[Ghetto2315]

Originally Posted by W///

I love how you compared the CLA to a pug

I can definitely see how the CLA can be attractive to some people. it certainly looks "different", but I'm just not a fan. Especially considering I really like the way the 2er looks.

You bring up a good point about AMG releasing a black series for the CLA45. I think you are spot on. But how much is that going to cost? The Black Series moniker adds quite a bit of $$ to the price. Or maybe they'll do a 507 Edition style upgrade?

I just wished BMW would come up with an M2 sedan or M2 Gran Coupe to challenge the fact that CLA has 4 doors.

2-Series Gran Coupe is in the works. With the CLA and the upcoming Audi A3, BMW doesn't have a choice if they want to keep market share. Thus, a M2 Gran Coupe will be in the pipeline.

[bladeomatic]

A nice piece. Very fun.

I agree that the looks of the CLA are somewhat odd for me. It reminds me of a turtle with that hump-like greenhouse. Sort of a track version of a Prius.

So the reviewer basically calls it a toss-up with a slight lean at the end towards the BMW for appearance, fun and handling. think if you asked Randy point-blank which he preferred, it would have been the BMW, no question. He had a sh*t-eating grin on his face the entire time he was driving it.

Also...not a single point was made by the reviewer re the PRICE difference (about $15k)

So...

M235i +
LSD +
M Performance Brakes +
M Performance Exhaust +
M Suspension

I'm thinking that spending this much would easily make up the .17 second track time and still leave thousands in your pocket for a tune or other goodies.

IMO, that's a better proposition than the money you'd need to spend to improve the tranny, handling and appearance of the MB.

:-)

[rjd598]

lieberman blows. where the hell is lagos

[dan99]

you can tell how much randy loves the m235i...lol... very surprised at how much he loves this car more than the 1m though.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by Ghetto2315

I'm not sure if I should be giving kudos to the M235i for it's performance at the track with the lack of an LSD or criticize the performance of the CLA45 AMG and only being marginally quicker...

I'm in the minority when it comes to the exterior design of the CLA. It's not too bad and it has grown on me. Almost like a Pug dog. Soo ugly that it's cute. I just absolutely hate the "tack-on" COMAND Nav screen that looks like such an after-thought. Literally looks like at the last second the designers realized they forgot to include a screen and decided to plop it in the middle.

I don't care what BMW says. This M235i should have a DCT transmission. If the 135is could get it, I'm not sure why you would leave it out for the M235i. I get it. You have to leave enough performance room between the M235i and the M2.

I love Mercedes-Benz and my 5-years spent as an AMG Specialist for them was splendid but in order for the CLA45 AMG to be able to compete with the M2, AMG will have to come out with a hard-core Black Series version to stay on par.

agree 100% and ...

Saw CLA for the first time about two weeks ago on the road. The rear lights are HUUUGE! So huge that it deforms the flow of the car looking at it from the rear lef/right diagonal and rear. I couldn't believe that somebody would put them on. They are like flags. The whole rear end including qtr panels does not flow. It really looks like an experiment and not a thoroughly developed vehicle as Germans know how to do very well.

The 228/235 are also ugly ducklings especially in the rear. The somewhat aggressive front of the 235 does not match vanilla rear end. The 228 flows better because it looks less aggressive overall. However, neither one of them have flared fenders as older generations did and are flat and unemotional. I guess M2 should fix these. My opinion of course.

[EzequielR]

Idk something doesn't convince me about the M235...

[tmpendergrass]

That amg looks awesome from the front but back 1/3d is horrific. I still haven't come around the way the 2er looks. I must be the only one who likes the e82 better...

As far as the comparison i don't think it's even close to accurate. A 235i with all the M performance parts or even a base M4 would be more fair as far as price goes.

[Uponone76]

Originally Posted by Shaw

what was that Subaru all about at the end??? so I have two great options to choose from and then I'd suddenly choose the 3rd...just because it is faster and cheaper??!!!

Because the reviewer is a Subaru fan boy. He stated in another video that he owns three wrx wagons.

Now that in think about it, shouldn't that disqualify him to review cars?

[AmazingJr]

Originally Posted by Uponone76

Because the reviewer is a Subaru fan boy. He stated in another video that he owns three wrx wagons.

Now that in think about it, shouldn't that disqualify him to review cars?

Absolutely it should. Motortrend is probably the worst car review outlet to watch. They consistently hate on BMW's and they make no sense at all. They say the brakes on the BMW are worse than the CLA but it stops shorter? Hmm.. Sounds like the brakes are better to me. And on top of that, a 15k difference in price puts these two cars on different playing fields. For an extra $15,000 you better get more than .17 of a second faster around a track with AWD and quite a bit more power.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Ghetto2315

2-Series Gran Coupe is in the works. With the CLA and the upcoming Audi A3, BMW doesn't have a choice if they want to keep market share. Thus, a M2 Gran Coupe will be in the pipeline.

One can only hope. Scott made it seems like BMW wasn't interested in doing a 4 door 2er, but I think that would be a huge mistake when the competitors offer it.

If I can add an M2 GC to my E92 M3, I'd never ask for anything ever again make it orange/black/6MT haha.

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Randy says it's his favorite BMW in the last 10 years - which would include the E46 M3, E92 M3, and 1M.....

I have a real problem with this comment. Randy is an excellent driver, he is no doubt very knowledgeable with the dynamics of the car while he is driving it but this comment almost makes me think he has something personal against the ///M division cars or someone who works there. I've been lucky enough to drive the M235i and for him to say there is no understeer and a slight oversteer dialed in compared to the 1M or any M3 seems crazy to me. The steering is nowhere near as good as the cars I just mentioned. He even went so far as to call the 1M turn in "lazy". Laughable.

The throttle response is good in the M235i but the 1M is better, even without pressing the M button for the remapped throttle response.

He loves the engine in the M235i but then says this about the 1M:

On the 1M engine... "The engine is smooth, the power is reasonably good, but in today's world, that's not a fast car. I'm telling ya, it is not a fast car in today's world. Maybe because I've just spent too much time in 500-horsepower cars." -RP


For more Randy Robst review of the 1M:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...28&postcount=1

[lasovan]

That merc is the ugliest thing I've ever seen.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

That was really entertaining. I love hearing Randy Pobst talk about the dynamics of the car, he really knows what he's talking about.

That Randy Pobst oversteer/understeer scale needs to go in to the subjective portion of every car review.

[Lucky13]

Merc the same size and same price as the new M3 sedan, that would be a no brainier decision in BMW's favor. How you compare a rear drive 2 door 6 cyl for $15K less with a much bigger 4 cyl 4 door all wheel drive is beyond comprehension from a consumer standpoint. Seems like the M3 would be a more natural competitor since its $60K and has 4 doors. Of course from what I've read the back seat in the Merc is about as useful or even less so than the M235.

[drunkenup]

Originally Posted by AmazingJr

Absolutely it should. Motortrend is probably the worst car review outlet to watch. They consistently hate on BMW's and they make no sense at all. They say the brakes on the BMW are worse than the CLA but it stops shorter? Hmm.. Sounds like the brakes are better to me. And on top of that, a 15k difference in price puts these two cars on different playing fields. For an extra $15,000 you better get more than .17 of a second faster around a track with AWD and quite a bit more power.

Liebermann said the M235i braked shorter once or twice then started to fade, and that the CLA has better braking feel and response.. and then Pobst mentioned as well that the brake feel is better in the CLA.

Personally I'd have the M235i.. the CLA is very good in isolation but RWD and an I-6 is much more appealing than AWD and a 4 pot. If this was A45 against M235i.. hmm maybe the MB

[ibeam81]

Regarding the braking comparison, the reviewers stated that the CLA45's brakes felt stronger and engaged quicker. That's why they preferred them to the M235i's even if it did brake in a shorter distance. Stats are great, but they do not always tell the whole story.

