Finally getting a chance to leave a comment on this review. Sorry it took so long! Very good review like always Guido! Very interesting to hear about the slow dual clutch transmission. That would drive me crazy. I really like the CLA, but I'd buy a regular one as a comfortable daily driver. Now I know to stay out of the AMG version! Looking forward to your future reviews!
Thanks Matt ! Yes, the transmission felt really bad to me. Next week I will be testing the Audi S3 sedan, hopefully it will be a manual ;) Greetings, Guido
The production and quality of your videos just keep getting better and better. This review really helped me decide if I should order one of these for my wife. Thanks!
I enjoyed your reviews very much. It's great to have an honest and unbiased review. Also, you have covered lots of details other reviewers have considered too insignificant to discuss. Good job.
that is sad, you are part of a few reviewers that i would like to watch testing that BMW...and i really like BMW. You have proven that you deserve to get those "special cars", i really hope you can keep growing as a car reviewer and get the respect you deserve for your work! Have a nice week Guido!
Almost bought this car, i'm now glad i spent the extra money for a C63. This is a car that looks and seems perfect until you drive it for a while.Mercedes could've done more with the transmission which is paramount to the driving experience. Hope they do a better job with it in the next version of the CLA45
Well done reviews! Looking forward to watching yours and Subaruwrxfans review of the 15 STI as I am really enjoying my recently picked up 14 WRX. Keep up the good work.
Nice intro! Transmission in this car seems to be the most common complaint from what I've seen. I don't understand why they wouldn't offer this car with a manual, because it is small and (relatively) light and would make for a great enthusiast car, unlike the big and heavy AMG models, that has a fundamentally different target audience.
TheGetawayer By the way, there will be a Golf R400, which will be the most powerful 4 cyl. production car and also highest specific output production car.
Karsten Pedersen It was announced like a month ago or something like that. R400 will have 400hp, but will probably be the same engine anyway. Same 2.0tsi from Skoda Octavia RS, Golf GTI, Audi a3-s3 but with some stronger parts and different tune. I find it pretty annoying, as I hoped that they would utilize on the awesome 2.5 R5 turbo from Audi TTRS
im an american and i just bought this car. I was stuck between the E92 M3 and this car but after driving this car it was the clear winner. I do not know where the hate is coming from this car is fantastic and pulls more than the M3. This car also sounds fantastic with the performance exhaust
***** : It's not really hate, I just didn't feel the torque like I did in the Audi S3 I tested and I don't like the transmission in manual mode. Apart from that the car is very expensive. I think for me the E92 is one class above this car...But I wish you all the best for your ownership and I'm happy to hear you enjoy the car. We can't always have the same opinions, right ? :) Greetings from germany, Guido aka TheGetawayer
Thanks alot, Guido! The review in terms of driving is both informative and outstanding. However, it amazes me that you question the American bad impression about the car; although in the review process you have ultimately proved the negatives they take on the car. I'm Saudi, so there is no room for offense. It's just that notable. Thanks again.
Thank you ! Well, I ended up watching the TestDrive episode with Mike Musto and I believe some of the MotorTrend videos on the car. I think they did a great job on their reviews and I say that while I often disagree with their opinions. In the end its all about the transmission and the high price. I can't wait to drive the S3 sedan from Audi for a comparision now :) Greetings, Guido
Guido - would really love to see you do a review of the "new" CLA45 with the 381PS & updated DCT, see if it can redeem itself :) I am taking delivery of one on Tuesday & I cannot wait !!! :)
+theRappinSpree I've heard good things about it, but sadly didn't get invited to the driving event a few weeks ago. Maybe I can run one for two weeks next year. Send me a picture and some impressions of your car to my facebookpage if you like :) Links are below the video and on the channel page :)
the first edition of A45 & CLA 45s were plagued with a very lazy transmissions. From 2016 onwards on the GLA45 at least , the transmission is far far better. i understand also that on older versions there are also software updates that make the transmission snappier . In addition on later models , there is also a sport plus mode and on the more driver focussed options , a race mode. in these two modes , the vehicle is always in boost and there is absolutely no turbo lag. comparing the 3 AMG versions ( ignoring shooting brake ) being the A , CLA and GLA , I would skip on the CLA and go with the A or GLA. I would also skip the early models of the 3 vehicles as AMG made improvements each year to the transmission etc.
TheGetawayer Reiner Bezug auf die Musik, welche ich mal in die Full-On, Psychedelic Trance Schiene schiebe. Zum Review: schön dass es nicht ein weiteres AMG Fanboy Video geworden ist und das Getriebe die Kritik bekommen hat das es verdient. Ein Antriebsstrang ist nur so gut wie sein schwächstes Glied...
Haha achso...Ja ich muss schon echt viel suchen um halbwegs passable freie Musik zu finden. Die besten Tracks spare ich mir mal für andere Autos auf ;) Danke für das tolle Feedback ! Bin froh wenn es ankommt, was ich hier mache ;)
I happened upon your channel by randomly watching other videos and I'm glad I did! Very nice presentation and thoroughly reviewed. You do such a great job! *subscribed* It's a shame that the DCT ruins an otherwise great car. Looks fantastic though!
