RE: Which 45 AMG?: PH Blog
Monday 3rd March 2014
So having driven the A45 AMG in our hatch triple test, been on the GLA45 launch and tried the CLA we had recently, I'm in the rare (and privileged) position of having driven every Mercedes '45 AMG. Which is my favourite? Tricky one.
Whichever body it's in the AMG four is a crackerThere can be no denying the outright ability of the A45. At maximum commitment across a moorland road, the A-Class just feels epic; it copes with whatever you or the surface can throw at it, agile, composed and so flippin' fast.
CLA45 has the toughest test; is least convincingThe CLA will always be hamstrung by the other four-door AMG products available. As has already been discussed, it is very similar to the A45 which seems like a slight missed opportunity. A hardcore hot hatch can be unique and exceptional in the range but a saloon surely sits in a different place? Customers wanting a rally rep four-door won't want a Mercedes and I'm not convinced a Merc customer who wants a saloon will find something so similar to the A- very appealing .
And the PH choice is ... the crossover? Matt!However, there's an issue with all three. I know Mercedes has to target new areas and meet more stringent targets, but there's some fundamental AMGness lacking. The easygoing nature of the V8 cars, be that a C- or SLK- or E-, is notable by its absence. In my opinion, that's a shame. But then what do I know? A45s are flying out the door optioned-up to the hilt. I'd be fascinated to hear how A/CLA45 owners are getting on.
Which 45 AMG?: PH Blog
Matt has now driven every AMG model spun off the A-Class. His favourite may surprise you...
Whichever body it's in the AMG four is a cracker
And though it really isn't relevant, the A45 was possibly my favourite AMG on a frozenlake. Being able to leave it one gear alleviated the transmission gripes, the 4WD shuffled around power near perfectly and the absence of grip revealed a really enjoyable balance. The brakes were always stunning.
But there's the problem. For me the A45 has only been truly rewarding in extreme circumstances that would very seldom be encountered. I'm loath to say it but I just found the M135i more involving and enjoyable (steering aside) more of the time. It felt ragged just as the Merc was at its best in Yorkshire, but that was for a very small percentage of the time.
CLA45 has the toughest test; is least convincing
Whisper it, but the GLA is my favourite '45 AMG. I know, embarrassing. It trades a sliver of the competence found in the other two (it's only three seconds slower round the 'ring than an A-, remember) for some additional compliance and a more endearing character. Perhaps it's the confusing remit and incongruity of such a car, a hatch-based 4x4 that can't actually go off-road because of its performance focus. Maybe it was just having a great drive in it. But it's the one I'd have.
And the PH choice is ... the crossover? Matt!
Matt
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Discussion
n4aat said:
Roma101 said:
Interesting to hear that the 45s are flying out the showroom. Obviously enough well off people out there to blow £40k plus on a "small" "sporty" car.
Not sure you can make that assumption. I was under the impression that 90% of new Mercs were bought on finance.Hmm. I really like the A45. For me, it's the pick of the bunch, and there's no doubting it's capabilities, but I cannot get past that price tag. You can buy a lot of car for £40k+. I'm sure it is fantastic on a twisty B road, and I'd no doubt like to try one. Would I buy one though? No.
That said, I'm not their target market, and I suspect that's true for a lot of people on PH. If they're selling them, good on them. At least the hot hatch is still very much alive, if slightly overweight these days
That said, I'm not their target market, and I suspect that's true for a lot of people on PH. If they're selling them, good on them. At least the hot hatch is still very much alive, if slightly overweight these days
Roma101 said:
Interesting to hear that the 45s are flying out the showroom. Obviously enough well off people out there to blow £40k plus on a "small" "sporty" car.
I've yet to see one on the road though, and my daily commute does take a chunk of the M25 and M4 which it where I would expect to see them. See quite a few M135i's though.365daytonafan said:
Roma101 said:
Interesting to hear that the 45s are flying out the showroom. Obviously enough well off people out there to blow £40k plus on a "small" "sporty" car.
I've yet to see one on the road though, and my daily commute does take a chunk of the M25 and M4 which it where I would expect to see them. See quite a few M135i's though.
Otispunkmeyer said:
365daytonafan said:
Roma101 said:
Interesting to hear that the 45s are flying out the showroom. Obviously enough well off people out there to blow £40k plus on a "small" "sporty" car.
I've yet to see one on the road though, and my daily commute does take a chunk of the M25 and M4 which it where I would expect to see them. See quite a few M135i's though.i had a reasonably long hard drive in the A45, very competent, very well sorted, and very dull to drive, the steering is to light, the brakes get squirrely on the back under medium braking. there was just no wow factor / fizz or what ever you want to call it for me
the stop start economy in traffic was very good thou
the price is a problem as well, cheapest leases i have seen recently are about £580 per month, a few weeks ago (last time i checked) £270 got you in a golf R and £600 an M5!!!!
i also have concerns about MB customer service, a fair few threads on various forums of very poor support when things go wrong, and the support i had from the website operators and the salesman i dealt with was just bad
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Monday 3rd March 13:11
Dave Hedgehog said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
365daytonafan said:
Roma101 said:
Interesting to hear that the 45s are flying out the showroom. Obviously enough well off people out there to blow £40k plus on a "small" "sporty" car.
I've yet to see one on the road though, and my daily commute does take a chunk of the M25 and M4 which it where I would expect to see them. See quite a few M135i's though.i had a reasonably long hard drive in the A45, very competent, very well sorted, and very dull to drive, the steering is to light, the brakes get squirrely on the back under medium braking. there was just no wow factor / fizz or what ever you want to call it for me
the stop start economy in traffic was very good thou
the price is a problem as well, cheapest leases i have seen recently are about £580 per month, a few weeks ago (last time i checked) £270 got you in a golf R and £600 an M5!!!!
i also have concerns about MB customer service, a fair few threads on various forums of very poor support when things go wrong, and the support i had from the website operators and the salesman i dealt with was just bad
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Monday 3rd March 13:11
Still AMG have done well with that engine. It wasn't long ago that something with that power from 2 litters required a service every 2 minutes and drank like a rugby team at a free bar. For me though the A class just looks ugly. Its all puffed up and bloaty looking, especially the back which has too many rounded, blancmangey shapes! The nose looks overly bulbous from some angles as well, which will be down to pedestrian safety.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
its like all things, relative to what you drive / expectations are, my overall feeling after driving the A45 was of being totally underwhelmed, it never felt explosive, it put speed on quickly enough but it was smooth and steady acceleration rather than being slammed about but then i thought the engine in the R32 golf sounds and goes superbly, but if you have access to V12 ferrari's its probably not very good
Answer is given in the article...none of them, buy the M135i instead!
We have had ours since October. Deeply impressive car. Not the most fun hot-hatch I have driven but it is a brilliant all-rounder: very easy to drive (my wife loves it), not too bad economy, feels good inside, looks good (to us) and that engine is so smooth. Have spent best part of 10 years driving diesel BMWs. They are amazing but the straight six petrol engine is just so much better, even if it doesn't get close to the same MPG.
A pity that BMW don't offer the 4x4 M135i that you can buy on the continent as lack of traction is sometimes as issue.
We have had ours since October. Deeply impressive car. Not the most fun hot-hatch I have driven but it is a brilliant all-rounder: very easy to drive (my wife loves it), not too bad economy, feels good inside, looks good (to us) and that engine is so smooth. Have spent best part of 10 years driving diesel BMWs. They are amazing but the straight six petrol engine is just so much better, even if it doesn't get close to the same MPG.
A pity that BMW don't offer the 4x4 M135i that you can buy on the continent as lack of traction is sometimes as issue.
I would settle for the CLA but stick with one of the more basic versions. £40k+ is just too much money.
I don't like the styling of the plain A hatchback at all, but the G might look interesting if I was in the market for the SUV version, but the price becomes dangerously close to the Porsche Macan.
I don't like the styling of the plain A hatchback at all, but the G might look interesting if I was in the market for the SUV version, but the price becomes dangerously close to the Porsche Macan.
Edited by ukmike2000 on Monday 3rd March 14:04
anonymous said:
[redacted]
the ride in the one i had was pretty smooth and compliant, more old mans jag than R26 R, the engine note is for a 4 pot acceptable (just) i was rather referring to the power delivery which was smooth and constant, there was no savagery to it which is surprising for such a quick car, it certainly does not bite your hand off or have you snatching for gears to keep it tamed when the boost builds up i am keeping a look out for the black edition (if it comes) which hopefully will be a snarling beast, but then it will probably cost 60k ....
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