BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum - View Single Post - 2018 MB CLA45 AMG

Arcades · 10-06-2017, 12:07 AM

Before I forget. Thanks to the CA I met Nathan. It was a complete coincidence that he happened to be a close friend to my younger cousin. I didn’t know about this until I was told about 2 hours after I left the dealership. It is a pretty small world. He let me drive the CLA45 w/o a second thought after just meeting him. The car was on a showroom floor btw. :P

This is my personal option btw so please don't start anything. I'm just going to straight up ignore it. I really have no patience for that stuff.

2018 MB CLA45 AMG

The car, price wise is similar to an M2. The one I posted is 57k MSRP. But Benz is sort of like Porsche where you can add things into it that balloons the cost of the car close to the base MSRP price of an M3. Which is kind of silly but you can completely avoid it since a lot of the things you add in really is optional. Only a few I would say it is more of a necessity. Even Auto Dim on the Side/Rear View mirrors are an option. This is standard on most BMWs.
Benz cars below the E Class do NOT have Navigation as standard. I… don’t know why MB but okay you cheap bastards. Even the CLA45 doesn’t have Navigation as standard, that is absolutely ludicrous.
Benz Infotainment isn't as good as BMW iDrive. It isn't absolutely terrible but it is a bit annoying to use.
Some Benz cars still have the drive thinggie (That is what I call it - leave me alone :P) aka shifter on the center console like I would prefer. CLA has this but C63 doesn't as it is a stock next to the steering wheel.
CLA45 Interior isn't as good as the C63 either. Interior wise it is a tad up from the regular CLA but honestly not by too much. I believe the CF in the car is a dry Carbon Fiber not the glossy ones in the Ms we love. Personally, a lot of the MB interior below the E-class is on par with BMW’s competitor cars. It is only because the design language in a MB makes it look better, material wise it’s roughly the same if you feel and pay close attention to it.
I am not a huge fan of the Infotainment as Benz also shoves in the HVAC controls in there also. That threw me off initially because I didn't know what I was looking for until I noticed like 10 seconds after fiddling around with it. The HVAC control is also very minor, being just a little bottom bar on the screen which you can easily miss if you aren’t looking for it.
All the reviewers whining about CLA/CLA45 being too stiff are full of crap. Yes, it isn't as comfy as the GLC I test drove too but coming from a F8x it isn't any rougher. M is most definitely stiffer. The suspension has a short travel feel in the CLA45 and thus is why it is stiff. That isn't a problem for me considering the car I am coming from. I don't see the reasons for why reviews like Car and Driver, Motor Trend always complain about that. Honestly, they do and I can sort of understand the reason? A Benz is supposed to be comfort yada yada but this is a AMG especially. Don’t complain about a harsh ride.
The CLA45 comes to life exhaust wise when you put it in Sport/Sport+/Race mode. That is when the car sounds extremely good. I'd say even better than a M3/M4. Coming from a person that doesn't generally take exhaust/engine noise as seriously as some other car enthusiasts.
CLA45 engine doesn't sound good. It isn't as terrible as a N20 328i on idle but ehhh. In Efficient/Drive/Comfort I can hear it when I was driving, with 2 other people in the car. It doesn't sound amazing like other AMG cars. The exhaust eventually overpowers this problem in Sport/Sport+/Race. However, that doesn’t erase the fact that it is an Inline 4 engine sound and not even AMG can apparently overcome this Inline 4 design wise. Just like why V8 engine always tend to sound nice, an Inline 4 will always sound a certain way.
You can add in aero parts to the CLA45 as a package. What you see in the photos I posted is what that is. I won't say it's ricey but it can definitely do w/o some of the canards, mainly the one that is bolted on. (You will know what I mean by looking at the photos).
P.S. I’m apparently wrong on this btw, the facelift apparently adds the aero parts to the CLA45 as standard so you get those canards weather you like it or not.
The CLA45 is a Benz DCT. I don't know the specifics but it has every hint of it being a DCT. The jerkiness at low revs and low gear is prevalent. Even in Drive/Comfort/Efficient you cannot avoid this. The Benz DCT in the CLA45 is also has an automatic behavior. This is a bit different from the M-DCT where you can avoid the jerkiness and hesitation with proper throttle management. (At least you can avoid most of it.)
The car is heavy for its size. It is around 3,600 pounds. I originally was told close to 3,800 but the internet data shows it is about 3,600. Compared to a BMW M2 which is 200 pounds less at around 3,400.
CLA45 hides the weight decently well. I didn't feel it and I had a total of three people in the car. I weight barely over 100, my friend plus the CA probably is close to 300 combined (roughly I don't know). The car would be close to 4,000 pounds maybe. In Efficient/Drive/Comfort, it is a little sluggish off the line but that all vanishes in Sport/Sport+/Race Mode. The CLA45 is fast and I’m honestly quite impressed. Even in Drive, once it passes the sluggish start it gets going.
The car's rear seats are small. My friend is close to 6" and he told me he was a tad uncomfortable in the rear. He said he probably wouldn't be able to do long drives in the rear but the front is alright. I'm close to 5'7" and didn't have too much problems in the front. I actually didn't sit in the rear so I cannot comment on that.
Update: Rear seating is bad for me as well. I'm 5'6" to 5'7" and my head's about to hit the ceiling in the rear. I was sitting normally as well. The legroom in the rear is also pretty bad. The CLA45/250 is definitely not made to have someone sit in the rear if they are a full grown adult. It isn't pleasant.
The driving feel (at least for me) is pretty tight and to the point. I like the AMG steering wheel. It felt nice when I gripped it. I can see why people like the AMG steering wheel now. It felt very nice.
Unlike my more and more irritated problem with the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the very obvious lack of pedal feel from the DUMB FLY BY WIRE CRAP, the CLA45 had none of this. From the short time I had with the car, I had a good pedal feedback in both the gas and brake pedal. I had a good idea of what the car was doing when I was driving. Within 5 minutes of being in the car, I had a good idea of what the car is capable of on the streets. The brakes were pretty on point without any fade street wise. I didn’t feel any dead zones from what I can recall.

