Worried about testing an A45....

[anonymous-user]

I test drove one yesterday, and was very impressed. I was sceptical about a 4 cylinder, baby AMG, but driving it it, it really does feel special.

I'm still struggling on whether it (or the CLA) really cater for my needs, and whether I can justify the price tag. We'll see...

[ecain63]

3.7s to 60. Enough said! Im happy as.....

[slippery]

I have to admit, that is pretty damn impressive!

[ecain63]

It's savage!

[gaz1234]

Accurate?

[slippery]

gaz1234 said:

Accurate?

Are you suggesting this run was downhill with a tailwind?

[ecain63]

gaz1234 said:

Accurate?

I'd say so yeah. Best I got in my 525bhp C63 was 4.0s (which is about right for pre MCT box). I got that consistently so I draw reassurance regarding the A45 times. Some owner are seeing 3.5s to 60 with the upgraded TCU software.

[gaz1234]

mental. whats the m135i and rs3 do?

[slippery]

gaz1234 said:

mental. whats the m135i and rs3 do?

I've seen some crazy acceleration times for re-mapped TTRSs, so I suppose the RS3 can do that too. It's all getting a bit bonkers really, when you've got 'normal' cars hitting 60 in the threes!

[ecain63]

gaz1234 said:

mental. whats the m135i and rs3 do?

M135i lacks the grip so low 4's is doable with LSD and tune.

RS3 is low 4's to high 3's with a tune etc. The new gearboxes and 4wd is what makes the difference.

[EricE]

Do you plan to take your A45 to a track day or other driving event?

I wonder how the new Haldex AWD feels. The old version in the RS3 is a disaster and understeered everywhere.
The reviews on the newer version (A45, Golf R, S3) don't even mention it so I assume it is "fixed" and not very spectacular in one way or the other. The 0-60 times are certainly quite impressive.
Revo also claims 3.7 0-60 with their Golf R "on road legal tyres", whatever that means.

[bmthnick1981]

3.7 to 60!

[moffat]

I drove an A45 for 30 mins really hard on the roads during an AMG day.

I had mixed feelings... fast and fun definitely, but lacking in other areas.

The noise is only okay, even with the Performance exhaust, I think the M1/235i cars sound the best in this segment. But it is good fun listening to it fart on upshifts.

Some of the plastics in the interior are woefully poor - the central area below the aircon and the cover where the electric seat buttons would be. The stick on COMAND is really nasty too, but seems to have become standard now I did love the seats though.

I was also really annoyed not have a dial for changing gearbox modes and access Race Start - bit of a flaff.

Still, even with the negatives and I did really enjoy the car. So much so I was going to get a CLA45 to replace my C63 until my specification came to £52k and I realised that I could lease or PCP the new M3/M4 much cheaper

The stats for 0-100 after remapping are truly impressive, my friend is getting 0-100mph in 8.6 secs

However, the gearbox is lacking from stock IMO. Try and nail it in first and it lags and gets a little confused and it was annoying not getting the odd gear on downshift. Once again I think BMW has the advantage with the ZF 8 speed box which is fast and very responsive. The TCU trickery helps apparently but I've only driven a stock car.

My advice would be drive the car a few times as it's so different to the C63. Also make sure you drive the M235i and S3 saloon for a good comparison.

[HotJambalaya]

I think after careful reflection I'm not going to carry on with the A45... Not helped by the lemons of dealers, who told me they'd have a car available for me to drive, then when I got there the next day, the guy I spoke to wasn't there, and nor was there a drivable car...

I have to replace the "family" A3 with another hatchback, and if I got the A45 as the fun car, it would be 2 hatchbacks...

Either the C63 gets replaced with something like a 911, Lotus, or something big and wafty

[gaz1234]

HotJambalaya said:

I think after careful reflection I'm not going to carry on with the A45... Not helped by the lemons of dealers, who told me they'd have a car available for me to drive, then when I got there the next day, the guy I spoke to wasn't there, and nor was there a drivable car...

I have to replace the "family" A3 with another hatchback, and if I got the A45 as the fun car, it would be 2 hatchbacks...

Either the C63 gets replaced with something like a 911, Lotus, or something big and wafty

M5

[ecain63]

moffat said:

I drove an A45 for 30 mins really hard on the roads during an AMG day.

I had mixed feelings... fast and fun definitely, but lacking in other areas.

The noise is only okay, even with the Performance exhaust, I think the M1/235i cars sound the best in this segment. But it is good fun listening to it fart on upshifts.

Some of the plastics in the interior are woefully poor - the central area below the aircon and the cover where the electric seat buttons would be. The stick on COMAND is really nasty too, but seems to have become standard now I did love the seats though.

I was also really annoyed not have a dial for changing gearbox modes and access Race Start - bit of a flaff.

Still, even with the negatives and I did really enjoy the car. So much so I was going to get a CLA45 to replace my C63 until my specification came to £52k and I realised that I could lease or PCP the new M3/M4 much cheaper

The stats for 0-100 after remapping are truly impressive, my friend is getting 0-100mph in 8.6 secs

However, the gearbox is lacking from stock IMO. Try and nail it in first and it lags and gets a little confused and it was annoying not getting the odd gear on downshift. Once again I think BMW has the advantage with the ZF 8 speed box which is fast and very responsive. The TCU trickery helps apparently but I've only driven a stock car.

My advice would be drive the car a few times as it's so different to the C63. Also make sure you drive the M235i and S3 saloon for a good comparison.

When did you drive one?

Cars from June build onward noiw have the latest, updated TCU spoftware. I think it's the same software off the 458 / SLS (same box) so it's really quick and intuitive. I have no issue with mine. Certainly better than the C63.

Plastics?? Pretty much all leather in mine. You sure you wrrent driving an A180 AMG Sport? lol

[ecain63]

EricE said:

Do you plan to take your A45 to a track day or other driving event?

I wonder how the new Haldex AWD feels. The old version in the RS3 is a disaster and understeered everywhere.
The reviews on the newer version (A45, Golf R, S3) don't even mention it so I assume it is "fixed" and not very spectacular in one way or the other. The 0-60 times are certainly quite impressive.
Revo also claims 3.7 0-60 with their Golf R "on road legal tyres", whatever that means.

Might track it further down the line. Need to bed it in some more as she's only at 1050 miles currently. Feedback from those who have tracked thiers is good so i am confident it'll be a hoot when the time comes.

Ref the Golf R. Theres a thread here where a stage 1 R met up with my A45 and got a surprise.
http://www.rforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=6...

[gaz1234]

ecain63 said:

Might track it further down the line. Need to bed it in some more as she's only at 1050 miles currently. Feedback from those who have tracked thiers is good so i am confident it'll be a hoot when the time comes.

Ref the Golf R. Theres a thread here where a stage 1 R met up with my A45 and got a surprise.
http://www.rforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=6...

they seem to be slating it

and that rear wing!!!

Edited by gaz1234 on Tuesday 12th August 20:52

[ecain63]

gaz1234 said:

they seem to be slating it

and that rear wing!!!

Edited by gaz1234 on Tuesday 12th August 20:52

You not feeling the love Gaz?

They may slate it, but it still produced the goods!

[gaz1234]

ecain63 said:

You not feeling the love Gaz?

They may slate it, but it still produced the goods!

I like them, just that wing. Costing you 0.1 sec I reckon