#its like every day has been February 9th... CAN WE MOVE FORWARD!?

[robotpussy]

why has it been February 9th for like 3 days

[bokunoheroanalysisforthefuture]

Chapter three! I already skimmed through it and just. Holy fuck I’m falling in love with this series all over again, and this is just the opening arc, how the hell is this so good??? I’m genuinely just in awe and fuck is it making it hard to decide where to have a cut-off point for this chapter. I suppose we’ll just have to see what fate decides.

(Also, the temptation to just paste in all of the last three pages of the chapter is so incredibly strong, you don’t understand.)

[No. 3 - Entrance Exam]

We start off with some exposition: UA’s hero course is designed to give students all they need to go pro, and is the toughest and most popular hero course in the country, with only a 1 in 300 acceptance rate. Discounting the four slots that are recommendation students, that’s 36 slots a year, which is about…

Yeah. That’s a lotta applications, and that’s just for the hero course! 

Several alumni are mentioned: All Might, who declined the people’s choice award; Endeavor, who’s stopped more crimes than anyone else in recorded history; and Best Jeanist, who’s won the Best Jeanist award eight years running. (One of these things is not like the other~ One of these things just doesn’t belong~) The exposition suggests that graduating from UA is basically a requirement for becoming a great hero - something which we’ll learn soon enough isn’t quite true.

But yeah, Endeavor with the record for crime handling, even above All Might. Quite the impressive hero, though that face…

Not precisely reassuring.

So yeah, Izuku here mentions the date of the exam - February 26th. I figure that this has to be a Sunday, for the simple fact that Japan has a slightly different school schedule than us. Most notably: Japanese schools (some of them, anyways) have 5.5 day school weeks. Yes, that means the first half of Saturday can still be a school day. 

While I couldn’t confirm for sure whether this is more common among the higher end schools, I feel like a school like UA, with its ‘Plus Ultra’ motto, would definitely be a school to have a half-day (or even a full day) on Saturdays, and since they also have to accomodate for middle schools that have Saturday morning classes, I figure that it would make the most sense for UA to schedule this exam on a Sunday. 

The benefits of this, as we’ve already seen, is that we can then narrow down the timeline for the rest of the series, just based on that single, confirmed date. We know from the last chapter that the Sludge Villain had to happen on a Thursday or Friday of the first week of school (April 14th/15th), with the first training session two days later (the 16th/17th). But what this also gives us is when Izuku’s first year of UA starts, AND the possible years it could start on. 

Since we see the glowing baby is in a modern hospital, we can assume that’s correlated to about our times. Give it a few generations, and we can guess that we’re in the 2200s or 2300s for the current era. Based on that assumption, we get the following years that have February 26th on a Sunday:

23rd century potential years: 2204, 2209, 2215, 2226, 2232, 2237, 2243, 2254, 2260, 2265, 2271, 2282, 2288, 2293, 2299

24th century potential years: 2310, 2316, 2321, 2327, 2338, 2344, 2349, 2355, 2366, 2372, 2377, 2383, 2394, 2400

As a side note, when I got into the series, my brain weirdly latched onto the idea that this had to all be happening in the year 2317. I don’t know why I decided on that number, but that’s what I rolled with, and hilariously I could be RIGHT about the year the current manga arc is happening in, provided Izuku’s first year is in 2316. Sometimes you just know, ya know? I know at least one other friend made these calcs independently of me and chose to run with 2237, which is totally valid! Probably makes more sense to be in the 2200s, but there’s room depending on how much time one thinks has passed.

As for when Izuku’s high school school year starts, we know that Japanese schools start on the second Monday of April. Since we don’t know if this is a leap year or not, we’ll end up with two dates, but that’s fine!

Feb 26 (Sun) -> Feb 27 (Mon) -> March (6/5, 13/12, 20/19, 27/26) -> April (3/2, 10/9)

Therefore, Izuku’s first day of classes (not counting the orientation, which I’ve seen a few other timelines assume is on the Sunday before classes start) is April 10th (or the 9th if a leap year)! I know this is all in the future from this chapter, but still, I wanted to share this at some point and figured now was as good a time as always.

Math!

Sorry, I’ve just wanted to share this math I did for a while now, I put a lot of work into it and I am very proud of it. Let’s get back to the chapter.

So Izuku lives a 40 minute train ride away from UA, and has made it just in time for the exam. Apparently, this is only the practical portion? Or well, that’s the part that gets focused on in this chapter, with no mention of the paper exam. I would imagine they’d be the same day, though? But I suppose one can do whatever they like with it.

He’s standing there looking at the school, thinking about how he didn’t have a chance to test the power, while the other students head in-

Excuse me, Toga?? I know that hairstyle is just a bit off, but… ???

...right, anyways. Izuku is wondering whether the hair really did anything (also, it was apparently sour, which, ew.) Katsuki comes up behind him and tells him to move aside.

Truly a flattering image. Izuku panics a bit and greets him, but Katsuki just walks by without another word or gesture, leaving Izuku confused as he watches him head on into the building. The narrative notes that since the villain incident, Katsuki hadn’t bothered Izuku, while the unnamed characters in the background apparently recognize Katsuki from the ‘sludge’ incident (well, not shocked how the fandom held onto that name). 

Izuku notes that he’s gotta stop flinching instinctively, and then tries to hype himself up, noting that it’s not like before, and think about the past ten months while taking a wobbly step forward- and then tripping over himself.

I’m sorry Izuku just has so many fantastic faces in this chapter I am crying trying to limit myself to just a few. But yeah, that little derp as he realizes what’s happening is adorable, especially while Ochako gently sets him back on his feet. She mentions that it’s her quirk, and apologizes for using it, but that it’s a bad omen to trip and fall. (I wonder if that gets played with again during later parts of the series… will have to check to see.)

While Izuku freaks out over talking to a girl, Ochako notes that the exam is nerve-wracking, and then heads off while wishing both of them luck as Izuku stares after. 

This fucking kid. I love him so much. His flustered excitement gets him some weird looks from the others still outside.

We transition to a new character (Present Mic) who immediately shows off his performative side by calling for a ‘hey!’ which… is met with silence from the crowd. He doesn’t let this throw him off, instead letting them know that he’ll present the guidelines for the practical, followed with a ‘YEAH!’ that gets met with an even heavier silence.

Izuku and Katsuki are seated next to each other, with Izuku descending right into excited muttering over Present Mic and how he listens to his radio show every week. Also with the assumption that all the UA teachers are pro heroes, which I mean, true, but still. Katsuki tells Izuku to shut up.

Present Mic explains the test: ten minute long ‘mock cityscape maneuvers’, with the applicants split among seven arenas, labelled ‘A’ through ‘G’. With more than 10k applicants total, that’s about…

Yeah, more than 1500 per arena. Fucking hell, no wonder the robots deplete so quickly in only a few minutes. Also of interest:

“Bring along whatever you want.” So technically, if Izuku were able to procure the tech and training to handle the robots, there would be nothing keeping him from getting into UA quirkless… though I imagine any kid who gets in mostly on tech probably gets side-eyed… though if said kid made their OWN tech, they might also get an offer from the Support department.

(AU where Mei accidentally took the heroics exam and got a shitload of points, but she ended up taking the offer for Support instead despite setting the record for most points in said exam. Katsuki forever wants to fight her. Izuku and her are good friends.)

Also, another thing I love is how Katsuki just told Izuku to shut up a moment ago, and then:

He’s the one to initiate conversation on the details of the test, basically agreeing on the reasoning behind dividing up the students between arenas. Katsuki is annoyed at not being able to crush Izuku, which has Izuku awkwardly silent. 

Also mini-Mic.

Poor, poor Mic. He just wants audience participation. Anyways, he continues on to explain the points system, with the help of cute little Mario-themed silhouettes. There are three kinds of faux villains, with different points awarded for defeating each based on their difficulty levels. Also, attacking other examinees is prohibited!

A student (cough Tenya) raises their hand to ask a question, going on to note that the handout sheet appears to have four varieties of villain, and that such a blatant error (if it is one) reflects poorly on Japan’s top academy. He then spins around and points at Izuku, calling him out for his muttering and how distracting he’s been, and that ‘if this is some sort of game to you, then please leave immediately!’ 

Is that… Mineta seated behind Izuku? I can’t find another panel that disproves that theory, so. Whelp. If you ever for some reason want to have Izuku accidentally deal with the grape early, he’s right there. 

Anyways, Present Mic brings the convo back to the initial question/comment, noting that the fourth villain is worth zero points, and is more of an obstacle. He then brings up Super Mario Brothers, the old retro game, and compares the Zero Pointer to a thwomp. There’s one per site, serving as a gimmick that’ll rampage in close quarters. Tenya thanks Mic and apologizes for the interruption. 

And so we get our final words from Present Mic:

??? either he's referencing the original guy (which I think would be a misquote because I doubt OG Nap ever noted anything like that) or some French hero or the like who took on the name.

Discord offered this to me while putting together the post:

So there you have it. Tentatively confirmed.

Those EYES man, dude’s got the Rinnegan going on.

Honestly, I have to end on this panel just because of that last line from Present Mic. Like, look me in the eyes and tell me this isn’t the exact point to end on. 

The discord’s takeaway from this:

[lovehaswonangelnumbers]

New Post has been published on https://lovehaswonangelnumbers.org/intuitive-astrology-forecast-september-2020/

Intuitive Astrology Forecast September 2020

Intuitive Astrology Forecast September 2020

By Tanaaz

  September 2020 is a big, bold month with some strong cosmic energy on offer. The main feature of the month is Mars Retrograde, which begins on the 9th and lasts up until November.

Along with Mars Retrograde, we have two major planets- Jupiter and Saturn, ending their retrograde cycles and moving forward into a new chapter.

Both Jupiter and Saturn have been major cosmic players in the events that 2020 has brought our way, so to have them moving forward again is likely to reveal more of the story to us.

2020 was always destined to be a highly transformative year, and as the year comes to a close, things are amping up.

It seems we are walking deeper into the changes and revolutions that are required, to shift and elevate this planet to higher levels of consciousness.

Transformation is difficult but it’s always worth it in the end. It requires some destruction, some chaos, and some endings in order for the rebirth to occur, but from these ashes, we rise.

Even though September offers strong transformative energy, it also offers cosmic protection too.

No matter what transpires in the months to come, the Universe is shining down a protective light. We see this in the astrological alignments that take place. While we have some heavy alignments, they always seem to be met with some protection, some silver lining, and some- “I got your back”- from the Universe.

To support you through the energies of September, try my Soul Soothing Cosmic Guided Meditation.

Let’s take a deeper look into the astrology of September 2020:

September 1-2: Pisces Full Moon

The month begins with the Pisces Full Moon. This Full Moon carries awakening energy and opens us up to new realizations and information. This Full Moon may heighten our emotions and sensitivities, especially in our relationships. If irritability or anger comes up, be sure to sit with it and find healthy ways to express and work through it.

Your September Full Moon Forecast is here.

September 2: Sun Trine Uranus

This alignment will be activated by the Full Moon and brings soothing, harmonious energy. A trine occurs when two planets are within 120 degrees of each other. The Sun Trine Uranus indicates whatever comes our way under the Full Moon, can offer unexpected opportunities. Here is a good example of where we are being protected. Lean into this energy by focusing on the bigger picture, especially if hardships or challenges come your way.

September 2: Venus Opposite Saturn

This alignment will also be triggered by the Full Moon and will be shining a spotlight on where we feel held back, limited, or controlled by another person or event in our lives. We may feel like something is bearing down on us, or that we are being restricted. This energy asks us to take responsibility and ownership of our actions and to put solutions into place. We are being called to step up and create long term solutions rather than just short term fixes.

September 9: Mars Retrograde

Mars enters retrograde in the sign of Aries. Mars moves retrograde every 2 years, however, this is the first time in Aries in over 30 years. As Mars moves retrograde, we are going to feel things slowing down. We may feel our energy levels are a little muted or we may start questioning whether our actions are aligned with what we truly desire for ourselves moving forward. We may also find ourselves challenging some of the goals and dreams we have held or been working towards.

Your Full Mars Retrograde Forecast is here.

To support you through the energies of September, try my Soul Soothing Cosmic Guided Meditation.

September 9: Sun Trine Jupiter

Again, the Universe comes to support and protect us with this harmonious alignment that falls on the same day as Mars stations Retrograde. Sun Trine Jupiter is peaceful energy, that reminds us that we are powerful. We have within us, the courage, strength, and determination we need to create and live a beautiful life. This energy reminds us that we are abundant and abundance is always on offer to us, as long as we attune our mindset towards it. Use this energy to focus on the abundant blessings of your life and the world around you. It will help ease any tensions or sluggishness that Mars Retrograde may bring.

September 11: Sun Opposite Neptune

Neptune is sometimes associated with viruses and “unseen” things. At this time, we may receive some news or updates about the pandemic. Alternatively, we may feel confused and receive conflicting information. While this could be about the pandemic, it may also manifest in our personal lives too. We may feel a sense of conflict about whether to do something or not or what the best course of action is. When we feel uncertain, it is always better to wait until clarity arises. This energy is very good for intuitive work, so pay attention to that small, still voice within.

September 13: Jupiter Direct

The largest planet in our solar system is turning direct in the sign of Capricorn. This is great energy, however, we may have to wait a few weeks before we can really harness it. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, so we may find that an area of our life that we have been working on suddenly expands in some way. Maybe we are able to reach for more opportunities, or maybe we find that our hard work starts to be rewarded. Think back to what you were working on or focused on around May, as this may receive a beautiful boost in the weeks to come.

Jupiter 2020 Retrograde Forecast here

September 17: New Moon in Virgo

The Virgo New Moon sends powerful waves, reminding us to connect with the wisdom and power of our bodies. It guides us to not live in fear and to remember the innate strength and wisdom we all have within. This New Moon brings waves of healing energy and the promise of a fresh new start.

More to come on this soon.

September 22: Equinox and Libra Season

The Equinox brings the start of Libra Season and equal hours of night and day. We are moving out of earthy Virgo into an air sign that is all about balance. There will be a focus on others and how our actions and even thoughts are impacting the world around us. The Equinox is also a power day where the veil between dimensions is thin. We can use the Equinox energies for intuitive work and connecting with our loved ones on the other side.

September 28: Saturn Direct

Saturn turns direct after being retrograde since May. As Saturn begins moving forward again, it will be covering the last few degrees of Capricorn and preparing to make its way into Aquarius come December, where it will remain for the next 2.5 years. This is a huge energy shift and definitely one to watch as it gets closer. With Saturn moving direct, we may notice information around governments, authority figures, or those in positions of power coming to the surface. We may also experience a revisit of events that were taking place around February 2020.

Saturn entering Aquarius 2020

Saturn Retrograde 2020

29: Mars Square Saturn

This is the second Mars Square Saturn alignment this year and it indicates growing tension and unrest. With Saturn just moving direct yesterday, its energy will be strong and we may see a push-pull with those in power positions. We may also feel a growing sense of irritability on unrest in our own lives. This alignment challenges us to go within and clear all that is making us feel insecure, fearful, or unloved. It wants us to sit with our angst so we can understand what it’s trying to show us.

More on Mars Square Saturn here.

September is a big month that kickstarts a journey into wrapping up the transformative energies of 2020.

Even though we may feel the shifting energy strongly, we can also tune into the energy of protection that is on offer too.

