Despite a fault that required an early dealer visit we’re still definitely in that glowing ‘new car honeymoon period’ with our new A-class long-termer.
The exterior – especially in striking bright blue metallic – is getting a lot of love on the road, the 136hp 1.8-litre diesel automatic has proved ample for everyday use, and the upmarket interior has gained plaudits from drivers and passengers alike.
Indeed, all was rosy until the following airbag warning message popped up between the driver’s dials: ‘Front right malfunction Consult workshop’.
Duly informed, we rang one of the German manufacturer’s dealers and were quickly and efficiently booked-in via a polite young man called Carl (or maybe Karl) at the national call centre.
At the dealer itself – Mercedes Bromley in our case – a fault was confirmed, although as the vehicle is so new, the dealership didn’t have the spare part needed in stock, which means another visit will be required.
It’s still driveable in the meantime but we’ll let you know how our return visit goes.