Mercedes CLA...

[Matt UK]

...it's no looker is it.
I saw one the other day and had a good gander. It's a very ungainly shape with a huge rear 3/4.

Also, I can't for the life of me see why anyone would buy one instead of the C Class - they look a similar size.

Mercedes confuse me. They seem to be making some rather nice bigger cars right now and seem to have some good chassis engineers on the team, but the small car division seems a bit lost.

Anyway, happy to be flamed if you think otherwise.

[Johnnytheboy]

Matt UK said:

...it's no looker is it.
I saw one the other day and had a good gander. It's a very ungainly shape with a huge rear 3/4.

Also, I can't for the life of me see why anyone would buy one instead of the C Class - they look a similar size.

Mercedes confuse me. They seem to be making some rather nice bigger cars right now and seem to have some good chassis engineers on the team, but the small car division seems a bit lost.

Anyway, happy to be flamed if you think otherwise.

To avoid repeating myself:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

In short, it's the size of a C-Class and I assume not a helluva lot cheaper. So certainly as far as the cooking models go I just don't see the point.

[kambites]

I suppose the idea is that it's for more style-conscious people than the rather plain looking C-class; but those who still need four doors.

[Dr Interceptor]

It's for people who want an AMG Mercedes that doesn't have a big V8 and thus only gets 15 to the gallon.

Having a four cylinder AMG model is a very clever move by them

[jon-]

I like how they look.

And for a merc, I like how they drive. Drove one back to back with a C 250, and the CLA 250 was in another world.

[AnotherClarkey]

I thought that the early photos were absolutely bogging but I saw one in the metal a few weeks ago and it looked surprisingly decent.

[ManaghGB]

I think they look brilliant.

Saw a white AMG version the other day and it had real presence on the road.

[fatboy b]

Johnnytheboy said:

Matt UK said:

...it's no looker is it.
I saw one the other day and had a good gander. It's a very ungainly shape with a huge rear 3/4.

Also, I can't for the life of me see why anyone would buy one instead of the C Class - they look a similar size.

Mercedes confuse me. They seem to be making some rather nice bigger cars right now and seem to have some good chassis engineers on the team, but the small car division seems a bit lost.

Anyway, happy to be flamed if you think otherwise.

To avoid repeating myself:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

In short, it's the size of a C-Class and I assume not a helluva lot cheaper. So certainly as far as the cooking models go I just don't see the point.

Horrific cars, and proof that people will buy a badge over looks.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Jem0911]

I was initially interested after seeing press pictures and a few owners images.
But after seeing in the flesh it's not for me.
Ugly from some angles
Horrendous from others.

[pilchardthecat]

Jem0911 said:

I was initially interested after seeing press pictures and a few owners images.
But after seeing in the flesh it's not for me.
Ugly from some angles
Horrendous from others.

Ditto

Same for the A45 AMG. Looks complete rhubarb in the flesh

[Amirhussain]

I can live with the front end, but there's something about the rear lights, I can't quite put my finger on it, but they look 'fake'.

[Johnnytheboy]

Amirhussain said:

I can live with the front end, but there's something about the rear lights, I can't quite put my finger on it, but they look 'fake'.

It looks too tall and too narrow in the flesh.

[Jem0911]

Johnnytheboy said:

It looks too tall and too narrow in the flesh.

This^^
Wheels look too far under body.
Wider track needed.

[DukeDickson]

AnotherClarkey said:

I thought that the early photos were absolutely bogging but I saw one in the metal a few weeks ago and it looked surprisingly decent.

Complete opposite for me. That rear end doesn't work in the flesh.

[Amirhussain]

Johnnytheboy said:

Amirhussain said:

I can live with the front end, but there's something about the rear lights, I can't quite put my finger on it, but they look 'fake'.

It looks too tall and too narrow in the flesh.

There's someone who owns one near where I love, IMO it looks like its squashed.

[rix]

It's just odd. Kind of Lada Riva in profile but with a melted droopy rear end

[Ozzie Osmond]

To say Merc have "lost their way" in the styling department would be kind. To my eye CLA looks as though it was built in Korea about 10 years ago...