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[littlefaerose]

hurry up and wait (groundwork)

WHO: Marley Rose

WHEN: various dates, span between February 2019 to April 2019

WHERE: various spots on the NYADA campus

WHAT: Being grounded on campus sucks but with time slowly trickling away, Marley makes good use of what she has left to prepare for what’s coming.

WARNING(S): some hinting at death

Six feet.

She blows a breath through her nose and steps forward to inspect her work critically. Her hand reaches out to brush against braided roots, which give under her touch and begin to curl down from the top, back towards the floor and into a heap.

Damn.

She clears the debris away, grabs more dirt from the pouch on her hip, then spreads it across the floor to start over.

‘What is your purpose for this project?’ the library aide asks, raising a brow at her as she hands over a scribbled list.

“It’s for my L. Naturae History class,” she breezes. “I want to give an accurate account on the damage inflicted on LN communities during the Common raids in Europe during the 9th century.”

It’s obscure enough that the girl doesn’t ask any further questions. ‘Give me fifteen minutes, I’ll check our archives,’ she sighs, resigned.

The trees are whispering amongst themselves - gossiping, she’s sure - but Marley blocks them out as she examines her hands.

She kneels down on the ground and presses her palms to the grass. She can feel the life pulsing beneath her. The energy she draws through her fingertips, up her arms, and to the base of her neck, where her hair stands on end. She shivers, squeezes her eyes shut. Focuses.

Her desk is a mess of notes that don’t quite connect. 

Dates. Locations. Names that probably don’t mean much to anyone anymore.

She scrubs her hands over her face tiredly but presses on, shifting through post-its and scraps of paper, looking for what lies beneath it all.

There has to be an answer somewhere.

The wall is more like a fence.

This time it encircles her, just like the vision in her head. Tight but room enough to turn around and inspect her work. She leans into the roots, and they give, but they spring back.

Eight feet.

It’s an improvement.

Every part of her is tired.

Her arms. Her legs. Abs. Back. Head.

Everything hurts.

There’s a point to all of this, right?

She doesn’t voice the thought aloud, but Olivia must sense it in the way she picks herself up off the floor, wipes damp hair off her face, then raises her gloved fists again as she catches her breath.

‘Go again?’ the taller fae asks.

Marley nods. “Again.”

Alarm clock goes off. Tea and a kiss on the way out the door.

Class. Class. Lunch. Class. Break. Sirens practice. Dinner.

Desperate, sweaty fumbling around in bed. Half-hearted sleep.

Silence. If only for an hour or two.

Then the lamp over Dani’s desk switches on, and Marley turns her back from the frame of her sleeping girlfriend to pour over Delmyra’s story once again.

‘She made the ultimate sacrifice to save her sisters. Her form for their freedom. Her form for their lives.’

She pulls off her glasses and rubs tiredly at her eyes.

Her chest feels like it splitting wide open but she watches in awe anyway.

The vines snake up the wall of her practice room at Undique like they’re on a mission, thorns hooking into the nooks and crannies, forming an intricate weave of a wall that starts the flourish as she presses further into the floor.

Fifteen feet... sixteen feet... seventeen...

The burning in her chest draws a fit of a cough from her and she hits the floor, the vines losing momentum. She smiles as she catches her breath though.

She gaining traction.

“This can’t be everything that you have.”

‘I’ve pulled everything from that section of the archives for you over the last two weeks,’ the library aide tells her, both of their tones inching into tense territory. 

“Yes, and that wasn’t even a dozen books,” Marley complains. “You mean to tell me that you have whole rooms full of shelf after shelf of books on the history of WITCHES, but you barely fill half a shelf with ones for Fae?”

‘I don’t know what else to tell you, miss-’

She throws up her hands in defeat, huffing out a sigh. “Nevermind,” she mutters, “just let me see the book on the elders of the court again.”

Her room is still a mess but she manages to unearth enough items to pack into an emergency bag, tying a brand new purple ribbon onto the zipper.

It pains her to know of its existence. Pains her more to think of needing it someday soon.

Pains her most to think of the potential outcome without it in her possession.

She inventories the items once more before heading back to Dani’s.

‘That’s it, you’ve got it!’ Lila exclaims, clapping excitedly as the light above them disappears, shrouding them in darkness. Under the dome, Marley lets out a sigh of relief, a huff of a laugh as she takes in what surrounds them.

Lila makes her way around the perimeter, trailing a hand along the roots woven together into a thick wall. They stand proud, unified, holding their own.

‘Nice and sturdy. They don’t give as much as the last go did. You’re improving,’ she grins. ‘It’s taller too-’

“Twenty-five feet,” Marley interjects with a nod, taking in her work with a flicker of pride. It only lasts as long as it takes to give it a once-over though. “It needs to be taller though. And wider.”

Lila’s brow furrows. She takes wide strides across the expanse of the area inside the dome. ‘How big are you trying to make this thing?’ she asks, bemused.

“I’m not sure yet,” Marley admits. “It needs to fit more people though. I need to make it stronger too. It has to withstand strong impact.”

‘In a fight?’ Lila asks.

Marley doesn’t answer. Just reaches out to press into the wall of roots again, testing its give.

‘Marley.’

“What?”

‘What are you trying to protect yourself from?’

Marley purses her lips, brow furrowed in concentration.

“It’s not me I’m trying to protect,” she murmurs, distracted. After all, there’s still more work to be done. “One more go?”

She falls into bed, dirty and exhausted. The body next to her curls and turns over, a pair of arms snaking around her. She buries her nose into cotton candy tinted hair and breathes in deep.

“Home,” she breathes out, sleep taking her quickly for once.

She feels drowsy.

The music fades in and out, like the static between radio stations. She misses a step, barely avoiding colliding with the girl beside her.

“Sorry,” she says, backing away. Her eyes flicker closed before the next turn though.

It draws... ever near.

She stumbles into another body, barely feeling the impact as something feather-light brushes across her skin.

But will you rise... will... you... rise?

‘Marley, are you even paying attention?!’

The voice grates on her brain, making her cringe outwardly before she can properly arrange the features of her face into something decidedly more... cheerful.

“Sorry,” she mumbles to , reaching up to tighten her ponytail. Hoping the slight tug on her hair will ground her in reality.

‘Now that Space Cadet has returned from her Mars mission...’

It’s no use though. Fiona‘s voice trails off into a faint buzzing in Marley’s ears, bits of golden pollen making the edges of her vision hazy.

Time... it’s running... swiftly... out, Flowerchild.

‘MARLEY. ROSE.’

Each part of her name, punctuated with a rather noisy clap of hands, snaps her back with a shaky intake of breath. She quickly swallows back, cheeks tinging green as she meets Fiona’s face, mere inches away from her own.

‘We are in the final weeks of prep before our competition against Magic Harvard and you keep missing crucial moves. This is not time to mess around! Time is running out-’

“I KNOW,” she shouts back as Fiona pulls away, startled. She clears her throat, feeling her cheeks burn. “I know. Big competition. Magic Harvard. Bragging rights. I get it.”

‘Well, start acting like it,’ Fiona narrows her eyes, turning away with a huff. ‘Aether! Is everyone here just too distracted to care about what’s actually at stake here?’

As the Siren captain’s rant fades out once more, Marley’s mind wanders, as she warily eyes the flecks of gold that float on the breeze across the fields near Undique Stadium.

Over and over.

She weaves the walls, builds the domes, back to back. 

Once more. Then once more. Then again, for good measure.

She tries different approaches. Different woods. Oak. Redwood. Ebony. Elder. Yew. None seem to stand up to the task as well as her own roots do.

Idly, she wonders how telling this really is. Is she stronger than she thinks?

The roots that knit together yet another dome, its height barely grazing the ceiling of the gymnasium, seem to cry a resounding ‘yes’.

She folds the notes into a leather-bound book, fastening the cord tightly. Setting it into the fake bottom of a drawer, hidden away until it’s needed, she feels some weight lifting. Or maybe it’s just settling at last.

It all makes sense now.

And she’s coming around to accepting it.

Coming around, being the keywords.

Maybe everything’s just been building up to this all along.

It doesn’t make her heart ache any less though.

She marks the last day off on her calendar with a flourish. A big, fat ‘X’.

She’s served her time. She’s bided, trained, prepared.

But now she needs real answers.

David’s message and subsequent presence don’t come a moment too soon.

“... I’m ready. Take me to your Clan.”

[ryoshan]

p.s. i love you, a companion to [this] and my worst act of violence yet

5th August Two months

Ruby Rose,

I apologise for replying so late. You know us, always busy saving the world. It took some time to look at your things at all, never mind in your journal. What made you think even after you were gone I’d look somewhere so private? It was Yang that found your letter, and your journal has been left with me since. I hope you don’t mind my writing in it now, but then I don’t suppose you can argue, hah!

It’s been so busy, but so quiet without you. I can almost imagine you darting between us asking why the long faces, cracking jokes and pleading with us to start smiling. You are still the sunshine in my every room but the light is starting to get dimmer and I’m scared, Ruby. I can’t go for groceries without feeling sad, without wondering how they can walk around like nothing happened, like they’ve not been hit by the aftershocks too. I don’t know how to keep moving forward I don’t know how to work it out, that was your job, and now you’re not here. I keep asking myself ‘what would Ruby do’ but then I see your face in my head and I can’t think anymore, I can’t, I can’t. (The writing grows shaky towards the end of this paragraph)

You say that I’m strong but I’ve never felt so weak. I feel like that two thousand piece jigsaw we did at Beacon. Do you remember that? Do you remember how it rained and it rained over the spring break so we put the jigsaw together and there turned out to be a piece missing? You’re that piece, Ruby. Nothing will ever be complete without you anymore.

I love you, Ruby Rose. I love you, I loved you, and I will love you for the rest of my days. I didn’t say it enough and now I’ll never have the chance, except in this journal, your journal. I don’t know how to say goodbye yet, and I don’t know if I ever will. Please wait for me. Please don’t leave till I’m ready.

Yours, forever, Weiss

7th August Two months and two days

Yang spoke to you today. We were just talking, she made us food. She laughed, and said something… something about a pasta disaster back in patch. Right, Ruby? It was… relieving. Just for a second, to pretend like nothing had changed, like you were right there, and you’d laugh back and tell us the story of how you got pasta stuck to the roof. But then it was just silent, and Yang’s face went grey. I think she cried, but I don’t know. Blake went to her and I came here to you. I’d die to hold you now, Ruby. Your cloak still smells like you, like gunpowder and strawberries and hope, but I’m scared to touch it in case I wipe it away. I don’t want it to smell like me. I’ve had enough of me, enough of my own head.

All I want is you. All I want is you. All I want is you.

19th August Two months and two weeks

Ruby,

Jaune, Ren and Nora came to see us. Ren touched my shoulder and I felt a wave of warmth release tension, like my head is a muscle and he’d given me a massage. Nora joked about how we could keep him, and still be team RWBY. I managed to laugh, and so did Yang, but Blake didn’t. Neither did Jaune. He was more quiet than I’ve ever seen him. Pensive, and spent, like he had nothing left to say. I sat with him and held his hand, and he held on to me like he was falling off a cliff. I think he understands why I didn’t speak all afternoon. Our quiet corner made more sense to me than humouring Nora, though I know she was only trying her best. When they left, Jaune gave me a hug and told me he was only a call away if I wanted company. It was nice, but I felt like it should have been me saying that to him. I’m slipping, Ruby. I’m not seeing things like I used to, or feeling them right.

I miss you like the winter trees miss the leaves. I miss you like the stars miss the moon. You are my everything, and always will be, Ruby River Rose.

Weiss.

9th September Three months and one week

Ruby,

I just came home from seeing Winter. I don’t think we’ve ever talked so little, she just held my hand and I cried. I cried so much I don’t think there’s any water left in my body. I cried more than I did after your funeral, more than when -- when you were first gone. I feel completely empty now, but light. A swift wind could knock me over, so I guess it’s up to me now what I want to fill the empty space with.

I’ve started collecting beads. Did you know I had a bracelet for you? I almost forgot, it was for your birthday and I never had a chance to give it to you. I’m wearing your white one now, but this one was a chain, one you could add charms and things to. Now, when I see things that make me think of you, I pick them up. I’ll never put them on a chain, but I’ve got them in a glass bottle so I can watch my own little shrine to you grow. There’s four in there so far, one of them is a little metal corgi on a loop. I’m going to see your father tomorrow, all three of us are. I can’t wait to meet him.

I love you with everything I am, Weiss.

13th September Three months, one week and four days

I wish I could have met him with your hand in mine. I wish I could have been nervous because I wanted him to like me. I wish I could have seen him cry because I’d finally asked you to marry me. I wish it was such petty troubles that belong in one of Blake’s books. Instead I listened to a ghost tell me how much like your mother you were, and how he hopes you’re taking care of each other, wherever you are. Yang didn’t stick around much, I think it’s still too hard for her and your father to act like nothing has changed. He makes a nice coffee, your father. And he loves you so, so much. I was going to give him back your cloak, but he must have seen how my hands trembled with it laced between my fingers. He hugged me and told me to keep it, that you’d have wanted me to have it. It still smells like you.

4th October Four months and four days

Ruby,

I remember telling you once that I'd never get a tattoo. I went with Yang and held her hand while she got an addition to her dragon. It has an arm now, and it reaches around her shoulder and holds a rose to her chest between its talons. It took six whole hours and Yang didn't flinch for a second. She didn't even break a sweat. We didn't talk, not till it was done and she smiled a crystalline smile at me and said “now it's complete”. We went for a drink after. Two strawberry sunrises, with a little red umbrella, and a lot of talk. We talked about you, Ruby, and for the first time it felt normal. For the first time I talked about you in past tense. I flinched when I did it, and Yang held my hand and wiped away my tears. She whispered something about being strong, about how you wouldn't want a retelling of the way you almost skated across my ice into a tree only to catch your balance on the grimm you immediately impaled to end in tears. She was right. Memories are all I have of you now, and I should think of them with the million smiles I'd give to you if you were still here, not tears. Well, they're not quite all I have.

We went back to the tattoo shop, and I got a chain of roses around my left wrist. Yang held my hand, and I thought of you kissing me there while the needle pressed its ink.

I love you, Ruby River Rose. Weiss.

31st October Five months

I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you

31st December Seven months

Ruby,

I'm sorry it's been a while. My roses are healed and when I look at them I think of you, and smile. You'd like them, they're delicate but bold, and suit me, just like you did.

Yang and Blake are moving in together. They got a little plot of land at the edge of Vale, and Blake, Yang, your dad, and Blake's mum and dad came to camp on the plot to help build them a house. You should have seen Taiyang and Ghira, Ruby! I'm sure you can imagine how well they got along after all the protective dad huffing and puffing. I spent most of my time drinking tea with Kali, and a good thing too. It took plenty of both our strengths just to keep them all on track, or they'd still be building it yet.

I'm not going back to Atlas. Your dad mentioned a position going at Signal as a teacher. They've erected a statue of you there, you know? You're their most decorated former student, and you didn't even graduate like the rest of us.

Taiyang has said he understands if I don't want to take the post. They all know I was Ruby Rose's partner, and you know how children soak up stories about their heroes. That's you, Ruby. You're a hero to the next generation. You did it.

I figured if you can do that, I can be a teacher and tell them about all your best moments. I'm taking the position, and I'll be staying with your dad. I think he likes the company of someone who can actually talk back to him, and Sowon just isn't cutting it anymore. She's almost seventeen now, but she still acts like a kitten.

