A45, CLA45 or C63 507...
Discussion
Which would you buy and why?
The time has come for me to downsize my fleet to one and the above 3 cars are my choices. I have a Lotus Exige to sell and a 6 month old a220 cdi to return (which I love) which should result (with a decent deposit) in a similar monthly ppc figure to what I pay now on the Merc at 410. I want trouble free, new car motoring...although the 507 kind of breaks that rule.
The a45 and cla will both be specced up to 47k and 52k respectively and the c63 (13 plate car) at 55k. I do around 15k miles a year and 6-7 track days.
My Merc dealer and all the staff I've bored to death at Brooklands say 507. A45 is probably best for the track part with good overall economy/cost, the cla is the same but a bit more grown up in style (which appeals to me) and the 507 is well, pushing the boat out a bit on economy but with a 3 year service and warranty plan, shouldn't be too much of a headache!
Decisions, decisions.
The time has come for me to downsize my fleet to one and the above 3 cars are my choices. I have a Lotus Exige to sell and a 6 month old a220 cdi to return (which I love) which should result (with a decent deposit) in a similar monthly ppc figure to what I pay now on the Merc at 410. I want trouble free, new car motoring...although the 507 kind of breaks that rule.
The a45 and cla will both be specced up to 47k and 52k respectively and the c63 (13 plate car) at 55k. I do around 15k miles a year and 6-7 track days.
My Merc dealer and all the staff I've bored to death at Brooklands say 507. A45 is probably best for the track part with good overall economy/cost, the cla is the same but a bit more grown up in style (which appeals to me) and the 507 is well, pushing the boat out a bit on economy but with a 3 year service and warranty plan, shouldn't be too much of a headache!
Decisions, decisions.
Thanks all,
I've got to say I'm swinging to the 507...just hope it hangs around long enough for me to get it (gotta sell the Lotus first).
Drove a 507 (13 plate) today and it is not what I expected at all, the interior isn't dated as I'd imagined (prefer it to the sea of black plastic in the new car), it feels very solid and in terms of quality is way ahead of my A-Class (and I love my A-Class)...very classy place to sit. The engine in comfort mode sounded good and the performance although not biblical was deceptive (looking at the speedo and thinking 'oops') with a lazy, effortless power delivery. It also feels like a smaller car than it looks.
All in all, very impressed...in 6500 miles it had averaged 25mph and 19mpg so that's a decent indicator of what I'd manage at best.
For anyone who owns these cars, what are they like on track and how reliable are they? I don't want to even open the bonnet and certainly don't want to be replacing brakes etc every 2 track days (I'm a sympathetic driver on track, more smooth a consistent than hard and erratic).
I've got to say I'm swinging to the 507...just hope it hangs around long enough for me to get it (gotta sell the Lotus first).
Drove a 507 (13 plate) today and it is not what I expected at all, the interior isn't dated as I'd imagined (prefer it to the sea of black plastic in the new car), it feels very solid and in terms of quality is way ahead of my A-Class (and I love my A-Class)...very classy place to sit. The engine in comfort mode sounded good and the performance although not biblical was deceptive (looking at the speedo and thinking 'oops') with a lazy, effortless power delivery. It also feels like a smaller car than it looks.
All in all, very impressed...in 6500 miles it had averaged 25mph and 19mpg so that's a decent indicator of what I'd manage at best.
For anyone who owns these cars, what are they like on track and how reliable are they? I don't want to even open the bonnet and certainly don't want to be replacing brakes etc every 2 track days (I'm a sympathetic driver on track, more smooth a consistent than hard and erratic).
ecain63 said:
nightSpirit said:
Thanks all,
I've got to say I'm swinging to the 507...just hope it hangs around long enough for me to get it (gotta sell the Lotus first).
Drove a 507 (13 plate) today and it is not what I expected at all, the interior isn't dated as I'd imagined (prefer it to the sea of black plastic in the new car), it feels very solid and in terms of quality is way ahead of my A-Class (and I love my A-Class)...very classy place to sit. The engine in comfort mode sounded good and the performance although not biblical was deceptive (looking at the speedo and thinking 'oops') with a lazy, effortless power delivery. It also feels like a smaller car than it looks.
All in all, very impressed...in 6500 miles it had averaged 25mph and 19mpg so that's a decent indicator of what I'd manage at best.
For anyone who owns these cars, what are they like on track and how reliable are they? I don't want to even open the bonnet and certainly don't want to be replacing brakes etc every 2 track days (I'm a sympathetic driver on track, more smooth a consistent than hard and erratic).
507 (or any C63):I've got to say I'm swinging to the 507...just hope it hangs around long enough for me to get it (gotta sell the Lotus first).
Drove a 507 (13 plate) today and it is not what I expected at all, the interior isn't dated as I'd imagined (prefer it to the sea of black plastic in the new car), it feels very solid and in terms of quality is way ahead of my A-Class (and I love my A-Class)...very classy place to sit. The engine in comfort mode sounded good and the performance although not biblical was deceptive (looking at the speedo and thinking 'oops') with a lazy, effortless power delivery. It also feels like a smaller car than it looks.
All in all, very impressed...in 6500 miles it had averaged 25mph and 19mpg so that's a decent indicator of what I'd manage at best.
For anyone who owns these cars, what are they like on track and how reliable are they? I don't want to even open the bonnet and certainly don't want to be replacing brakes etc every 2 track days (I'm a sympathetic driver on track, more smooth a consistent than hard and erratic).
Will eat tyres at a rapid rate on track. Obviously this depends who hard you push it, but my experience with C63's is that you will want to turn rubber to smoke at every opportunity. Brakes are good when not cooked but don't last long on track due to nose weight (less life than standard C63 discs due to lower wear tolerance). 507 discs are the same as the PPP composites and are £2k a set for the fronts inc pads. The rears are the same cost as regular C63. Otherwise the car is sound, so long as you keep an eye on gearbox temps, and will take the track all day. The engine certainly won't complain. Fuel is the next consideration!
A45:
Brakes are awesome on the road and apparently are pretty good on the track. No real fade and they last well. Chris Harris certainly felt happy with them. Handling is excellent and traction largely infallible thanks to 4matic. It's maybe not as 'fun' / scary on track as you can't drive sideways quite so easily as the C63, but as the A45 was the fastest AMG in the range on track (yes, even quicker than the SLS) you can get really stuck into pushing out quick and consistent lap times. Tyres are not so vulnerable as the C63 but the engine will obviously need to be given more thought due to it being smaller and having a whacking great turbo to warm things up. I've heard no bad stories about A45's on track but i'd be more inclined to show sympathy to the little 4-pot, unlike the big V8 which will show no stress over multiple track sessions. I intend on tracking my A45 at some point.
C63: More fuel, brakes and tyres, but more sideways!
A45: Faster but less like a hooligan! Cheaper to run on track!
Having driven both hard! A45 for technical track work. C63 for drift fun!
I am more of a technical track driver though...so it's worth a thought atleast driving the 45 to see if it works for me I suppose. How long do you reckon the 507 discs and pads last? I've only ever swapped brakes once on a track car after a full year of action (6 sessions in all honesty).You hear a lot of different views on consumable life. I think a set of tyres and discs in a single session at say Brands would be obscene! I'd hope discs and tyres last a year of use minimum...ok maybe a full day and 30 laps of the Ring would be an exception.
Again thanks for the feedback, I do like all 3 cars and just when I think of one, another takes its place.
At the end of the day, I just want a car (don't we all) that doesn't let me down or cost me anywhere near what I spend now on fiddling (circa 800 a month..which has to stop) and I can drive in all circumstances for maximum enjoyment.
Insurance btw on the c63, any advise?
Again thanks for the feedback, I do like all 3 cars and just when I think of one, another takes its place.
At the end of the day, I just want a car (don't we all) that doesn't let me down or cost me anywhere near what I spend now on fiddling (circa 800 a month..which has to stop) and I can drive in all circumstances for maximum enjoyment.
Insurance btw on the c63, any advise?
I've decided against the C63 now and am leaning toward the A45 (getting a loaner from MB week after next). I prefer the look (if not the quality of materials used) of the new interior...and those brilliant seats. I'm also put off by an expected 7k a year in normal running costs. I'll report back when I've had a play in the A45 but if I wanted one, I'd have to wait till the 2016 car comes out now which means my little A220 will be taking on more track duties
Thanks for the replies guys, I see what you're saying on the 63 and yes the values will hold compared to a new car (plus they've already lost some due to being used). I'll borrow the 45 and give it a decent test and then probably ask the dealer if I can go out solo in the 63 to try it out of comfort mode.
It will be my only car so will have 15k a year put on it but even at 20mpg it'll be a lot more thirsty than the 45 surely? I'm just trying to be frugal, not because I can't afford it but because I have a history of sinking all my cash into my cars and I want to break the cycle
Anyone in the Surrey/Guildford area want to take me for a spin?
It will be my only car so will have 15k a year put on it but even at 20mpg it'll be a lot more thirsty than the 45 surely? I'm just trying to be frugal, not because I can't afford it but because I have a history of sinking all my cash into my cars and I want to break the cycle
Anyone in the Surrey/Guildford area want to take me for a spin?
Thanks for the replies again, you've twisted my arm I think...I'll have another look at the 507. I couldn't have a stock 63 though as it's just too much of a sleeper.
Not a lot of love for the a45 (it's new though) and NO love at all for the cla! I saw one that had some carbon goodies on it from the factory and it looked pretty good.
Not a lot of love for the a45 (it's new though) and NO love at all for the cla! I saw one that had some carbon goodies on it from the factory and it looked pretty good.
So today, I put a deposit down on the A45...after much deliberation
Ok, so it's not the facelift A45, it is infact a c63 507. I drove back to back with an A45 this morning at MB World and the gulf between the 2 was wider than I thought. The car is available in August and will be 6 months old with less than 6k on the clock. All I need to do now is pay for the thing
Ok, so it's not the facelift A45, it is infact a c63 507. I drove back to back with an A45 this morning at MB World and the gulf between the 2 was wider than I thought. The car is available in August and will be 6 months old with less than 6k on the clock. All I need to do now is pay for the thing
There was a gap between driving the C63 (in comfort only) and the A45, which was a thorough test!
When the dealer suggested his Manager's 507 I thought it was worth a look at. After driving it, my mind was split so I asked for a back to back drive which we did today.
I can drive the A pretty well and for a hatchback, it's the best out there...I love the thing. But the quality of the cabin in the C was instantly noticeable, it felt special. Then the sound, not engineered (they've done an amazing job on the A45) just plain dirty. Then there was the drive and power delivery, the A needs revs for the turbo to be spooled, the C doesn't need much of anything The gear shift in the C is slower, maybe 0.5 seconds but I can live with it and the handling might not be as engineered to allow swift progress but it's in a different class on the damping and feedback side of things.
Have I thought about the new C? Yes...but I don't like the huge piano black centre panel and don't think it's removed enough from the regular car in looks. I know the 507 is now the old model but it's a special version of that old model so again, it doesn't bother me as much as I thought it might.
Again, thanks to everyone for their insights and opinions
When the dealer suggested his Manager's 507 I thought it was worth a look at. After driving it, my mind was split so I asked for a back to back drive which we did today.
I can drive the A pretty well and for a hatchback, it's the best out there...I love the thing. But the quality of the cabin in the C was instantly noticeable, it felt special. Then the sound, not engineered (they've done an amazing job on the A45) just plain dirty. Then there was the drive and power delivery, the A needs revs for the turbo to be spooled, the C doesn't need much of anything
The gear shift in the C is slower, maybe 0.5 seconds but I can live with it and the handling might not be as engineered to allow swift progress but it's in a different class on the damping and feedback side of things.Have I thought about the new C? Yes...but I don't like the huge piano black centre panel and don't think it's removed enough from the regular car in looks. I know the 507 is now the old model but it's a special version of that old model so again, it doesn't bother me as much as I thought it might.
Again, thanks to everyone for their insights and opinions
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