First of all top job with your reviews! Most reviews fail to touch on the more relevant everyday aspects of the car which you always seem to highlight. Just out of curiosity how does one convince manufacturers to give you a car for a review even though you're an independent reviewer? I've been trying for some time now to no avail. I would thoroughly enjoy reviewing some of these cars but I keep getting rejected by manufacturers because I don't write a column or work for a motoring journalism forum or company. Your thoughts and experiences would be greatly appreciated. just to reiterate, very impressive reviews and keep up the good work. P.S I'd really like your take on the new Porsche Macan S if possible as I have just bought one and shall be taking delivery of it in a month or two
***** : I won't be able to review the Macan any time soon, since I can only get two testcars for a full roadtest per year from Porsche. As far as getting those test cars, well...I started by renting cars and filming them until eventually somebody at Porsche saw them and they offered me the new Boxster for a review in 2012. That video became pretty popular and since then other brands got interested in working with me. My first Mercedes press car was the SLK 55, then I became the first UA-camr / Blogger who got a car from Jaguar Germany...Yeah and Audi has been very genourous with letting me drive cars too. I would say you need references, that show the pr-department that people are interested in your opinion about cars. Many many people blog or film cars. So it's not easy to build an audience...And there are always people who still won't work with you. In my case that's BMW, eventhough I have well over 500.000 views on videos I filmed with rented BMWs. It's their lose, haha...So yeah, that's the long and honest answer ;) Greetings, Guido / TheGetawayer
TheGetawayer Thank you Guido! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to your followers. I've had a similar experience with Mercedes-Benz and Audi having owned a great deal of them in the past. They allowed me to drive the cars, but only for a few hours at a time. BMW on the other hand also turned me away without any real explanation. I'm trying to build a relationship with Porsche so that they too will trust me with their cars. This is only my second Porsche so I hope a relationship can be built with them. Keep up the awesome work :) Many thanks
***** : Remember, these are press cars not cars I get from dealerships. Big difference. It's all about the journalistic work and not about which cars you owned
Guido.. I test drove the A45amg and you are one of the few reviewers that gives a proper real world impression of this car. Every other auto journalist goes crazy on this car. My impressions were exactly like yours. DCT feels like a slow automatic and is very rough at slow speeds and hesitates for certain shifts. The car feels very anaemic in the first three gears at anything but full throttle. Feels very laggy. Not a very good car for folks who are not interested in balls to the walls driving. The S3 felt so much more useable for daily driver use and the Stronic easily trumps the DCT
tariq alli : That's great to hear Tariq ! I always share my honest opinion. Nobody pays me for these reviews, so I owe myself this authencity :) Greetings from germany, Guido
The 4 cylinder sounds alright but, it would sound so much better if it had a inline 5. The beautiful design of the CLA and the beautiful V10 sound of an inline 5 would sweep up all the potential buyers and even some owners of the RS3.
I would have thought they'd give it a magic sport plus button or something to change the shift mapping. That engine is an absolute work of art though. Mercedes is making the best looking sedans in the world right now too in my opinion, bar none.
Phänomenales Intro, wow! Deine ehrliche Meinung gefällt mir und genau Deinen größten Negativ - Punkt, hört man auch in all den anderen reviews. Doch sehr schade, dass Mercedes es einfach nicht auf die Reihe bekommt, diese 'Spaßbremse' auszubessern. Vor allem, weil es für mich persönlich eigentlich die Nummer eins ist, was Deutsche Autos angeht (Sorry) :P Aber wie immer klasse Video, total geile Aufnahmen dieses Mal!
Danke ! Naja, von der Nr.1 sind sie in diesem Fall echt sehr weit entfernt. Sowohl was die Technik, die Qualität als auch den Preis angeht. Aber das muss eben jeder für sich selbst entscheiden :)
Good review. After driving my CLA 45 AMG for 4 months, I'd offer several comments. First, the gearing for 1st, 2nd and 3rd is very close; in sport mode, you get to 3rd gear very, very quickly. Trying to manually shift in these lower gears is an unnecessary challenge until you really get the feel of the car. Second, the brakes are fantastic; they engage near the top and instantly/powerfully slow the car. Third, the all wheel drive is excellent; with four snow tires, this car had no problem starting, turning and stopping in snow (except when the snow was too deep). Fourth, the ride is tight but the seats do an excellent job; however, it is not good on potholes. Finally, the mileage has consistently surprised me...32+mpg at 75 mph and 26-27 mpg around town unless I am on the turbo.
Very nice to read your ownership impressions, Stew ! I had the car for two weeks and I agree with you: The awd and the chassis / breakes are excellent. I wish it had a manual transmission. That would solve all my problems. Thanks for your comment ! Greetings from germany, TheGetawayer
Very interesting, I was thinking it might working better on a track, were you don't need 2nd gear that often. But even so I think the downshifts are painfully slow for a dual clutch and you can hit the limiter so easy, if you don't pull the paddle 500 rpms before the red-line. The responsivness is missing.. It's just not one of those transmission that works with the driver, I feel like you have to adjust yourself to it and I really don't like the calibration for road use. Thank you very much for your comment, buddy !
Besides the nice seats, the interior looks quite much the same with the new A Class that my Mother bought. Maybe they wanted to spend most of their budget on the actual mechanics though.
Great review. Love the new intro. I really like the way it looks. Shame that it's so expensive and gearbox is slow. I'm thinking getting a A 250 or CLA 250 in the near future. Have you driven them?
As a normal CLA or A class the gearbox wouldn't be that big of a problem for me but when we are talking AMG than it should be better. As you said it costs as much as a Cayman. Maybe they will fix that in the future. The first SLS was pretty slow on down shifts as well.
thanks for the professional review. i ordered the car and the guy in the dealership suggested to take 18" wheel rather then the black 19" . he says that 19" will be too stiff for israel. i prefer the look of the car with the 19" do you think that you actually feel the difference between them while driving?
had a test drive on the A45 amg with different type of road and conditions, gotta say great little car and its capability as a sport car. It is true that the gearbox is not as good as other dual clutch in market, I had tried the M135i coupe and the audi s5 coupe, sadly the gearbox is not as quick shift as the other 2. But it gave me a small amount of time to enjoy that kick and pop, crackle from the exhaust. i guess it is up to personal opinions, have to test it out before you buy to see if it would fit your driving style.