I love you still, my darling Ruby Rose.

Weiss.

1st February Six months

I had my first class today.

Thirteen seven year olds, and they all sat on the floor cross legged staring up at me with stars in their eyes. They spent the entire first two hours asking questions about you, and cheering as I told them the stories of our feats together. They've unofficially named themselves Class RWBY, and their first creative project is to design an emblem that is a combination of yours, mine, Blake's and Yang's. I'll get them produced, and I'll teach them how to stitch so they can attach them to their shirts themselves.

One little girl came to me towards the end of class. She tugged on my skirt with a little frown on her face, and stared at the floor. She's actually eight and a half, late to start at Signal because the orphanage kept her back, so I think she's a little nervous around us. She's ambitious, though. She asked if she could see Crescent Rose. She'd like to design her own weapon in its honour. I told her I'd bring it with me tomorrow. You'd like her, Ruby. She has the same determination to prove herself as you always did. Her name is Lyra.

I never did tell you again how proud I was of you. I hope you know.

Weiss.

2nd April Eight months and one day

Ruby River Rose,

I let Lyra take Crescent Rose home today, to study it. It felt strange letting her out of my hands, but it felt relieving, too. I trust her with your baby, and I know you would too. You’d be so proud of her, Ruby. She has made so much progress since starting my class. She virtually lives at the school. I don’t think she likes going back to the orphanage at all, and by the sounds of things, it’s not the nicest place to live. I get the impression from discussions with her guardian that they don’t really believe she’ll manage to graduate. He apologised for wasting my time at her first parent-teacher conference! Like she was some sort of burden we’re only humouring!

It feels strange, knowing all this and then returning home, to a big empty house made for children. Your dad is great company, but I think he knows the house isn’t what it used to be either. It was never supposed to house no more than one man and his daughter’s partner.

I love you, as always. Weiss.

19th April Eight months, two weeks and four days

Ruby Rose,

Lyra doesn’t know her second name. I told her she should think about choosing one for herself. I told her I could help her with the legal side of changing it. She got embarrassed then, and I asked why. She told me she’d already been thinking about it. That she’d like to choose the name Rose. She was as red as one as she told me this, so I kneeled down, nudged her with my elbow, and told her I’d rather like to change my name to Rose too. Weiss Rose. It sounds beautiful, don’t you think?

I’m thinking of adopting her, actually. We can change our names together, and begin the Rose family all over again. I think… I think you’d want me to, Ruby. I think I’m ready to let another person into my life. I read back to the first letter I wrote to you, and… I think I’m ready, Ruby.

I’m ready to say goodbye. I love you and I will always love you my beautiful Rose, but I think it’s time for me to put this journal down and let you go. I hope you’re proud of me my love, I hope you’re safe and happy wherever you are. I’ll see you soon, but you don’t have to wait for me. Just keep a seat warm for me, alright? I love you, I love you, I love you.

Forever yours, Weiss Rose

[senelkins-blog]

NEW YORK TIMES. FEBRUARY 2017. 

SENATOR ELKINS DID NOT ASK TO BE A BELLWETHER. At no point in his prodigious career did he ever ask for the mantle of prophet or did he demand the cardboard sign of an apocalyptic herald. Instead, his thirty-plus years of dedication to the conservative cause gradually transformed him into a tough love advocate for its transformation. His devotion to the right-wing has pushed him into battles with everyone from his own party to each branch of the government —— federal, state, and local levels, too. His image is one of a protector, if not necessarily a cage-fighter. He hearkens back to a different age of politics (one that he suspects never truly existed) when good men got their hands dirty behind close doors and while wearing gloves. The word integrity comes to mind, though it may perhaps be a partisan twist of the term. He does the right thing, even if that thing is announcing —— unflinchingly —— the impending demise of his own movement.

November 9th, 2016. The senator gives his final public speech of the year. At the time, no one suspected that he would disappear behind the scenes well into the new year. His ghost-like presence on the campaign grew gradually more public until the very last minute; his final speech was every bit what would have been expected. However, no one —— not even members of the Solis campaign itself  —— could have predicted that the godfather of the party would seemingly turn his back in their darkest hour. In that speech, which some of his long-time enemies regard as infamous, he concluded by paying homage to Barry Goldwater.

“Offer a choice, not an echo,” the senator repeats to me. His home in Raleigh is every bit what one would expect: we sit on a massive wraparound porch; his wife handed me a cold glass of sweet tea with a wedge of lemon before disappearing in her scarf to the garden; there are a couple of grandchildren chasing each other along the edge of a cornfield in the front yard; the sounds of the city are just far enough away to emphasis that of a tractor somewhere in the distance; the senator’s mint-condition 1953 F-100 sits in the driveway. I sit in awe of my surroundings, aware of the depth to which the senator’s carefully crafted image goes.

“Voters want change, and that’s a fact. Even when things are good, they ain’t satisfied. They want better. They deserve better, and they know it. A lot of politicians would tell you off the record that the people are dumb, and their attention just ain’t long enough to keep track of four years of work. But, that’s plainly wrong. They know —— they sense it in their guts without having to pick up a copy of the Post. America is more than a place, you know. It’s a state of mind, it’s a place in the heart. It’s an ideal that voters expect us to strive toward. Do we?”

He lets the question hang in the air and, at the time, I wonder if he recalls my original question. A few minutes earlier, I brought up a recent topic from an interview he allowed in his Hill office. Deterioration of the Republican party, he had said. Everyone from the RNC chair to the House Minority Leader have been forced to comment, and they all say the same thing: he’s working on it. The phrase has become synonymous with Senator Elkins over the years; when he gets to work on something, be it a vintage car or an improbable slog uphill and back into power, the work tends to be fruitful. But, rather than hashing through the how, I want to know the why.

“Right after we lose our way, we do.” He continues abruptly. The illusion of distraction comes across as he leans forward in his rocking chair to wave at a grandchild who has ducked toward the porch —— presumably for a glass of the tea, though I later see her rush outside with a model dump truck with working wheels which the senator says he hand-painted last Christmas. We take a break from the interview to go help the little girl load the back of the toy with dirt from Mrs. Elkin’s garden.

It is here that he really elaborates on his thoughts. I realize that I get real answers on his terms, usually as a product of a roundabout discussion that leaves the questions I fed him untouched to the point of frustration. Still, the senator’s home life is a fascinating look into who he is as a person. For a politician so paradoxically impersonal, even the way he helps his wife pull weeds tells a small story about who he is in Washington.

“The Republican party ain’t smart anymore. Emotions are a powerful political tool, be we’ve been using them right poorly as of late. Good ole McCain was destined to lose, going up against all the hopey-changey stuff.” He pauses to wink at me. “But, it’s been bad ever since then. Romney was out of touch. Solis was … a miscalculation.”

The Carolina soil under my nails is dark and wet; Mrs. Elkin’s tomatoes are beautiful.

“We went back to the Fifties, I think. We offered voters two shades of the same color, and they went with the one that did it best. Frankly, the conservative vision has become watered-down, weak, too indecisive to appeal to the average voter. They see a bunch of rich [jerks] in suits vying for a spot on some wealthy donor’s lap. It’s sickening, and people from Coal Country and the Delta and even the suburban Triangle can see that. Theresa Wright should not have won. She’s not as charismatic as Barack Obama, she offered herself as a lite version of him, and everything about her screamed centrism.” He clears his throat, and the sound is intentionally ugly. “We’re picking up the piece right now. I can’t figure out for the life of me how we were so off.”

This sounds like an aside. Can’t sounds more like paint when he says it.

“Conservatism looks like elitism these days. I want to take it back to the little people, and do it quick. The Dems have abandoned mom and pop and Joe and Suzy with even more zeal than we have, and it’s gonna become a race back to the trailer park once the midterms wipe them out.”

I ask over barbecue sandwiches if he truly believes that there will be Republican majorities in 2018.

“Absolutely. I like the word deterioration. I also like the word regeneration. I got things in the works, you know. Ever since Obama, we’ve been trying to make ourselves palatable. We like to play to the center as much as our base, and we went a little too far during the campaign. Not enough red meat. Not enough contrast. Wright is leading everyone into the wrong, and I can feel it like an ulcer. The people know when they’re being duped, and they know when Washington don’t care about them. Am I waiting for her to make a wrong move? Yes, I sure as hell am. When she does, we’ll show the nation that we ain’t an echo —— of anything, of anyone. People want something to believe in, and they want to believe in change. More than anything else, they want solid and real choices.”

                                                                                  by Gia Saab.

[63824peace]

Wednesday, 9th of november 2005

I headed toward Haneda Airport by taxicab early in the morning. I fought against the temptation to drowse.

We crossed Tenkuu Bridge and my eyes exploded with light.

I looked through the window and saw the horizon full of fire colors. I haven't seen dawnlight with my own eyes for quite some time. I always get up early, yet I rarely see the new sun.

Tokyo has a horizon drawn by skyscrapers, electric poles and wires, elevated railroad tracks, highways, signs and advertisements. All these city things trap only a small piece of sky for Tokyo's residents to behold. We can't even see the sunset clearly. We only know the daytime sun.

I lived alone in Tokyo's Ikejiri district when I first came here ten years ago. I could only see the highway when I opened my window. Every morning suffocated me back then. The city disciplines us, it eases us into a well-planned routine, formidable patience, and a bit of luck if we want to enjoy sunrise and sunset. I could relish sunrise every day back in Kobe.

Today I appreciated a new facet of the airport. As the name implies, Tokyo's airport really brings us into the skies.

"Even in Tokyo, we have a place where we can find a tremendous sky."

The morning sun shattered my drowsiness. I felt exquisite this morning.

I boarded flight JL8831 and departed from Haneda Airport to Kimpo Airport. I noticed a movie that Shin-chan had recommended listed on the flight's program (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), but I wasn't able to watch it. Korea isn't far from Japan, so they didn't show an in-flight movie.

From the plane I could see Mount Fuji draped in snow. The mountain has begun its own winter preparations.

I was surprised by more than ten fans waiting in Kimpo Airport's lobby. They greeted my arrival with placards that read, "I love MGS!" and "Hideo Kojima!"

The display really moved me. I gave some of them my autograph.

I saw a few middle-age people standing among them. I'm sure that the older folks were simply confused. They must have thought that I was someone else. They didn't appear to connect at all with video games or MGS.

I met Mr. Youn and his subordinates in the lobby. Mr. Youn is the CEO of UNIANA, an Asian branch of Konami. We exchanged a warm, firm handshake.

Kimpo Airport was blistering cold the last time I was here in February. When my flight landed today I heard an announcement that the temperature was 4 Celsius. I worried a little. I'm relieved to find the weather not too cold... it's even warm.

We drove to meet Director Park Chan-Wook at Haeng-Ju Bridge. We arrived early, so I checked out the mountain fortress Haeng-Ju Sa Seog. I didn't have enough time to move up the mountain, so I walked around the base instead. Ginko trees had shed their leaves and covered the street with a canary-colored carpet.

I had a completely different impression of this place when I visited in mid-winter. I now see that Korea and Japan are similar. Both have beautiful autumn leaves as well as clearly distinct seasons.

We went to the restaurant Naruto where they serve homecooked Korean cuisine.

Director Park's group decided to go ahead and film my interview. They'll include the footage as extra material on the DVD release of Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. I was caught off-guard, and I greeted the camera in Japanese.

The staff taught me a Korean line from Sympathy for Lady Vengeance: "Neo na jal haseyo." It's become the movie's catch-phrase. The film's main character (Guem-Ja) speaks the line to a preacher who finds her after her release from prison. It translates into something like, "Excuse me, but who the hell do you think you are?" It's similar to Jimmy Oshini's one-liner from his comedian days.

You shouldn't say it around people who haven't seen the movie though. It's a pretty rude expression, and they won't know that it's just a film reference.

We gave Director Park a gift: Shin-chan's rendition of Guem-Ja drawn on high quality paper.

We enjoyed lunch for two and a half hours. Our conversation covered a breadth of topics... our current activities, prospective projects, movies, manga, anime, and so on.

I last saw Director Park nine months ago. He was pretty tense then because he was shooting his film. He seemed pretty relaxed today though.

I really enjoyed it.

Director Park gave me the Oldboy Ultimate Box Set, sold only in Korea. They really made this fancy. The package design resembles the mysterious box from the movie. And talk about "ultimate"... it holds the soundtrack, a photo collection, a storyboard, a senitype, and four discs with extra footage. I hope they release it in Japan too.

What?! He told me that Starsailor used Oldboy footage in the music video for Bring My Love, and the Box Set contains the footage. Starsailor is my favorite UK band. I used their song Way to Fall as the MGS3 credits theme.

The coincidence surprised both of us. Japan, Korea, and the UK all connected for a moment, and I felt a strong sense of connectivity.

Director Park and I went our separate ways, and my group headed toward UNIANA.

They updated us on G-STAR's situation. The game expo starts tomorrow.

I spoke with Mr. Senju, Matsuhanan, and Tojin over the telephone. They had been preparing our booth at the expo site even before I arrived. They briefed me on the construction progress. Nothing serious has come up, but we're still behind schedule. We'll probably need to delay our stage rehearsal.

All three of them spoke excitedly. They're really into this.

Even Korea loves the anime series Crayon Shin-Chan. UNIANA's conference room has a Shin-Chan clock.

We briefly stopped by the computer room in the evening before heading toward the G-STAR site.

We arrived at the Korean International Exhibition Hall (KINTEX). It's located just slightly off the city's center. KINTEX compares with Germany's magnificent Leipzig Messe, which hosts the GC Expo.

KINTEX first surprised me with its size. It has a modern design, too. I heard that they just recently finished its construction. G-STAR plans to gather a total audience of 100,000 people, and I think that KINTEX can handle that amount of people easily.

I went inside. G-STAR starts tomorrow, and most booths were still incomplete. I was surprised… and a little worried.

I asked locals about the situation. They explained: "The Korean people never settle for second best. Once they saw each other's booths, they commenced rebuilding their own to make them even better."

I was startled somewhat to see booths that lacked any structure whatsoever. Everything looks like Japan's TGS two days before opening.

I had to walk through all the construction to get to UNIANA's and Konami's collaborative booth. I could hardly move without stepping on something. I walked carefully through the cranes, cars, wet glue, and paint.

I took a right inside the entrance, walked straight forward, and UNIANA's and Konami's booth appeared at the end of the aisle. They're putting the final touches on the exterior. Our booth is done. Nice!

I heard that we've built G-STAR's MGS booth in the image of the TGS MGS booth. They share the same stage structure, layout, color schemes, and textures. I was reminded of our booth two months before... it's like the same game expo in a different country.

I'm excited. I can feel adrenaline slipping into my system.

"I see... I think I understand now why Mr. Senju, Matsuhanan, and Tojin sounded so alive."

I feel energy tensing inside me. I'm really looking forward to the show.

I checked the booth and the stage, along with the next-generation theater's visual setup and Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound.

We hadn't prepared backstage for the live show, so I needed to catch up on the plans. Mr. Senju and I went over the latest rehearsal notes, the Powerpoint presentation, and the whole program from start to finish. It looks like we'll forego rehearsal today. We'll handle it tomorrow.

I had some of the unusual candies that Mr. Senju found in Korea. We're supposed to hold them in our mouths and suck.

I hadn't seen them before in Japan, so I took one. These are fun!

I ate dinner with everyone at the Italian restaurant inside KINTEX.

