RE: Mercedes AMG A45 gets faster and louder
Discussion
What I struggle to get my head round is on the whole the S/RS3, Golf R for example get the usual comments of boring interior/exterior, VAG should have taken more risks with the styling etc......Merc come along with a relatively different design (particularly the interior) and people say its too bling, in your face etc and the Golf/S3 etc are better/what it should have looked like! I have an A220 AMG Line so the exterior and interior are pretty close to the A45 and I love that its different, there's a bit of flair - I chose it over the Golf and A3 for this precise reason (I didn't consider the 1 Series as I just don't like the looks no matter how well it may drive).
I've driven the A45, Golf R, 135i and S3 and personally I love the Merc - I prefer the design (you can order without wings and spoiler for those who made the usual Halfords comments) inside and out, having driven them all its also in my eyes in a different league for grin factor, when driving it the engine sounds great (granted the 135i sounds fantastic and better) and it just feels like it should - totally bonkers, it sheer pace is ridiculous, its ride which some people think is hard, I also like, it brakes fantastically well and handles as well as I'll ever need it to. Its hard to describe as arguably it might not be the best overall but the best way I can describe it is I prefer the C63 to the M3 (previous shapes) as its sheer lunacy gives it that bit of character, I totally appreciate how good the M3 is but the C63 makes me smile due to its idiocy and flaws. I know its all subjective but the one thing I just can't get my head round remains the criticism over the A Class design - the VAG products are boring yet the Merc is too bling/chintzy should be more reserved - it seems nobody can win!
All that said, I start a new job soon and have ordered a Golf R (the Merc is out of budget unfortunately)!! I'll no doubt get the boring golf comments!
I've driven the A45, Golf R, 135i and S3 and personally I love the Merc - I prefer the design (you can order without wings and spoiler for those who made the usual Halfords comments) inside and out, having driven them all its also in my eyes in a different league for grin factor, when driving it the engine sounds great (granted the 135i sounds fantastic and better) and it just feels like it should - totally bonkers, it sheer pace is ridiculous, its ride which some people think is hard, I also like, it brakes fantastically well and handles as well as I'll ever need it to. Its hard to describe as arguably it might not be the best overall but the best way I can describe it is I prefer the C63 to the M3 (previous shapes) as its sheer lunacy gives it that bit of character, I totally appreciate how good the M3 is but the C63 makes me smile due to its idiocy and flaws. I know its all subjective but the one thing I just can't get my head round remains the criticism over the A Class design - the VAG products are boring yet the Merc is too bling/chintzy should be more reserved - it seems nobody can win!
All that said, I start a new job soon and have ordered a Golf R (the Merc is out of budget unfortunately)!! I'll no doubt get the boring golf comments!
The same Mercesdes that have been rusting within two years?
The same Mercedes that found itself near the bottom of reliability surveys?
Yep they've pulled their socks up a but now but sit a five year old Toyota next to a five year old Merc and the Jap car will be looking far fresher.
While I DO think BMW make cars properly (our 56 plate 335d never missed a beat in six years), other German brands slipped a while ago, especially VAG.
The same Mercedes that found itself near the bottom of reliability surveys?
Yep they've pulled their socks up a but now but sit a five year old Toyota next to a five year old Merc and the Jap car will be looking far fresher.
While I DO think BMW make cars properly (our 56 plate 335d never missed a beat in six years), other German brands slipped a while ago, especially VAG.
PumaUK7 said:
Glad to see the bowing out when no counter argument can be found.
From the man who hasn't even driven the thing and has ignored every single pragmatic and rational argument politely presented to him by a consensual group of people who have driven it as well as the competition. You couldn't make it up.
I love the A45 AMG. I agree the interior isn't brilliant, and that after-thought sat nav looks plain naff.
But, what an engine. I don't normally 'entertain' 4 pots, but wow, what a unit.
I was in MK a few months back driving my wife's 330i, and I could see this A Class with big spoilers fast approaching in my rear view. Next roundabout, I floored it and the A45 shot past like I was stationary (and the 330i isn't by any means a slow car). It sounded gorgeous with all the pops and crackles from the exhaust, and the thing was just planted on the corners and flew off like a scladed cat.