Good review. The transmission really is the Achilles'Heel of the car. I think the AMG will release some TCU software update soon. Only drive the car in manual mode would decrease the disappointment of the transmission. This is a car fits for its own category.
Nice review! I have the same feeling that, the settings of 7-DCT on the 45 AMG are not good enough compare to Porsche's PDK. (Because its competitors are using DCT? ), while most of the other AMG models are still using the 7-MCT.
And, it doesn't have keyless entry as option:( But the CLA45's design is very attractive and the amazing tuning 2.0t engine, it's still one of the best choices.
BMW doesn't give me testcars, Tony...There's a download link to the song under the video. It's royalty free music you can use for your own videos, if you like
Hi, I liked your review, very different from all others I have seen. but I have to tell you that you have just break or at least question my intentions to buy this car. Greetings from México.
Love your reviews Guido. So I assume the transmission in the GLA45 AMG is the same? I am thinking to get the GLA AMG or MacanS or the SQ5 (US version with compressor). Not driving tracks. Mainly driving in the city and like to have fun driving there with my car. Any recommendations? Thanks!
Touareg man Thanks ! I think I would go with the SQ5 or Macan because they have better transmissons. SQ5 might be better value for Money. But the Macan is my favourite. Hope to review it next year !
Excellent review Guido (as always). I rented an A45 AMG for a week end and I agree with everything you pointed, especially about the transmission. After few km I also started to hate the loud exhaust bangs on the upshifts: it's just showing off, for me. Shame, because it's not a spine breaking sports car and could easily be a daily ride (for who can afford it...).
As always, another informative and interesting review by Guido! I can't wait until you review the Porsche Macan PDK - when can we expect it? For similar money, the Macan S seems like a far superior choice for people who have a family and love driving.
It's a shame that you were disappointed with this car and in particular the dual clutch gearbox. Having currently got one of the last of the mk2 TTRS's in manual form I have been struggling to find a suitable replacement for future but guess I will hang on to it for a little while longer. That is of course if Mercedes have ironed out the fun issues with their 2016 improved 381bhp model. I look forward to testing this out for us if possible.
I really like your car reviews sir. They are so good. Just one question, for the money you have to pay for this car, you could get a relatively good condition second hand C63, wouldn't everyone just do that instead, its much better?
The Getrag dct470 dissengages the clutch when you brake, so it can shift faster in corners during braking, when I select from 4th the 2`nd gear, it does that without a question.
TheGetawayer When I enter the corner, I brake hard to avoid oversteer, and during the braking the clutch is dissengaged, I can shift to 2`nd gear, and after the apex (or a tiny bit before) I can release the brake and give full throttle so I can have a good corner exist speed. I drive a tuned evo x MR, that has this dual clutch system that really listens to you, it lets me hit the rev limiter and won`t shift up, it really lets me make mistakes, and takes downshifts when it would not be a good idea, like misshifts from 5`th to 2nd hitting 8000 rpm, and it lets me remove the torque limiter from the gearbox, so it really lets the owner destroy it, that explains all those broken gearboxes. And it is tunable, SSP and Dodson, Exceedy make clutch packs, and seals, extra coolers, oil pans, so it is a much better gearbox that the Mercedes dct, and the VW. The only better and more intuitive is the PDK from Porsche, as I read that is currently one of the best DCT`s.
I donno if its a German thing, but I am really missing your Mercedes S65 AMG review. Or even a normal 2014 S Class review would do. I think there are a lot of Merc fans waiting for the same.
Krishna Chaitanya : The number of cars that I can get is very limited and Mercedes doesn't keep many S65 press cars. That means that those cars are given to the big media, which makes it hard for me to ever get the chance to review one. Last year they only had one G65 press car for the entire world ( imagine that ! ). But I will do my best and try to bring you more Mercedes content. Greetings from germany, TheGetawayer
Hi Getawayer! Yes, i know about that G 65 AMG, heard it from Motortrend channel. But, a normal S500 would be very interesting. Or even better, why not do a comparison between S class vs BMW 7 series? Both are updated for 2014 i think. Anyways, I am a huge fan for your way of narration. Greetings from India, my friend.
so many people and reviewers rate the transmission so badly - i have a c250 sport and i want this car next but i feel im just going to get the same hesitant laggy and uncertain shifts, wonder if mercedes will address this soon!
My family and I (Currently 18) are buying our first Mercedes AMG model. We usually had Honda and now BMW. I'm making research about the best one and the one which will suit us. Our budget is around 30k, and i really like the CLA AMG 45. Do you recommend it for a family of 5 or do you think another AMG model is better than this one which is within our budget? Thanks and great review!
Cheera. So do you mean the CLS-Coupe or shall i just avoid the Coupe version since they seem a bit smaller at the back. A specific model suggested would be appreciated. Keep it up, love your videos!
4:40 DID I JUST SEE SOMEONE MOVE OUT OF THE PASSING LANE FOR A FASTER CAR😳😳. I don’t know if this video is in America but never in my life have I ever seen such an act🤣
Another excellent review! You seem a bit disappointed with the car - some of the interior plastics are cheap, and you biggest disappointment seems to be the transmission. Do you think a manual transmission would suit the car better?
