RE: 2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 S | UK Review
Discussion
R.Sole said:
WCZ said:
JRaj said:
£51k (I assume that's without any options) for a 4 port hatch with the base architecture of an A class? Surely you'll be looking at a sports car from the ground up for that price?
Also granted that it's a new car, but again at that price point, the 2nd hand market has a lot of interesting options.
a 911 only has 385bhp and is £90k+Also granted that it's a new car, but again at that price point, the 2nd hand market has a lot of interesting options.
a nicely spec'd 110hp diesel golf is £35k these days.
Unfortunately I don’t do pcp etc. I just buy so the rrp does matter to me. I would want the aero package. It does become very expensive. Maybe as a used approved in the future I will pick one up. But not at rrp. But then I change my mind so often so who knows.
JRaj said:
£51k (I assume that's without any options) for a 4 port hatch with the base architecture of an A class? Surely you'll be looking at a sports car from the ground up for that price?
Also granted that it's a new car, but again at that price point, the 2nd hand market has a lot of interesting options.
It's time you returned to 1970 fella.Also granted that it's a new car, but again at that price point, the 2nd hand market has a lot of interesting options.
TX.
Achieving 210 bhp per litre whilst complying with modern emissions regulations is an incredible achievement.
It's not my cup of tea personally, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a very impressive bit of kit. If someone had said 20 years ago that a hot hatch would pack over 400 bhp, and crack 60 in under 4 seconds, you'd have laughed at them.
As for the £50k list price, this is an era where you don't need to go too mad with the options to push a diesel Focus's list price over the £30k mark.
It's not my cup of tea personally, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a very impressive bit of kit. If someone had said 20 years ago that a hot hatch would pack over 400 bhp, and crack 60 in under 4 seconds, you'd have laughed at them.
As for the £50k list price, this is an era where you don't need to go too mad with the options to push a diesel Focus's list price over the £30k mark.
It's always interesting reading the PH comments, I work in an MB dealer so have driven this and the CLA 45, and deal with enquiries into the A Class range all the time (which mostly all have the wide dash / ambient lighting etc depending on the specification). I have never had one customer who has told me they dont like the interior (the old A Class was hit and miss to be fair), it seems to be universally liked and thought of as definitely better than the opposition, but then again I am obviously speaking to people who want to come into an MB dealer.... it is interesting hearing these negative comments from the wider car enthusiast community, I'm glad I don't have to hear them every day!
We deal with a lot of A35s and they are selling very very well, the A45 I think has moved up a level over the old car, it needs to be a serious step above the A35, yes it is expensive but it is also arguably the 'best' modern hot hatch you can buy in terms of quality and performance. They are stunning to drive thanks to what is outlined in the article, and do what they set out to do very very well. We have just received our demonstrator car which I have been enjoying testing out. They aren't a stripped out track focussed machine (I have one of those at home so get the purist argument for manual 'box and wired throttle cables etc) , they are designed to be an every day car with immense performance and cutting edge technology, which i think they are!
We deal with a lot of A35s and they are selling very very well, the A45 I think has moved up a level over the old car, it needs to be a serious step above the A35, yes it is expensive but it is also arguably the 'best' modern hot hatch you can buy in terms of quality and performance. They are stunning to drive thanks to what is outlined in the article, and do what they set out to do very very well. We have just received our demonstrator car which I have been enjoying testing out. They aren't a stripped out track focussed machine (I have one of those at home so get the purist argument for manual 'box and wired throttle cables etc) , they are designed to be an every day car with immense performance and cutting edge technology, which i think they are!
Adrian250 said:
Really wish the Mercedes had not made the decision to not sell the A45 in this country. The A35 seems a bit weak for an entry level AMG, whereas the A45S is far too pricey and possibly over powered for the class. The A45 is the perfect sweet spot in my opinion, but all we don't get it in the UK.
Buy one and get it de tuned... your sweet spot is achieved problem solved
Edited by Gitwhoismiserable on Tuesday 18th February 17:26
Seb27 said:
It's always interesting reading the PH comments, I work in an MB dealer so have driven this and the CLA 45, and deal with enquiries into the A Class range all the time (which mostly all have the wide dash / ambient lighting etc depending on the specification). I have never had one customer who has told me they dont like the interior (the old A Class was hit and miss to be fair), it seems to be universally liked and thought of as definitely better than the opposition, but then again I am obviously speaking to people who want to come into an MB dealer.... it is interesting hearing these negative comments from the wider car enthusiast community, I'm glad I don't have to hear them every day!
We deal with a lot of A35s and they are selling very very well, the A45 I think has moved up a level over the old car, it needs to be a serious step above the A35, yes it is expensive but it is also arguably the 'best' modern hot hatch you can buy in terms of quality and performance. They are stunning to drive thanks to what is outlined in the article, and do what they set out to do very very well. We have just received our demonstrator car which I have been enjoying testing out. They aren't a stripped out track focussed machine (I have one of those at home so get the purist argument for manual 'box and wired throttle cables etc) , they are designed to be an every day car with immense performance and cutting edge technology, which i think they are!
The RS3 is much better looking abs sounds much better imo, ok dynamically this one might drive better but we haven’t seen the next iteration of rs3 We deal with a lot of A35s and they are selling very very well, the A45 I think has moved up a level over the old car, it needs to be a serious step above the A35, yes it is expensive but it is also arguably the 'best' modern hot hatch you can buy in terms of quality and performance. They are stunning to drive thanks to what is outlined in the article, and do what they set out to do very very well. We have just received our demonstrator car which I have been enjoying testing out. They aren't a stripped out track focussed machine (I have one of those at home so get the purist argument for manual 'box and wired throttle cables etc) , they are designed to be an every day car with immense performance and cutting edge technology, which i think they are!
