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Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:09 am
by guffy
I test drove the new AMG 45 yesterday and was blown away enough to put a deposit down!
Getting back in the old RS4 felt more like a battle worn warrior compared to the new kid on the block.
Trying to figure out how I can keep the old girl, more from a practical viewpoint than financial, hate the thought of her not being used.
It might be considered a downward step if I do sell up for a hot hatch, but the AMG really is a beast (it's no beauty!). It is expensive for a hatch (£38k, £42k with options), but worth it to me, plus it should be reasonably uncommon.
355bhp, 332lb-ft, 4-matic drive and a very impressive suspension set-up, a rorty exhaust and a fantastic interior tick all the boxes for me. Would have preferred a manual option, but never had an auto before, so may enjoy a change, although it is the one reservation I have about the car.
It really is quite a B road weapon, a standard RS4 would not get past it, it's composure round the corners is rock solid and the steering is pin sharp.
Will try and at least keep the RS4 for a bit after I have the AMG in case I've made a horrendous mistake

Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:25 am
by Spaceman_RS4
Nice one iv been looking and reading a lot bout these. Look great might be a plan in a year or two. You'll need to post some pics up to. How long for build?
Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:46 am
by Noyjatat
Sounds good buddy, was it wet when you took it out? If not might be worth booking a second test drive hopefully on a wet day. Known a few guys change their minds on Jags/Mercs/Beemers once they took them out in the wet. I'm not saying they are bad in the wet just that you need two driving styles weather dependent.
Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:11 am
by PJC
It's four wheel drive.
Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:13 am
by PJC
Saw one at Mercedes World about two months ago, left hand drive and sorry you can't open the door to get a better look.
Did look good though, not sure about the IPad stuck on the dash though.
Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 2:26 pm
by 535dboy
PaulRS4 wrote:
Did look good though, no sure about the IPad stuck on the dash though.
Agree that looks awful but the car is on our radar to replace the Porsche in a few years
Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 3:09 pm
by guffy
I had the same reservations about the dash mounted ipad thingy, it's not the clean-line look I normally like, but when you're sat in the car, it suddenly makes sense. The rest of the layout is clean and functional, but stylish too.
I should get the car at the end of September/beginning of October. ALl 20 build slots that the dealer had allocated are gone now, so might be into next year for the next batch. This is Aberdeen though, paradise for car salesman!
I've ordered white with 19in spoke Matt Black wheels, panoramic sunroof, sports exhaust and heated seats/washers. There's actually very few options to choose from, although the salesman tried really hard to sell me the driving experience event which includes removing the top-speed limiter for £2k, almost suggesting I was mad not to take it. Either I was missing something or it's the biggest waste of wonga since I purchased £2k of dot-com shares in 1999.
Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:42 pm
by mark758
Its horses for courses, one man's bread etc.... but I felt the interior build quality was terrible. The carbon body add-ons look very halfords.
Realistically they are very few cars that (without a professional race driver) would 'drive round' any well driven 4WD 400bhp car on public B road imho

There are a few companies that produce much better 4wd system then the 4matic and it's not difficult to squeeze 400 bhp put of 2 litres.
Gut feel is there are quite a few more attractive, better performing auto solutions to 400bhp 2L turbo 4wd than the A45.
I'd keep my powder dry and see if a saloon RS3 appears, but a second hand RS3 sportback with a 410bhp remap feels a better buy....or anything with a V8 lol
Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 8:28 pm
by Graeme4130
I've heard mixed opinions from those that have driven one.
I've only had a limited peak at it, and it's certainly a purposeful looking car
Out of interest, how did you find the firmness of the suspension ? Evo mag seemed to think it was too tough, whereas a 991 C2S owning friend of mine said it was fine after a test drive.
I might have to pop over the dealership for a good look this week
Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:34 pm
by Noyjatat
Hehe I obviously haven't read the brochure

four wheel drive
What would be the other German alternatives then in the same price/model region?
Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:02 pm
by Nickyboy
Noyjatat wrote:Hehe I obviously haven't read the brochure

four wheel drive
What would be the other German alternatives then in the same price/model region?
Nothing being built at the moment. We await the new 1M and RS3.
Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 12:13 pm
by guffy
Graeme4130 wrote:
Out of interest, how did you find the firmness of the suspension ? Evo mag seemed to think it was too tough, whereas a 991 C2S owning friend of mine said it was fine after a test drive.
The ride is firm, but not choppy IMO, just feels so solid with very little body roll and superb cornering grip.
It will have it's haters as it does try and make a fairly bold statement which can often result in some polarised opinions

Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 4:58 pm
by Dec369
I think they look nice from the front but then all falls apart at the back, looks like a squashed CLS lol
Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:20 pm
by sakimano
Dec369 wrote:I think they look nice from the front but then all falls apart at the back, looks like a squashed CLS lol
Are you referring to the new four door saloon CLA?
I thought OP bought an A45 (below) not a CLA45 (farther down) .
Vs

Re: Test drove an AMG 45 yesterday....
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:00 pm
by Surrey Sam
Chirs Harris has just done a written review on the AMG A45, he states that a video against the M135 will be forth coming in a couple of weeks.
When it comes to looks though, I thought my fall from the ugly tree was bad...but that thing has me trumped
http://www.pistonheads.com/roadtests/do ... 10&i=28045