RazorFX I love the free-revving V8, but it lacks torque low down. I would have a C63 Coupe personally, or wait for the new C63 if you want awd...But the RS5 is a wonderful and beautiful car. Check out the review that my buddy Nick Murray filmed ;)
If the bonnet gets hot after spirited driving and you may.easily burn your self when lifting the hood, man what were the engineers thinking by putting the turbo in an easily assessable area, where the owner can easily burn himself. Also whats going to happen to the fans after being so exposed to that heat
Mercedes has a lot of good cars in his lineup right now, the best in the premium market, but, in my opinion, the CLA and the A-class are two misses. They are quite expensive, but they have the cheap car feeling. Not having gas hood struts and the orgy of plastic on the interior gives you the idea that this car was built with many compromises in mind!
TheGetawayer I will let you know ... I had a test car for a couple of hours last week and couldn't fault anything including the transmission but didn't really have a chance to give it a full test.
If only I knew, buddy...Dealing with pr-departments is rather frustrating sometimes. I'm actually not sure how much longer I want to do this hole UA-cam-Thing...
First things first...that's a fucking nice intro!!! Trust me I can't say it without swearing!! My apollogies! As for the car...yes, the plastic that is right in front of your eyes it really feels cheap in every A or CLA, it does look to discrete for my taste. I can barely recognize it from a 220 Cdi with the AMG package, a few weeks ago only turned my neck the second time to check the car, just because of the sound, it was definitely a A 45 AMG, but at first glance...looked like a Renault powered A 180 Cdi with the AMG package. lol The transmission part, it's really sad that's an issue for the car, nice chassis, awd, good suspension and a transmission brain with it's own will? Not good for me...I like to feel that I'm in control of the fun in a car, don't like when cars spoil the fun for me and finally...yes, it's not cheap. I'd have a Cayman please or a Second Hand 911 Turbo! :> Good review!!
NEW A45 S Review: ua-cam.com/video/98I_TTv8fqc/v-deo.html
You are such a good reviewer.
Great intro even by today's standards on YT, man I miss this channel - Greetings from the stateside in NJ, Cheers!
Finally getting a chance to leave a comment on this review. Sorry it took so long! Very good review like always Guido! Very interesting to hear about the slow dual clutch transmission. That would drive me crazy. I really like the CLA, but I'd buy a regular one as a comfortable daily driver. Now I know to stay out of the AMG version! Looking forward to your future reviews!
Thanks Matt ! Yes, the transmission felt really bad to me. Next week I will be testing the Audi S3 sedan, hopefully it will be a manual ;) Greetings, Guido
The production and quality of your videos just keep getting better and better. This review really helped me decide if I should order one of these for my wife. Thanks!
You're very welcome Scott, thank you for watching !
Might be time to trade my 2013 S4. This looks like a beauty!
Good honest review Guido. Thanks. I appreciate everything you do for us.
Thank you so much !
Very Nicely Done!!!
Thanks Mark !
from the USA....love your style. Thanks for your reviews
+brakel8r Thanks for watching and greetings from germany to america :)
Very nice review. Mentioning points that none mentioned before! Keep it up!
Wiedereinmal ein tolles Review. Weiter so, Guido!
Dankeschön !
I enjoyed your reviews very much. It's great to have an honest and unbiased review. Also, you have covered lots of details other reviewers have considered too insignificant to discuss. Good job.
thej065 : Glad you like it, thanks for the feedback !
Finally a new review, great to see you in action again. Hope for some norr BMW reviews!
Great review - concise and in depth! Thumbs up!
Nicely done Guido! Can't wait to try the CLA45 in a few weeks!
Thanks ! Can't wait for your review and impressions :)
BMW M235i keeps popping in my head :D!
Great review, as always Guido!
that is sad, you are part of a few reviewers that i would like to watch testing that BMW...and i really like BMW.
You have proven that you deserve to get those "special cars", i really hope you can keep growing as a car reviewer and get the respect you deserve for your work!
Have a nice week Guido!
Excellent review. Very honest.
A nice honest review
TheGeatwayer, the best ever
"The use of cheap plastic is very generous" - Sarcastic, polite insult. I love it.
Well, it's not better than the Kia I drove. And that's not sarcastic ;)
Another excellent review - thank you.
great review. you are right about the transmission, it does sound like the MCT when you were driving
I like your reviews! Keep it up!
Great review as always.
Nice review
Great video! That's a beautiful car.!
I'm getting more and more tempted to buy this car
Almost bought this car, i'm now glad i spent the extra money for a C63. This is a car that looks and seems perfect until you drive it for a while.Mercedes could've done more with the transmission which is paramount to the driving experience. Hope they do a better job with it in the next version of the CLA45
TheGetawayer another excellent review. The DeVito mention makes even better
Haha, I'm glad you enjoyed it Carlos !
Well done reviews! Looking forward to watching yours and Subaruwrxfans review of the 15 STI as I am really enjoying my recently picked up 14 WRX. Keep up the good work.
Phenomenal review! And the name of the chap that built the engine is ironic, indeed!
Nice intro! Transmission in this car seems to be the most common complaint from what I've seen. I don't understand why they wouldn't offer this car with a manual, because it is small and (relatively) light and would make for a great enthusiast car, unlike the big and heavy AMG models, that has a fundamentally different target audience.
Glad you like it, buddy ! Thanks for your comment !
TheGetawayer By the way, there will be a Golf R400, which will be the most powerful 4 cyl. production car and also highest specific output production car.
kr0pp When was that confirmed ? It's just a concept last i saw.
That said, Audi did announce an S3 plus, with 380 hp.
Karsten Pedersen It was announced like a month ago or something like that. R400 will have 400hp, but will probably be the same engine anyway. Same 2.0tsi from Skoda Octavia RS, Golf GTI, Audi a3-s3 but with some stronger parts and different tune. I find it pretty annoying, as I hoped that they would utilize on the awesome 2.5 R5 turbo from Audi TTRS
Just had a quick Google, seems you're right, awesome stuff. Site I found mentioned the engine is basically the same as the R 300, minor changes.
Like your review! Keep it up!
JanWy Foo Thanks !
im an american and i just bought this car. I was stuck between the E92 M3 and this car but after driving this car it was the clear winner. I do not know where the hate is coming from this car is fantastic and pulls more than the M3. This car also sounds fantastic with the performance exhaust
***** : It's not really hate, I just didn't feel the torque like I did in the Audi S3 I tested and I don't like the transmission in manual mode. Apart from that the car is very expensive. I think for me the E92 is one class above this car...But I wish you all the best for your ownership and I'm happy to hear you enjoy the car. We can't always have the same opinions, right ? :) Greetings from germany, Guido aka TheGetawayer
Thanks alot, Guido! The review in terms of driving is both informative and outstanding. However, it amazes me that you question the American bad impression about the car; although in the review process you have ultimately proved the negatives they take on the car. I'm Saudi, so there is no room for offense. It's just that notable. Thanks again.
Thank you ! Well, I ended up watching the TestDrive episode with Mike Musto and I believe some of the MotorTrend videos on the car. I think they did a great job on their reviews and I say that while I often disagree with their opinions. In the end its all about the transmission and the high price. I can't wait to drive the S3 sedan from Audi for a comparision now :) Greetings, Guido
Guido - would really love to see you do a review of the "new" CLA45 with the 381PS & updated DCT, see if it can redeem itself :) I am taking delivery of one on Tuesday & I cannot wait !!! :)
+theRappinSpree I've heard good things about it, but sadly didn't get invited to the driving event a few weeks ago. Maybe I can run one for two weeks next year. Send me a picture and some impressions of your car to my facebookpage if you like :) Links are below the video and on the channel page :)
+TheGetawayer Have they fixed the transmission problems that the first model had?
the first edition of A45 & CLA 45s were plagued with a very lazy transmissions. From 2016 onwards on the GLA45 at least , the transmission is far far better. i understand also that on older versions there are also software updates that make the transmission snappier . In addition on later models , there is also a sport plus mode and on the more driver focussed options , a race mode. in these two modes , the vehicle is always in boost and there is absolutely no turbo lag.
comparing the 3 AMG versions ( ignoring shooting brake ) being the A , CLA and GLA , I would skip on the CLA and go with the A or GLA.
I would also skip the early models of the 3 vehicles as AMG made improvements each year to the transmission etc.
Guido outet sich als Psychedelic-fan. Weiter so, gutes Review! :-)
Haha, das musst Du mir erklären, denn besonders bewusstseins-erweiternd war das Fahrerlebnis leider nicht ;)
TheGetawayer
Reiner Bezug auf die Musik, welche ich mal in die Full-On, Psychedelic Trance Schiene schiebe. Zum Review: schön dass es nicht ein weiteres AMG Fanboy Video geworden ist und das Getriebe die Kritik bekommen hat das es verdient. Ein Antriebsstrang ist nur so gut wie sein schwächstes Glied...
Haha achso...Ja ich muss schon echt viel suchen um halbwegs passable freie Musik zu finden. Die besten Tracks spare ich mir mal für andere Autos auf ;) Danke für das tolle Feedback ! Bin froh wenn es ankommt, was ich hier mache ;)
I happened upon your channel by randomly watching other videos and I'm glad I did! Very nice presentation and thoroughly reviewed. You do such a great job! *subscribed*
It's a shame that the DCT ruins an otherwise great car. Looks fantastic though!
Great review. Thorough in every respect. Have you driven the Golf R?
First of all top job with your reviews! Most reviews fail to touch on the more relevant everyday aspects of the car which you always seem to highlight. Just out of curiosity how does one convince manufacturers to give you a car for a review even though you're an independent reviewer? I've been trying for some time now to no avail. I would thoroughly enjoy reviewing some of these cars but I keep getting rejected by manufacturers because I don't write a column or work for a motoring journalism forum or company. Your thoughts and experiences would be greatly appreciated. just to reiterate, very impressive reviews and keep up the good work. P.S I'd really like your take on the new Porsche Macan S if possible as I have just bought one and shall be taking delivery of it in a month or two
***** : I won't be able to review the Macan any time soon, since I can only get two testcars for a full roadtest per year from Porsche. As far as getting those test cars, well...I started by renting cars and filming them until eventually somebody at Porsche saw them and they offered me the new Boxster for a review in 2012. That video became pretty popular and since then other brands got interested in working with me. My first Mercedes press car was the SLK 55, then I became the first UA-camr / Blogger who got a car from Jaguar Germany...Yeah and Audi has been very genourous with letting me drive cars too. I would say you need references, that show the pr-department that people are interested in your opinion about cars. Many many people blog or film cars. So it's not easy to build an audience...And there are always people who still won't work with you. In my case that's BMW, eventhough I have well over 500.000 views on videos I filmed with rented BMWs. It's their lose, haha...So yeah, that's the long and honest answer ;) Greetings, Guido / TheGetawayer
TheGetawayer Thank you Guido! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to your followers. I've had a similar experience with Mercedes-Benz and Audi having owned a great deal of them in the past. They allowed me to drive the cars, but only for a few hours at a time. BMW on the other hand also turned me away without any real explanation. I'm trying to build a relationship with Porsche so that they too will trust me with their cars. This is only my second Porsche so I hope a relationship can be built with them. Keep up the awesome work :) Many thanks
***** : Remember, these are press cars not cars I get from dealerships. Big difference. It's all about the journalistic work and not about which cars you owned
Thanks for your advice. Appreciated :)
Guido.. I test drove the A45amg and you are one of the few reviewers that gives a proper real world impression of this car. Every other auto journalist goes crazy on this car. My impressions were exactly like yours. DCT feels like a slow automatic and is very rough at slow speeds and hesitates for certain shifts. The car feels very anaemic in the first three gears at anything but full throttle. Feels very laggy. Not a very good car for folks who are not interested in balls to the walls driving. The S3 felt so much more useable for daily driver use and the Stronic easily trumps the DCT
tariq alli : That's great to hear Tariq ! I always share my honest opinion. Nobody pays me for these reviews, so I owe myself this authencity :) Greetings from germany, Guido
The 4 cylinder sounds alright but, it would sound so much better if it had a inline 5. The beautiful design of the CLA and the beautiful V10 sound of an inline 5 would sweep up all the potential buyers and even some owners of the RS3.
