Hi everyone I have a 2012 C63 coupe and was looking to get some input on trading it for a CLA45. I got the C tuned a few months ago and it brought out the inner beast and I love it, but as my first winter approaches with this car I'm getting worried about my daily commute and feel that the CLA being AWD and the little monster it is would still provide me with the fun factor as well as all season drive-ability. Most importantly I don't want to regret getting rid of the C and missing its insane power and beauty, but I will be test driving the CLA in the next few days so that will give me an insight on the driving feel and power at least.

Just curious as to what you guys think and if anyone else is on the same boat about going from a C63 to CLA45.

Thanks everyone would appreciate some insight on this!

Buy some Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32s. Go with a 225/40R-18 square setup.

Sit back in awe as your C63 marches through snow uneventfully.

I've been debating getting a CLA45 but can't really justify leasing one for a similar payment as my C63 which is 12K more. I'm going to at least wait until discounts are more plentiful and probably by that time we'll know exactly what the next gen C63 will be packing. For once I'm not going to impulse buy!

I have winters for my C63, that thing is ****ing awesome with snow tires.


But then again, I can't wait for the 45 to arrive and march thru the snow with it!

I was thinking of trading my C63 for a CLA45 not too long ago. I really like the CLA...it's styling & performance would be a refreshing change as I've had my C63 since 4/08. (Not that i don't still get excited every time i get in it) I test drove the CLA250 & it was pretty nice so i could imagine how the CLA45 feels. Benz does say that more power can be extracted from the CLA45. I finally made the decision to wait & purchase the new 2015 C63. It will have approx 493 hp that can be easily tuned to about 600, 4matic & lighter than the current one. Also much more luxurious. No brainer to me now.

Having driven both the cla45 and the c63 pp around a small racetrack i would purchase the cla...

It all depends what you are looking for but imo the cla 45 fits my needs better for the following reasons:

- you can justify it unlike a c63
- fuel consumption is great
- easier to park in Europe!
- 4 matic makes it perfect when it rains and snow.
- acceleration "feels" the same around a racetrack.
- the cla is more fun imo because you can drive stupid but it feels so safe!
- with the special exhaust the 45 sounds sick!
- very quick, small and incredible handling !

I hope this helps.

I agree. I don't understand why people are down playing the power on the CLA45 versus the C63. I drove a 2013 C63 507 at a recent AMG driving event and given the altitude here it felt much slower than the CLA 45 on the track given the twin scroll turbos compensating for altitude loss.

The 2015 C63 should be better with a new turbo charged V8, but if it is anything like in the E63 I drove, there is definite turbo lag as the bi-turbo V8 is NOT a twin scroll set up like the M133 engine in the CLA45. I own a CLA 45 and its a blast, AWD is amazing!

Only downside to AWD IMO is you don't get the feed back when your car starts to slip out of control on a track like in a RWD car. AWD gives you false sense of confidence to push the car harder and harder

I had 2008 C63 now bought A45 AMG Edition 1. Before buying it I felt the same should I go for it or not because power will be less but now Im glad that I bought it.

Things I like is: DCT its so nice, sound of engine and up shift pop is great, AWD system is so nice you can hit corner so fast and safe than C63, etc.

Right now I dont need to tune becuase happy as it is but when the time comes to tune it it seems like that it turns in to a beast.

A45 and CLA45 is a great car.

there's alot of things you DONT get w/ the CLA that IMO don't justify a 60k price tag.

Keyless Go
Headlight washers

Just a few of the let downs I can remember

having said that however, the C63 isn't practical for me b/c of MPG and RWD....

Id prefer an AWD C63 w/ better gas mileage vs a CLA AMG but the first doesn't yet exist

How will a AWD V8 C63 AMG be better gas mileage than a RWD V8 C63 AMG??? If anything it will be worse....

It's supposed to have a 4.0TT V8 so it will definitely get better MPGs over the 6.2 regardless of AWD. Not CLA45 mileage though!

^^Thanks I was about to drop a bomb on the guy^^

Lol...sorry to steal your thunder!

I don't really get how you can compare a 2.0L, 4-cylinder turbo engine to a 6.2L, NA V8.

The power delivery, the engine's ability to rev, the sound, etc. are really not comparable at all.

The CLA45 is an awesome car and I wouldn't mind trying one someday but with the rarity of large displacement, NA engines these days, I can always wait to get a turbocharged car and one will be around.

Of course, I'm at sea level and my 6.2L V8 pulls like a monster stock. It's other-worldly with the Eurocharged tune active.

The CLA will NEVER be the same as the C63, they are completely different cars for different markets.

The CLA will not have a lot of stuff that my C63 provides. At the end remember it's still the lower end of the scale.

There are many thing I want from the S63 or what not but that's not the case and there is no such thing as the perfect car... just what you want to sacrifice to gain something else.

I 100% agree, I just laugh about how on this forum there appears to be so much pretentiousness calling the CLA 45 a lower end car. At the end of the day it is an AMG, and a Mercedes. Like you said there is no perfect car, all about trade offs....all Mercedes are amazing cars.

I get tired of reading all these C63 fellows down playing the CLA 45 as if its some inferior cheap product. Drive one first before knocking it, Motor Trend just tested it and is as fast as a Bentley Continental GT, BMW M5 and faster than Camaro SS 1LE (http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...mg_first_test/)

C63 is a great car, I have never knocked it, but for my climate in Canada, AWD just makes more sense

As quick to 60, not as fast. After 60 the CLA will see taillights from all three.

It is impressive, that the CLA45 stock traps what my modded CLK55 can muster.

To the OP.

IMO. If i personally had a tuned 2012 C63 Coupe, I would not buy a CLA45. As others have said, just throw some Blizzaks on, and you will be fine. I drove my SRT-6 in Chicago winters on all seasons, was it fun no, but it was doable. Did the same in my 2001 CLK55. With blizzaks on the Crossfire, I had no problem going through 8 inches of snow. Blizzaks are definitely worth the investment. Especially nicely equipped the CLA approaches 60k, then add the hit you will take on the C63.

With that said, I do not drive my 2005 CLK55 in the snow. Not because of fear of not handling it, but the fear of salt. It is too pristine to drive all year round. So I have a 2004 SRT-4, I use for daily/winter duty. I also have a dedicated set of snow tires/wheels for the SRT-4 but didn't even install them last year, as the Conti DWS all seasons are amazing.

Given my future real estate condition it would be nice to consolidate to one car. The CLA45 pretty much takes my two cars and combines them into one. I am really considering selling both my current cars and picking one up.

I am holding to see how the aftermarket performs though.

Good luck in what ever way you decide to go. IMO, keep the C63