[SharifE]

Probably wrong place to ask this question.
But what are your thoughts gentlemen.
Time to sell my E90 335i.
Leaning towards CLA's insane performance, and sexy body.
But my heart says 335i.
A 2012 335i around same price as new CLA AMG.

[jctg]

I would have two concerns about the CLA AMG on paper.

Number 1 is it is a four wheel drive based on front wheel drive architecture which means the placement of the engine and weight distribution would not, I expect, be as sweet as a 335i.

Secondly getting 265kw and 450Nm from a 2 litre production engine is bloody phenomenal. I am sure AMG/Mercedes know what they are doing but I would still pick a 3 litre relatively lightly turbocharged engine over 2 litre heavily turbocharged engine.

I could be completely wrong on both accounts though.

[KT_F31_EBII]

I guess I like the CLA look but do you have family and friends to sit on the backseats? If so cla might not be a wise idea. For a second car, then yes for cla to me.

335 is awesome and the standards are good. More practical car to drive around.

AMG vs 335, I will pick 335 at the end coz I use my car for work too. The boot is practical. Not sure about the CLA, knowing A class has not much back seat and boot space.

[HFW003]

Get the Merc.

[MikeVictor]

CLA45 is a cracker of a car, I really dig it however I agree with KT's comments above. Really depends on your own needs of course, but given you have a four-door now I'm guessing there's the need to fit parents and/or kids easily into the back on a regular basis.

A more accurate comparo for the Merc would be a M135i, not a 3er, I would have thought.

An M4GC down the track might interest you somewhat, although that's still some time off.

[J1n]

After analysing much of the CLA 45. Love the power love the exterior but oh boy the interior is abit too sporty for my liking.

[Sherweeeny]

I'm sorry but I could not drive something as ugly and poor proportioned as the CLA. The A on the other hand looks good and not like a banana and would probably be slightly lighter. So yep get an M135!!!

[SharifE]

Good points raised. Thx.
A45 good comparison to M135i.
CLAs boot is large, however bad rear seat space for adults.

[300hp]

Numbers are out for the CLA45AMG. Hopefully we can start seeing track numbers come through

0-60 4.2
1/4 12.8@108mph

[dcg71]

+1 on the looks. I'd much rather have the A45, and I don't particularly like hatchbacks so that's saying something.

[ausrallydoc]

+1 more on the looks. The CLA looks like someone photographed a normal car through a fish eye lens

[Spikey]

saw a CLA 250 the other day around at the shops. Gotta say I'm not a fan of the shape. If I had to choose, I'd go the A45 over the CLA45..

[ab156]

When are the 2 Series due in AU? Strikes me the 235i or whatever they market it as is a more likely comparison.

Will be interesting the see how the baby AMGs hold value. Suspect a lot will be pretty tired after lease. Sure it will be a great car and will turn heads - one way or the other!

[JN1]

RWD orientation > FWD orientation

[AMJAM]

Personally I like the CLA45 go for it

[**ghost**]

I test drove the CLA 45 whilst my old man was paying for his new e Class.

Its an absolute blast to drive. Positive points;

1. Fast, really really really fast
2. Power delivery is urgent and smooth, unlike most 4 cylinder turbos that need revs
3. Ride seems compliant
4. AWD with no apparent understeer
5. The sound is unlike any other 4 cylinder car
6. Chassis "feels" sporty...

I think BMW oversells the 50/50 weight distribution and in normal driving conditions you wouldn't notice the more humble chassis beneath it

Personally speaking though, it is a little too small for my tastes and aesthetically i find it to be oddly out of proportion. Its a big car shape in a small car body.

In photos it looks fantastic. In real life... it looks a little odd, kind of like a shrunk car.

Overall though - if its engineering and speed I'd get the CLA 45 anyday. It just depends whether you like the look

[Who?]

Originally Posted by Spikey

saw a CLA 250 the other day around at the shops. Gotta say I'm not a fan of the shape. If I had to choose, I'd go the A45 over the CLA45..

saw the cal today in person. while i was a huge fan before, it looked very odd and unorthodox in reality.

it looked very narrow and high. the shape of its features (headlights and grilles for example) looked disproportional.

call me old fashioned, but id wait for the new c-class if i was looking at a merc. in no way is a CLA a threat to the f30 imo

[TWD]

Originally Posted by **ghost**

I test drove the CLA 45 whilst my old man was paying for his new e Class.

Its an absolute blast to drive. Positive points;

1. Fast, really really really fast
2. Power delivery is urgent and smooth, unlike most 4 cylinder turbos that need revs
3. Ride seems compliant
4. AWD with no apparent understeer
5. The sound is unlike any other 4 cylinder car
6. Chassis "feels" sporty...

I think BMW oversells the 50/50 weight distribution and in normal driving conditions you wouldn't notice the more humble chassis beneath it

Personally speaking though, it is a little too small for my tastes and aesthetically i find it to be oddly out of proportion. Its a big car shape in a small car body.

In photos it looks fantastic. In real life... it looks a little odd, kind of like a shrunk car.

Overall though - if its engineering and speed I'd get the CLA 45 anyday. It just depends whether you like the look

Ghost, I agree with all of those points, except for the understeer part. I haven't driven the CLA45 yet but on a thorough test drive of the A45, there is obvious understeer when pushed hard, because the fact the 4matic is primarily a front wheel drive with the rear wheels kicking in when loss of traction from the front. I can only imagine it is similar/worse with the CLA45's weight disadvantage over the A45. BMW has handling covered. They produce some of the best balanced cars out there.

I actually think the CLA looks better in person than it does in photos! Better than the F30? Not sure...

One important thing to consider is that the BMW 8 speed auto is a very capable and responsive gearbox. I'd say it's better than Merc's 7 spd DCT box on the A45 and CLA45 cars.

Also, a 6 cyl turbo is going to drive very differently to a 4 cyl turbo.

Both cars a brilliant in their own right. I think it's best if you take them both for a good drive and make your decision there

[dL.]

So did anybody end up choosing the 335 over the CLA45 here?

Thread revived.

dL

[HecticX5]

Originally Posted by dL.

So did anybody end up choosing the 335 over the CLA45 here?

Thread revived.

dL

Actually to be fair its more of a 435 comparison, the back seats of the CLA are just like the back seats of my old e92 335. It is a monster four door coupe and when i went to check out a black one at my local dealer i fell in love. My order is due to come in June/July. OP if you need to have adults taller then 5.10 (180cm) sit in the back seats all the time it might not be the right choice, if you already have another car for that then don't think twice. CLA 45 is your car

[J1n]

too small for my liking , interior was bit too sporty .. but performance wise.. 2 tumbs up