@thegetawayer Could you do a review on the lower model CLA 250 4MATIC? Love your reviews and channel!
I would have thought they'd give it a magic sport plus button or something to change the shift mapping. That engine is an absolute work of art though. Mercedes is making the best looking sedans in the world right now too in my opinion, bar none.
BMW - please let Guido the Getawayer drive your amazingly built cars! His adoring subscribers would be grateful! Danke!
Would love to see what the upcoming M2 can do to the CLA.
Well, BMW doesn't give me testcars, so you'll have to find another channel for that ;)
in reality, CLA makes M2 cry.
Phänomenales Intro, wow!
Deine ehrliche Meinung gefällt mir und genau Deinen größten Negativ - Punkt, hört man auch in all den anderen reviews. Doch sehr schade, dass Mercedes es einfach nicht auf die Reihe bekommt, diese 'Spaßbremse' auszubessern. Vor allem, weil es für mich persönlich eigentlich die Nummer eins ist, was Deutsche Autos angeht (Sorry) :P
Aber wie immer klasse Video, total geile Aufnahmen dieses Mal!
Danke ! Naja, von der Nr.1 sind sie in diesem Fall echt sehr weit entfernt. Sowohl was die Technik, die Qualität als auch den Preis angeht. Aber das muss eben jeder für sich selbst entscheiden :)
Another great video. The car sounds really nice. Hopefully MB will do something about the transmission. Cheers.
Good review. After driving my CLA 45 AMG for 4 months, I'd offer several comments. First, the gearing for 1st, 2nd and 3rd is very close; in sport mode, you get to 3rd gear very, very quickly. Trying to manually shift in these lower gears is an unnecessary challenge until you really get the feel of the car. Second, the brakes are fantastic; they engage near the top and instantly/powerfully slow the car. Third, the all wheel drive is excellent; with four snow tires, this car had no problem starting, turning and stopping in snow (except when the snow was too deep). Fourth, the ride is tight but the seats do an excellent job; however, it is not good on potholes. Finally, the mileage has consistently surprised me...32+mpg at 75 mph and 26-27 mpg around town unless I am on the turbo.
Very nice to read your ownership impressions, Stew ! I had the car for two weeks and I agree with you: The awd and the chassis / breakes are excellent. I wish it had a manual transmission. That would solve all my problems. Thanks for your comment ! Greetings from germany, TheGetawayer
Great review, a gearbox can really make or break a car! Just like the price. I would just buy a used C63.
Yes, I agree. The testcar here is well over 60.000 €, that's easily enough money for a used C63
Guido, I drove the CLA 45 on track today at low to moderate speeds (
Very interesting, I was thinking it might working better on a track, were you don't need 2nd gear that often. But even so I think the downshifts are painfully slow for a dual clutch and you can hit the limiter so easy, if you don't pull the paddle 500 rpms before the red-line. The responsivness is missing.. It's just not one of those transmission that works with the driver, I feel like you have to adjust yourself to it and I really don't like the calibration for road use. Thank you very much for your comment, buddy !
good review..my C63 has this MCT gearbox..only thing that lets the AMG's down.
Besides the nice seats, the interior looks quite much the same with the new A Class that my Mother bought. Maybe they wanted to spend most of their budget on the actual mechanics though.
Great review. Love the new intro. I really like the way it looks. Shame that it's so expensive and gearbox is slow. I'm thinking getting a A 250 or CLA 250 in the near future. Have you driven them?
Only briefly. Pretty similiar feeling to me, but if you like the styling I think you'll just have to get over the flaws :)
As a normal CLA or A class the gearbox wouldn't be that big of a problem for me but when we are talking AMG than it should be better. As you said it costs as much as a Cayman. Maybe they will fix that in the future. The first SLS was pretty slow on down shifts as well.
thanks for the professional review.
i ordered the car and the guy in the dealership suggested to take 18" wheel rather then the black 19" . he says that 19" will be too stiff for israel.
i prefer the look of the car with the 19"
do you think that you actually feel the difference between them while driving?
had a test drive on the A45 amg with different type of road and conditions, gotta say great little car and its capability as a sport car. It is true that the gearbox is not as good as other dual clutch in market, I had tried the M135i coupe and the audi s5 coupe, sadly the gearbox is not as quick shift as the other 2. But it gave me a small amount of time to enjoy that kick and pop, crackle from the exhaust. i guess it is up to personal opinions, have to test it out before you buy to see if it would fit your driving style.