It wouldn't be my pride and joy, but if I had the spare cash, I would have one as a toy. In the lime green colour that I saw at the local Ascot delaership earlier this year.
It terms of hot hatches, I think the A45 AMG has raised the bar significantly and set the benchmark.
But, what an engine. I don't normally 'entertain' 4 pots, but wow, what a unit.
I was in MK a few months back driving my wife's 330i, and I could see this A Class with big spoilers fast approaching in my rear view. Next roundabout, I floored it and the A45 shot past like I was stationary (and the 330i isn't by any means a slow car). It sounded gorgeous with all the pops and crackles from the exhaust, and the thing was just planted on the corners and flew off like a scladed cat.
It wouldn't be my pride and joy, but if I had the spare cash, I would have one as a toy. In the lime green colour that I saw at the local Ascot delaership earlier this year.
It terms of hot hatches, I think the A45 AMG has raised the bar significantly and set the benchmark.
pSyCoSiS said:
I was in MK a few months back driving my wife's 330i, and I could see this A Class with big spoilers fast approaching in my rear view. Next roundabout, I floored it and the A45 shot past like I was stationary (and the 330i isn't by any means a slow car).
Its not a very fast car either though! and every time I get behind the wheel of my 330i I hanker after more shove and you don't need much power to get the better of one, the A45 is a quick motor though and once tuned they are really quick for sure. 
pSyCoSiS said:
It sounded gorgeous with all the pops and crackles from the exhaust,
All the noise is the exhaust, though. The engine, itself, is quite a dull sounding thing, much like the Evo engines. They need all that popping and farting (which is all engineered, none of it natural) to give it any character. As I remember, there's a small injector that puts drops of petrol not the exhaust to make it pop! I find that a bit cynical. Not as cynical as the piped in sounds in the M135i and Golf R, but still fake.pSyCoSiS said:
It terms of hot hatches, I think the A45 AMG has raised the bar significantly and set the benchmark.
Only for straight line speed. A Megane would destroy it in the twisty bits or on a track. There's a feeling of aloofness that removes confidence in the A45. Ali_T said:
Not as cynical as the piped in sounds in the M135i and Golf R, but still fake.
And I'm still bemused as to why BMW thought it even necessary to do this with the M135/M235, as I've got essentially the same N55 engine in my E82 135i and it sounds good enough without the added fakery 
I suspect, yet again, it's the marketing dept calling the shots to the engineering departments, as seems to be the case more and more these days
It's fairly simple with the M135i; they wanted it fairly refined so put in plenty of sound deadening. But this muted the engine inside too much so they added a sound symposer; it's not ideal but at least it sounds like an engine. The Golf R sounds like an 80s Outrun arcade game.
Outside the car, the M135i knocks spots off any other hatch; it sounds borderline exotic especially with a louder exhaust. Decat it too and it sobs pretty mental.
Ours needs to be acceptable for meetings so I just drop the window to hear it sing.
Outside the car, the M135i knocks spots off any other hatch; it sounds borderline exotic especially with a louder exhaust. Decat it too and it sobs pretty mental.
Ours needs to be acceptable for meetings so I just drop the window to hear it sing.
Tractor lad said:
It's fairly simple with the M135i; they wanted it fairly refined so put in plenty of sound deadening. But this muted the engine inside too much so they added a sound symposer; it's not ideal but at least it sounds like an engine. The Golf R sounds like an 80s Outrun arcade game.
Outside the car, the M135i knocks spots off any other hatch; it sounds borderline exotic especially with a louder exhaust. Decat it too and it sobs pretty mental.
Ours needs to be acceptable for meetings so I just drop the window to hear it sing.
:-) you just saved me the bother of replying.Outside the car, the M135i knocks spots off any other hatch; it sounds borderline exotic especially with a louder exhaust. Decat it too and it sobs pretty mental.
Ours needs to be acceptable for meetings so I just drop the window to hear it sing.
Out of all the modern super hatches or whatever you want to call them, Ive driven an A45, I have an M135i, and Ive driven a Golf R. The BMW has the best engine of those 3 by far.
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