Kenpai! Three cheers for Konami, UNIANA, G-STAR, and the Korean gamers! Let's give tomorrow everything we've got.

I finally checked into my hotel just before midnight. I had a couple drinks at the bar while I admired Korea's night view.

[crosbyru-blog]

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2018 long-term review

The wide array of specced Alternatives to try makes the latest-generation A-Class a long-term Narrative with room to develop Why we are running it: To see if this VW Golf rival has come of age, and to pick the'perfect' versionMonth 4 - Month 3 - Month 2 - Month 1 - Specs Life with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 4 Getting selective with the choices list - 20th February 2019Some option packs are better value than others. The A-Class's #1395 Executive Package certainly functions. It has heated seats (essential in winter), the excellent 10.25in larger central infotainment screen, front and rear parking sensors, electrically folding mirrors (those last two are vital in our HQ's tight multi-storey), and the ability to park itself, which I've yet to try.Back to the topFinally settled on purchasing an A-Class? The tricky bit's deciding which one - 13th February 2019Now we are on our second Mercedes-Benz A-Class -- this A200 AMG Line after the original A180d Sport -- the various ways in which an A-Class can be specced to create cars with such different characters are really beginning to manifest themselves. Each difference between the two A-Classes is big enough on its own, but combined they create a car that feels like something new .The most obvious distinction between this A200 and its A180d predecessor is, of course, the motor -- and the fuel station pump at which you fill it. The A200 uses a turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol unit into the A180d's 1.5-litre diesel. The 161bhp/184lb feet engine, co-developed with Renault-Nissan, feels of much greater displacement than its official 1332cc figure indicates, offering plenty of torque at low revs and surprising muscularity at higher revs. You can't say that about a lot of downsized turbo petrol units, although it does share its zingy soundtrack when under loads with its small-engined cousins.Impressive everyday economy proved to be a strong suit of this A180d and surprisingly -- given that downsized turbo petrols are typically among the worst performers in the real world -- it is easy to get up of 40mpg from the A200, and even push 50mpg in the event you drive parsimoniously. That's within spitting distance of the official asserted figure of 53.3mpg. 1 piece of the driveline the two cars do share is their seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Its performance at step-off and reduced revs was the worst portion of the A180d. The transmission is better from the A200, but not ideal. More work is needed to better integrate it with the motor, and ensure faster and more responsive getaways to get you through gaps in the traffic and roundabouts.The chassis is another big mechanical shift. As discussed previously, the A180d uses a torsion beam set up for the rear suspension, while the A200 AMG Line increases a multi-link back axle (non-AMG Line A200s get the torsion beam). Jumping to the A200 for the first time, it felt a whole lot more alive in the way it moved down the street and engaged the driver. I was surprised at exactly how much more nimble it felt, but put this down to the lighter gas engine on the front axle helping the handling feel more nimble over the rear suspension offering greater body control.Comparing the ride between the two cars is a more subjective thing, as it's not as simple as torsion beam versus multi-link. The A200 includes the larger 18in AMG alloy wheels, as opposed to the 17in rims of this A180d, and related lower-profile tyres (225/45 from the A200 plays 205/55 in the A180d). The A200 does feel a bit sexier than the A180d, but the ride is much more sophisticated, less ploddy and with better body control. We are going to keep experimenting with different suspension and wheel set-ups to find out if a sweet spot are available, but it has advantage A200 AMG Line in the chassis stakes so far.The interior is also a step up in sophistication and class from the already impressive A180d Sport. You would expect that in a pricier, range-topping trim, but the AMG Line does deliver. The sport seats grip you nicely and are pleasing to the look and touch, while the optional #1395 Executive Package provides a further increase in perceived quality. Among its additions is a larger 10.25in screen for the central screen, the highlight of which is the crispness and clarity of the graphics. A map hasn't looked so good.I had grown quite fond of this A180d. As an entry-level'real world' model (ie the best value you can get for the two spec and running costs), it felt like the kind of car to perform 20,000 fuss-free motorway miles in each year. The A200 shows how differently the A-Class can be flavoured, with no less pleasing results.Love it:Sleek styling This A-Class isn't pretty from every angle, but it has never looked better than in black with AMG Line trim.Loathe it:Transmission response Step-off is better at the A200 than the A180d, but still not as smooth as it ought to be.Back to the topThe A180d we began this evaluation with has been substituted by the A200 you see here. The A200's 161bhp 1.3-litre turbo petrol, on first impressions, revs well and helps enhance the overall drivability compared with the A180d's 1.5-litre diesel. AMG Line brings a leap in toys and perceived quality over the A180d's Sport and the more sophisticated suspension subtly enhances agility.Back to the topLife with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 3 Pass me another A-Class, we're done with this one - 9th January 2019By the time you read this, A-Class number one of three in this collection of back-to-back evaluations will have returned to its manufacturer. This A180d is to be replaced by a petrol-powered A200, meaning the diesel leg of this trilogy is over and the first set of conclusions can be drawn.What is worth noting directly from the off is just how relevant a diesel engine of any kind remains if you do big miles. When you are doing just shy of 2000 miles a month, as we were averaging in our brief stint in the car, diesel makes the best sense of all.Our average market figure has slipped from the 60mpg around that it had hovered in the first days. The weather has cooled and the amount of shorter journeys has increased, but we're still mightily impressed with a 55mpg average. That will make for interesting comparison number one as we switch from our 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel to a downsized 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol in the A200.Just what will our wallets make of the change? From previous experience, downsized petrols are some of the least impressive for real world market. We will have the calculator out over the next few months and let you know.1 thing that I won't miss about this A-Class is that the transmission. There's simply no go when you ask for it with your foot, no matter how gentle or hard you are on the pedal. It takes a fantastic second for drive to appear, and it is as unimpressive as it is baffling: how did Mercedes sign off the car like this?It is a shame, because for the most part the transmission makes for an easy-going counterpart to the A180d once you're on the go. It kicks down with minimal fuss when required and offers impressive drivability from the 30-50mph acceleration bursts that are a part of normal driving.The seven-speed dual clutch auto also appears in the A200, so it will be intriguing to see whether the issue is one related to the transmission itself or one caused by its integration with the diesel engine. Both the A180d and A200 use the torsion beam rear suspension choice -- unless you spec your A200 in AMG Line trim, which our automobile will include to include an additional element to this story.On the standard suspension set-up and with 17in alloys in this mid century Sport trim, the A180d rides nicely but not with class-leading status. There's greater sophistication in how a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus rides. The A180d's body control comes unstuck over higher frequency surfaces and can set the cabin shaking. Intriguingly, there were a couple of large dissenters among the Autocar staff on the way in which the A180d rides on this standard set-up.The final big change we'll be noticing is with the MBUX infotainment system. Our A180d has the dual 7in screens, one centrally for the infotainment and another for the motorist's instruments.Others that have experienced the bigger 10.25in options in other A-Classes have smirked at how small it is, yet I have never had a problem with the images, legibility, size or operation. I'm looking forward to seeing if bigger does mean better when we update one of the two screens on the A200.Love it:SEAT COMFORT Not 1 fidget, tweak of the trunk or numbing of a bum cheek on a 400-mile journey.ACTIVE LANE KEEP ASSIST If you don't need it on, you have to turn it off each and every time you restart the ignition.Mercedes feels ahead in technology terms - 27th December 2018Having spent much of the past year at a Golf, I thought it'd take more than a month or two to familiarise myself with the A-Class. Wrong. Last week I jumped back to a Golf and was amazed by how outdated the VW felt. The A-Class has greater material richness and its technologies and slickness surpass the VW's -- a car that is likely on the podium because of its course along with the Audi A3.Mileage: 4222Life with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 2 One of those cars was the third bestseller in October, another fifth. - 28 November 2018When did mainstream cars become so expensive? Was it about the same time that the premium players came down to more mainstream sections like the family hatchback class to attempt to steal the established players' lunch?After a month or so fast piling on the miles in our recently acquired Mercedes-Benz A-Class and getting to know it fairly well for the months of this evaluation that lie ahead, I thought it best not to allow the chance slip by and do similar with the Ford Focus.After all, it is the likes of Focus buyers who have fallen under the spell of that Mercedes badge and saved a few additional pennies.The Focus and our A-Class share quite similar mechanical specifications. Both use small-capacity four-cylinder diesel engines (1.5 for the Focus, 1.3 for the A-Class) closely matched on power, torque and 0-62mph time (118bhp, 192lb ft and 10.2sec in the Ford performs 114bhp, 221lb ft and 10.5sec in the Merc).Both use automatic gearboxes (an eight-speed torque convertor for the Ford, seven-speed dual-clutch automobile for the Merc). And the Price? There is less than #1000 in it, in the sporty ST-Line X trim in the Focus, and the sporty, erm, Sport trim of this A-Class. By the time you fiddle with the various standard kits and choices, you find yourself with quite literally only a few additional pennies to the Mercedes. Translate this to a PCP deal and a monthly payment, and diddly-squat becomes the numerical value.The point? For however brilliant the Focus is to drive, and it's the quality of Mercedes and its overall package are of enormous appeal, and the best illustration of how the premium players are squeezing the middle-market mainstream brands with cars such as the A-Class. Ask the average car buyer if they'd have a Ford or a Mercedes for the same money, and we can all guess the answer.It is working for Mercedes, too. The A-Class is perhaps the most commonly spotted new car I've seen on the streets this fall, following the ubiquitous Ford Fiesta. Hardly surprising, as it was the third bestselling new car in the UK in September. Third bestselling? Crikey.Like me, those owners will be finding more about what an interesting car it is to live with. The Mercedes' interior and technology are in a different league from anything else that the segment has seen.The MBUX infotainment system may be'only' the entry-level one with the two 7.0in screens rather than the complete S-Class-style widescreen treatment across the whole dashboard, but it is wanting for nothing in operation.I'm experimenting with the'Hey Mercedes' voice activation system, which is definitely one of the better ones I've encountered. The trick is to talk to it normally, and not like a robot. Will have you on the phone to the road test ace faster than'Hey Mercedes. Call. 'I'm sorry, could you repeat that?'I am continuing to be bowled over by the effortless efficiency of this A180d. The market has settled around 60mpg today the weather has got colder, a quite extraordinary figure and in another league again to the 45mpg or so average I got from a similar drivetrain from the Focus. That's another part of the financial argument in the Merc's favour.Yet there is a negative point on the transmission, specifically at step-off. It's just so darn slow to respond. There is a T-junction in my commute on the edge of town. You have to pull upon the visitors to join a lane that has only come around a blind corner. Gaps in the traffic can be only a second or two, so as soon as you add in your reaction time and the time for the transmission to engage and then to pull away, the gap could well have gone.Manual gearboxes are coming soon to the A-Class and I guess its general quality will only increase more when that day comes.Enjoy it:Quality feel Classiness and quality run through the A-Class. Solid door thuds are as pleasing as the crispness of the interior screen graphics.Ride quality 'Loathe' is strong, but the ride is proving divisive. It's too firm for some, lacking sophistication for others. I'd call it okay.
Mileage: 3462In less than a month since it joined us, the A-Class has racked up a vast number of miles -- a indication of how well it fits into daily life. Yet much debate has begun in the office among those who've driven itride quality (blended ), fuel market (highly regarded), suitability of the transmission (not popular), interior quality (a high point), and size (Golf-like'just right'). Much to explore further...Mileage: 3222Back to the topWelcoming the A-Class into the fleet - 31st October 2018It's testament to the impact Mercedes-Benz has made with the A-Class in the UK that the arrival of this all-new fourth-generation version was considered one of the most keenly anticipated releases of the year.We say fourth generation, but you could argue it's only really the second given the A-Class's radical transformation from its previous generation from futuristic, spacious, ahead-of-its-time MPV-supermini mash-up to, dimensions-wise, a meat and two veg family hatchback pitched right at the heart of the European family hatchback market.The last A-Class was a staple of the UK's top 10 bestselling cars list monthly, buyers attracted to it in their droves from the attractive #199 per month PCP deals which were regularly being advertised as the most inexpensive way into Mercedes ownership. It worked: the A-Class was a key motive behind Mercedes' march to the peak of the premium brand sales charts in the UK and the fourth-top-selling brand overall.While we're here, that's quite a remarkable statistic. Mercedes sold more cars in the UK last year than Renault, Peugeot and Toyota to name only three, and the A-Class is among the biggest players in the family segment in the manner the Mégane, 308 and Corolla were a decade or two ago. Premium is the new mainstream.There are three unique engines originally available from dealers who are tasked with continuing that success. Yet there are so many subplots within the range that this is going to be a long-lasting test with a twist.For starters, KT18 RZA you see here is a car we are going to be saying goodbye to much earlier than we normally would, for by the time the year is out another shiny new A will be along replace it.Why so? To attempt and get as broad an experience as possible in the new A-Class. Early drives have suggested it is a car which can be specced in various ways to change its character so dramatically; we really need to try more than one car in a single solitary spec to make our recommendations.Up first, then, is an A180d Sport. This car's 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit with 114bhp and 192lb feet is the only diesel option until the more potent 2.0-litre A200d and A220d arrive very shortly. Drive is delivered to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the only transmission available. Do not worry: manuals can be found in some petrol variants.The petrols for now are a 161bhp 1.3-litre turbo in the A200 and a 221bhp 2.0-litre turbo in the A250, while a 187bhp 2.0-litre from the A220 with optional four-wheel drive is due to split them. There is also a 134bhp 1.3-litre in the entry-level A180. A headline-grabbing, Volkswagen Golf R-rivalling A35 AMG has also recently been announced, before a launch next year -- our current plan being to crown this evaluation with a longer stint in that car with what might be the A-Class's greatest hits album.But there is much to discover before we draw any conclusions like that. Such as finding out more about one of the important stories in this A-Class: the suspension of its back wheels. The A250 is the only A-Class available today with the multi-link rear suspension, the A180d and A200 getting an eyebrow-raising torsion beam. If you don't spec your A200 with the 18in alloys in AMG Line trim, which is due to follow our initial torsion-beam-equipped A180d to get that comparison.Trim wise, our car is a Sport, which sits in the middle of the A-Class range. For the #27,340 asked by Mercedes, you receive a degree of kit that hasn't left us wanting for much in these early days. The wheels are the standard Sport 17in rims, and the only option is metallic paint. That leaves the standard kit list to add dual-zone air-con, some excellent LED headlights and the new MBUX infotainment system controlled through either the conventional 7.0in touchscreen, the trackpad on the centre tunnel or the steering wheel controllers.All those controls seemed a bit bewildering when I sat in the car, perhaps due to these recent personal familiarity with BMW/Mini and Volkswagen Group systems, yet already I am finding it intuitive to use.The vibrancy of these images is a highlight, as is my experience of the Hey Mercedes voice control. Utter these two words and you get Siri-style search function of the vehicle's controls, as well as some online search also. I have heard from colleagues that the system was quite buggy on its initial global press launch, yet it got up the amount of a taxi firm in Norwich I needed (is that you, Mr Partridge?) The very first time I used it.1 other first impression: the A180d has an engine of effortless efficiency. Economy is nearer to 70mpg than 60mpg (maintained: 68.9mpg). That is quite remarkable with only 1000 or so miles on the odometer. The car covered another 1000 miles or so in its first few weeks , and that kind of economy over those kinds of motorway distances is the latest case for the defence of diesel. In automobiles like this used in this fashion, the black pump makes absolute sense.And did I mention that interior? Well, it's not just lovely to look at, it's also lovely to sit and browse your way around its controls. That's only the entry-level system: we will be testing the optional 10.25in screens to the full widescreen cinema experience over the course of those updates for one more component to this developing story. We've got a busy and exciting few months ahead getting to know this most important of new cars, and so we'd better start.Second OpinionTwo things stick out. First, its all-round excellence: the steering and low-speed ride create rivals seem rough, and promise a fantastic next-gen Golf if VW would be to keep up. Second, how much more traditional it is from the first, nutty, shorter-than-Fiesta edition. Seems VW was correct all along.Steve CropleyBack to the topMercedes-Benz A-Class A180D Sport specification Specs: Price New #27,340 Price as tested #27,935 Alternatives Mountain grey metallic paint #595Back to the top https://autonotebuyerinc.com/mercedes-benz-a-class-2018-long-term-review/

[idonthaterunning]

Updates

It’s been a while my dear readers. I hate to admit that I haven’t had a lot of time to write. In my life lately things have been full speed ahead. There were a few things that prompted me to write this post, not just because I am behind in posts, but because I really think my life has changed so much since I started this journey in January. Wow, can you believe that? It’s been 11 months. This morning I ran my 9th 5k. It was a doozy. I have race reviews coming for my last four races soon. However last night was a real eye opener on things have have changed in my life. On the night before my 2nd 5k, my ex was a huge jerk to me. I don’t remember what happened, and honestly I don’t care to remember. However, I know that I was up late crying and the next day I ran one of my worst races to date. I don’t mean time wise the worst race ever, because my worst race time ever was actually one of my favorite race experiences. However, my head was not in the game. My Gazelle Girl 5k was awful. Last night, I was in bed talking on the phone with my new boyfriend, and I was thinking about how much my life has changed. Yes, for all you Nosy Nancy’s I do have a new boyfriend, we have been dating for just over two months and he is amazing. He is funny and smart and most important, kind. I think about the first time I ran in 2018. I had gone to Planet Fitness and decided that I was going to run. I got on a treadmill with absolutely no knowledge of what I was doing. I ran about 20 minutes of interval training and it was sloppy. 