But if u was going to waste 50k it would be on one of those
ghost83 said:
The RS3 is much better looking abs sounds much better imo, ok dynamically this one might drive better but we haven’t seen the next iteration of rs3
But if u was going to waste 50k it would be on one of those
As I say, 'arguably' the best, some will prefer the MB, some the Audi, there do seem plenty of people who are willing to spend this sort of money on a mega hatch based on the level of interest these sort of cars generate despite their high price tagBut if u was going to waste 50k it would be on one of those
MB140 said:
My mate picked up his a35 amg last week. Took me for a spin in it yesterday (revs limited to under 4K). I was very impressed indeed with how it drove and went (considering rev limit), I must admit some of the interior is a bit brash for me.
Unfortunately I don’t do pcp etc. I just buy so the rrp does matter to me. I would want the aero package. It does become very expensive. Maybe as a used approved in the future I will pick one up. But not at rrp. But then I change my mind so often so who knows.
I’m with you there buy only, pcp is for peasants Unfortunately I don’t do pcp etc. I just buy so the rrp does matter to me. I would want the aero package. It does become very expensive. Maybe as a used approved in the future I will pick one up. But not at rrp. But then I change my mind so often so who knows.
Gitwhoismiserable said:
MB140 said:
My mate picked up his a35 amg last week. Took me for a spin in it yesterday (revs limited to under 4K). I was very impressed indeed with how it drove and went (considering rev limit), I must admit some of the interior is a bit brash for me.
Unfortunately I don’t do pcp etc. I just buy so the rrp does matter to me. I would want the aero package. It does become very expensive. Maybe as a used approved in the future I will pick one up. But not at rrp. But then I change my mind so often so who knows.
I’m with you there buy only, pcp is for peasants Unfortunately I don’t do pcp etc. I just buy so the rrp does matter to me. I would want the aero package. It does become very expensive. Maybe as a used approved in the future I will pick one up. But not at rrp. But then I change my mind so often so who knows.
JRaj said:
£51k (I assume that's without any options) for a 4 port hatch with the base architecture of an A class? Surely you'll be looking at a sports car from the ground up for that price?
Also granted that it's a new car, but again at that price point, the 2nd hand market has a lot of interesting options.
Given that this is Pistonheads do people not get this is how the motoring world tends to work? The vast majority of performance cars are based on fairly mundane platforms. But when you take into account the speed, tech, handling and the fact it can carry four in relative comfort, it's not especially expensive. Also granted that it's a new car, but again at that price point, the 2nd hand market has a lot of interesting options.
I’ve been driving this afternoon right across South and Mid Wales in my GT86 with a sports exhaust and mild remap and I wouldn’t want this Merc at half th list price. It’s just the blokeish fallacy of more benign better. More grip, more power, more speed.
If you thrashed this car on the public road like I did mine today you’d end up in the Morgue or the Crown Court within short order. Where’s the balance? Where’s the car moving around on the edge of grip? Where’s the cheeky power oversteer on the wet roundabout? Where’s the beautifully rev matched gear change under braking?
Plus it looks like it’s been styled by a 16yr oldlad with a Saturday job in Demon Tweaks.
I am sure they will sell by the bucketload. I don’t get it though. It looks like not much fun - remember fun? - wrapped up in a package that requires a lot of compromises on everything but raw thrust. I think I’d have more driving pleasure in a 2CV.
If you thrashed this car on the public road like I did mine today you’d end up in the Morgue or the Crown Court within short order. Where’s the balance? Where’s the car moving around on the edge of grip? Where’s the cheeky power oversteer on the wet roundabout? Where’s the beautifully rev matched gear change under braking?
Plus it looks like it’s been styled by a 16yr oldlad with a Saturday job in Demon Tweaks.
I am sure they will sell by the bucketload. I don’t get it though. It looks like not much fun - remember fun? - wrapped up in a package that requires a lot of compromises on everything but raw thrust. I think I’d have more driving pleasure in a 2CV.
Honeywell said:
I’ve been driving this afternoon right across South and Mid Wales in my GT86 with a sports exhaust and mild remap and I wouldn’t want this Merc at half th list price. It’s just the blokeish fallacy of more benign better. More grip, more power, more speed.
If you thrashed this car on the public road like I did mine today you’d end up in the Morgue or the Crown Court within short order. Where’s the balance? Where’s the car moving around on the edge of grip? Where’s the cheeky power oversteer on the wet roundabout? Where’s the beautifully rev matched gear change under braking?
Plus it looks like it’s been styled by a 16yr oldlad with a Saturday job in Demon Tweaks.
I am sure they will sell by the bucketload. I don’t get it though. It looks like not much fun - remember fun? - wrapped up in a package that requires a lot of compromises on everything but raw thrust. I think I’d have more driving pleasure in a 2CV.
I’m getting the feeling your not a fan, but thanks for the contribution, anything else you don’t like and feel the need to share? If you thrashed this car on the public road like I did mine today you’d end up in the Morgue or the Crown Court within short order. Where’s the balance? Where’s the car moving around on the edge of grip? Where’s the cheeky power oversteer on the wet roundabout? Where’s the beautifully rev matched gear change under braking?
Plus it looks like it’s been styled by a 16yr oldlad with a Saturday job in Demon Tweaks.
I am sure they will sell by the bucketload. I don’t get it though. It looks like not much fun - remember fun? - wrapped up in a package that requires a lot of compromises on everything but raw thrust. I think I’d have more driving pleasure in a 2CV.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff