A45 AMG Test Drive - First Impressions

[J1nxy]

Exactly my 18 year old Celica will do the 1/4 in 12 just about. The gearbox is more impressive than anything else which is whats boosting it's performance somewhat. Something that a manual can not match. I also find it hard to believe that a haldex based FWD/AWD system can match that of Mitsubishi/Nissan who have been pioneering what AWD can do for the past 30 years.

Isn't the ST205 13.5-14 for the quarter mile?

Why shouldn't the AWD system be on par with the Japanese AWD systems? Its no like AMG/Merc don't have the budgets to develop them and having driven both they feel very similar. Maybe on snow or at the extremes of usage the non-haldex systems would be better but for road use this one delivers a brilliant driving experience.

Having also now read the Evo CLA45 and A45 v 135i articles it appears in both they mark the cars down for not letting you kick the tail out at every opportunity, which seems a little odd.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

Range Rovers use Haldex systems.... nothing wrong with the off road performance of those.

 

[ChrisD.]

From another forum, posted by an Audi technician.

Haldex is a cheap way of attaining AWD in an otherwise FWD, transverse based platform.

A3, TT, Q3, Golf 4 Motion/R32, Passat 4 motion, Tiguan, Yeti 4x4....list goes on.

To put it simply, there is a transfer box on the back of the gearbox which sends drive to the rear axle via a prop shaft.

The haldex has then got a hydro-electrical clutch pack in it. Filled with oil.
When only FWD is required, the haldex clutch pack will still be turning but not engaging drive to the rear.
When AWD is required, an oil pump increases oil pressure in the haldex to allow the clutch pack to engage and thus drive the rear wheels.

Maximum of 50/50 torque split.
Depending on oil pressure in the haldex, a certain amount of slip is generated in the clutches, so sending power where its needed most.
Front or rear split only.

Everything else AWD in (VAG), uses proper 4x4.
A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5, Q7.R8. Touareg. Cayenne. Continental. Veyron etc

All longitudinally mounted engines with permanent 4WD
Depending on variant and spec, depends on the amount of power front to rear under normal conditions.
Usually 40:60 Front:rear
R8 is 20:80 front to rear

These systems can juggle power front to rear, and in some cases, side to side to individual wheels too.

 

[J1nxy]

 

[Tobamory]

Nice post guys, I have just bought an A45 I take delivery in July I went for Red Black 19s lots of extras and Aero kit with Exhaust...

Before deciding I test drove the following
M135I
Audi S3 300BHP
Golf R 300BHP

My current car which I had just sold was a Merc E350 it was nice to drive but boring, and RWD is total pants, traction all the time, slipping etc,

Before this I was a Subaru driver with 6 years of 300BHP finishing off with the newest 340R saloon. I wanted 4wd back again hence the car choice, but I test drive the M135 because of all the hype it gets and heres my view.

M135i, very fast and capable car, didn't slip as much as id expect it to and an enjoyable test drive, BUT it looks crap, only if u add the M Performance pack at 5k does it look nice.

S3 this was what I was going to buy, I played all dealers off each other and had the spec. I west to drive it, and it was not great. didn't feel fast lovely inside but just didn't have the Xfactor.

The Golf was the same, but I found you didn't get as much for your money, leather was 795 on the Audi 2700 on the Golf.

Anyway I walked away not happy, but needing a car all these ticked the box, the Audi was the best of a bad bunch in my book. So I was about to pull the trigger on the S3 and made a call to Mercedes. The A45 was 100 a month more, but I had to try as it was a car I lusted after, I played the " I have cash to buy today card " and they took it, gave me over 1000 off and I test drove it, and WOW, comparing it to my Scooby it was fantastic, but lush inside. So I bought one......

As for Haldex the Merc version is a modified variant of the VAG groups, and has various software updates to enable better launch control etc. Don't forget the Bugatti and Lambos all use Haldex

People bang on about the cost of it, but spec a S3 or M135 to the same spec, don't forget the merc gets lots of Toys as standard. your only 4k short... and over 4 years that's nothing.

that and having a forged engine, amg 7 speed gearbox , SLS exhaust system SLS wheel arch cooling etc, you get quite a bit for your money.