I was telling my awesome coworker A about how every new years, I theme the upcoming year. In 2017 was supposed to be the year of fiscal responsibility. It was supposed to be the year I got my shit together. My ex and I had a wedding to pay for. I’m serious, we were planning on getting married. When we went and visited my parents in February of 2017, he suggested that we get married while we were there. I thought that we were going to be together forever and that all the problems we had in the past, all the lying and fighting would end once were closed the distance and lived together. When he decided not to move in, 12 hour before we supposed to sign a lease together, 2017 went from the year of fiscal responsibility to “2017- Get me out of this dumpster fire.” The rest of 2017 was a mess, emotionally, physically after I broke my ankle, and financially. 2018 was the year of forward progress and I wasn’t going to let that shit from the year before hold me back. I didn’t want to keep gaining weight. I didn’t want to keep losing the battle with depression.  I didn’t know what progress was going to look like. It turned out to be running.

I haven’t been running as much in the second half the year as the first. My training time really got cut down. The crazy thing about having a partner who actually wants to see you, is that suddenly you both before very busy. I’ve also been teaching a class this semester at my university which I have loved and I have been very lucky to do. I went to a conference in October. I have a group of women in my life that I play DnD with. Sometimes we just hang out and knit or talk. It’s November, which is National Novel Writing Month, and this month I will be writing 50 thousand words in a mystery novel I’ve been dreaming up for months. My non-biological sister has been kicking butt since buying a house and its been cool to be on the sidelines helping and cheering her on when needed. At the start of the year running was filling a gap in my life that has since been filled by races, new friends, experiences and an amazing partner. If you would have asked me a year ago what I thought today would look like, this isn’t what I would have told you. However, this is so much better than anything I could have imagined.

<3 more to come soon!

[genji2928-blog]

A blossoming Golden friendship in darkest time of my life

It was a cold time for me last 9th of February as it is business as usual for me. So I am pretty much looking forward for another weekend. Good thing I got a plan! I am going to meet. Helen, she is actually Jessa’s network(sounds so odd aye? I can’t lets imgo of the networkers jargon which I found funny but take no offence as it’s just a way of my joke), anyways going back so we set a plan to meet tomorrow which is 10th of February.

Saturday it is! So we decided to meet somewhere in town. I was the one who actually planned it by 10 am but since it’s a non working day, we both woke up late and ended up to push it in a later time. We had exchanged a few information like where to meet and if she’s actually on her way so on and so forth like the usual routine of meeting a new friend.

Before meeting her up, I asked Jessa about Helen so that I will atleast know how to approach her without offending her because of my actions and because of my big mouth. After which, I started walking towards train station which I approximately think that she will be around there.

Only to find out that we both have not that great sense of direction,as we provide each other’s a not so visible landmark which caused both of us laughing on both lines as we don’t know where to meet each other. Finally, the Pipitea campus was mentioned so I was able to met her on this specific place if my memory serves me right.

Here we go! We finally met! And I was like OMG in an instant we clicked since she’s quite new here in Wellington as much as I do. Since we both are not much familiar on the town yet and we are so starving, we decided to have a lunch first before strolling around. One of the hardest question of all time popped again, where are we going to eat? So we kept walking around and having a chit chat. We know that we are getting lost but good thing that she mentioned that she likes Korean food that gave me an idea to bring her to my favorite korean restaurant in Wellington. Favorite cause that’s the only korean restaurant I know which is the country house. Literally I ate there the day before but I don’t mind eating there everyday cause I really love their food.(haha Endorser, they should give me an andorsment fee. Lol)

Honestly, I don’t know I feel like she is a long lost sister or like I am really comfortable with her. So I actually started chatting with her beyond the limits of a first meet-up of a friend. I’m really comfortable like she is a bes of mine. Furthermore, I didn’t even mind my loud voice as I was really enjoying talking to her as if like a long lost bestfriend catch up. I am so blessed that I actually met her as I was able to release all my bloody sentiments! Haha drama much? It’s really my darkest hours like breaking point like an edge of a cliff. Great thing she has the patience to deal with my talkativeness.

After spending an hour or so on the restaurant, we decided to walk around to think what to do next. The first thing we did was to walk around the area which led us to get lost within the vicinity of the waterfront. We didn’t mind the rain as we are waterproof. As we tagged along I realized that I’m not the most impulsive person as when she asked me to go to Picton which I didn’t even heard before. I was like agad agad? Haha cause the weather is so bad and I am thinking about final destination that something bad might happened. And as she wants to see the red panda, we decided to go to the Zoo!

We were so excited as this will be our first time to go to New Zealand Zoo. I haven’t even been to Auckland zoo but I don’t mind trying it. But maybe it was the time that it should be the Wellington Zoo be the first one to visit instead. IMG_0881.HEIC

As we arrived in Wellington Zoo, the excitement pumped up my blood like a child having a new experience. We entered the Zoo and was amazed with the setup as the one on my system and the zoo I know looks like a cage of animals but this one is like an eye opener. It is very astonishing that their Zoo is actually a sanctuary as bes described it. It’s so serene, animals are exceptionally taken cared of, they even have home larger than a human possess’.

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Moreover, that place is a really great place to go when you want to actually escape the reality momentarily. It helped a lot to brush off negative vibes and provided a peaceful shelter. Bes and I really had a great time especially the part where we actually saw red panda and Sunda—not quite sure of the spelling but you know why hehehehe.

Time flew so fast that we finished roaming around the area and needed to go back to town. I rode the bus second time and as we hit the town the bus passed by Cuba St. allowed us to see the Wellington Night market.  We are so excited and keen to try it.

Soon as we arrived to the bus stop, we walked back and saw Typo which is our favourite and promise to save up $500 for our shopping spree.The moment we reached the night market grounds, we both felt that we needed to pee. At first, we are still cool trying to find a toilet and laughing about it and was able to come up with the idea of creating an app of Public toilet locator and she will be the front end developer and I will do the backend. But since we arrived passed 5pmish I think most of the establishment were close. Even a public toilet we found is close. We even reached library trying to find luck for toilet but failed to no avail. So we starting to get grumpy haha like we were like yelling at each other and getting attention of people around hahaha which is so funny. It took like almost or maybe more than half an hour to locate a toilet as even following the map didn’t allow us because we are holding up out pee. Luckily, we found Pitapit.

Moments of redemption, thank you so much Pitapit as we were able to unload and fee so fresh again and we can laugh back. We were able to go back to Night market and was able to try Fish cake from thai and a crystal dumpling for me and a chinese dumpling for me I reckon.

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It was really a great start of friendship for me and my bes as we were able to talk about almost everything we even reached religion hahahaha.  We should do it often if our schedule permits. Haha I am so blessed to found a new bes here in Wellington.

I thought it was the end of the weekends for me. I didn’t expect that we’ll go out on Sunday. I know she has plan to meet up her childhood friends but I didn’t know that it will pushed through as I am not part of the original plan so I stayed up late and was able to wrote my other journal.

Around 9ish I received a call from bes asking if I am keen to meet them and they would pick me up. Since I know it will be fun based on yesterday’s memories I know it will be fun. So I confirmed that I will be joining them. The next question I asked was that what time are you guys coming over here? I was still disoriented I was so sure of that. The moment I heard now na. I was like agad agad? Hahahaha so I literally jumped off my bed and ran to the shower.  The next thing I know was that they arrived and I was on the car.

disoriented mode perspective

I actually reached the car still in disoriented mode(I am usually like this when I lack sleep and in the morning). I wasn’t even able to ask about her friends if how I should deal with them haha cause I always do that. Hahaha. I was ecstatic that her friends are very very friendly and really funny. 🏻 NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. They are so accommodating and humorous.

slowly recovering from disorientation

Of course the introduction part, greetings and stuff and I slowly blended to the conversation. Knowing Cesar and Nick. It left me on awe of natural diversity. These two guys are really indescribable as their personality and characters are full of positivity and humungous set of natural comedic inclination. It’s like trapped in their souls which makes them as a great embodiment of true friends to keep.

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As we reached airport to pick up their friend under the screen name of Dawn Zulueta joke. Kidding aside, I was able to meet Dawn another extraordinary character I ever met. IMG_1144.HEIC

Every minute that passed by was like a golden hour to cherish as there was no boring moments and full of flowing positive energy. Everything is purely fun yet I am learning so much. Since I moved in New Zealand, I only have Jessa as my friend which allowed me to be contented as I am having a rough time to adapt on changes and personal dilemmas. Then it’s like a blessing from the heavens above that strucked me a having a great opportunity to meet Helen and her gang which opened my eyes that there’s more to life than it seemed to be and appreciate more of it that a blessing will always be a blessing regardless of its form.

So going back, since everyone was starving, we decided to have a lunch first but since we can’t find a place to eat we first traversed the Wellington Hollywood lol cause I don’t know what to call it and have a good glimpse of the scenery and of course the photo op.

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After which we actually went to Miramar     to check the Weta workshop then headed back to town for lunch. As we were walking in town to find a restaurant the boys was able to meet a filipino seamen couple joke they reckoned cause they are lost and lost looking for a restau and they accommodate them with open arms which is very admirable. Then as we go to the restaurant we pretty had a great laugh and conversation.

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Lunch is done so the next stop was the Zoo. The rain was still pouring but it was worth getting a bit wet. Of course it was so great cause of nonstop laughs and conversation.

When we finished the zoo we headed Oriental Bay as the boys were excited to swim and found out that there were heaps of jellyfish as time of the season

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Time was so fast as lightning! It was time for dinner so we decided to head back to Helen’s house for dinner we dropped by at countdown to shop for dinner. I am very indecisive if I am going to work or not as I really love hanging with these fellas! So in the end, I ended up staying with them at Dwellington to have drinks and to enjoy the rest of the night.

My time off was approved! So what we did was to go home. I am running out of words! Joke! The following day we actually went to Beehive for another photo op then to town for the museum and then went to Mt. Victoria and headed back to town for dinner at Capitol market and headed way home! See video(speaks more than words).

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It was like all our stars were aligned and connected with each others and shined so bright that made us clicked in a snap. I really really really admire how these fellas carry their values and characters and masking their own dilemmas without me noticing it. I am so privileged to make friends with them that I can’t even bestow even for my next lifetime. I felt so accepted in just a snap. We are like Different Individuals Valuing Each other Regardless of Skin, Intellect,  and Talent for Years

Buddhism principle includes past and future lifetime. So I am wondering if maybe we are like a family in the previous life, who knows but all I can think of is that this experience brushed off all the negativity in my body and made me admire them for demonstrating exceptional upbringing and strong core foundation of personality.  

I am so blessed to make friends with these fellas as they made me see another shade of life and realized that anyone can cross each other’s horizon in His timing and plan.

Destiny to make friends with them? Maybe or Maybe not but one thing is for sure I will do my best to be a great friend for these fellas! They are like another gold treasure of mine that makes my journey worthwhile in this lifetime.

[crosbyru-blog]