All in all, I am actually surprised by the CLA45. I didn't expect to like the car but I actually do to some extent. I don't know if this will change if I ever able to get my hands on a C63 but I'm somewhat impressed to be honest. While I am not a fan of the A/C vent being that airplane thing (is what I like to call it), it could definitely be worse at the very least the look is universal. Like Alfa Romeo Giulia. (Go see interior photos of the A/C vents and come back to me.)

Could it be my 3er replacement? Maybe. Then again, I'm unsure if I want to live with another performance sedan. That being said however, this car does come within range of the price I have set for myself for my next car. (Close to it, its slightly above 50k but I’m sure I can negotiate it). If I choose to go down the performance route once again. The CLA45 and the RS3 is on the list, above that of the M2. My issue with the M2 is primarily being a 2-door coupe. I’m trying to move a bit away from the 2-door thing (that is why I’m moving to a M3).

I also drove a GLC300 and it was okay as well. Actually, if I go the more typical SUV route which is what I originally intended, GLC300 and the BMW X3 would be the two I’m going to pick. Although the GLC300 is probably the automatic and no the MB MCT that I wanted to try, it isn’t a big deal. For whatever reason, this CLA45 reminds me a lot of my 04 Jetta GLS. I know that is a very odd comparison but it is probably the size of the car which is why I’m attracted to it. I know the Audi RS3 would probably be a better fit but I haven’t gotten my hand on the RS3 so I won’t make any judgement on that.

If you can overlook the new aeros MB added to the car on the facelift recently, this can be a pretty amazing car only because I would think most of us wouldn’t think twice about this car. Everyone raves over the M2 being so much superior to the rest like the RS3 or the CLA45, this car can be very good I think. That is if you can overlook the infotainment and the small rear seats.

