A45 AMG Test Drive - First Impressions

J1nxy said:
Yeah it'll be financed, no point in tying up silly money in a car. And I know you said about not being a good replacement for the XF, but then what would be? I want to go smaller as I fed up with the overall size of the XF, I want performance, I'm not bothered by petrol or diesel, I need to be able to carry 4 people and bag/cases/stuff, I also want decent build and spec. I've looked at the e92 M3, not intrested really in the E90, C63 MD has, RS5 not interested, S5 looked at and it was nothing special, Infiniti Q50 no high powered one for a while so I'm a little stuck...
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I know you say you want a smaller car but have you seen the deals available on the F10 M5 at the moment? 5 figure discounts and 0% finance available.
 
OllyM said:
I know you say you want a smaller car but have you seen the deals available on the F10 M5 at the moment? 5 figure discounts and 0% finance available.
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Its the same size as my XF and I can't see out of the thing looking over my shoulder when I have the seat where I want it, had the problem in the E60 have the same problem in the F10.
 
Eliot said:
Again, Its real competitor is a RS3 and its basically the same price
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The RS3 is ridiculous - quite how a car that ancient can cost that much money is beyond me. That shape A3 is so old it's ridiculous - it first appeared when you could still order a brand new E39 - thats how old the base car is. No matter how fast it goes thats no place to spend that sort of money.
 
Dislike the F30 intently Mrs hates it as well which puts it off the list. Prefer the E92 over the F30.
 
Type_R said:
I stopped reading at 'materials feel high quality.' Maybe compared to the interior of an Impreza but compared to anything in it's class i.e. Audi RS3, 1M Coupe etc every review has unanimously said the interior quality if beyond cheap.

Having checked the interior out in one myself, it really is cost cutting to another degree.

1M for the win!
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What apart from the video review of the AMG A45 that was posted earlier and the fact I drive an XF so maybe I do know what a quality interior feels like? All the bits I touch and interact with are very well put together if a bit of plastic that is by my knee, which I don't usually use as my quality testing limb, then do I really care? The steering wheel and controls are great, the seats are fabulous, the controls are all have a solid feel etc etc
 
J1nxy said:
What apart from the video review of the AMG A45 that was posted earlier and the fact I drive an XF so maybe I do know what a quality interior feels like? All the bits I touch and interact with are very well put together if a bit of plastic that is by my knee, which I don't usually use as my quality testing limb, then do I really care? The steering wheel and controls are great, the seats are fabulous, the controls are all have a solid feel etc etc
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I'm suprised he cites the 1M Coupe as a quality interior - the original 1 Series was a low watermark in terms of quality.
 
J1nxy said:
What apart from the video review of the AMG A45 that was posted earlier and the fact I drive an XF so maybe I do know what a quality interior feels like? All the bits I touch and interact with are very well put together if a bit of plastic that is by my knee, which I don't usually use as my quality testing limb, then do I really care? The steering wheel and controls are great, the seats are fabulous, the controls are all have a solid feel etc etc
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Compare the XF interior to a 5 series or an E-class and one soon realises why you consider the A-class to have a 'quality interior.' The switches in an XF (which I had the pleasure of test driving a month ago) are inferior to the German rivals.

I test drove a brand new RS3 before buying my M3 and I can tell you that engine and gearbox combination is insane. It may only be 335 bhp compared to my 420 bhp but the power delivery and gear shift is sublime and it feels so quick thanks to the turbo. Alas the handling is just like any Audi, despite the 4 wheel drive it struggles to go around corners and understeers like a dog.
 
J1nxy said:
Seriously have you driven one? and its not 10K when you put the autobox in the M135i...
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No its only 8k more... (M135i with Sports Auto transmission is a smidge over £32k)

Considering the unanimous praise for the M135i and the price difference it isn't suprising to see comments such as that from Daz.
 
Type_R said:
Compare the XF interior to a 5 series or an E-class and one soon realises why you consider the A-class to have a 'quality interior.' The switches in an XF (which I had the pleasure of test driving a month ago) are inferior to the German rivals.

I test drove a brand new RS3 before buying my M3 and I can tell you that engine and gearbox combination is insane. It may only be 335 bhp compared to my 420 bhp but the power delivery and gear shift is sublime and it feels so quick thanks to the turbo. Alas the handling is just like any Audi, despite the 4 wheel drive it struggles to go around corners and understeers like a dog.
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Really? you think the current E and 5 interior is better quality than the XF?? The switches on the pre-facelift were a little underpar but the facelifted car has one of the nicest interiors current out there and from the numerous 5 and E class cars I've been in it surpasses those. I'm also not saying the A has the best interior ever, but the main control surfaces and the bits you interact with are very very good.

No intrest in the Audi RS3 and the difference with the A45 is that is does go round corners and didn't get any understeer at all. It really does feel like my old classic impreza, supremely chuckable and inspires immense confidence.
 
oweneades said:
No its only 8k more... (M135i with Sports Auto transmission is a smidge over £32k)

Considering the unanimous praise for the M135i and the price difference it isn't suprising to see comments such as that from Daz.
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Its also only 37K so 5K basic price difference ;)

 
thepharcyde said:
Wow at list price. Second hand potential buy £40k new is and insane amount of money vs what else is on offer.
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I agree, that would probably be my shout if I had £40k to drop on a car but then some folk don't have that same thought process, which is fair enough.

Sounds like a very accomplished car. I think the looks of the current Mercedes range are a bit 'marmite'. I have to say I prefer a lot of the current Merc's looks wise in comparison to their 'traditional' competitors.
 
[TW]Fox;24625346 said:
The RS3 is ridiculous - quite how a car that ancient can cost that much money is beyond me. That shape A3 is so old it's ridiculous - it first appeared when you could still order a brand new E39 - thats how old the base car is. No matter how fast it goes thats no place to spend that sort of money.
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Haha thats hilarious. Didnt know that
 
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[TW]Fox;24625291 said:
Is there such a thing? It seems Mercedes have gone AMG Sport Plus Extra Sport Super Sport mad and even the most horrible of nasty 107bhp diesel things can be had in 'AMG SPORT' trim level making it look exactly the same as the CLA45 AMG :(
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I meant as in it said C180 on it, it certainly had body kit / big wheels etc so it prob was AMG sport or similar
 
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