Love your reviews I'm really saddened by the gearbox though as I have one on order and it's made me think oops
Well it Looks very good and I like that front end. Well the Transmission issue might kill the car but it still Looks awesome
Good review. The transmission really is the Achilles'Heel of the car. I think the AMG will release some TCU software update soon. Only drive the car in manual mode would decrease the disappointment of the transmission. This is a car fits for its own category.
Nice review! I have the same feeling that, the settings of 7-DCT on the 45 AMG are not good enough compare to Porsche's PDK. (Because its competitors are using DCT? ), while most of the other AMG models are still using the 7-MCT.
And, it doesn't have keyless entry as option:(
But the CLA45's design is very attractive and the amazing tuning 2.0t engine, it's still one of the best choices.
please review a e63 amg s
What is the Anne of the "song" in the intro? Nice btw!
BMW doesn't give me testcars, Tony...There's a download link to the song under the video. It's royalty free music you can use for your own videos, if you like
Hi, I liked your review, very different from all others I have seen. but I have to tell you that you have just break or at least question my intentions to buy this car.
Greetings from México.
Love your reviews Guido. So I assume the transmission in the GLA45 AMG is the same? I am thinking to get the GLA AMG or MacanS or the SQ5 (US version with compressor). Not driving tracks. Mainly driving in the city and like to have fun driving there with my car. Any recommendations? Thanks!
Touareg man Thanks ! I think I would go with the SQ5 or Macan because they have better transmissons. SQ5 might be better value for Money. But the Macan is my favourite. Hope to review it next year !
Excellent review Guido (as always). I rented an A45 AMG for a week end and I agree with everything you pointed, especially about the transmission. After few km I also started to hate the loud exhaust bangs on the upshifts: it's just showing off, for me. Shame, because it's not a spine breaking sports car and could easily be a daily ride (for who can afford it...).
I'm glad you agree with me, Dario ! Always good to read comments from people who have driven the cars themself. Greetings, Guido
WHERE can you rent an A45 AMG? THAT'S the way to do a test drive!
What was the daily rate?
As always, another informative and interesting review by Guido!
I can't wait until you review the Porsche Macan PDK - when can we expect it? For similar money, the Macan S seems like a far superior choice for people who have a family and love driving.
I hope so...Getting testcars is still difficult and sometimes frustrating to be honest ;)
It's a shame that you were disappointed with this car and in particular the dual clutch gearbox. Having currently got one of the last of the mk2 TTRS's in manual form I have been struggling to find a suitable replacement for future but guess I will hang on to it for a little while longer. That is of course if Mercedes have ironed out the fun issues with their 2016 improved 381bhp model.
I look forward to testing this out for us if possible.
I really like your car reviews sir. They are so good. Just one question, for the money you have to pay for this car, you could get a relatively good condition second hand C63, wouldn't everyone just do that instead, its much better?
Decisions, decisions-SLK55 AMG or this car?
Greetings, thank you for the informative review.
Regarding that DCT, is the lag equivalent to that in the 7-speed transmission?
Alsaddique : Yes, that's what I'm saying later in the video. Not what you expect from a dual clutch and by far the worst thing about this car imo
TheGetawayer interesting, what a shame.. hope it gets sorted in the updated one in few years time, thanks again.
Will you be reviewing the BMW M235i ?! I really hope so!
Nope, BMW doesn't give me testcars
Damn them !
TheGetawayer Can't you rent one?
I doubt they have them as rental cars
The Getrag dct470 dissengages the clutch when you brake, so it can shift faster in corners during braking, when I select from 4th the 2`nd gear, it does that without a question.
Shifting mid-corner is not a driving style that I would recommend...
TheGetawayer When I enter the corner, I brake hard to avoid oversteer, and during the braking the clutch is dissengaged, I can shift to 2`nd gear, and after the apex (or a tiny bit before) I can release the brake and give full throttle so I can have a good corner exist speed.
I drive a tuned evo x MR, that has this dual clutch system that really listens to you, it lets me hit the rev limiter and won`t shift up, it really lets me make mistakes, and takes downshifts when it would not be a good idea, like misshifts from 5`th to 2nd hitting 8000 rpm, and it lets me remove the torque limiter from the gearbox, so it really lets the owner destroy it, that explains all those broken gearboxes.
And it is tunable, SSP and Dodson, Exceedy make clutch packs, and seals, extra coolers, oil pans, so it is a much better gearbox that the Mercedes dct, and the VW. The only better and more intuitive is the PDK from Porsche, as I read that is currently one of the best DCT`s.
hi Guido what do you think about the future of cars considering driverless cars are soon to hit the market??
Great for traveling, bad for people that enjoy driving :)
I donno if its a German thing, but I am really missing your Mercedes S65 AMG review. Or even a normal 2014 S Class review would do. I think there are a lot of Merc fans waiting for the same.
Krishna Chaitanya : The number of cars that I can get is very limited and Mercedes doesn't keep many S65 press cars. That means that those cars are given to the big media, which makes it hard for me to ever get the chance to review one. Last year they only had one G65 press car for the entire world ( imagine that ! ). But I will do my best and try to bring you more Mercedes content. Greetings from germany, TheGetawayer
Hi Getawayer! Yes, i know about that G 65 AMG, heard it from Motortrend channel. But, a normal S500 would be very interesting. Or even better, why not do a comparison between S class vs BMW 7 series? Both are updated for 2014 i think. Anyways, I am a huge fan for your way of narration. Greetings from India, my friend.
so many people and reviewers rate the transmission so badly - i have a c250 sport and i want this car next but i feel im just going to get the same hesitant laggy and uncertain shifts, wonder if mercedes will address this soon!
I have an e55 w211 amg and I want to get a new car. I have already order a 2015 mustang, but I don't know, if I should get a cla45 amg instead
My family and I (Currently 18) are buying our first Mercedes AMG model. We usually had Honda and now BMW. I'm making research about the best one and the one which will suit us. Our budget is around 30k, and i really like the CLA AMG 45. Do you recommend it for a family of 5 or do you think another AMG model is better than this one which is within our budget?
Thanks and great review!
GoldenBoyGamingHD I think its way too small for 5 people. Go at least for the bigger C-Class, so everyone can be comfortable in the backseat :)
Cheera. So do you mean the CLS-Coupe or shall i just avoid the Coupe version since they seem a bit smaller at the back. A specific model suggested would be appreciated. Keep it up, love your videos!
Buy a c63 amg , its one hell of a ride 475hp and rwd , and most its big enough for 5 people
+Mosakoe_069 a c63 costs about 100k
4:40 DID I JUST SEE SOMEONE MOVE OUT OF THE PASSING LANE FOR A FASTER CAR😳😳. I don’t know if this video is in America but never in my life have I ever seen such an act🤣
Welcome to germany, Eric ;)
Another excellent review!
You seem a bit disappointed with the car - some of the interior plastics are cheap, and you biggest disappointment seems to be the transmission. Do you think a manual transmission would suit the car better?
Yes a manual would be great. I'm know for being a huge supporter of the manual transmission ;)
I would go for the m235i, i prefer it over the cla even if this one is a great car!
Is the transmission that bad? (In auto or manual mode?) I had this car as my first pick then s3 or s4, golf r last place
Giudo did You ever drive the RS5? If so what did You think of it?
RazorFX I love the free-revving V8, but it lacks torque low down. I would have a C63 Coupe personally, or wait for the new C63 if you want awd...But the RS5 is a wonderful and beautiful car. Check out the review that my buddy Nick Murray filmed ;)
TheGetawayer
Thanks for the reply. Best of luck!
You got the green sticker to save the planet so boost away.
If the bonnet gets hot after spirited driving and you may.easily burn your self when lifting the hood, man what were the engineers thinking by putting the turbo in an easily assessable area, where the owner can easily burn himself. Also whats going to happen to the fans after being so exposed to that heat
Mercedes has a lot of good cars in his lineup right now, the best in the premium market, but, in my opinion, the CLA and the A-class are two misses. They are quite expensive, but they have the cheap car feeling. Not having gas hood struts and the orgy of plastic on the interior gives you the idea that this car was built with many compromises in mind!
Whats the name of the background song?
i thought it had red seatbelt on the AMG?
sweet engine, small back seat.
Guido - how tall are you?
What does the PP mean in your description?
3Vimages Performance Package
TheGetawayer Oh yeah! Thanks. I am getting my CLA 45 AMG delivered in October .... cant wait!
3Vimages Congrats ! Make sure you tell me your thoughts on the transmission. I hear its been re-worked since I tested the car here :)
TheGetawayer I will let you know ... I had a test car for a couple of hours last week and couldn't fault anything including the transmission but didn't really have a chance to give it a full test.
Thank you for your review. I'm going to pass on this car. I'm taking out a new S3 here in Canada on Saturday. That's the car I'm leaning towards.
5:12-5:19 DAMN
Ich frag mich, warum der CLA überhaupt hinten Türen hat, wenn man eh da nicht sitzen kann :3
Ein Mini-CL Coupe wäre schöner gewesen :)
No hood struts on a $60k car?
Andreas Koudellou : Nope. I was pretty shocked about that
what does the AMG stand for?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-AMG
TheGetawayer thank you.... i really do enjoy your reviews... thanks again....
what's pp?
***** It stands for the optional Performance Package
It should come with a choice of 6 speed manual & auto.
Once again another great video review. How can those annoying idiots on tfl car get flown to press drives and you don't?!? F-ed up
If only I knew, buddy...Dealing with pr-departments is rather frustrating sometimes. I'm actually not sure how much longer I want to do this hole UA-cam-Thing...
Plastic? Dude, it's all about furnishing u've chosen.
First things first...that's a fucking nice intro!!! Trust me I can't say it without swearing!! My apollogies!
As for the car...yes, the plastic that is right in front of your eyes it really feels cheap in every A or CLA, it does look to discrete for my taste. I can barely recognize it from a 220 Cdi with the AMG package, a few weeks ago only turned my neck the second time to check the car, just because of the sound, it was definitely a A 45 AMG, but at first glance...looked like a Renault powered A 180 Cdi with the AMG package. lol
The transmission part, it's really sad that's an issue for the car, nice chassis, awd, good suspension and a transmission brain with it's own will? Not good for me...I like to feel that I'm in control of the fun in a car, don't like when cars spoil the fun for me and finally...yes, it's not cheap. I'd have a Cayman please or a Second Hand 911 Turbo! :>
Good review!!
Thanks, Mico ! So glad you like the video. Looks like the CLA 45 isn't the best affordable sportscar as we hoped, right ? ;)
TheGetawayer I guess it's not!! As I'd rather have a Cayman or a second hand 911 or a second hand C 63 AMG! :D