I just got wait now for it BAHHHHH

As for Tail kicking out, WTF would I want to do that Honestly, not all of us have a track to ourselves, and I certainly don't buy a car with that in mind. I only have to draw your attention to Top gear and the M135 spinning off the track from a straight-line

 

[mjt]

How can you justify the cost though? It's hideously expensive!

 

[J1nxy]

That's like saying how can you justify the price of an M5, 911, F12 P1 etc. If he has the money and that's what he wants to spend it on then why not?

 

[Tobamory]

Its not expensive in comparison, to have an S3 Auto or M135 Auto with extras IE Sat Nav stereo upgrade and things to match the A45, your looking at 34 to 35K for the car, that's less than 4k under the A45.

If you buy the car box standard then I agree a manual S3 u can get under 30K, but who buys standard you always add stuff.

I suppose in reality if you want it cheap under 30K then u buy a basic car and don't even go near the Extras, if you start adding them it starts coming close. And after driving all 4 I know that the extra 4k I spend would make me happy.

None of the first 3 I test drove looked really nice,

S3 looks like an Sline in fact identical apart from quad exhausts
Golf R doesn't look great and the 19inch wheels on the advert u cant get in the UK the only 19s in the UK are the BBS like ones.
M135 just looks like a 1.4.

This is my view though and everyones has there opinion, mine will look like this and I think it looks very nice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P97ojdniLmY&sns=fb

How much do u think the 235I Xdrive is going to be or the new RS3, I bet your very close to this car. and don't forget its the Fastest of them all, and thats good isn't it

 

[mjt]

That's like saying how can you justify the price of an M5, 911, F12 P1 etc. If he has the money and that's what he wants to spend it on then why not?

I meant in comparison to the BMW, etc..

Its not expensive in comparison, to have an S3 Auto or M135 Auto with extras IE Sat Nav stereo upgrade and things to match the A45, your looking at 34 to 35K for the car, that's less than 4k under the A45.

If you buy the car box standard then I agree a manual S3 u can get under 30K, but who buys standard you always add stuff.

...

How much do u think the 235I Xdrive is going to be or the new RS3, I bet your very close to this car. and don't forget its the Fastest of them all, and thats good isn't it

That's fair enough. If you go crazy with the options list then they probably will be in similar territory.

I haven't driven either so obviously can't comment on whether it's worth the extra. But evidently you do think it's worth the extra!
Enjoy it What's the lead time?

 

[[TW]Fox]

That's like saying how can you justify the price of an M5, 911, F12 P1 etc. If he has the money and that's what he wants to spend it on then why not?

I’m not going to wade into the ‘is the A45 worth the money’ or not debate but I had to pick up on this point as it gets made quite a lot and IMHO it’s really flawed.

‘Having the money’ is a really irrelevant counter to the point he made. His point isn’t that ‘wow, that’s expensive’ but ‘wow, that’s expensive for what it is’.

We can all afford a £5 kitkat but we’d expect people to ask how we justify £5 on a kitkat were we to purchase. Perhaps this is similar to how some people see the purchase of what is, performance aside, a £40,000 Mercedes A Class, a car designed to compete from £20k and a car which shows this as a result.

This is where something like a P1 is somewhat different. A P1 is mind numbingly expensive but it’s also a unique and purpose built car. It isn’t a worked over fleet-rep hatchback for twice the money.

Whichever way you look at it the A45 is a very expensive car for what it is. Therefore ‘how can you justify it’ is a perfectly acceptable question which could be met with any number of well reasoned arguments as to why its worth the money rather than just ‘omg you could say that about a Lambo’ and ‘if he can afford it why not’.

I'm aware that actually this argument applies equally to the F10 M5, btw.

 

[hurfdurf]

Can't really compare genuinely sporty versions of cars to their poverty spec siblings can you.

It's not like comparing an M3 to a 318 is worth doing, but instead a 335i to a 318i probably is.