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2018 long-term review

The wide array of specced Alternatives to try makes the latest-generation A-Class a long-term Narrative with room to develop Why we are running it: To see if this VW Golf rival has come of age, and to pick the'perfect' versionMonth 4 - Month 3 - Month 2 - Month 1 - Specs Life with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 4 Getting selective with the choices list - 20th February 2019Some option packs are better value than others. The A-Class's #1395 Executive Package certainly functions. It has heated seats (essential in winter), the excellent 10.25in larger central infotainment screen, front and rear parking sensors, electrically folding mirrors (those last two are vital in our HQ's tight multi-storey), and the ability to park itself, which I've yet to try.Back to the topFinally settled on purchasing an A-Class? The tricky bit's deciding which one - 13th February 2019Now we are on our second Mercedes-Benz A-Class -- this A200 AMG Line after the original A180d Sport -- the various ways in which an A-Class can be specced to create cars with such different characters are really beginning to manifest themselves. Each difference between the two A-Classes is big enough on its own, but combined they create a car that feels like something new .The most obvious distinction between this A200 and its A180d predecessor is, of course, the motor -- and the fuel station pump at which you fill it. The A200 uses a turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol unit into the A180d's 1.5-litre diesel. The 161bhp/184lb feet engine, co-developed with Renault-Nissan, feels of much greater displacement than its official 1332cc figure indicates, offering plenty of torque at low revs and surprising muscularity at higher revs. You can't say that about a lot of downsized turbo petrol units, although it does share its zingy soundtrack when under loads with its small-engined cousins.Impressive everyday economy proved to be a strong suit of this A180d and surprisingly -- given that downsized turbo petrols are typically among the worst performers in the real world -- it is easy to get up of 40mpg from the A200, and even push 50mpg in the event you drive parsimoniously. That's within spitting distance of the official asserted figure of 53.3mpg. 1 piece of the driveline the two cars do share is their seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Its performance at step-off and reduced revs was the worst portion of the A180d. The transmission is better from the A200, but not ideal. More work is needed to better integrate it with the motor, and ensure faster and more responsive getaways to get you through gaps in the traffic and roundabouts.The chassis is another big mechanical shift. As discussed previously, the A180d uses a torsion beam set up for the rear suspension, while the A200 AMG Line increases a multi-link back axle (non-AMG Line A200s get the torsion beam). Jumping to the A200 for the first time, it felt a whole lot more alive in the way it moved down the street and engaged the driver. I was surprised at exactly how much more nimble it felt, but put this down to the lighter gas engine on the front axle helping the handling feel more nimble over the rear suspension offering greater body control.Comparing the ride between the two cars is a more subjective thing, as it's not as simple as torsion beam versus multi-link. The A200 includes the larger 18in AMG alloy wheels, as opposed to the 17in rims of this A180d, and related lower-profile tyres (225/45 from the A200 plays 205/55 in the A180d). The A200 does feel a bit sexier than the A180d, but the ride is much more sophisticated, less ploddy and with better body control. We are going to keep experimenting with different suspension and wheel set-ups to find out if a sweet spot are available, but it has advantage A200 AMG Line in the chassis stakes so far.The interior is also a step up in sophistication and class from the already impressive A180d Sport. You would expect that in a pricier, range-topping trim, but the AMG Line does deliver. The sport seats grip you nicely and are pleasing to the look and touch, while the optional #1395 Executive Package provides a further increase in perceived quality. Among its additions is a larger 10.25in screen for the central screen, the highlight of which is the crispness and clarity of the graphics. A map hasn't looked so good.I had grown quite fond of this A180d. As an entry-level'real world' model (ie the best value you can get for the two spec and running costs), it felt like the kind of car to perform 20,000 fuss-free motorway miles in each year. The A200 shows how differently the A-Class can be flavoured, with no less pleasing results.Love it:Sleek styling This A-Class isn't pretty from every angle, but it has never looked better than in black with AMG Line trim.Loathe it:Transmission response Step-off is better at the A200 than the A180d, but still not as smooth as it ought to be.Back to the topThe A180d we began this evaluation with has been substituted by the A200 you see here. The A200's 161bhp 1.3-litre turbo petrol, on first impressions, revs well and helps enhance the overall drivability compared with the A180d's 1.5-litre diesel. AMG Line brings a leap in toys and perceived quality over the A180d's Sport and the more sophisticated suspension subtly enhances agility.Back to the topLife with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 3 Pass me another A-Class, we're done with this one - 9th January 2019By the time you read this, A-Class number one of three in this collection of back-to-back evaluations will have returned to its manufacturer. This A180d is to be replaced by a petrol-powered A200, meaning the diesel leg of this trilogy is over and the first set of conclusions can be drawn.What is worth noting directly from the off is just how relevant a diesel engine of any kind remains if you do big miles. When you are doing just shy of 2000 miles a month, as we were averaging in our brief stint in the car, diesel makes the best sense of all.Our average market figure has slipped from the 60mpg around that it had hovered in the first days. The weather has cooled and the amount of shorter journeys has increased, but we're still mightily impressed with a 55mpg average. That will make for interesting comparison number one as we switch from our 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel to a downsized 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol in the A200.Just what will our wallets make of the change? From previous experience, downsized petrols are some of the least impressive for real world market. We will have the calculator out over the next few months and let you know.1 thing that I won't miss about this A-Class is that the transmission. There's simply no go when you ask for it with your foot, no matter how gentle or hard you are on the pedal. It takes a fantastic second for drive to appear, and it is as unimpressive as it is baffling: how did Mercedes sign off the car like this?It is a shame, because for the most part the transmission makes for an easy-going counterpart to the A180d once you're on the go. It kicks down with minimal fuss when required and offers impressive drivability from the 30-50mph acceleration bursts that are a part of normal driving.The seven-speed dual clutch auto also appears in the A200, so it will be intriguing to see whether the issue is one related to the transmission itself or one caused by its integration with the diesel engine. Both the A180d and A200 use the torsion beam rear suspension choice -- unless you spec your A200 in AMG Line trim, which our automobile will include to include an additional element to this story.On the standard suspension set-up and with 17in alloys in this mid century Sport trim, the A180d rides nicely but not with class-leading status. There's greater sophistication in how a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus rides. The A180d's body control comes unstuck over higher frequency surfaces and can set the cabin shaking. Intriguingly, there were a couple of large dissenters among the Autocar staff on the way in which the A180d rides on this standard set-up.The final big change we'll be noticing is with the MBUX infotainment system. Our A180d has the dual 7in screens, one centrally for the infotainment and another for the motorist's instruments.Others that have experienced the bigger 10.25in options in other A-Classes have smirked at how small it is, yet I have never had a problem with the images, legibility, size or operation. I'm looking forward to seeing if bigger does mean better when we update one of the two screens on the A200.Love it:SEAT COMFORT Not 1 fidget, tweak of the trunk or numbing of a bum cheek on a 400-mile journey.ACTIVE LANE KEEP ASSIST If you don't need it on, you have to turn it off each and every time you restart the ignition.Mercedes feels ahead in technology terms - 27th December 2018Having spent much of the past year at a Golf, I thought it'd take more than a month or two to familiarise myself with the A-Class. Wrong. Last week I jumped back to a Golf and was amazed by how outdated the VW felt. The A-Class has greater material richness and its technologies and slickness surpass the VW's -- a car that is likely on the podium because of its course along with the Audi A3.Mileage: 4222Life with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 2 One of those cars was the third bestseller in October, another fifth. - 28 November 2018When did mainstream cars become so expensive? Was it about the same time that the premium players came down to more mainstream sections like the family hatchback class to attempt to steal the established players' lunch?After a month or so fast piling on the miles in our recently acquired Mercedes-Benz A-Class and getting to know it fairly well for the months of this evaluation that lie ahead, I thought it best not to allow the chance slip by and do similar with the Ford Focus.After all, it is the likes of Focus buyers who have fallen under the spell of that Mercedes badge and saved a few additional pennies.The Focus and our A-Class share quite similar mechanical specifications. Both use small-capacity four-cylinder diesel engines (1.5 for the Focus, 1.3 for the A-Class) closely matched on power, torque and 0-62mph time (118bhp, 192lb ft and 10.2sec in the Ford performs 114bhp, 221lb ft and 10.5sec in the Merc).Both use automatic gearboxes (an eight-speed torque convertor for the Ford, seven-speed dual-clutch automobile for the Merc). And the Price? There is less than #1000 in it, in the sporty ST-Line X trim in the Focus, and the sporty, erm, Sport trim of this A-Class. By the time you fiddle with the various standard kits and choices, you find yourself with quite literally only a few additional pennies to the Mercedes. Translate this to a PCP deal and a monthly payment, and diddly-squat becomes the numerical value.The point? For however brilliant the Focus is to drive, and it's the quality of Mercedes and its overall package are of enormous appeal, and the best illustration of how the premium players are squeezing the middle-market mainstream brands with cars such as the A-Class. Ask the average car buyer if they'd have a Ford or a Mercedes for the same money, and we can all guess the answer.It is working for Mercedes, too. The A-Class is perhaps the most commonly spotted new car I've seen on the streets this fall, following the ubiquitous Ford Fiesta. Hardly surprising, as it was the third bestselling new car in the UK in September. Third bestselling? Crikey.Like me, those owners will be finding more about what an interesting car it is to live with. The Mercedes' interior and technology are in a different league from anything else that the segment has seen.The MBUX infotainment system may be'only' the entry-level one with the two 7.0in screens rather than the complete S-Class-style widescreen treatment across the whole dashboard, but it is wanting for nothing in operation.I'm experimenting with the'Hey Mercedes' voice activation system, which is definitely one of the better ones I've encountered. The trick is to talk to it normally, and not like a robot. Will have you on the phone to the road test ace faster than'Hey Mercedes. Call. 'I'm sorry, could you repeat that?'I am continuing to be bowled over by the effortless efficiency of this A180d. The market has settled around 60mpg today the weather has got colder, a quite extraordinary figure and in another league again to the 45mpg or so average I got from a similar drivetrain from the Focus. That's another part of the financial argument in the Merc's favour.Yet there is a negative point on the transmission, specifically at step-off. It's just so darn slow to respond. There is a T-junction in my commute on the edge of town. You have to pull upon the visitors to join a lane that has only come around a blind corner. Gaps in the traffic can be only a second or two, so as soon as you add in your reaction time and the time for the transmission to engage and then to pull away, the gap could well have gone.Manual gearboxes are coming soon to the A-Class and I guess its general quality will only increase more when that day comes.Enjoy it:Quality feel Classiness and quality run through the A-Class. Solid door thuds are as pleasing as the crispness of the interior screen graphics.Ride quality 'Loathe' is strong, but the ride is proving divisive. It's too firm for some, lacking sophistication for others. I'd call it okay.
Mileage: 3462In less than a month since it joined us, the A-Class has racked up a vast number of miles -- a indication of how well it fits into daily life. Yet much debate has begun in the office among those who've driven itride quality (blended ), fuel market (highly regarded), suitability of the transmission (not popular), interior quality (a high point), and size (Golf-like'just right'). Much to explore further...Mileage: 3222Back to the topWelcoming the A-Class into the fleet - 31st October 2018It's testament to the impact Mercedes-Benz has made with the A-Class in the UK that the arrival of this all-new fourth-generation version was considered one of the most keenly anticipated releases of the year.We say fourth generation, but you could argue it's only really the second given the A-Class's radical transformation from its previous generation from futuristic, spacious, ahead-of-its-time MPV-supermini mash-up to, dimensions-wise, a meat and two veg family hatchback pitched right at the heart of the European family hatchback market.The last A-Class was a staple of the UK's top 10 bestselling cars list monthly, buyers attracted to it in their droves from the attractive #199 per month PCP deals which were regularly being advertised as the most inexpensive way into Mercedes ownership. It worked: the A-Class was a key motive behind Mercedes' march to the peak of the premium brand sales charts in the UK and the fourth-top-selling brand overall.While we're here, that's quite a remarkable statistic. Mercedes sold more cars in the UK last year than Renault, Peugeot and Toyota to name only three, and the A-Class is among the biggest players in the family segment in the manner the Mégane, 308 and Corolla were a decade or two ago. Premium is the new mainstream.There are three unique engines originally available from dealers who are tasked with continuing that success. Yet there are so many subplots within the range that this is going to be a long-lasting test with a twist.For starters, KT18 RZA you see here is a car we are going to be saying goodbye to much earlier than we normally would, for by the time the year is out another shiny new A will be along replace it.Why so? To attempt and get as broad an experience as possible in the new A-Class. Early drives have suggested it is a car which can be specced in various ways to change its character so dramatically; we really need to try more than one car in a single solitary spec to make our recommendations.Up first, then, is an A180d Sport. This car's 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit with 114bhp and 192lb feet is the only diesel option until the more potent 2.0-litre A200d and A220d arrive very shortly. Drive is delivered to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the only transmission available. Do not worry: manuals can be found in some petrol variants.The petrols for now are a 161bhp 1.3-litre turbo in the A200 and a 221bhp 2.0-litre turbo in the A250, while a 187bhp 2.0-litre from the A220 with optional four-wheel drive is due to split them. There is also a 134bhp 1.3-litre in the entry-level A180. A headline-grabbing, Volkswagen Golf R-rivalling A35 AMG has also recently been announced, before a launch next year -- our current plan being to crown this evaluation with a longer stint in that car with what might be the A-Class's greatest hits album.But there is much to discover before we draw any conclusions like that. Such as finding out more about one of the important stories in this A-Class: the suspension of its back wheels. The A250 is the only A-Class available today with the multi-link rear suspension, the A180d and A200 getting an eyebrow-raising torsion beam. If you don't spec your A200 with the 18in alloys in AMG Line trim, which is due to follow our initial torsion-beam-equipped A180d to get that comparison.Trim wise, our car is a Sport, which sits in the middle of the A-Class range. For the #27,340 asked by Mercedes, you receive a degree of kit that hasn't left us wanting for much in these early days. The wheels are the standard Sport 17in rims, and the only option is metallic paint. That leaves the standard kit list to add dual-zone air-con, some excellent LED headlights and the new MBUX infotainment system controlled through either the conventional 7.0in touchscreen, the trackpad on the centre tunnel or the steering wheel controllers.All those controls seemed a bit bewildering when I sat in the car, perhaps due to these recent personal familiarity with BMW/Mini and Volkswagen Group systems, yet already I am finding it intuitive to use.The vibrancy of these images is a highlight, as is my experience of the Hey Mercedes voice control. Utter these two words and you get Siri-style search function of the vehicle's controls, as well as some online search also. I have heard from colleagues that the system was quite buggy on its initial global press launch, yet it got up the amount of a taxi firm in Norwich I needed (is that you, Mr Partridge?) The very first time I used it.1 other first impression: the A180d has an engine of effortless efficiency. Economy is nearer to 70mpg than 60mpg (maintained: 68.9mpg). That is quite remarkable with only 1000 or so miles on the odometer. The car covered another 1000 miles or so in its first few weeks , and that kind of economy over those kinds of motorway distances is the latest case for the defence of diesel. In automobiles like this used in this fashion, the black pump makes absolute sense.And did I mention that interior? Well, it's not just lovely to look at, it's also lovely to sit and browse your way around its controls. That's only the entry-level system: we will be testing the optional 10.25in screens to the full widescreen cinema experience over the course of those updates for one more component to this developing story. We've got a busy and exciting few months ahead getting to know this most important of new cars, and so we'd better start.Second OpinionTwo things stick out. First, its all-round excellence: the steering and low-speed ride create rivals seem rough, and promise a fantastic next-gen Golf if VW would be to keep up. Second, how much more traditional it is from the first, nutty, shorter-than-Fiesta edition. Seems VW was correct all along.Steve CropleyBack to the topMercedes-Benz A-Class A180D Sport specification Specs: Price New #27,340 Price as tested #27,935 Alternatives Mountain grey metallic paint #595Back to the top https://autonotebuyerinc.com/mercedes-benz-a-class-2018-long-term-review/

