Sanders27

I may regret this question but oh well...

Any C63 owners actually drive or have driven the CLA45? Just curious what your thoughts are. I went to look at a crap C63 that was a good in pictures but trash in person. While at the dealer they had several new CLA45s that honestly looked a whole lot better than what I expected. I had this very negative stance on the CLA in general for years but it looked pretty good.

So any first hand experience on them anyone?

austintipton

I've driven the car at AMG academy twice, doing the autocross. They are very different cars. I don't like the way the 45 drives. I am a big fan of rear wheel drive and big power. I want power oversteer on command.

This is pretty classic get what you pay for. The 45 is going to be cheaper to maintain, but not as fun to drive.

I've spent $5,700 fixing little issues with my 50k miles 2011 C63 in the past 12 months. That excludes tires, gas and insurance. But I LOVE my car and want it more than the face-lift or new w205 C63.

Sanders27

Thank you. I was thinking something along the same lines but my wife was planting the seed of "if it's cheaper to own, insure, comes with a warranty, why don't you get that" . I tried to explain the 'feel' but just didn't register

skullbox15

I considered buying one before I bought my C63 because it was cheaper. I was used the performance of the C32/C55 and the CLA45 seemed to be in that ball park. But it's a much smaller car. I haven't driven a 45, but the standard CLA I got as a loaner car once was really cheap inside and I could tell the build quality wasn't the same. To me, the C class is still the base model. MB came out with the CLA which IMHO is a Carolla with a MB star on it. Now that they have a "cheaper" version, it gives them an excuse to charge more the C-class now.

I saw a brand new C300 at my local mall. Sticker on it was 40k... No way in hell I'd pay 40k for a C300.

I'd try to find a C450 or C43 if you wanted a "cheaper" comparison. When I bought my C63, I would have entertained a C450 but there just weren't any in my local area at the time as they were pretty new.

Sanders27

I think for what I am looking to spend (low-mid 30s max) I should be able to find what I am hunting for in a C63. To be honest, anything less than a 63 is not on the radar, until the CLA was looked at. I will be using my Pathfinder as the daily so this is just a fun car. So I don't need anything, I just want it . A good example of an 11-13 C63 is about the same price as a 15 CLA, thus the thought process. I appreciate the feedback thus far!

Adi-Benz

I'd also stick with a facelift C63. The CLA45 is fun and it zips around quickly, but there's a few things that just don't make it as special as the C63. It doesn't even have gas hood struts :/

Still a fun car but if the C63 is in the ballpark then I wouldn't bother. Otherwise I would say take a look at the C43's. Though, if youre going to buy a W205, the 2019 facelifts are a MUST have imo.

rustybear3

To me getting a 2015 CLA with a warranty as opposed to a 11-13 C63 without is a deciding factor. Unless you plan on tracking, I don't see major difference between the two that dissuade me from the newer CLA. Repairs as you know are expensive on these cars; why pay for it out of your own pocket?

skullbox15

All valid points above. With low-mid 30s you should be able to find a good C63. No replacement for displacement!

bob2011

I don't even own an AMG, but nothing compares to the snarl of the M156, and that snarl alone would make drool over the C63 lol.

G_Money

You can certainly find a well squared away facelift C63 with decently low miles.

baronuae

I had 2013 C63 coup then sold it and I got A45. it is an amazing car, pretty fast, and with the right tuning you can outrun C63. but the feeling of driving 4cylinder car after 8 bit muscle car is crap. I sold my A45 and bought C63 507, and honestly I felt the difference. big engine, back wheel drive, and an open with no end of modification and upgrades. but the bill of C63 of maintenance is pretty high than the A45. in the end it is up to you, and your wallet size.

Vladds

I don't need the CLA, have the Subaru, faster than the CLA stock at this stage.
Different car, for a different purpose. Closer to a racing car, in terms of weight, rally or the track, either option is open.
On the road, in rain it can be very very stable at speed and in snow, depending on tires I noticed that I am far from the limits in therms of grip.
4 cylinders can sound good too, as long as they're not trying so hard to sound like something different.
Mine is a twin scroll, so sounds a bit different that the customary Sti warble.
On top of everything else, they can be had for peanuts and everything has been documented, what works and what not.
The downside is the demographic, stayed 18-22, but hey, don't own the car for the demographic.
I'll try to dig out a sound file.

Sanders27

Appreciate all the legit feedback. Was expecting a bunch of shade towards the CLA. I will probably give it a drive and see how it goes. Most of my driving with whatever car would just be around town. I don't race or track anything and usually drive the slow lane I just like to know the power is there and have some joy with 0-60 and merging to about 60.

equetefue

Drove it at the academy and the turbo lag from a dig is pretty noticeable. I would go for a C43 or 63

rustybear3

That's the smart thing to do. Drive it yourself and see for yourself. Like I said, the more important factor IMO is whether there is at least a year's worth of warranty to account for potential problems.

Thrilla

Soubido

I've owned a 2014 CLA45 for a little over 4 years and up to the day that I sold it (I ordered a 2019 C63S Coupe), I've enjoyed every minute of driving it. It's a fun little car that has all the power that you'll ever need and it always puts a smile on my face. You do sacrifice ride quality for a bit more handling but other than that, it's a really good car. I also had zero issues throughout my ownership.

agp423

I like the CLA45 and have owned it. It is a fun car, but not the typical AMG. The CLA45 is more appropriately compared to STIs and Evos, but with a little less steering feedback in my opinion. C63s are more comparable to American muscle cars, but without the trashy interior. Speaking of trashy interior, CLA45 is noticeably budget oriented - from the interior door gap, to the endless creaking of plastics - you'll know when you own one and drive it in the winter.

BalanBro

My bro has a CLA45. If it's a daily driver and you have a decently long commute, I think it's a great combo of power and efficiency. I was shocked with how good mileage it gets considering the power it can make. With any M156 car, you will have to accept that you basically have the worst gas mileage in its class.

If AWD is something that interests you, the C43 is also a good contender. Might be cheaper to maintain in the long-run too since it's a mass produced Mercedes engine unlike the hand made AMG engines in the CLA45 or C63.

Plasar

I test drove a CLA45 once.

Simple equation: V8 > I4

Tirgoman

I had a 2015 GLA45 for 3 years before the C43 I just got. It was a fantastic car, the engine put out I think at the time 360HP, little 4 with twin turbos, I think the new ones are 385. The AMG models of the CLA and GLA are lowered from the regular models and are 4matic so they are biased to be rear wheel drive but you have 4 wheel if you need. A great super powerful and hot car. I had the AMG performance exhaust which I would not be without. The new models are nicer inside and you can get all the goodies. In the end there's almost no difference in price, there is at sticker but MB really pushes the C class sedans. The deal on a C or C43 is so much better in deals and MB subsidizing the deal financially that you won't get on the CLA/GLA. In fact they do so much better on the sedan than the Coupe that it pushed me to the sedan. In Europe it's clearly a Hot Hatch and for some reason in the US they don't push it. I loved the car for it's size and drivability and sort of sleeper aspect because nobody ever expected that performance. They both put out the same HP in the 19s. Get your dealer to let you drive one for a day before you decide.

agp423

Isn't it a twin-scroll turbo, rather than two turbos? Makes no sense for a factory four cylinder to have two turbos.

Cowboy11

new CLA45s might be great looking externally/internally, with great tech...MBUX and amazing powerhouse.
But the lack of exhaust noise puts me off from buying it.

Tirgoman

Yes, typo, here's what MB says about it:

Handcrafted AMG 2.0L inline-4 turbo engineThe most powerful 4-cylinder engine in production, the 375-hp handcrafted AMG engine also boasts the highest hp/liter in the industry, due in no small part to an intercooled twin-scroll turbocharger that pumps out a class-leading 26.1 psi of boost. Along with Direct Injection, rapid-multispark ignition and numerous advances to reduce friction, its peak torque rises to 350 lb-ft, starting at just 2,250 rpm, for a 0-60 rush of just 4.1 seconds
As for the sound, just order the AMG Performance Exhaust for $650 and you're in for a real nice exhaust sound.

BLKROKT

Nobody cares