seats/windscreen etc (we call that a Winter pack in the UK)? Going to be chilly on the leather in Norway in the mornings!

Bruce

 

[London_2012]

@TryingVolvo
Congrats on the order. Very nice spec, D2 engine is very good, surprising amount of torque for a smallish diesel engine and it's refined and quiet. I've read it's also quicker accelerating from 50-80km/h than the equiv A3/BMW 1 series 1.6D cars.

 

[TryingVolvo]

I think your impressions of the new A Class are similar (if a bit harsher) than mine when I tested it (see thread in general discussion).

I went expecting to order a D3 but was so impressed by the real-world effectiveness of the D2 I also went with the smaller engine. I get my car next week.

Parking heater but no heated seats/windscreen etc (we call that a Winter pack in the UK)? Going to be chilly on the leather in Norway in the mornings!

Bruce

Your UK winter pack is not available in Norway.
I do regret not ordering the heated windscreen. It was a reasonably priced option which i meant to ask for, but i don't know what happened. I somehow forgot..

All other winterish things are standard in Norway. Heated front and rear seats, slighly bigger battery and so on.
And Volvo always gives a good deal on parking heaters, so although it's an option, I think pretty much all diesel Volvo's have it.

 

[TryingVolvo]

Out of curiosity I've been reading up on the UK Volvo website in the morning.

It's quite interesting to see the differences in standard equipment.
Obviously, Norway is cold and has long dark winters, so you'd expect

 

[TryingVolvo]

I looked around the UK Volvo website a little, and noticed that there's quite a few differences in standard equipment, regarding winter and darkness if you compare to Norway.

Here we get the entire Winter illumination pack (-heated windscreen) plus the active TFT and illuminated gearknob as standard on Momentum, Summum and R-Design, (same as the UK SE, SE lux and R-design i assume)

We also get active dual Xenon's.
I guess it makes sense. It happens every year here.. we get winter..

 

[GlennTeg]

Congrats with your order!
I´ve just order the R-design my selves and i´m really looking forward to the day I'm getting it.
I´m also in Norway so the the specs are pretty much the same as yours. You got a delivery date yet?

 

[Rafiki]

Congrats!

Great choice. How long do you have to wait?

 

[TryingVolvo]

Congrats with your order!
I´ve just order the R-design my selves and i´m really looking forward to the day I'm getting it.
I´m also in Norway so the the specs are pretty much the same as yours. You got a delivery date yet?

No, nothing conclusive.
Ordered with Bilia, and got a place in the factory queue that was meant for a Bilia exhibition car as far as i understood. (D3 summum with the panorama roof).
This was said to be delivered in the beginning of February.
When we changed this to my specs, the computer said delivery to dealer week 12, which would be the end of March. Apparently theres lots of R-Design orders these days.
The sales consultant said he expected this to be moved closer, but that might have been just sweet talk...

We'll see. I'm told to wait for some time before being contacted about delivery arrangements, and for now I've settled with this taking some time. Still hoping for February, but not expecting anything before late March.

How about you? Any dates mentioned?

 

[GlennTeg]

As for now they told me the car will be delivered late March. Maybe earlier, but as you said... it might be sweet talk :dodgy: