RE: Mercedes-AMG A35 unveiled with 306hp
Discussion
eftiem64 said:
Oh, yes it will! All 4WD does is persuade people they can drive at any speed regardless of the conditions. They can’t. For 95% of the time 4WD adds weight and pointless cost, dulls the handling and blunts the experience. The other 5% of the time it doesn’t matter. There’s a reason Lotus and most other makers of the best handling cars wouldn’t dream of 4WD.
Go drive a classic impreza with DCCD in the wet or dry and then re-read your post and chuckle at your naivety 
The problem I have with the A Class, and not just this one but all of them, is one I've had since I sat in one just after the first gen of the hatch was launched. It is shown in this pic - big yellow streak on the B pillar end of the front door
Having uncovered body colour sheet metal visible on the inside does not say premium brand to me. It screams built to a price point.
Having uncovered body colour sheet metal visible on the inside does not say premium brand to me. It screams built to a price point.
hornmeister said:
Deep Thought said:
Its not the speed of the gear changes cause issues with moving off in an A45 its that the RPM are low in comfort mode and the big turbo has spun down. Therefore you go to move off and you've to wait until the turbo spins up to make progress.
The smaller turbo on your car will spin up more quickly.
I've no issues at all with the gearbox or the car in Sport, Sport+ or Race mode, i just find Comfort mode a bit "cheek clenching" as the lack of go for that second or so from a standing start is unsettling.
The box can most definitely change up and down gears quicker than i ever could
Fair dos. I do sometimes switch off the start/stop if I want a quick getaway. Sounds like you're unhappy with the car want a swap? I'll take it and a modest cash sum in exchange for mine The smaller turbo on your car will spin up more quickly.
I've no issues at all with the gearbox or the car in Sport, Sport+ or Race mode, i just find Comfort mode a bit "cheek clenching" as the lack of go for that second or so from a standing start is unsettling.
The box can most definitely change up and down gears quicker than i ever could
Nice try. No we love the car, but its not perfect, but then no car really is.
J4CKO said:
The M140i always seems to end up getting compared to the RS3 though, Harris did the last one against the M135i and basically chose the BMW and slated the Audi, Autocar did the current one against the RS3 and it was noticeably fast but the BMW was apparently more fun.
Price wise it definitely is more of an S3/Golf R rival but its just so different to any of the others, it is more like a seventies Rally hatch configuration and the only other six cylinder RWD compact hatch I can think of is an AMC Pacer like in Waynes World.
It isnt just about spending given amounts to get more performance and outright grip, it just there in its own niche and none of the others does the saem, depends whether you like that thing, I do like my M135i and could have got something else but it just fitted the criteria.
Also appreciate that sliding it around on a track may be fun but for what I do, not that relevant most of the time.
I think the M135i will become a bit of a cult car, mate of mine has just got a lovely grey one with red interior.
I bet Mercedes sells a lot of number 4 badges when this comes out !
I think journalistically its the "left field" choice - "or what about a M140i for £10K less!" when comparing the RS3 and the A45. The other thing is, both those are hatchbacks, so technically BMW doesnt have an "equivalent"Price wise it definitely is more of an S3/Golf R rival but its just so different to any of the others, it is more like a seventies Rally hatch configuration and the only other six cylinder RWD compact hatch I can think of is an AMC Pacer like in Waynes World.
It isnt just about spending given amounts to get more performance and outright grip, it just there in its own niche and none of the others does the saem, depends whether you like that thing, I do like my M135i and could have got something else but it just fitted the criteria.
Also appreciate that sliding it around on a track may be fun but for what I do, not that relevant most of the time.
I think the M135i will become a bit of a cult car, mate of mine has just got a lovely grey one with red interior.
I bet Mercedes sells a lot of number 4 badges when this comes out !
Agreed RE: the M135i / M140i becoming cult cars. People are only now waking up to the merits of the 130i and i think in a few years time we'll be commenting about how we wish we'd kept / bought a M135i / M140i
Limpet said:
Deep Thought said:
Oh, and that sound you're hearing inside the car? Pumped in to the car by the Active Sound system fitted, so its mostly artificial. Sorry.
Fair point, but it actually sounds better from the outside, IMOhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyMIzjKNrBo
Jader1973 said:
The problem I have with the A Class, and not just this one but all of them, is one I've had since I sat in one just after the first gen of the hatch was launched. It is shown in this pic - big yellow streak on the B pillar end of the front door
Having uncovered body colour sheet metal visible on the inside does not say premium brand to me. It screams built to a price point.
Cant say i've noticed it in ours, and we've been driving it for two years. I've no doubt what you're saying is correct, but its not something i've noticed.Having uncovered body colour sheet metal visible on the inside does not say premium brand to me. It screams built to a price point.
Also, all cars are built down to a price point. These arent "luxury" cars per see, they're upmarket hatchbacks.
trails said:
eftiem64 said:
Oh, yes it will! All 4WD does is persuade people they can drive at any speed regardless of the conditions. They can’t. For 95% of the time 4WD adds weight and pointless cost, dulls the handling and blunts the experience. The other 5% of the time it doesn’t matter. There’s a reason Lotus and most other makers of the best handling cars wouldn’t dream of 4WD.
Go drive a classic impreza with DCCD in the wet or dry and then re-read your post and chuckle at your naivety To eftiem64, maybe you have on driven the wrong type of 4WD drive cars (VAG with haldex is what I am thinking).
No it doesn't make any difference to how it drives.
But as a comparison, this is the Vauxhall Astra
[img[tps://www.autocar.co.uk/sites/autocar.co.uk/files/styles/gallery_slide/public/vauxhall-astra-0017.jpg?itok=M36dp9qk[/img[]
No body colour sheet metal on show.
If Vauxhall / Opel can cover that up on a povo spec mass market working class hatch, why can't Merc do it on a premium product?
But as a comparison, this is the Vauxhall Astra
[img[tps://www.autocar.co.uk/sites/autocar.co.uk/files/styles/gallery_slide/public/vauxhall-astra-0017.jpg?itok=M36dp9qk[/img[]
No body colour sheet metal on show.
If Vauxhall / Opel can cover that up on a povo spec mass market working class hatch, why can't Merc do it on a premium product?
Jader1973 said:
No it doesn't make any difference to how it drives.
But as a comparison, this is the Vauxhall Astra
[img[tps://www.autocar.co.uk/sites/autocar.co.uk/files/styles/gallery_slide/public/vauxhall-astra-0017.jpg?itok=M36dp9qk[/img[]
No body colour sheet metal on show.
If Vauxhall / Opel can cover that up on a povo spec mass market working class hatch, why can't Merc do it on a premium product?
Body design / door design / trim design / they chose not to?But as a comparison, this is the Vauxhall Astra
[img[tps://www.autocar.co.uk/sites/autocar.co.uk/files/styles/gallery_slide/public/vauxhall-astra-0017.jpg?itok=M36dp9qk[/img[]
No body colour sheet metal on show.
If Vauxhall / Opel can cover that up on a povo spec mass market working class hatch, why can't Merc do it on a premium product?
Take your pick....
Also lets not forget AMG have constraints in which they have to work with the base model, so whilst £45K might make it a premium product, the base car is competing against Golf, Focus, A3, etc
Edited by Deep Thought on Friday 21st September 13:57
neil1jnr said:
I have a big RWD barge and a classic Impreza. The BMW is very, very good but the weight blunts the experience and it's handling capabilities. The Impreza on the other hand is a brilliant handling and fun car and I think part of that is down to 4WD. The best car I've driven for handling and experience was my Evo VI TME, nothing else I've driven has been remotely similar (including Porsches I've driven), it's just glorious and that has 4WD. I was a passenger in a new Exige recently, I got the impression that the handling was on another level and speaking to my mate that owned it he hadn't driven anything better.
To eftiem64, maybe you have on driven the wrong type of 4WD drive cars (VAG with haldex is what I am thinking).
That was what I supposed until he said he owned a Integrale 'back in the day'...not driven one of those so can't comment.To eftiem64, maybe you have on driven the wrong type of 4WD drive cars (VAG with haldex is what I am thinking).
Jader1973 said:
The problem I have with the A Class, and not just this one but all of them, is one I've had since I sat in one just after the first gen of the hatch was launched. It is shown in this pic - big yellow streak on the B pillar end of the front door
Having uncovered body colour sheet metal visible on the inside does not say premium brand to me. It screams built to a price point.
Didn't notice this on my Golf R until I changed from a black R to a silver R. Bugged me too.Having uncovered body colour sheet metal visible on the inside does not say premium brand to me. It screams built to a price point.
Jader1973 said:
The problem I have with the A Class, and not just this one but all of them, is one I've had since I sat in one just after the first gen of the hatch was launched. It is shown in this pic - big yellow streak on the B pillar end of the front door
Having uncovered body colour sheet metal visible on the inside does not say premium brand to me. It screams built to a price point.
Of course it's built to price point, are you being serious? Everything is built to a price point whether premium or not. Having uncovered body colour sheet metal visible on the inside does not say premium brand to me. It screams built to a price point.
Nanook said:
It's not that they can't.
It's that they didn't.
And it doesn't seem to be harming sales.
But that's not really the point. Why does it bother you? Would you worry about people seeing painted metal in your car and thinking you were poor? Why does it matter?
I don’t like it. It looks like something a budget brand would do. For the sake of a few quid a car they could pop a garnish on there and make the whole thing more cohesive and less like something from the 80s. Actually maybe the 70s, my 1982 Merc has a vinyl garnish in that area to hide the sheet metal. It's that they didn't.
And it doesn't seem to be harming sales.
But that's not really the point. Why does it bother you? Would you worry about people seeing painted metal in your car and thinking you were poor? Why does it matter?
“The best or nothing” my arse.
One thing bugs me, if you look closely there are exhaust trims on The rear valence, which is slightly annoying, at least on my Golf R (segment competition) they are part of the exhaust, as they should be. Imo. Would probably have one if the pcp deal is great though, to entise me away from my R.. oh and manual gbx. Ha ha which won't happen.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Sadly true of the bimmer. Better off with an E36 for that, age and rust aside...anonymous said:
[redacted]
I still find this astonishing. Irritating when every idiot sees fit to deploy obscene portions of said performance on the high street, but antisocial behaviour is endemic amongst the selfish and irresponsible.Have spent a litttle time in some of these Uber hatches, I’ve respect for what they can do, even if an objectively compelling package appeals to me less than I’d hope - I am emphatically *not* a driving god but I enjoy driving enough to know that I appreciate nice control weights and responses alongside a willing chassis and thrilling engine - preferably with nice aural and motive rewards for extracting more revolutions). The RS3 is particularly nice to sit in and listen to with more performance than you could possibly need in 80-90% of on road situations. It is a different kind of fun to and Elise or Boxster but my sense is than aside from the very specific tools and experiences on the fringes, the convergence of the various interpretations of the motor car as a general proposition - “personal transport” - continues in terms of competence and accessibility. Today’s Cayman is no more demanding and potentially less accelerative or “grippy” to drive than a fast hatchback. They are both practical, comfortable, fast and fun, albeit with ever more subtlety in terms of any differences of emphasis.
Self driving electric pods will likely appear norm within the lifetimes of many of us. Electric makes sense for the majority of terrestrial transport, assuming we can manage the transition with adequate infrastructure (and alternative isn’t found). Spot of reading or a video conference on the commute. Driving for its own sake will be an experience that becomes rarer and more special until only possible in the virtual space...
[I may have failed in avoiding sleep deprivation of late]
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Whilst i dont use the specific term, the RS3 and the A45 sit above hot hatches - sometimes termed "hyper hatches". Just because they exist doesnt make the A35 a "warm hatch".
The A35 is quite clearly aimed at the (upper end of) the hot hatch market and is a hot hatch.
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