CLA250, CLA45 AMG, Impressions. Thoughts.
 

Has anyone had a chance to check one out and drive one? Impressions. Thoughts.

I bet they are fun to drive, but the base model is front wheel drive. I would not consider one unless it was an AWD version.

I think the new grille is just hideous.. I miss the hood star. Interior is nice.. I can imagine it's underpowered because it's a 2.0 tho.

Have you driven one, or is the bias based on older cars with FWD?

Its a bias based on my TDI, which has much less HP but similar torque to the CLA, and if you put all the torque to work it easily loses traction/effective steering through 1st, 2nd, and into 3rd gear. Its terrible, and that is WITH and electronic locking diff! Also, its brand new and does have a fully independent suspension + 16" decently wide wheels. Driven normally its fine, but you can't have much fun with it.


Also the CLA is not underpowered. That turbo 2.0 engine makes a ton of power, similar HP numbers to a M112 V6 in base form....the AMG is way higher.

They make 258lb/ft from 1200-4000rpms.

I thought the C250 has the same motor but I guess not, the CLA is a 2.0 and the C is a 1.8, the C is closer to 220lb/ft and with the powerband on that car I found the C250 plenty powerful for what it was.

FWD is sort of a bummer, but as MTI said differential technology, suspension technology, etc have all come a long way, it won't drive like a 96 Civic. Also its a entry level, fuel efficient car, 99.9% of people who own FWD cars couldn't tell you what torque steer is.

Test Drive: 'Bargain' Mercedes CLA disappoints

CLA 250 has 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated 208 hp at 5,500 rpm, 258 lbs.-ft. of torque at 1,250 rpm.

CLA 45 AMG has 2-liter turbo four rated 335 hp at 6,000, 332 lbs.-ft. at 2,250.

Doesn't seem too underpowered to me.

I just found this: Test Drive: 'Bargain' Mercedes CLA disappoints
I would like opinions from Mercedes lovers who actually checked one out and drove it.

Being a W201 enthusiasts, I find the "old school" criticisms and comments similar to what was expressed back in 1983, until they were able to experience the new car, learn about the new (then) technology surrounding a 5 link suspension and high strength, low weight steel.

The CLA is not the only car in the line, but represents an interesting spot in the product spectrum. I think it will capture quite a few "empty nesters" or professional couples without kids (rear seat room) just like the W201 did thirty years ago.

BTW, that USA Today review is deeply in the minority with regard to the opinion about ride (they say harsh) and luxe appointments (it's a $32K Mercedes, not an E or S).

No thanks. Proportions seem off (obviously they're trying to make it seem bigger than it is) and the dash is fugly. Also no to fwd...coming from one of the best fwd platforms in the world (with similar power specs) I can pretty definitively say it still sucks in many ways that have yet to be overcome (like the laws of physics). The awd might be interesting but not for 55-60k.

That said, to get those numbers reliably out of a 2.0 is impressive. Aftermarket tuners have been doing that for years but obviously those aren't backed by new car warranties.

Hitler says no:

Mercedes enthusiasts reaction to the CLA - YouTube

(made by a member here)

Spoken like a true enthusiast that has wrung the beejezzus from a CLA on the street and track . . . wait, what? . . . :D

that's a funny video

I would be incredibly surprised if the CLA can overcome the laws of physics. I really do get the "fwd is different these days" argument after driving an older overpowerd fwd car for years--but it's still nowhere close to rwd in any performance situation. And I'm not talking about a track, i mean stabbing the throttle in the rain, accelerating on an onramp, etc. Of course on a track it is also apparent. For many people, the point-and-shoot method of fwd In low traction situations works. I do not prefer it.

Maybe the CLA is made of magic, I dunno. I'm jus going off of my similarly powered, modern comparison that I DD'd for two years before trading it for high performance rwd...

Funny coincidence that I post in this thread today and on my way home today a CLA250 pulls up in the lane next to me!

I can say that I'm not that big a fan of the tail end of the car. A bit curvy for my tastes coming from the 126/124/201 generations of a cars.

Certainly looked aggressive.


Also spotted a 126 350SD on the turnpike tooling along at a healthy 85!

Tom, humor me and google "Mercedes CLA 250 torque steer" The results may surprise.

The AWD hits next spring, with a max 50/50 split.

Daimler does need to sell a lot of these cars to comply with European and US CAFE mpg standards, to offset all those V8 powered sedans and SUVs.

As I said in a previous thread about this, torque steer is only one plague of fwd, one which is largely eliminated these days (my gti had very little). Under steer and acceleration are two other, more important (IMHO) hurdles.

And again, Google will be your friend. ;)

Push the CLA hard into a corner and it responds willingly, but steering with the drive wheels eventually reaches a limit that results in mild understeer. We also sampled the 4Matic all-wheel-drive CLA, which sends power to the rear wheels as needed, and found it more eager to jump out of hairpins and more stable though high-speed corners. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic defaults to an efficiency mode when the car is turned on, and it has a preference for high gears and is reluctant to downshift. It's not a problem during normal driving, but on adrenaline-inducing roads it's necessary to switch to sport mode or shift using the steering wheel paddles.

Hardly a beast to drive.

What are you even implying? I've read probably a hundred reviews of the CLA and the AMG45 since the initial reports all up until now, and even considered waiting for it when most recently buying a car. You just keep repeating yourself that modern FWD is amazing and there is no torquesteer. Wowza. Been there and done that. The CLA has electronic nannies to counter the torquesteer (and understeer)... and yes it does indeed have to counter the laws of physics like every other car. I'm sure its very good for a fwd car but lets leave it at that.

If your equivalency of FWD to RWD and AWD performance is solely based on torquesteer then there's no reason to even argue. Go buy a VW or Focus ST already and save a few bucks. You won't notice the difference.

So what on earth are you trying to make a case for FWD for?

The "point" is to get so-called Mercedes enthusiasts to join the rest of us in the early 21st Century and to possibly believe that the Golden Age of MB didn't end with the W126 and diesels. Mercedes is often at its best when they change the paradigm for the old fans.

As for FWD, the technology has gotten better each year, just like automatic transmissions and power steering, it's just those that want to hold onto cliche that won't admit it.

Derp, of course it is. Not part of the conversation until now.

Yes it has, and its still nowhere near RWD or AWD at those power levels. As someone smack in the target market for this, actually just having bought direct competition to the CLA, and having JUST come from a modern FWD car (almost exactly the same power level) that is critiqued almost identically to the CLA, I'll pass. I don't want a FWD car for 35-40k -- period. They have different handling characteristics that I find undesirable.