RE: Mercedes AMG A45 gets faster and louder

RE: Mercedes AMG A45 gets faster and louder

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Discussion

PumaUK7

131 posts

144 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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Carlique said:
I'm glad to see they've finally made the A45 clearly distinguishable from the lesser spec models in the range.

I've always been a big fan of these but always found it hard to spot the differences of one of these to say an A220 AMG Sport, which when you're spending the best part of £40k for a range-topping AMG car, you want it to look and feel a bit more special than your regular company car.
It's every bit as different looking as a C63 to a standard C class...

andrewparker

8,014 posts

187 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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PumaUK7 said:
big_rob_sydney said:
Strong money for a hatch.

Why you'd choose this over a second hand GTR though, is a mystery to me.
Because Mercedes vs Nissan...

And New vs 2nd hand...
Plus practicality, reasonable running costs, surely it can't be that much of a mystery...

Both make you look like you're dealing in things you really rather shouldn't be.

Tractor lad

150 posts

106 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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Fast but faux 4wd and four pot.
I'm happy with my meagre powered M135i.

Hol

8,412 posts

200 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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Am I the only on who thinks this is just an up to date Mercedes version of the Subaru STI Hatch (4pot AWD) for those people who have moved on - due to brand snobbery.


"Concerned about the Subaru's current reputation and cliché as a chav wagon?, Growing up a bit now are we?.

- Well now you can have a near identical performing car with German build quality and a socially acceptable badge in the works car park."


The same can be said of the Golf R of course.




Carlique

1,631 posts

164 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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PumaUK7 said:
It's every bit as different looking as a C63 to a standard C class...
Not really. The C63 is clearly distinguishable on first sight to a standard C class AMg Sport.

The C63 has flared front and rear arches, different front and rear bumpers (larger intakes, front gills/louvres, different shaping), rear diffuser fins and quad exhausts. As well as the obvious bonnet bulges. In other words, every panel bar the roof is different.

The A45 is exactly the same as an A Class Amg sport except for the single barred grille and subtle rectangular/quad exhausts.


SuperchargedVR6

3,138 posts

220 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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Tractor lad said:
Fast but faux 4wd and four pot.
I'm happy with my meagre powered M135i.
From what I understand, the Haldex on this is actually pretty good. Harris liked it a lot.

Hammerhead

2,701 posts

254 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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I wouldn't drive it even if it was free - blurrrgh.

Guvernator

13,156 posts

165 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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I went to have a look at one of these when they first one came out as it seemed to offer reasonable practicality for family duties but with the added bonus of being fast-as-f*ck.

Unfortunately despite the fact that I'm not powerfully built (tm), the drivers seat felt surprisingly cramped and the back seats felt so claustrophobic, I had to get out after 30 seconds or start screaming. The car isn't small per se, it's just that the big seats, big blingy dash and fat pillars all conspire to make the car feel smaller than it is.

Still I gamely went through some options and it wasn't too long before I arrived at a figure north of £45k. I suggested to the salesmen that the price was fairly "aggressive" for a hot hatch and asked about the possibility of discounts, well the look he gave me, I might as well have asked if I could borrow some newspapers to use as bedding for the night.

I've driven all 3 of the German marques and while you get good and bad salesmen in all of them, Mercedes are the only ones where you consistently get this arrogant attitude, you're a car salesmen ffs! Needless to say I laughed at his attempt to look down his nose at me and walked.

culpz

4,882 posts

112 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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I still think the new RS3 sounds so much better and looks better. The power of this new A is mental but it already had more than enough. Just a reason to buy it over its competitors. I still think most will go for one of it's cheaper rivals.

Tractor lad

150 posts

106 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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SuperchargedVR6 said:
From what I understand, the Haldex on this is actually pretty good. Harris liked it a lot.
Yeah but what does he know? ;-)

Our Subaru has proper AWD; it's always there and not reactive like Haldex; it's just better even though it's fuel inefficient.

PumaUK7

131 posts

144 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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Carlique said:
Not really. The C63 is clearly distinguishable on first sight to a standard C class AMg Sport.

The C63 has flared front and rear arches, different front and rear bumpers (larger intakes, front gills/louvres, different shaping), rear diffuser fins and quad exhausts. As well as the obvious bonnet bulges. In other words, every panel bar the roof is different.

The A45 is exactly the same as an A Class Amg sport except for the single barred grille and subtle rectangular/quad exhausts.
Apologies, I was referring to the raft of standard'ish C classes, compared to a bog standard A-Class and the A45.

Edited by PumaUK7 on Monday 29th June 17:07

ubbs

649 posts

217 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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I like it if it's better than the old one, I'm biased thoughsmile

PumaUK7

131 posts

144 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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Hammerhead said:
I wouldn't drive it even if it was free - blurrrgh.
What would you have for the money, new, instead?

philmots

4,631 posts

260 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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matrignano said:
This. The A45 is an absolute weapon, leagues ahead of the M135i.

But Mercedes always refused to do any deals on it, be it PCP or cash, and that's why they haven't sold half as many as the competition.
Leagues ahead in what way?

It might be quicker in a straight line but that's not the only thing that maters.. Genuine question as I've not driven either, but I know how a good BMW drives and handles. Rear drive takes some beating.

R8VXF

6,788 posts

115 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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Does this new one still sound like it is farting on the upshift?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2PTPnrlxiQ

PumaUK7

131 posts

144 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
philmots said:
Leagues ahead in what way?

It might be quicker in a straight line but that's not the only thing that maters.. Genuine question as I've not driven either, but I know how a good BMW drives and handles. Rear drive takes some beating.
Faster, better all-weather grip / traction. Essentially a quicker, easier to drive car.


PumaUK7

131 posts

144 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
Unsure why the M135i gets such fan-fare.

The Golf R takes the budget crown and the A45 the performance crown. BMW left out in the cold with a particularly fugly, middling offering.

rb5er

11,657 posts

172 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
Focus RS and £20k change sounds like a much more interesting proposition.

PumaUK7

131 posts

144 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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rb5er said:
Focus RS and £20k change sounds like a much more interesting proposition.
Spec for spec the difference won't be that much.

Also:

Badge

Performance

Build quality

All down compared to the A45.

Surely also, on the cheaper end of the scale, a Type R would be the better choice over an RS...

Edited by PumaUK7 on Monday 29th June 17:29

Hammerhead

2,701 posts

254 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
PumaUK7 said:
Hammerhead said:
I wouldn't drive it even if it was free - blurrrgh.
What would you have for the money, new, instead?
Macan/V60 Polestar/SQ5 to name a few. IE something that's useful for all your clobber, family, still gets up to warp speed reasonably quickly and doesn't look so bloody awful (inside and out) as this Merc.