A class/CLA 180 Not what it seems
Discussion
Thought I'd check out what sort of power the A class / CLA 180 was pushing as a friend of mine said his new Mercedes would be quicker than my Fiesta ST. I thought it may well be, I was thinking maybe 200bhp, similar to VAG groups 1.8T engine
Checked a plate out:
CLA180 SPORT
1595cc & 122bhp.
I am genuinely shocked. It has 200cc less than expected and a very pityful power output for a 'premium' car.
The equivilant BMW (116i) has 134bhp and is at least not disguising the fact it is a 1.6L.
The equvilant Ford (Focus Zetec S) has 177bhp from it's 1.6L
Where I live, most people aspire to or buy German because they perceive them to be better in everyway. I realise many buy becuase the badge comes first and they can have plastics in their car that feel a bit better to touch but there is no excuse for such misrepresentation of a car, it is even called a 'sport'!
Checked a plate out:
CLA180 SPORT
1595cc & 122bhp.
I am genuinely shocked. It has 200cc less than expected and a very pityful power output for a 'premium' car.
The equivilant BMW (116i) has 134bhp and is at least not disguising the fact it is a 1.6L.
The equvilant Ford (Focus Zetec S) has 177bhp from it's 1.6L
Where I live, most people aspire to or buy German because they perceive them to be better in everyway. I realise many buy becuase the badge comes first and they can have plastics in their car that feel a bit better to touch but there is no excuse for such misrepresentation of a car, it is even called a 'sport'!
neil1jnr said:
Thought I'd check out what sort of power the A class / CLA 180 was pushing as a friend of mine said his new Mercedes would be quicker than my Fiesta ST. I thought it may well be, I was thinking maybe 200bhp, similar to VAG groups 1.8T engine
Checked a plate out:
CLA180 SPORT
1595cc & 122bhp.
I am genuinely shocked. It has 200cc less than expected and a very pityful power output for a 'premium' car.
The equivilant BMW (116i) has 134bhp and is at least not disguising the fact it is a 1.6L.
The equvilant Ford (Focus Zetec S) has 177bhp from it's 1.6L
Where I live, most people aspire to or buy German because they perceive them to be better in everyway. I realise many buy becuase the badge comes first and they can have plastics in their car that feel a bit better to touch but there is no excuse for such misrepresentation of a car, it is even called a 'sport'!
What makes you think the bottom of the range A Class engine is the equivalent of the mid-range engines from VAG and Ford? Surely the equivalent Focus is the 1.0 Ecoboost with 125bhp. Or are you talking equivalent on price, in which case you can probably get a Focus ST for the same money as an A180 Sport.Checked a plate out:
CLA180 SPORT
1595cc & 122bhp.
I am genuinely shocked. It has 200cc less than expected and a very pityful power output for a 'premium' car.
The equivilant BMW (116i) has 134bhp and is at least not disguising the fact it is a 1.6L.
The equvilant Ford (Focus Zetec S) has 177bhp from it's 1.6L
Where I live, most people aspire to or buy German because they perceive them to be better in everyway. I realise many buy becuase the badge comes first and they can have plastics in their car that feel a bit better to touch but there is no excuse for such misrepresentation of a car, it is even called a 'sport'!
IanCress said:
What makes you think the bottom of the range A Class engine is the equivalent of the mid-range engines from VAG and Ford? Surely the equivalent Focus is the 1.0 Ecoboost with 125bhp. Or are you talking equivalent on price, in which case you can probably get a Focus ST for the same money as an A180 Sport.
Your point makes it even more mind boggling (well in my head anyway).The bottom range 1L ecoboost Ford engine (125bhp) is more powerful than Mercedes bottom range 1.6L turbo (122bhp), and the Merc is badges as a 'sport'.
I understand the sport and A180 part is all marketing but what a rip off, paying all that cash for a bottom spec engine far worse than rivals.
Buzz Lightyear said:
This put me off a CLA as I really like the look, but such pitiful engines, bar the CLA45 obviously.
The ones I never understand is why people are buying 114d's, 316d's. It has no performance, and is just being bought on badge, and badge alone.
So you do understand why people buy 114d, 316d then?!The ones I never understand is why people are buying 114d's, 316d's. It has no performance, and is just being bought on badge, and badge alone.
Buzz Lightyear said:
This put me off a CLA as I really like the look, but such pitiful engines, bar the CLA45 obviously.
The ones I never understand is why people are buying 114d's, 316d's. It has no performance, and is just being bought on badge, and badge alone.
Outside of the world of pistonheads and teenagers, cars are bought for reasons such as comfort, refinement, looks, spec, economy, finance packages etc. Not just performance vs badge. Shocking isn't it.The ones I never understand is why people are buying 114d's, 316d's. It has no performance, and is just being bought on badge, and badge alone.
GravelBen said:
kambites said:
I don't know much about Mercedes, but with BMW these badges haven't been the engine capacity for decades. It's not misrepresentation, you just don't understand what the badges mean. 
What do the badges mean? 
neil1jnr said:
kambites said:
Very little. I suppose they're an approximate relative indication of the power output of the engine.
I think I am just surprised at how low the power is, especially for a 1.6 turbo.The 122 bhp A180 engine is the same as the 156 bhp engine in the A200 but for a different ECU programming. It's all but indistinghuishable from the 'bigger' one in the low/midrange, it just doesn't have as much top end power which for 99% of drivers is completely irrelevant as they're never getting anywhere near the red line... What matters to them is that, contrary to the 1,8 liter naturally aspirated engines that got replaced by this and similar versions, it packs a bit of punch in the low and midrange and feels gutsy on part-throttle.
If you think a 9 second 0-62 dash is inadequate for a base model 'premium'hatchback I think you're being a bit out of touch with the priorities of most folks who actually buy new cars...
BTW a former Ed in Chief of mine had a couple of BMW 316 (E90) long-term rentals back when we worked together. That was a 1.592 cc, naturally aspirated engine. It didn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. And guess what? It was a better car to drive than all of the usual lease fodder around at the time with more 'spec' and higher outputs. Driving position, steering, gear changes, minor controls, ride and handling - all in a different league from your average rep special.
If you think a 9 second 0-62 dash is inadequate for a base model 'premium'hatchback I think you're being a bit out of touch with the priorities of most folks who actually buy new cars...
BTW a former Ed in Chief of mine had a couple of BMW 316 (E90) long-term rentals back when we worked together. That was a 1.592 cc, naturally aspirated engine. It didn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. And guess what? It was a better car to drive than all of the usual lease fodder around at the time with more 'spec' and higher outputs. Driving position, steering, gear changes, minor controls, ride and handling - all in a different league from your average rep special.
114d and 316d are for scrimpers who potter up and down the motorway to get to work. Given the recent economic climate people who can't afford to run a car, but somehow have landed one as part of a job might reasonably get the cheapest car they can and take the rest as salary. This means they are mobile but don't have expensive running costs when they want to use the car instead of public transport at the weekend.
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