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2018 long-term review

The wide array of specced Alternatives to try makes the latest-generation A-Class a long-term Narrative with room to develop Why we are running it: To see if this VW Golf rival has come of age, and to pick the’perfect’ version Month 4 – Month 3 – Month 2 – Month 1 – Specs Life with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 4 Getting selective with the choices list – 20th February 2019 Some option packs are better value than others. The A-Class’s #1395 Executive Package certainly functions. It has heated seats (essential in winter), the excellent 10.25in larger central infotainment screen, front and rear parking sensors, electrically folding mirrors (those last two are vital in our HQ’s tight multi-storey), and the ability to park itself, which I’ve yet to try. Back to the top Finally settled on purchasing an A-Class? The tricky bit’s deciding which one – 13th February 2019 Now we are on our second Mercedes-Benz A-Class — this A200 AMG Line after the original A180d Sport — the various ways in which an A-Class can be specced to create cars with such different characters are really beginning to manifest themselves. Each difference between the two A-Classes is big enough on its own, but combined they create a car that feels like something new . The most obvious distinction between this A200 and its A180d predecessor is, of course, the motor — and the fuel station pump at which you fill it. The A200 uses a turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol unit into the A180d’s 1.5-litre diesel. The 161bhp/184lb feet engine, co-developed with Renault-Nissan, feels of much greater displacement than its official 1332cc figure indicates, offering plenty of torque at low revs and surprising muscularity at higher revs. You can’t say that about a lot of downsized turbo petrol units, although it does share its zingy soundtrack when under loads with its small-engined cousins. Impressive everyday economy proved to be a strong suit of this A180d and surprisingly — given that downsized turbo petrols are typically among the worst performers in the real world — it is easy to get up of 40mpg from the A200, and even push 50mpg in the event you drive parsimoniously. That’s within spitting distance of the official asserted figure of 53.3mpg. 1 piece of the driveline the two cars do share is their seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Its performance at step-off and reduced revs was the worst portion of the A180d. The transmission is better from the A200, but not ideal. More work is needed to better integrate it with the motor, and ensure faster and more responsive getaways to get you through gaps in the traffic and roundabouts. The chassis is another big mechanical shift. As discussed previously, the A180d uses a torsion beam set up for the rear suspension, while the A200 AMG Line increases a multi-link back axle (non-AMG Line A200s get the torsion beam). Jumping to the A200 for the first time, it felt a whole lot more alive in the way it moved down the street and engaged the driver. I was surprised at exactly how much more nimble it felt, but put this down to the lighter gas engine on the front axle helping the handling feel more nimble over the rear suspension offering greater body control. Comparing the ride between the two cars is a more subjective thing, as it’s not as simple as torsion beam versus multi-link. The A200 includes the larger 18in AMG alloy wheels, as opposed to the 17in rims of this A180d, and related lower-profile tyres (225/45 from the A200 plays 205/55 in the A180d). The A200 does feel a bit sexier than the A180d, but the ride is much more sophisticated, less ploddy and with better body control. We are going to keep experimenting with different suspension and wheel set-ups to find out if a sweet spot are available, but it has advantage A200 AMG Line in the chassis stakes so far. The interior is also a step up in sophistication and class from the already impressive A180d Sport. You would expect that in a pricier, range-topping trim, but the AMG Line does deliver. The sport seats grip you nicely and are pleasing to the look and touch, while the optional #1395 Executive Package provides a further increase in perceived quality. Among its additions is a larger 10.25in screen for the central screen, the highlight of which is the crispness and clarity of the graphics. A map hasn’t looked so good. I had grown quite fond of this A180d. As an entry-level’real world’ model (ie the best value you can get for the two spec and running costs), it felt like the kind of car to perform 20,000 fuss-free motorway miles in each year. The A200 shows how differently the A-Class can be flavoured, with no less pleasing results. Love it: Sleek styling This A-Class isn’t pretty from every angle, but it has never looked better than in black with AMG Line trim. Loathe it: Transmission response Step-off is better at the A200 than the A180d, but still not as smooth as it ought to be. Back to the top The A180d we began this evaluation with has been substituted by the A200 you see here. The A200’s 161bhp 1.3-litre turbo petrol, on first impressions, revs well and helps enhance the overall drivability compared with the A180d’s 1.5-litre diesel. AMG Line brings a leap in toys and perceived quality over the A180d’s Sport and the more sophisticated suspension subtly enhances agility. Back to the top Life with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 3 Pass me another A-Class, we’re done with this one – 9th January 2019 By the time you read this, A-Class number one of three in this collection of back-to-back evaluations will have returned to its manufacturer. This A180d is to be replaced by a petrol-powered A200, meaning the diesel leg of this trilogy is over and the first set of conclusions can be drawn. What is worth noting directly from the off is just how relevant a diesel engine of any kind remains if you do big miles. When you are doing just shy of 2000 miles a month, as we were averaging in our brief stint in the car, diesel makes the best sense of all. Our average market figure has slipped from the 60mpg around that it had hovered in the first days. The weather has cooled and the amount of shorter journeys has increased, but we’re still mightily impressed with a 55mpg average. That will make for interesting comparison number one as we switch from our 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel to a downsized 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol in the A200. Just what will our wallets make of the change? From previous experience, downsized petrols are some of the least impressive for real world market. We will have the calculator out over the next few months and let you know. 1 thing that I won’t miss about this A-Class is that the transmission. There’s simply no go when you ask for it with your foot, no matter how gentle or hard you are on the pedal. It takes a fantastic second for drive to appear, and it is as unimpressive as it is baffling: how did Mercedes sign off the car like this? It is a shame, because for the most part the transmission makes for an easy-going counterpart to the A180d once you’re on the go. It kicks down with minimal fuss when required and offers impressive drivability from the 30-50mph acceleration bursts that are a part of normal driving. The seven-speed dual clutch auto also appears in the A200, so it will be intriguing to see whether the issue is one related to the transmission itself or one caused by its integration with the diesel engine. Both the A180d and A200 use the torsion beam rear suspension choice — unless you spec your A200 in AMG Line trim, which our automobile will include to include an additional element to this story. On the standard suspension set-up and with 17in alloys in this mid century Sport trim, the A180d rides nicely but not with class-leading status. There’s greater sophistication in how a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus rides. The A180d’s body control comes unstuck over higher frequency surfaces and can set the cabin shaking. Intriguingly, there were a couple of large dissenters among the Autocar staff on the way in which the A180d rides on this standard set-up. The final big change we’ll be noticing is with the MBUX infotainment system. Our A180d has the dual 7in screens, one centrally for the infotainment and another for the motorist’s instruments. Others that have experienced the bigger 10.25in options in other A-Classes have smirked at how small it is, yet I have never had a problem with the images, legibility, size or operation. I’m looking forward to seeing if bigger does mean better when we update one of the two screens on the A200. Love it: SEAT COMFORT Not 1 fidget, tweak of the trunk or numbing of a bum cheek on a 400-mile journey. ACTIVE LANE KEEP ASSIST If you don’t need it on, you have to turn it off each and every time you restart the ignition. Mercedes feels ahead in technology terms – 27th December 2018 Having spent much of the past year at a Golf, I thought it’d take more than a month or two to familiarise myself with the A-Class. Wrong. Last week I jumped back to a Golf and was amazed by how outdated the VW felt. The A-Class has greater material richness and its technologies and slickness surpass the VW’s — a car that is likely on the podium because of its course along with the Audi A3. Mileage: 4222 Life with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 2 One of those cars was the third bestseller in October, another fifth. – 28 November 2018 When did mainstream cars become so expensive? Was it about the same time that the premium players came down to more mainstream sections like the family hatchback class to attempt to steal the established players’ lunch? After a month or so fast piling on the miles in our recently acquired Mercedes-Benz A-Class and getting to know it fairly well for the months of this evaluation that lie ahead, I thought it best not to allow the chance slip by and do similar with the Ford Focus. After all, it is the likes of Focus buyers who have fallen under the spell of that Mercedes badge and saved a few additional pennies. The Focus and our A-Class share quite similar mechanical specifications. Both use small-capacity four-cylinder diesel engines (1.5 for the Focus, 1.3 for the A-Class) closely matched on power, torque and 0-62mph time (118bhp, 192lb ft and 10.2sec in the Ford performs 114bhp, 221lb ft and 10.5sec in the Merc). Both use automatic gearboxes (an eight-speed torque convertor for the Ford, seven-speed dual-clutch automobile for the Merc). And the Price? There is less than #1000 in it, in the sporty ST-Line X trim in the Focus, and the sporty, erm, Sport trim of this A-Class. By the time you fiddle with the various standard kits and choices, you find yourself with quite literally only a few additional pennies to the Mercedes. Translate this to a PCP deal and a monthly payment, and diddly-squat becomes the numerical value. The point? For however brilliant the Focus is to drive, and it’s the quality of Mercedes and its overall package are of enormous appeal, and the best illustration of how the premium players are squeezing the middle-market mainstream brands with cars such as the A-Class. Ask the average car buyer if they’d have a Ford or a Mercedes for the same money, and we can all guess the answer. It is working for Mercedes, too. The A-Class is perhaps the most commonly spotted new car I’ve seen on the streets this fall, following the ubiquitous Ford Fiesta. Hardly surprising, as it was the third bestselling new car in the UK in September. Third bestselling? Crikey. Like me, those owners will be finding more about what an interesting car it is to live with. The Mercedes’ interior and technology are in a different league from anything else that the segment has seen. The MBUX infotainment system may be’only’ the entry-level one with the two 7.0in screens rather than the complete S-Class-style widescreen treatment across the whole dashboard, but it is wanting for nothing in operation. I’m experimenting with the’Hey Mercedes’ voice activation system, which is definitely one of the better ones I’ve encountered. The trick is to talk to it normally, and not like a robot. Will have you on the phone to the road test ace faster than’Hey Mercedes. Call. ‘I’m sorry, could you repeat that?’ I am continuing to be bowled over by the effortless efficiency of this A180d. The market has settled around 60mpg today the weather has got colder, a quite extraordinary figure and in another league again to the 45mpg or so average I got from a similar drivetrain from the Focus. That’s another part of the financial argument in the Merc’s favour. Yet there is a negative point on the transmission, specifically at step-off. It’s just so darn slow to respond. There is a T-junction in my commute on the edge of town. You have to pull upon the visitors to join a lane that has only come around a blind corner. Gaps in the traffic can be only a second or two, so as soon as you add in your reaction time and the time for the transmission to engage and then to pull away, the gap could well have gone. Manual gearboxes are coming soon to the A-Class and I guess its general quality will only increase more when that day comes. Enjoy it: Quality feel Classiness and quality run through the A-Class. Solid door thuds are as pleasing as the crispness of the interior screen graphics. Ride quality ‘Loathe’ is strong, but the ride is proving divisive. It’s too firm for some, lacking sophistication for others. I’d call it okay. 
 Mileage: 3462 In less than a month since it joined us, the A-Class has racked up a vast number of miles — a indication of how well it fits into daily life. Yet much debate has begun in the office among those who’ve driven itride quality (blended ), fuel market (highly regarded), suitability of the transmission (not popular), interior quality (a high point), and size (Golf-like’just right’). Much to explore further… Mileage: 3222 Back to the top Welcoming the A-Class into the fleet – 31st October 2018 It’s testament to the impact Mercedes-Benz has made with the A-Class in the UK that the arrival of this all-new fourth-generation version was considered one of the most keenly anticipated releases of the year. We say fourth generation, but you could argue it’s only really the second given the A-Class’s radical transformation from its previous generation from futuristic, spacious, ahead-of-its-time MPV-supermini mash-up to, dimensions-wise, a meat and two veg family hatchback pitched right at the heart of the European family hatchback market. The last A-Class was a staple of the UK’s top 10 bestselling cars list monthly, buyers attracted to it in their droves from the attractive #199 per month PCP deals which were regularly being advertised as the most inexpensive way into Mercedes ownership. It worked: the A-Class was a key motive behind Mercedes’ march to the peak of the premium brand sales charts in the UK and the fourth-top-selling brand overall. While we’re here, that’s quite a remarkable statistic. Mercedes sold more cars in the UK last year than Renault, Peugeot and Toyota to name only three, and the A-Class is among the biggest players in the family segment in the manner the Mégane, 308 and Corolla were a decade or two ago. Premium is the new mainstream. There are three unique engines originally available from dealers who are tasked with continuing that success. Yet there are so many subplots within the range that this is going to be a long-lasting test with a twist. For starters, KT18 RZA you see here is a car we are going to be saying goodbye to much earlier than we normally would, for by the time the year is out another shiny new A will be along replace it. Why so? To attempt and get as broad an experience as possible in the new A-Class. Early drives have suggested it is a car which can be specced in various ways to change its character so dramatically; we really need to try more than one car in a single solitary spec to make our recommendations. Up first, then, is an A180d Sport. This car’s 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit with 114bhp and 192lb feet is the only diesel option until the more potent 2.0-litre A200d and A220d arrive very shortly. Drive is delivered to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the only transmission available. Do not worry: manuals can be found in some petrol variants. The petrols for now are a 161bhp 1.3-litre turbo in the A200 and a 221bhp 2.0-litre turbo in the A250, while a 187bhp 2.0-litre from the A220 with optional four-wheel drive is due to split them. There is also a 134bhp 1.3-litre in the entry-level A180. A headline-grabbing, Volkswagen Golf R-rivalling A35 AMG has also recently been announced, before a launch next year — our current plan being to crown this evaluation with a longer stint in that car with what might be the A-Class’s greatest hits album. But there is much to discover before we draw any conclusions like that. Such as finding out more about one of the important stories in this A-Class: the suspension of its back wheels. The A250 is the only A-Class available today with the multi-link rear suspension, the A180d and A200 getting an eyebrow-raising torsion beam. If you don’t spec your A200 with the 18in alloys in AMG Line trim, which is due to follow our initial torsion-beam-equipped A180d to get that comparison. Trim wise, our car is a Sport, which sits in the middle of the A-Class range. For the #27,340 asked by Mercedes, you receive a degree of kit that hasn’t left us wanting for much in these early days. The wheels are the standard Sport 17in rims, and the only option is metallic paint. That leaves the standard kit list to add dual-zone air-con, some excellent LED headlights and the new MBUX infotainment system controlled through either the conventional 7.0in touchscreen, the trackpad on the centre tunnel or the steering wheel controllers. All those controls seemed a bit bewildering when I sat in the car, perhaps due to these recent personal familiarity with BMW/Mini and Volkswagen Group systems, yet already I am finding it intuitive to use. The vibrancy of these images is a highlight, as is my experience of the Hey Mercedes voice control. Utter these two words and you get Siri-style search function of the vehicle’s controls, as well as some online search also. I have heard from colleagues that the system was quite buggy on its initial global press launch, yet it got up the amount of a taxi firm in Norwich I needed (is that you, Mr Partridge?) The very first time I used it. 1 other first impression: the A180d has an engine of effortless efficiency. Economy is nearer to 70mpg than 60mpg (maintained: 68.9mpg). That is quite remarkable with only 1000 or so miles on the odometer. The car covered another 1000 miles or so in its first few weeks , and that kind of economy over those kinds of motorway distances is the latest case for the defence of diesel. In automobiles like this used in this fashion, the black pump makes absolute sense. And did I mention that interior? Well, it’s not just lovely to look at, it’s also lovely to sit and browse your way around its controls. That’s only the entry-level system: we will be testing the optional 10.25in screens to the full widescreen cinema experience over the course of those updates for one more component to this developing story. We’ve got a busy and exciting few months ahead getting to know this most important of new cars, and so we’d better start. Second Opinion Two things stick out. First, its all-round excellence: the steering and low-speed ride create rivals seem rough, and promise a fantastic next-gen Golf if VW would be to keep up. Second, how much more traditional it is from the first, nutty, shorter-than-Fiesta edition. Seems VW was correct all along. Steve Cropley Back to the top Mercedes-Benz A-Class A180D Sport specification Specs: Price New #27,340 Price as tested #27,935 Alternatives Mountain grey metallic paint #595 Back to the top The post Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2018 long-term review appeared first on Auto Note Buyer - Sell Your Auto Notes For Cash. https://autonotebuyerinc.com/mercedes-benz-a-class-2018-long-term-review/

[crosbyru-blog]