10-06-2017, 12:07 AM	#1
Arcades In The Rain 8215 Rep 6,278 Posts Drives: '24 GT4RS, '24 Macan GTS Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 Porsche Cayman ... [10.00] 2024 Porsche Macan GTS [10.00]	2018 MB CLA45 AMG - My Experience Before I forget. Thanks to the CA I met Nathan. It was a complete coincidence that he happened to be a close friend to my younger cousin. I didn’t know about this until I was told about 2 hours after I left the dealership. It is a pretty small world. He let me drive the CLA45 w/o a second thought after just meeting him. The car was on a showroom floor btw. :P This is my personal option btw so please don't start anything. I'm just going to straight up ignore it. I really have no patience for that stuff. 2018 MB CLA45 AMG The car, price wise is similar to an M2. The one I posted is 57k MSRP. But Benz is sort of like Porsche where you can add things into it that balloons the cost of the car close to the base MSRP price of an M3. Which is kind of silly but you can completely avoid it since a lot of the things you add in really is optional. Only a few I would say it is more of a necessity. Even Auto Dim on the Side/Rear View mirrors are an option. This is standard on most BMWs. Benz cars below the E Class do NOT have Navigation as standard. I… don’t know why MB but okay you cheap bastards. Even the CLA45 doesn’t have Navigation as standard, that is absolutely ludicrous. Benz Infotainment isn't as good as BMW iDrive. It isn't absolutely terrible but it is a bit annoying to use. Some Benz cars still have the drive thinggie (That is what I call it - leave me alone :P) aka shifter on the center console like I would prefer. CLA has this but C63 doesn't as it is a stock next to the steering wheel. CLA45 Interior isn't as good as the C63 either. Interior wise it is a tad up from the regular CLA but honestly not by too much. I believe the CF in the car is a dry Carbon Fiber not the glossy ones in the Ms we love. Personally, a lot of the MB interior below the E-class is on par with BMW’s competitor cars. It is only because the design language in a MB makes it look better, material wise it’s roughly the same if you feel and pay close attention to it. I am not a huge fan of the Infotainment as Benz also shoves in the HVAC controls in there also. That threw me off initially because I didn't know what I was looking for until I noticed like 10 seconds after fiddling around with it. The HVAC control is also very minor, being just a little bottom bar on the screen which you can easily miss if you aren’t looking for it. All the reviewers whining about CLA/CLA45 being too stiff are full of crap. Yes, it isn't as comfy as the GLC I test drove too but coming from a F8x it isn't any rougher. M is most definitely stiffer. The suspension has a short travel feel in the CLA45 and thus is why it is stiff. That isn't a problem for me considering the car I am coming from. I don't see the reasons for why reviews like Car and Driver, Motor Trend always complain about that. Honestly, they do and I can sort of understand the reason? A Benz is supposed to be comfort yada yada but this is a AMG especially. Don’t complain about a harsh ride. The CLA45 comes to life exhaust wise when you put it in Sport/Sport+/Race mode. That is when the car sounds extremely good. I'd say even better than a M3/M4. Coming from a person that doesn't generally take exhaust/engine noise as seriously as some other car enthusiasts. CLA45 engine doesn't sound good. It isn't as terrible as a N20 328i on idle but ehhh. In Efficient/Drive/Comfort I can hear it when I was driving, with 2 other people in the car. It doesn't sound amazing like other AMG cars. The exhaust eventually overpowers this problem in Sport/Sport+/Race. However, that doesn’t erase the fact that it is an Inline 4 engine sound and not even AMG can apparently overcome this Inline 4 design wise. Just like why V8 engine always tend to sound nice, an Inline 4 will always sound a certain way. You can add in aero parts to the CLA45 as a package. What you see in the photos I posted is what that is. I won't say it's ricey but it can definitely do w/o some of the canards, mainly the one that is bolted on. (You will know what I mean by looking at the photos). P.S. I’m apparently wrong on this btw, the facelift apparently adds the aero parts to the CLA45 as standard so you get those canards weather you like it or not. The CLA45 is a Benz DCT. I don't know the specifics but it has every hint of it being a DCT. The jerkiness at low revs and low gear is prevalent. Even in Drive/Comfort/Efficient