RE: Mercedes A45 AMG: Review

[NGK210]

dvs_dave said:

timmeh2k said:

40mpg from a 360 bhp 2 litre turbo holy st! thats impressive my mx5 only does 30 something with a 1.6

Would make a cracking engine choice in an entry level TVR.

[MrBurt]

Looks like a Focus/Civic with a C class front end!
The lower spec models don't look special enough for me, let alone one for 40K. BM every time, oh and about 10K change.

[BlueMR2]

I'm willing to drive one around for a year and write periodic reviews about it if your listening Mercedes.

About the only interesting new car I've noticed in the last few years. Better than another low powered, overpriced golf.

[Kawasicki]

How is that an AMG? The rear tyres aren't even on fire! Sacrilege!

[DB89]

http://youtu.be/gPzCbTNpPWg

Bloody fast too! This did shock me.

[Schnellmann]

I quite like the looks...but am still going ahead with my order for a M135i (which unfortunately has suffered a few too many hits with the ugly stick) because it is RWD, has 6 cylinders, has almost identical performance and fuel economy but is still around 25% cheaper on a like for like basis. By all accounts the 8-spd automatic in the BMW is also better than the double clutch in the Merc. If they had been the same price I might have tried the Merc for a comparison.

[lgomgf]

Ali_T said:

Just too expensive. By the time you add the exhaust and 19 inch wheels featured in almost every picture, it's £40k, and that's far too much for a hot hatch.

agreed...

[Sexual Chocolate]

Any pics of the back seats? How much room in the back? Could you fit 2 adults in there comfortably? How come no one mentions this kind of thing in reviews.

[Wills2]

DB89 said:

http://youtu.be/gPzCbTNpPWg

Bloody fast too! This did shock me.

Christ! me too, I expected the 45 to pull away from the start but then get mullered after that.

[McClure]

NGK210 said:

Bah, alright, I meant Corsa. But I did say "maybe I'm just getting old"

Escort Si-130 said:

Cant tell the last time I saw a Nova, think your a lil outdated dude.

NGK210 said:

Anyone else think that carbonfibre trim is starting to look naff, overused and a bit 'dorky bloke'?

With rolls of carbonfibre wrap now relatively cheap, and every yoof with a Saxo/Nova/Civic/etc coating everything from their dash to their wheels in 'carbon', it's all a bit Saturday night McDs car park.



Or maybe I'm just getting old

I saw a chavved-up Nova outside a McDonalds just yesterday! Should have taken a photo for posterity. Or posteriorority.

[Bombjack]

Wolands Advocate said:

Roll on the elk test.

FTFY.

(Although hopefully not this time)

[dvs_dave]

Wills2 said:

DB89 said:

http://youtu.be/gPzCbTNpPWg

Bloody fast too! This did shock me.

Christ! me too, I expected the 45 to pull away from the start but then get mullered after that.

Wow....evidently a stinking quick car this new baby AMG. Given that sort of performance I'd dare to say that 38k is actually a bit of a bargain. I doubt an RS3 or 1M could pull that off?

[soad]

Unsightly to look at. Mind you, interior looks decent. And it's fast.

[footsoldier]

Sexual Chocolate said:

Any pics of the back seats? How much room in the back? Could you fit 2 adults in there comfortably? How come no one mentions this kind of thing in reviews.

Yes, 2 sculpted seats and a narrow middle seat.

[NGK210]

Wills2 said:

DB89 said:

http://youtu.be/gPzCbTNpPWg

Bloody fast too! This did shock me.

Christ! me too, I expected the 45 to pull away from the start but then get mullered after that.

0-60 in 4.1 - 'kin 'ell!

Engine of the Year award winner?

Autobore's Steve Sutcliffe seems very keen on the A45's steering: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/video-mercedes-...

In hindsight, I don't care if the A45 is a fugly munter. I now want one, in a low-key colour scheme and de-badged

Edited by NGK210 on Saturday 15th June 16:41

[HarryW]

dvs_dave said:

Wills2 said:

DB89 said:

http://youtu.be/gPzCbTNpPWg

Bloody fast too! This did shock me.

Christ! me too, I expected the 45 to pull away from the start but then get mullered after that.

Wow....evidently a stinking quick car this new baby AMG. Given that sort of performance I'd dare to say that 38k is actually a bit of a bargain. I doubt an RS3 or 1M could pull that off?

Blimey that was a surprise and a full half second to 60 quicker than Merc claim for it. I love the CLS drivers confused look at the end, priceless.
Love the look of the CLS Shooting Brake better though.

[David87]

NGK210 said:

And being a turbo, then there'll be some 'room' for a remap. HFS! That means there'll be versions of this thing with over 400bhp

I was just going to ask about re-maps actually, with my thinking being surely there can't be that much left to give, what with it being a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder with a single turbo. I would have thought there's far more scope to see 400bhp with the M135i?

[NGK210]

David87 said:

NGK210 said:

And being a turbo, then there'll be some 'room' for a remap. HFS! That means there'll be versions of this thing with over 400bhp

I was just going to ask about re-maps actually, with my thinking being surely there can't be that much left to give, what with it being a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder with a single turbo. I would have thought there's far more scope to see 400bhp with the M135i?

Yep, see your point.

But surely the A45's OE map will still be a compromise - ie, one that's dialled-back to cover all bases of its global market (eg, regions with low-quality fuel/high altitude/cities with high smog levels/very hot and dusty climes/etc)?

So, in good ol' V-Power-loving Blighty, "the engine's potential can be released" - as remap companies like to say - thus a mild tweak should be able to release another c. 40bhp, hopefully.

I bet the likes of Brabus are already pounding their laptops

[NGK210]

Good Lord! As well as 0-60 in 4.1, 360bhp and an alleged 40mpg, this engine is also Euro6 compliant and spewks out a mere 161g/km of CO2.

OK, so 360bhp from a 2.0-litre turbo is the sort of poke FQ Evos were producing, but with the need for an oil-change every few months, and no more than low-20s mpg with '70s V8 muscle car levels of CO2.

How has AMG done it? We need to know more

[Crafty_]

these were posted to an earlier thread, but hi res pics of the engine : http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mercedes-benz-a45-a...

If they could just take £20k off the price I can order one

I know a Merc sales guy through a friend, I'll try and get some info.