The MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS (1998-04) A140L 5DR HATCHBACK 1.4 AVANTGARDE ACS LWB is a small five-door petrol hatchback with a distinctive tall, upright shape. It sits between ordinary city cars and premium compact hatchbacks: compact outside for town driving, but designed to make useful cabin space. The Avantgarde version adds a more upmarket feel to this early A-Class. mycarcheck.com has recorded eight checks covering eight different VINs, so this is a modest sample rather than a complete picture of all cars. Within those records, the average private-sale valuation is £600, average latest mileage is 203,000 miles, and average annual use is 4,000 miles. Cars had an average of just over four previous keepers. These figures suggest checking each car’s history, condition and maintenance carefully; they are not a guarantee of an individual vehicle’s value or state. It especially suits commuters wanting compact practicality and a distinctive alternative to mainstream small hatchbacks.