[AlexK]

We currently have more Mercedes cars in our family than BMW ones, but I gotta agree that the new CLA looks just awful. I definitely dislike the new design direction the Mercedes is going towards (all these curved shapes on the exterior elements, the round air ducts on the dashboard, the "glued-on aftermarket Garmin" navigation system display, etc.) and I am glad that I purchased the current generation of C63 before Mercedes also turns the C-class into similar unrecognizable (take out the "Star" emblem from the hood/grille of CLA and most people will mistake it for some Hyundai model) mess.

[BMWM2]

My Render Vs. CLA45 AMG

[npina]

Originally Posted by Z K

"Loaded" for $30k? You have to be kidding me... have you been to the Mercedes dealer? I have and I saw the MSRP of this car.

The $30k car doesn't have anything. Once you add a Premium Package and a Sport Package, the CLA 250 is up to $38k with destination. Load up the CLA250 (not AMG even) and you are up to $45k MSRP!

Plus the CLA just looks nasty in my opinion. The front is too large, the rear and wheels are too small - the proportions are all wrong. Plus it has a lot of cheap plastics and feels cheap.

Your numbers are not right... a CLA250 starts at 29.9 and with prem and sport, the MSRP is $35.3 with destination. My point is that this car is well priced... You can even get for $1500, leatherette finish on doors and dashboard. But I agree with you that the body style is all over the place... even if it is a good deal financially speaking, I would not buy it, I'd get a fairly equipped f30 320 or the upcoming 2 series.

[leon1984]

The merc will be efficient and dull like every other car they make... zero feel/soul.

4WD sells now, as does 0-60 numbers so no doubt they will get rid of them in droves.

Give me the M235 with manual box and LSD all day long....

[Mak135i]

There's one at the MB dealer right by my office. Since I used to service my C63 there, they let me take a good look at it and then took it for a very short ride around the block. 1st impressions:
The car looks "small" from the outside...which is good I think
The front and sides are OK but the back is truly awful.

The interior quality is on par with the C class
The exhaust on cold start is typically AMG amazing (this car has sport exhaust)
Phenomenal straight line acceleration and stability (roads were damp)
Steering feel OK...better than my F30 335i
Seats (optional AMG sport seats) look and feel great but could be tight for a much bigger person (I'm 5'11", 175)

This car is about 55k which is what MSRP was for my 335i. To be honest, I think the CLA45 might be a "bargain"

I am going to see when they will have the car ready on the show room floor so I can drive it longer to get a better set of impressions.

[OrangeCrush]

That CLA just looks wrong.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by OrangeCrush

That CLA just looks wrong.

Yeah I agree it's the hatch that I'd personally want to own.

[F30AM]

The Merc has an internal environment which will give me a headache. It's too busy and blingy in a vile way. It's tantamount to an overlit tastless Christmas tree. Also, there is no cohesion between the front and rear designs. By jove, what an ugly, droopy arse. And the bloody thing is too long. I've driven the hatch A45 AMG and I hated it. A very fast buzz box which is not quite as fast as Merc says it is.

The BMW 2 Series dashboard looks a touch low rent and not as pretty as an F30 one. At least it won't give me a headache and I do like its simplicity. But, I love external looks and it has that creamy 6cyl Petrol Engine.

I am seriously considering buying an M235i + 8AT+ LSD in Superman colours at the end of next year as I feel my F30 is a bit of a boat and too big for me.

[leon1984]

Originally Posted by F30AM

I am seriously considering buying an M235i + 6MT+ LSD in Superman colours at the end of next year as I feel my F30 is a bit of a boat and too big for me.

fixed it for you.... sounds great

[F30AM]

@leon1984:
Noooooooo, it has to be 8AT as it is faster and I looooooove the 8AT's paddles. I'll never go back to a clunky manual.

[rayg]

The new 2er is so much better looking than that hideous cla45 amg, who would buy that thing? That being said, I'm really impressed with the engine mercedes is putting in there...360hp out of a 4 banger? Impressive.

[buumer]

How many people here saying that the cla 45 looks like crap actually seen one in person? Saw a black on black one and it looks mean as shit. The 2 is a nice looking coupe, but it's hardly a head turner.

[Mak135i]

I have to agree. I saw 2 of them (one was black and one was dark purple) and they do not look hideous or crap. In fact, they looked somewhat smaller and sleeker than they appear in the pictures. However, the rear is definitely the worst part of the car's exterior appearance.

[chicochico]

Just go sit in the Merc.

SADLY. My first thought it was PT Cruiser meets Mercedes. Too much hard plastic for this cowboy.

That was the end of that.

[leon1984]

Originally Posted by F30AM

@leon1984:
Noooooooo, it has to be 8AT as it is faster and I looooooove the 8AT's paddles. I'll never go back to a clunky manual.

You'll grow out of it Have the 6sp version in my Z4... never again. Far too dull, want the involvement back!

[BMWJ]

.... a BMW forum where most favor the look of a BMW over a Merc? This is getting weird....

Wonder what people on the Merc forums think.....

[Jockey]

I saw a CLA in person the other day and it looked like a stunner, not a dime a dozen BMW. Really looking forward to seeing the AMG in person.

[F30AM]

Exterior: BMW way better. Merc is really ugly with a droopy backside.
Interior: Mercedes way better (but looks a bit like a well lit Christmas tree)but BMW nice and simple and quite acceptable.
Engine: BMW creamy 6. Mercedes manic 4. Creamy 6 for me.

My vote: BMW, no doubt.

[Lucky13]

Autoweek just tested the Mercedes and had some real problems with the transmission and turbo lag (sorry no link).

[Red Bread]

This?
http://www.autoweek.com/article/2013...IEWS/131219936

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by Jockey

I saw a CLA in person the other day and it looked like a stunner, not a dime a dozen BMW. Really looking forward to seeing the AMG in person.

Same here. But I saw a black CLA45 at my local Mercedes dealership. It looked fantastic, caught my immediately. The proportions just looked right.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by Jockey

I saw a CLA in person the other day and it looked like a stunner, not a dime a dozen BMW. Really looking forward to seeing the AMG in person.

I thought one of the primary reasons people go for the 1er and 2er is the size of the vehicle.
The CLA is 182.3" long that's the same length as the new 3-series and 4-series --- and almost a foot longer than the 1er.