RE: Mercedes A45 AMG: Review

[Prawnboy]

sounds great it many ways, but did they deliberatly try to make it uglier than the 135M?
couldn't do it for the looks alone, both this and the beemer are 2 greatly desirable cars completley let down with their styling.

[pilchardthecat]

Prawnboy said:

sounds great it many ways, but did they deliberatly try to make it uglier than the 135M?
couldn't do it for the looks alone, both this and the beemer are 2 greatly desirable cars completley let down with their styling.

I think this is what will sway me towards a (relatively) old 911.... the A class just looks very very ordinary. It's almost a shame it drives so well, but it just strikes me as one of those cars that would make you feel like you had something to prove every time you got in it....

[btdk5]

moskvich427 said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

"is it really worth £37,845?"

In your dreams. It's nearly double the price of a base A-class.

Yes, but they're hardly comparable are they?

I think that for the performance and compared to other AMG products, this is actually a bit of a bargain.

Looking forward to the video

I dont think its too over the top. Thats about the same as a new Mini isnt it??

[Reavenger]

Can always have the CLA45 if A class looks aren't to your liking.

Even with 1 or 2 options, it still takes it close to 40k. Would have to be a good finance deal. They're quoting £499 a month over 36/10k for the base model before any discounts. I doubt you'd get M135i sized PCP discounts though

To go down the 'used' route and buy a car of similar ilk, I'd have an Evo IX and X. Money I'd put towards running it!

[loudlashadjuster]

Reavenger said:

Can always have the CLA45 if A class looks aren't to your liking.

Even with 1 or 2 options, it still takes it close to 40k. Would have to be a good finance deal. They're quoting £499 a month over 36/10k for the base model before any discounts. I doubt you'd get M135i sized PCP discounts though

The thing is, an E220 with similar OTR cost is only about £369 with £5k down and a bit of dealer 'contribution'.



If M-B can get anywhere near that for the A45 then they'll fly out of the showroom. The equivalent 'no negotiation' figure on an M135i (OTR of about £32k) is £395 for comparison.

I know the depreciation on an A45 will be more than the staid E-CLass, but even so, M-B have shown willing when doling out decent deals on the other AMGs

When the A45 was first mooted I had £350-400/mo in my head, figures that made me think 'hmmm, possible next car'.

Since then the scary price and, frankly, disappointing interior have put me off a bit, but I suppose I've not sat in the A45 yet, much less driven it, and it all depends what deals are available.

[bimbeano]

A test(vid) with the M 135i please ..
.. and the RS3 because the AMG leans more towards the Audi ...
... and while you're at it ... maybe take the Megane RS into account ?? :-)

[Reavenger]

loudlashadjuster said:

The thing is, an E220 with similar OTR cost is only about £369 with £5k down and a bit of dealer 'contribution'.



If M-B can get anywhere near that for the A45 then they'll fly out of the showroom. The equivalent 'no negotiation' figure on an M135i (OTR of about £32k) is £395 for comparison.

I know the depreciation on an A45 will be more than the staid E-CLass, but even so, M-B have shown willing when doling out decent deals on the other AMGs

When the A45 was first mooted I had £350-400/mo in my head, figures that made me think 'hmmm, possible next car'.

Since then the scary price and, frankly, disappointing interior have put me off a bit, but I suppose I've not sat in the A45 yet, much less driven it, and it all depends what deals are available.

Here is the A45 one for comparison.



Similar situation to you. Under £400 but I can't see it happening after prices have been revealed. Agree on interior too.

[Oddball RS]

roystinho said:

irish boy said:

Cracking little car. Can't wait to get a drive in it. I reckon it's best left near it's £37k asking price, to spend £50k odd is unnecessary and asking for heavy depreciation.

Agree. The one I drove had £4k of carbon fibre to start off. Then £2k to get the limiter raised. The memory on the seats was £1k. Lane tracking and distance safety system - £1k...

I'd spec the steering wheel, the leather on the seats, and maybe the nav (or maybe not at £2k)

The basic Sat Nav, plug in module, on the A Class is £400 the idea is its cheaper to buy, upgrade and you can take it with you.

[nickh2007]

Test drove an A45 after a C63 the week before, have to say the A45 bough a smile to my face - great steering, banging exhaust, quick as you like, not too noisy or firm IMO, could have done with some induction noise on the engine side personally woauld add the alcantara steering wheel and 19" AMG alloys - I would buuuuut, hold on - the finance deal worked out better on a C63! What are MB thinking? cant afford 23mpg C63 running costs - great sound from exhausts, still missing induction noise for me tho.. think I'll wait..

[MikeG88]

Those are some impressive figures given the possibility of 40mpg.

[Oddball RS]

What do you think? badge it as an A180 CDI?

[TACottle]

devnull said:

I find it astounding that it's possible to squeeze 360 reliable horses out of a 2l turbo unit, with a likely life expectation of over 200k miles for the engine.

Yeah, 360BHP from a 4 Pot turbo is impressive numbers from the factory.

I wonder how long it will be before people start remapping it... 420+BHP?

[chocookiecrumb]

This is a joke, how can anyone afford to drop 10k a year on running a A class for 10000 miles a year, mist of it in traffic. Sure you can take it on track day, surely it will cost close £1000 a day for that as well

[anonymous-user]

CJP80 said:

devnull said:

I find it astounding that it's possible to squeeze 360 reliable horses out of a 2l turbo unit, with a likely life expectation of over 200k miles for the engine.

I find it astounding that it weighs nearly the same as a V8 M3!

This is a key point. An AMG light-weight version, with some carbon panels and without all the luxury electronic gubbins, would be something special.

[NGK210]

An interesting and informative review. Ta.

I suspect the A45's production line will soon be running 24/7, and the waiting list will still be relatively long...

[Johnnytheboy]

Lowtimer said:

Rawwr said:

Same type of people who bought the RS3, I suspect.

You might be right. I don't know who they were, either. I don't think I've ever actually seen one on the roads.

Someone like me, that wants a single compact, practical, fast car.

[nickh2007]

waiting for the Golf R.. Then will choose one...

[ge0rge]

Escort Si-130 said:

+2

[AliMc99]

I had test drive of one last Thursday at the invitation of my local dealer and was very impressed. It felt very, very quick point to point with great turn in. As a C63 owner the A45 steering feel pales in comparison (and as such i think monkey is being a touch kind to the a45 on this point) but it is better than the m135i and audi s3. Damping is very firm but very well controlled and not harsh-certainly when you build up-especially as you build up speed.

I think at the price premium it sits to the m135i I think it needs more standard kit (e.g nav) especially as the option prices are steep. Although it lacks the creamy smooth engine of the m135i I think I'd have the A45 if I ignored the prince difference- it just seems more special-although lacking a v8 there is plenty of AMG magic in there- whether it is worth c.5k over the Beemer is another matter.

[btdk5]

chocookiecrumb said:

This is a joke, how can anyone afford to drop 10k a year on running a A class for 10000 miles a year, mist of it in traffic. Sure you can take it on track day, surely it will cost close £1000 a day for that as well

Why would you want to take that on a track day?