On paper the CLA appears to be a clear winner over the M235i. In a real life comparison it's a whole lot closer. The CLA45 is impressive even if it's looks are controversial. I would still choose the M235i.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by AmazingJr

Absolutely it should. Motortrend is probably the worst car review outlet to watch. They consistently hate on BMW's and they make no sense at all. They say the brakes on the BMW are worse than the CLA but it stops shorter? Hmm.. Sounds like the brakes are better to me. And on top of that, a 15k difference in price puts these two cars on different playing fields. For an extra $15,000 you better get more than .17 of a second faster around a track with AWD and quite a bit more power.

I'm so sick of listening to people bitch about subjective insight that doesn't agree with some specification on paper

There's a difference between brake feel and brake performance! The reviewer explicitly noted that while the BMW stopped shorter in some of the tests, the brake feel wasn't as good. Both Lieberman and Pobst went to great lengths to explain this in detail, but all anyone can do is point out the inconsistency that was already noted. It's subjective! The BMW has more uptake before you begin to get braking, and doesn't feel as good once you do. It's not like they called your mother something unkind.

It was disappointing that they didn't point out the price differential in greater detail. The CLA 45 AMG they tested was a $60k car. Holy shit! That's a lot of coin for an "entry level" AMG. Even the base car is $4350 more expensive. The M235i tops out in the low $50k range, even when you pile on the options, so the spread is even greater when you buy the car that you want.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by Mr.Metak2you

I have a real problem with this comment. Randy is an excellent driver, he is no doubt very knowledgeable with the dynamics of the car while he is driving it but this comment almost makes me think he has something personal against the ///M division cars or someone who works there. I've been lucky enough to drive the M235i and for him to say there is no understeer and a slight oversteer dialed in compared to the 1M or any M3 seems crazy to me. The steering is nowhere near as good as the cars I just mentioned. He even went so far as to call the 1M turn in "lazy". Laughable.

The throttle response is good in the M235i but the 1M is better, even without pressing the M button for the remapped throttle response.

He loves the engine in the M235i but then says this about the 1M:

On the 1M engine... "The engine is smooth, the power is reasonably good, but in today's world, that's not a fast car. I'm telling ya, it is not a fast car in today's world. Maybe because I've just spent too much time in 500-horsepower cars." -RP


For more Randy Robst review of the 1M:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...28&postcount=1

Randy's remarks on the 1M really were strange. It's like the 1M beat him up and took his lunch money in middle-school and he used that review to exact his revenge.

I wonder if it doesn't have something to do with context. IIRC, when Randy was reviewing the 1M, it was at a time when MT was doing their "best driver's car" segment, so he was driving the 1M back to back with cars like the 911 GT3 and Corvette ZR1.

Not to mention, the difference in expectation. The 1M was a full on M-car. Maybe he was expecting more. I never got the opportunity to test drive a 1M, so I don't have any personal experience, but the short wheelbase of the 1-series gave it a general reputation as a feisty car to drive fast. I know my plain old 135i had a very abrupt feel to it. Bumps in the road would unsettle that car very easily compared to my brother-in-law's E92 335i coupe. Maybe that difference in character gave Randy a sour feeling, and he just kind of went off a cliff in terms of viewpoint.

Not really sure why I'm defending him, other than the fact that I appreciate his views, even if I don't always agree with him.

[AmazingJr]

I fully understand brake feel but i dont think Randy had anything negative to say about the M235i, i think Dumberman kept saying his negative opinions and Randy just agreed to avoid making him look stupid. Watch the video again and look at Randys face. He doesnt seem to agree.

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by AmazingJr

I fully understand brake feel but i dont think Randy had anything negative to say about the M235i, i think Dumberman kept saying his negative opinions and Randy just agreed to avoid making him look stupid. Watch the video again and look at Randys face. He doesnt seem to agree.

Randy Pobst also made comments on how the brake pedal feel was much better in the CLA45.

[AmazingJr]

Because he was told that lol

[jhv]

Originally Posted by rjd598

lieberman blows. where the hell is lagos