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2018 long-term review

The wide array of specced Alternatives to try makes the latest-generation A-Class a long-term Narrative with room to develop Why we are running it: To see if this VW Golf rival has come of age, and to pick the’perfect’ version Month 4 – Month 3 – Month 2 – Month 1 – Specs Life with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 4 Getting selective with the choices list – 20th February 2019 Some option packs are better value than others. The A-Class’s #1395 Executive Package certainly functions. It has heated seats (essential in winter), the excellent 10.25in larger central infotainment screen, front and rear parking sensors, electrically folding mirrors (those last two are vital in our HQ’s tight multi-storey), and the ability to park itself, which I’ve yet to try. Back to the top Finally settled on purchasing an A-Class? The tricky bit’s deciding which one – 13th February 2019 Now we are on our second Mercedes-Benz A-Class — this A200 AMG Line after the original A180d Sport — the various ways in which an A-Class can be specced to create cars with such different characters are really beginning to manifest themselves. Each difference between the two A-Classes is big enough on its own, but combined they create a car that feels like something new . The most obvious distinction between this A200 and its A180d predecessor is, of course, the motor — and the fuel station pump at which you fill it. The A200 uses a turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol unit into the A180d’s 1.5-litre diesel. The 161bhp/184lb feet engine, co-developed with Renault-Nissan, feels of much greater displacement than its official 1332cc figure indicates, offering plenty of torque at low revs and surprising muscularity at higher revs. You can’t say that about a lot of downsized turbo petrol units, although it does share its zingy soundtrack when under loads with its small-engined cousins. Impressive everyday economy proved to be a strong suit of this A180d and surprisingly — given that downsized turbo petrols are typically among the worst performers in the real world — it is easy to get up of 40mpg from the A200, and even push 50mpg in the event you drive parsimoniously. That’s within spitting distance of the official asserted figure of 53.3mpg. 1 piece of the driveline the two cars do share is their seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Its performance at step-off and reduced revs was the worst portion of the A180d. The transmission is better from the A200, but not ideal. More work is needed to better integrate it with the motor, and ensure faster and more responsive getaways to get you through gaps in the traffic and roundabouts. The chassis is another big mechanical shift. As discussed previously, the A180d uses a torsion beam set up for the rear suspension, while the A200 AMG Line increases a multi-link back axle (non-AMG Line A200s get the torsion beam). Jumping to the A200 for the first time, it felt a whole lot more alive in the way it moved down the street and engaged the driver. I was surprised at exactly how much more nimble it felt, but put this down to the lighter gas engine on the front axle helping the handling feel more nimble over the rear suspension offering greater body control. Comparing the ride between the two cars is a more subjective thing, as it’s not as simple as torsion beam versus multi-link. The A200 includes the larger 18in AMG alloy wheels, as opposed to the 17in rims of this A180d, and related lower-profile tyres (225/45 from the A200 plays 205/55 in the A180d). The A200 does feel a bit sexier than the A180d, but the ride is much more sophisticated, less ploddy and with better body control. We are going to keep experimenting with different suspension and wheel set-ups to find out if a sweet spot are available, but it has advantage A200 AMG Line in the chassis stakes so far. The interior is also a step up in sophistication and class from the already impressive A180d Sport. You would expect that in a pricier, range-topping trim, but the AMG Line does deliver. The sport seats grip you nicely and are pleasing to the look and touch, while the optional #1395 Executive Package provides a further increase in perceived quality. Among its additions is a larger 10.25in screen for the central screen, the highlight of which is the crispness and clarity of the graphics. A map hasn’t looked so good. I had grown quite fond of this A180d. As an entry-level’real world’ model (ie the best value you can get for the two spec and running costs), it felt like the kind of car to perform 20,000 fuss-free motorway miles in each year. The A200 shows how differently the A-Class can be flavoured, with no less pleasing results. Love it: Sleek styling This A-Class isn’t pretty from every angle, but it has never looked better than in black with AMG Line trim. Loathe it: Transmission response Step-off is better at the A200 than the A180d, but still not as smooth as it ought to be. Back to the top The A180d we began this evaluation with has been substituted by the A200 you see here. The A200’s 161bhp 1.3-litre turbo petrol, on first impressions, revs well and helps enhance the overall drivability compared with the A180d’s 1.5-litre diesel. AMG Line brings a leap in toys and perceived quality over the A180d’s Sport and the more sophisticated suspension subtly enhances agility. Back to the top Life with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 3 Pass me another A-Class, we’re done with this one – 9th January 2019 By the time you read this, A-Class number one of three in this collection of back-to-back evaluations will have returned to its manufacturer. This A180d is to be replaced by a petrol-powered A200, meaning the diesel leg of this trilogy is over and the first set of conclusions can be drawn. What is worth noting directly from the off is just how relevant a diesel engine of any kind remains if you do big miles. When you are doing just shy of 2000 miles a month, as we were averaging in our brief stint in the car, diesel makes the best sense of all. Our average market figure has slipped from the 60mpg around that it had hovered in the first days. The weather has cooled and the amount of shorter journeys has increased, but we’re still mightily impressed with a 55mpg average. That will make for interesting comparison number one as we switch from our 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel to a downsized 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol in the A200. Just what will our wallets make of the change? From previous experience, downsized petrols are some of the least impressive for real world market. We will have the calculator out over the next few months and let you know. 1 thing that I won’t miss about this A-Class is that the transmission. There’s simply no go when you ask for it with your foot, no matter how gentle or hard you are on the pedal. It takes a fantastic second for drive to appear, and it is as unimpressive as it is baffling: how did Mercedes sign off the car like this? It is a shame, because for the most part the transmission makes for an easy-going counterpart to the A180d once you’re on the go. It kicks down with minimal fuss when required and offers impressive drivability from the 30-50mph acceleration bursts that are a part of normal driving. The seven-speed dual clutch auto also appears in the A200, so it will be intriguing to see whether the issue is one related to the transmission itself or one caused by its integration with the diesel engine. Both the A180d and A200 use the torsion beam rear suspension choice — unless you spec your A200 in AMG Line trim, which our automobile will include to include an additional element to this story. On the standard suspension set-up and with 17in alloys in this mid century Sport trim, the A180d rides nicely but not with class-leading status. There’s greater sophistication in how a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus rides. The A180d’s body control comes unstuck over higher frequency surfaces and can set the cabin shaking. Intriguingly, there were a couple of large dissenters among the Autocar staff on the way in which the A180d rides on this standard set-up. The final big change we’ll be noticing is with the MBUX infotainment system. Our A180d has the dual 7in screens, one centrally for the infotainment and another for the motorist’s instruments. Others that have experienced the bigger 10.25in options in other A-Classes have smirked at how small it is, yet I have never had a problem with the images, legibility, size or operation. I’m looking forward to seeing if bigger does mean better when we update one of the two screens on the A200. Love it: SEAT COMFORT Not 1 fidget, tweak of the trunk or numbing of a bum cheek on a 400-mile journey. ACTIVE LANE KEEP ASSIST If you don’t need it on, you have to turn it off each and every time you restart the ignition. Mercedes feels ahead in technology terms – 27th December 2018 Having spent much of the past year at a Golf, I thought it’d take more than a month or two to familiarise myself with the A-Class. Wrong. Last week I jumped back to a Golf and was amazed by how outdated the VW felt. The A-Class has greater material richness and its technologies and slickness surpass the VW’s — a car that is likely on the podium because of its course along with the Audi A3. Mileage: 4222 Life with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Month 2 One of those cars was the third bestseller in October, another fifth. – 28 November 2018 When did mainstream cars become so expensive? Was it about the same time that the premium players came down to more mainstream sections like the family hatchback class to attempt to steal the established players’ lunch? After a month or so fast piling on the miles in our recently acquired Mercedes-Benz A-Class and getting to know it fairly well for the months of this evaluation that lie ahead, I thought it best not to allow the chance slip by and do similar with the Ford Focus. After all, it is the likes of Focus buyers who have fallen under the spell of that Mercedes badge and saved a few additional pennies. The Focus and our A-Class share quite similar mechanical specifications. Both use small-capacity four-cylinder diesel engines (1.5 for the Focus, 1.3 for the A-Class) closely matched on power, torque and 0-62mph time (118bhp, 192lb ft and 10.2sec in the Ford performs 114bhp, 221lb ft and 10.5sec in the Merc). Both use automatic gearboxes (an eight-speed torque convertor for the Ford, seven-speed dual-clutch automobile for the Merc). And the Price? There is less than #1000 in it, in the sporty ST-Line X trim in the Focus, and the sporty, erm, Sport trim of this A-Class. By the time you fiddle with the various standard kits and choices, you find yourself with quite literally only a few additional pennies to the Mercedes. Translate this to a PCP deal and a monthly payment, and diddly-squat becomes the numerical value. The point? For however brilliant the Focus is to drive, and it’s the quality of Mercedes and its overall package are of enormous appeal, and the best illustration of how the premium players are squeezing the middle-market mainstream brands with cars such as the A-Class. Ask the average car buyer if they’d have a Ford or a Mercedes for the same money, and we can all guess the answer. It is working for Mercedes, too. The A-Class is perhaps the most commonly spotted new car I’ve seen on the streets this fall, following the ubiquitous Ford Fiesta. Hardly surprising, as it was the third bestselling new car in the UK in September. Third bestselling? Crikey. Like me, those owners will be finding more about what an interesting car it is to live with. The Mercedes’ interior and technology are in a different league from anything else that the segment has seen. The MBUX infotainment system may be’only’ the entry-level one with the two 7.0in screens rather than the complete S-Class-style widescreen treatment across the whole dashboard, but it is wanting for nothing in operation. I’m experimenting with the’Hey Mercedes’ voice activation system, which is definitely one of the better ones I’ve encountered. The trick is to talk to it normally, and not like a robot. Will have you on the phone to the road test ace faster than’Hey Mercedes. Call. ‘I’m sorry, could you repeat that?’ I am continuing to be bowled over by the effortless efficiency of this A180d. The market has settled around 60mpg today the weather has got colder, a quite extraordinary figure and in another league again to the 45mpg or so average I got from a similar drivetrain from the Focus. That’s another part of the financial argument in the Merc’s favour. Yet there is a negative point on the transmission, specifically at step-off. It’s just so darn slow to respond. There is a T-junction in my commute on the edge of town. You have to pull upon the visitors to join a lane that has only come around a blind corner. Gaps in the traffic can be only a second or two, so as soon as you add in your reaction time and the time for the transmission to engage and then to pull away, the gap could well have gone. Manual gearboxes are coming soon to the A-Class and I guess its general quality will only increase more when that day comes. Enjoy it: Quality feel Classiness and quality run through the A-Class. Solid door thuds are as pleasing as the crispness of the interior screen graphics. Ride quality ‘Loathe’ is strong, but the ride is proving divisive. It’s too firm for some, lacking sophistication for others. I’d call it okay. 
 Mileage: 3462 In less than a month since it joined us, the A-Class has racked up a vast number of miles — a indication of how well it fits into daily life. Yet much debate has begun in the office among those who’ve driven itride quality (blended ), fuel market (highly regarded), suitability of the transmission (not popular), interior quality (a high point), and size (Golf-like’just right’). Much to explore further… Mileage: 3222 Back to the top Welcoming the A-Class into the fleet – 31st October 2018 It’s testament to the impact Mercedes-Benz has made with the A-Class in the UK that the arrival of this all-new fourth-generation version was considered one of the most keenly anticipated releases of the year. We say fourth generation, but you could argue it’s only really the second given the A-Class’s radical transformation from its previous generation from futuristic, spacious, ahead-of-its-time MPV-supermini mash-up to, dimensions-wise, a meat and two veg family hatchback pitched right at the heart of the European family hatchback market. The last A-Class was a staple of the UK’s top 10 bestselling cars list monthly, buyers attracted to it in their droves from the attractive #199 per month PCP deals which were regularly being advertised as the most inexpensive way into Mercedes ownership. It worked: the A-Class was a key motive behind Mercedes’ march to the peak of the premium brand sales charts in the UK and the fourth-top-selling brand overall. While we’re here, that’s quite a remarkable statistic. Mercedes sold more cars in the UK last year than Renault, Peugeot and Toyota to name only three, and the A-Class is among the biggest players in the family segment in the manner the Mégane, 308 and Corolla were a decade or two ago. Premium is the new mainstream. There are three unique engines originally available from dealers who are tasked with continuing that success. Yet there are so many subplots within the range that this is going to be a long-lasting test with a twist. For starters, KT18 RZA you see here is a car we are going to be saying goodbye to much earlier than we normally would, for by the time the year is out another shiny new A will be along replace it. Why so? To attempt and get as broad an experience as possible in the new A-Class. Early drives have suggested it is a car which can be specced in various ways to change its character so dramatically; we really need to try more than one car in a single solitary spec to make our recommendations. Up first, then, is an A180d Sport. This car’s 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit with 114bhp and 192lb feet is the only diesel option until the more potent 2.0-litre A200d and A220d arrive very shortly. Drive is delivered to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the only transmission available. Do not worry: manuals can be found in some petrol variants. The petrols for now are a 161bhp 1.3-litre turbo in the A200 and a 221bhp 2.0-litre turbo in the A250, while a 187bhp 2.0-litre from the A220 with optional four-wheel drive is due to split them. There is also a 134bhp 1.3-litre in the entry-level A180. A headline-grabbing, Volkswagen Golf R-rivalling A35 AMG has also recently been announced, before a launch next year — our current plan being to crown this evaluation with a longer stint in that car with what might be the A-Class’s greatest hits album. But there is much to discover before we draw any conclusions like that. Such as finding out more about one of the important stories in this A-Class: the suspension of its back wheels. The A250 is the only A-Class available today with the multi-link rear suspension, the A180d and A200 getting an eyebrow-raising torsion beam. If you don’t spec your A200 with the 18in alloys in AMG Line trim, which is due to follow our initial torsion-beam-equipped A180d to get that comparison. Trim wise, our car is a Sport, which sits in the middle of the A-Class range. For the #27,340 asked by Mercedes, you receive a degree of kit that hasn’t left us wanting for much in these early days. The wheels are the standard Sport 17in rims, and the only option is metallic paint. That leaves the standard kit list to add dual-zone air-con, some excellent LED headlights and the new MBUX infotainment system controlled through either the conventional 7.0in touchscreen, the trackpad on the centre tunnel or the steering wheel controllers. All those controls seemed a bit bewildering when I sat in the car, perhaps due to these recent personal familiarity with BMW/Mini and Volkswagen Group systems, yet already I am finding it intuitive to use. The vibrancy of these images is a highlight, as is my experience of the Hey Mercedes voice control. Utter these two words and you get Siri-style search function of the vehicle’s controls, as well as some online search also. I have heard from colleagues that the system was quite buggy on its initial global press launch, yet it got up the amount of a taxi firm in Norwich I needed (is that you, Mr Partridge?) The very first time I used it. 1 other first impression: the A180d has an engine of effortless efficiency. Economy is nearer to 70mpg than 60mpg (maintained: 68.9mpg). That is quite remarkable with only 1000 or so miles on the odometer. The car covered another 1000 miles or so in its first few weeks , and that kind of economy over those kinds of motorway distances is the latest case for the defence of diesel. In automobiles like this used in this fashion, the black pump makes absolute sense. And did I mention that interior? Well, it’s not just lovely to look at, it’s also lovely to sit and browse your way around its controls. That’s only the entry-level system: we will be testing the optional 10.25in screens to the full widescreen cinema experience over the course of those updates for one more component to this developing story. We’ve got a busy and exciting few months ahead getting to know this most important of new cars, and so we’d better start. Second Opinion Two things stick out. First, its all-round excellence: the steering and low-speed ride create rivals seem rough, and promise a fantastic next-gen Golf if VW would be to keep up. Second, how much more traditional it is from the first, nutty, shorter-than-Fiesta edition. Seems VW was correct all along. Steve Cropley Back to the top Mercedes-Benz A-Class A180D Sport specification Specs: Price New #27,340 Price as tested #27,935 Alternatives Mountain grey metallic paint #595 Back to the top The post Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2018 long-term review appeared first on Auto Note Buyer - Sell Your Auto Notes For Cash. https://autonotebuyerinc.com/mercedes-benz-a-class-2018-long-term-review/