you cannot avoid this. The Benz DCT in the CLA45 is also has an automatic behavior. This is a bit different from the M-DCT where you can avoid the jerkiness and hesitation with proper throttle management. (At least you can avoid most of it.) The car is heavy for its size. It is around 3,600 pounds. I originally was told close to 3,800 but the internet data shows it is about 3,600. Compared to a BMW M2 which is 200 pounds less at around 3,400. CLA45 hides the weight decently well. I didn't feel it and I had a total of three people in the car. I weight barely over 100, my friend plus the CA probably is close to 300 combined (roughly I don't know). The car would be close to 4,000 pounds maybe. In Efficient/Drive/Comfort, it is a little sluggish off the line but that all vanishes in Sport/Sport+/Race Mode. The CLA45 is fast and I’m honestly quite impressed. Even in Drive, once it passes the sluggish start it gets going. The car's rear seats are small. My friend is close to 6" and he told me he was a tad uncomfortable in the rear. He said he probably wouldn't be able to do long drives in the rear but the front is alright. I'm close to 5'7" and didn't have too much problems in the front. I actually didn't sit in the rear so I cannot comment on that. Update: Rear seating is bad for me as well. I'm 5'6" to 5'7" and my head's about to hit the ceiling in the rear. I was sitting normally as well. The legroom in the rear is also pretty bad. The CLA45/250 is definitely not made to have someone sit in the rear if they are a full grown adult. It isn't pleasant. The driving feel (at least for me) is pretty tight and to the point. I like the AMG steering wheel. It felt nice when I gripped it. I can see why people like the AMG steering wheel now. It felt very nice. Unlike my more and more irritated problem with the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the very obvious lack of pedal feel from the DUMB FLY BY WIRE CRAP, the CLA45 had none of this. From the short time I had with the car, I had a good pedal feedback in both the gas and brake pedal. I had a good idea of what the car was doing when I was driving. Within 5 minutes of being in the car, I had a good idea of what the car is capable of on the streets. The brakes were pretty on point without any fade street wise. I didn’t feel any dead zones from what I can recall. All in all, I am actually surprised by the CLA45. I didn't expect to like the car but I actually do to some extent. I don't know if this will change if I ever able to get my hands on a C63 but I'm somewhat impressed to be honest. While I am not a fan of the A/C vent being that airplane thing (is what I like to call it), it could definitely be worse at the very least the look is universal. Like Alfa Romeo Giulia. (Go see interior photos of the A/C vents and come back to me.) Could it be my 3er replacement? Maybe. Then again, I'm unsure if I want to live with another performance sedan. That being said however, this car does come within range of the price I have set for myself for my next car. (Close to it, its slightly above 50k but I’m sure I can negotiate it). If I choose to go down the performance route once again. The CLA45 and the RS3 is on the list, above that of the M2. My issue with the M2 is primarily being a 2-door coupe. I’m trying to move a bit away from the 2-door thing (that is why I’m moving to a M3). I also drove a GLC300 and it was okay as well. Actually, if I go the more typical SUV route which is what I originally intended, GLC300 and the BMW X3 would be the two I’m going to pick. Although the GLC300 is probably the automatic and no the MB MCT that I wanted to try, it isn’t a big deal. For whatever reason, this CLA45 reminds me a lot of my 04 Jetta GLS. I know that is a very odd comparison but it is probably the size of the car which is why I’m attracted to it. I know the Audi RS3 would probably be a better fit but I haven’t gotten my hand on the RS3 so I won’t make any judgement on that. If you can overlook the new aeros MB added to the car on the facelift recently, this can be a pretty amazing car only because I would think most of us wouldn’t think twice about this car. Everyone raves over the M2 being so much superior to the rest like the RS3 or the CLA45, this car can be very good I think. That is if you can overlook the infotainment and the small rear seats. Attached Images __________________ '24 Porsche Cayman GT4RS Arctic Grey "Alice" '24 Porsche Macan GTS Dolomite Silver "Gina" Last edited by Arcades; 10-12-2017 at 09:41 PM..
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