 

[86JR]

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.

It is a good shout for 2nd hand though, £35k gets you into a high spec low mileage one; an mtm remap takes it to around 450hp... find me a 5 door hatchback that can keep up with that for a £500 outlay tuning wise?

 

[godinman]

As for Tail kicking out, WTF would I want to do that Honestly, not all of us have a track to ourselves, and I certainly don't buy a car with that in mind. I only have to draw your attention to Top gear and the M135 spinning off the track from a straight-line

Good post and I think they're awesome cars. However using top gear bull**** to make a point does not work, rwd cars don't just fall off the road, I wouldn't be surprised if JC just pulled the handbrake on or did it on purpose in some other way.

 

[Tobamory]

I agree in a way 35k would have been better, but then again didn't we all get bent over for 33k for a Subaru back in 2010.

And they blow up

RS3 mate had 1 for 6 months it was rubbish things kept falling off, and the internal are so 2008... dealer actually took it back, maybe a lemon car unsure but not a good experience

what I do know is that ive yet to see one on the road, Maybe a good thing maybe and maybe a sign of the price, but who cares I can afford it, It ticks all the boxes for me

40MPG stated ( agree maybe not but its still a good number )
170 Rd Tax
Insurance for me 229 quid a year Protected
4wd
Will hold its own against most cars I care to think about.
remap to 400 is £600, 435 is £2k

Golf R will become very common as they are being pimped a lot on lease deals as is the M135. S3 is prob your best bet and best deal should any of you look this way.

Subaru have lost the Plot, releasing a 2015 car with the same old rubbish problematic engine is silly, that and the 465 a year road tax low 20 MPG and super unleaded only, and to think about it 300 is so last year, 400 is the new 300

 

[Dr Who]

Good post and I think they're awesome cars. However using top gear bull**** to make a point does not work, rwd cars don't just fall off the road, I wouldn't be surprised if JC just pulled the handbrake on or did it on purpose in some other way.

I thought it was said he just turned off the traction control?

 

[godinman]

I thought it was said he just turned off the traction control?

I didn't catch that bit, either way it's probably a load of ****.

 

[-Ad-]

Enjoyed the 5th gear review from Tiff this week on the A45.

Looked like he handling was woeful with bags of understeer. On a public road around legal speeds I'm not sure this limit would be easily reachable, though on some of the sweeping and well tarmac'd roads up here, I'd be worried for the sheep on the side of the road

 

[The Running Man]

So why are you comparing?



Exactly my 18 year old Celica will do the 1/4 in 12 just about. The gearbox is more impressive than anything else which is whats boosting it's performance somewhat. Something that a manual can not match. I also find it hard to believe that a haldex based FWD/AWD system can match that of Mitsubishi/Nissan who have been pioneering what AWD can do for the past 30 years.

Not sure q stock celica is going to get into the low 13s let alone 12s.. modded maybe..

 

[Tobamory]

you also need to remember he doesn't like Mercs he slated one of the older ones a few years back, Him and Merc have never got on.

It wasn't a bad review, I was unsure about his understeer comments as Chris Harris could not get it to do it, nor could auto express. So he either had a duff set of tyres, or was having a dig..

Ill also never take it to the Limits so I prob wont see it... nor did I see it on the test drive..and I did hammer it round corners.

 

[Tobamory]

Good post and I think they're awesome cars. However using top gear bull**** to make a point does not work, rwd cars don't just fall off the road, I wouldn't be surprised if JC just pulled the handbrake on or did it on purpose in some other way.

Ok agree, but I still hate them, LOL 12 months in this Merc was enough. In the wet it spun, on any hills it spun, and in the snow well lets not go there. But my old Boss lost his XKR with the same issue. Aquaplaning

The official statement was

What caused the accident was hitting deep water at 120 mph,


I have been spoilt though owning Scoobs for 6 years. You can see where its all going though.

BMW with Xdrive as they lose sales, Merc with 4matic to match them. Maybe we wont need it as I aint seen snow this year yet, are we all doomed