RE: Mercedes AMG A45 gets faster and louder

RE: Mercedes AMG A45 gets faster and louder

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Discussion

robm3

4,927 posts

226 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
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I got wasted off the lights by one of these recently and I was in my Jag F type paperbag

Sounded awesome too.

I thought it was pretty impressive car and wouldn't mind a drive in one.


Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
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Yes to the general driving package the car offers.

No to the looks, it isn't terrible, but it ain't great either - I think an M135i looks better, which is saying something.

I bet it's a mental car to hoon though, biggrin

nickfrog

20,871 posts

216 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
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Esceptico said:
PumaUK7 said:
So spec for spec, M135i £37k, A45 £43k. Most of the options ticked.
You should be comparing actual prices net of discounts not
list prices. I got a 10% discount on my M135i. Not sure if that is achievable with the A45. Would like to know from A45 owners on here whether they had to pay list.
Exactly. I got 19% off my LCI M135i. And there is no need to add more than £1k worth of fast depreciating gadgets on it. And you can have it in 3-doors. And manual The other aspect is depreciation, the Mercedes' has been brutal while the BMW's has been surprisingly good so far. The market knows better.


Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 30th June 08:33

Ali_T

3,379 posts

256 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
Esceptico said:
You should be comparing actual prices net of discounts not
list prices. I got a 10% discount on my M135i. Not sure if that is achievable with the A45. Would like to know from A45 owners on here whether they had to pay list.
Mercedes Of Edinburgh have a zero discount policy on them. Have has since launch.

Hol

8,353 posts

199 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
Too many people comparing the wrong cars on this thread: Civics, Mustangs etc..

Is this because people have never driven a 4pot Turbocharged AWD drive car, to understand the difference in driving feel and traction?

It definitely isn't a numbers game, BHP or ultra dry and smooth professionally driven track times.


Previously (Rally reps):
Subaru STI
Mitsubishi Evo
Audi Quattro

Recently:
Golf R
A45 AMG
RS Focus 3

I'm struggling to think of anything else, that isn't a 2WD/traction control car.


aeropilot

34,287 posts

226 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
PumaUK7 said:
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.
And that's your reasons for saying it's better..........you must be what, 14/15? laugh

I'm with the poster who said they'd not have one even if it was free (but then I might be biased as I spent 4 years suffering at the hands of pi$$ poor MB dealerships, and a premium badge doesn't mean a premium ownership experience wink)

I've spent 35 years driving on UK roads and not once have I ever thought, I wish I had awd because of the weather conditions - it's the UK FFS, not some remote part of the world. I was taught to drive to the conditions, and so if it's adverse conditions I drive accordingly, it really is quite simple.
So, despite it's awful electric steering, I'd still take the M135, because of it's traditional layout. I couldn't give a rats arse what it looks like.








HJMS123

988 posts

132 months

Tuesday 30th 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 a very attractive package (Immense performance with real world pace,practicality and usability)and I for one would definitely have one of these over an RS3, which having seen one at the weekend, was thoroughly underwhelmed by.
Have you heard one at full chat?! I was in London two weekends ago and saw a black 15plate RS3 in a residential street, the owner then proceeded to take it all the way to the redline in second! OH MY GOD!!!! It must have had the optional sports exhaust as the sound was astonishingly loud.

nickfrog

20,871 posts

216 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
HJMS123 said:
Have you heard one at full chat?! I was in London two weekends ago and saw a black 15plate RS3 in a residential street, the owner then proceeded to take it all the way to the redline in second! OH MY GOD!!!! It must have had the optional sports exhaust as the sound was astonishingly loud.
Says it all about your average pointandsquirter really.

aeropilot

34,287 posts

226 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
HJMS123 said:
Have you heard one at full chat?! I was in London two weekends ago and saw a black 15plate RS3 in a residential street, the owner then proceeded to take it all the way to the redline in second! OH MY GOD!!!! It must have had the optional sports exhaust as the sound was astonishingly loud.
Says it all about your average pointandsquirter really.
yes

(admittedly they do sound rather nice though smile - shame about the rest of the car though hehe)

Guvernator

13,103 posts

164 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
Esceptico said:
You should be comparing actual prices net of discounts not
list prices. I got a 10% discount on my M135i. Not sure if that is achievable with the A45. Would like to know from A45 owners on here whether they had to pay list.
See my previous post. I'm not an owner but when I went to look at the first one of these and asked about a discount the salesmen looked at me like I was something unpleasant he'd scraped of his shoe. So the answer in the few Mercedes dealerships in and around London I've experienced is if you can't afford the full price, your not worthy to drive one.

I will say though I do like the fact that they offer this in two versions, the subtle one with no body adenda for the shrinking violets and ultimate Q car look and then a full on boy racer version which strangely I think looks quite nice, yes I even like the spoiler. I think other manufacturers could definitely take note and copy this approach.

Ali_T

3,379 posts

256 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
I've spent 35 years driving on UK roads and not once have I ever thought, I wish I had awd because of the weather conditions - it's the UK FFS, not some remote part of the world.
Try living in Scotland! Every winter that's exactly what I think. The problem is, 4wd and driving pleasure are often at odds with each other. I've had an STI 330S and Evo X FQ330 and, while ridiculously fast (especially the STI, there's no way those only have 330bhp), they're actually no fun. The only way to enjoy them is to risk life and limb. I test drove the A45 twice and it was exactly the same. Tremendously quick, sure footed but, ultimately, felt inert. Designed to go round the corner as quickly as it can without letting you enjoy the experience. The Golf R was much the same. It just felt like a GTI with better traction, but not better adjustability. I know the likes of Harris and Bovington would argue, but they're more prepared to get aggressive with the weight balance to throw out the tail. Not something the average driver will ever be skilled enough, or mad enough, to try.

Guffy

2,310 posts

264 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
I've had mine for 16 month now but I'm not a typical fanboy.

Crazily enough, I quite like the fact it's expensive as it's kept the numbers down, as opposed to the Golf R which seems to be everywhere, but obviously I'm not going to like the depreciation. I think in reality, you're paying for a hand-built engine in a base car and it does shows in places. I also looked at a C63, but it was another £20k and 4-wheel drive is handy in Aberdeenshire when you're a contractor.

It can be a hoot to drive in a hooligan kind of way, but it's not scalpel-like and is a bit one dimensional, I've had more driving enjoyment out of slower cars. The four-pot is no aural delight either, hence the angry exhaust that almost makes-up for it. I find the gearbox ok when driving hard, but pick-up from standstill is not the best unless you do a race-start, then it's savage (Or a soft race-start). Fantastic brakes and grip, mine has a few mods too, so it does hustle along like an angry hornet.

Looks are clearly subjective, but I much prefer the A45 to the beemer, but neither are oil paintings.

So the new A45 won't tempt me again, might push for a AMG GT-S though smile




aeropilot

34,287 posts

226 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
Ali_T said:
aeropilot said:
I've spent 35 years driving on UK roads and not once have I ever thought, I wish I had awd because of the weather conditions - it's the UK FFS, not some remote part of the world.
Try living in Scotland! Every winter that's exactly what I think. The problem is, 4wd and driving pleasure are often at odds with each other. I've had an STI 330S and Evo X FQ330 and, while ridiculously fast (especially the STI, there's no way those only have 330bhp), they're actually no fun. The only way to enjoy them is to risk life and limb. I test drove the A45 twice and it was exactly the same. Tremendously quick, sure footed but, ultimately, felt inert. Designed to go round the corner as quickly as it can without letting you enjoy the experience. The Golf R was much the same. It just felt like a GTI with better traction, but not better adjustability. I know the likes of Harris and Bovington would argue, but they're more prepared to get aggressive with the weight balance to throw out the tail. Not something the average driver will ever be skilled enough, or mad enough, to try.
Exactly.

(And I'm half Scottish so have spent enough time north of the border, but still not convinced anyone really 'needs' awd, unless you need an off-road capability, in which case you'd be looking at something properly suited to such tasks. And awd doesn't make you stop or steer any better than 2wd, so the only advantage it gives is getting you to the scene of your accident quicker, and in possibly a less survivable way.....)




Carlique

1,630 posts

163 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
HJMS123 said:
Have you heard one at full chat?! I was in London two weekends ago and saw a black 15plate RS3 in a residential street, the owner then proceeded to take it all the way to the redline in second! OH MY GOD!!!! It must have had the optional sports exhaust as the sound was astonishingly loud.
I'm afraid I haven't. I'm sure it too is a very impressive bit of kit to drive and must sound amazing (youtuber 'Supercars of London' has a great video where it sounds fantastic) but the one I saw up close just really didn't impress me. It may have just been the colour, nardo grey, but with the silver front bumper fins and silver rear diffuser it just looked really cheap.

Hol

8,353 posts

199 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
Exactly.

(And I'm half Scottish so have spent enough time north of the border, but still not convinced anyone really 'needs' awd, unless you need an off-road capability, in which case you'd be looking at something properly suited to such tasks. And awd doesn't make you stop or steer any better than 2wd, so the only advantage it gives is getting you to the scene of your accident quicker, and in possibly a less survivable way.....)
How many 4pot Turbocharged AWD cars (not SUV's) have you driven - to base your view?
(That's a hypothetical question, as you have said none already).


Could it simply be - that you personally are happy with 2wd, the cars that you previously have owned/own now and simply cannot understand what the fuss is all about?


Personally, I cannot see what all the fuss is about with twin hulled sailing boats with winged fins. I mean really - why on earth would they be preferable to a normal single hulled boats???

But then, I have never sailed in one. wink




rb5er

11,657 posts

171 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
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PumaUK7 said:
Wow, spot who can't afford premium brands!

There's a reason why it's much cheaper and it's a combination of all the factors listed. An RS is down on power, has a worse interior in both materials and fit and finish and yes, people do look at the Ford badge and think "cheap".

Also, the RS having 4WD does not make it some magical super weapon. Haldex works very well in its own right.

I think you're trying to justify something in the face of the hard truth that the A45 is the better car of the two. Yes it is more expensive, but that's the price to pay for class leading performance and entry to a prestige brand.

Also, no it really isn't £20k more. The RS is manual only, which is quite a miss.




Edited by PumaUK7 on Monday 29th June 20:05
Wow, you really managed to prove that you are a total tosser. Anyone can afford a "premium" brand. Plenty of 2nd hand cars about.

I don't need to go into what I earn as I'm not petty like you but if I wanted to buy a car based on its brand I would with no issue.

And you are saying its a better car without ever having driven one? How deluded/retarded you are.

aeropilot

34,287 posts

226 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
Hol said:
aeropilot said:
Exactly.

(And I'm half Scottish so have spent enough time north of the border, but still not convinced anyone really 'needs' awd, unless you need an off-road capability, in which case you'd be looking at something properly suited to such tasks. And awd doesn't make you stop or steer any better than 2wd, so the only advantage it gives is getting you to the scene of your accident quicker, and in possibly a less survivable way.....)
How many 4pot Turbocharged AWD cars (not SUV's) have you driven - to base your view?
About a half dozen or so, can't recall exactly over the years, and had to scratch a few off the list as they had 5 or even 6 cyl's.... but I'm sure I've missed a few out in my mental recollections of the past 25 odd years. And I don't actually recall ever driving an awd SUV up to now either wink

PumaUK7

131 posts

143 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
Affording something 2nd hand isn't the same as you are well aware.

Slating a Mercedes that is quite obvious better in all the ways I listed and claiming a Ford is the same just shows a complete bias towards cars that one can personally afford.

It's fine to say the A45 is more expensive and something like an RS is arguably better value for money, however to claim they are equals and that a Ford badge is as premium as a Mercedes badge is kidding yourself.

Unsure why you're upset, unless you fall into that bracket of course. Also your final point is irrelevant as I am referring to overall quality of the vehicle, not purely performance/handling.




nickfrog

20,871 posts

216 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
PumaUK7 said:
Slating a Mercedes that is quite obvious better in all the ways I listed
You rationale made no sense though.

PumaUK7

131 posts

143 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
You rationale made no sense though.
How so?

It is better built, in both craftsmanship and materials.

It does have better performance, having a more powerful engine.

The Mercedes brand is more premium, carrying more prestige than Ford.