Interesting the little Benz is pretty sweet!


http://www.mercedescla.org/forum/14-...d-ep-63-a.html

 

Emphasis on "little".

 

GLA45 AMG should sell very well outside the US market. For the US market, it is too hot hatch looking, people who are 40 years or older will likely shy away from it.

Younger drivers will have a much easier time to embrace the GLA45, but not a lot of them have the financial means to drive it.

GLA45 is certainly more fun to drive than Macan.

 

Macan Turbo and GLA45 are both nice and performance are actually quite similar.
Lightly optioned M'Turbo is around $90K
Good optioned GLA45 is about $60K
I think the M'Turbo is better looking and more versatile. But for $60K, the GLA45 is a good alternative

 

Call me crazy but I'd still choose S over GLA45 (and I did). I just can't imagine myself driving such an ugly car.

 

You're not crazy, Macan S is a fine choice.

But looks are subjective. Case in point are the two Macan's in my neighborhood are owned by women. My wife likes the shape of the Macan because its not too masculine like the tradition SUV.

Personally, I like both if optioned the way I want it.

 

MB did a great job on the GLA but personally I would prefer an unstressed V6 over a higher-strung 4-banger.

 

Oddly, that's what the V8 guy said about the turbo charged V6's...

"...personally I would prefer an unstressed V8 over a higher-strung 6-banger"

 

LOL! Too true! And in this case I agree with the V8 guy.

But given that in these two examples there are no V8's currently offfered...

 

As far as engine, it is about priority.

V8s have the sound and power, but low MPG and no exclusivity. You can have it in a $30K Stang GT, or a pickup truck, all the way to $200K supercars.

The Porsche flat 6 does not have the same sound effect but is legendary. However the Macan has a regular V6. Although not sounding as good as a V8, still better than the AMG 4 banger, also the exhaust makes up for some sound effect.

The AMG 2.0L does not have any sound advantage, but if you like turbo spooling, a bit mod at the intake makes it sound like a race car on the track. It has fuel economy too. More important is that it is the most powerful production 2.0L engine in the world with an autograph on it. So it has the exclusivity, or a bragging right.

Can't have it all, so pick your poison.

 

Only 2 slots in my garage. One for an SUV and one for a mid engine 2 seat coupe. And I much prefer PCA for club activities. No room for a small hatch, and no GLA in my future.

As far as comparisons, it compares better to the VW VTI or R. Check out this review: http://m.caranddriver.com/mercedes-benz/gla45-amg

 

Same here except I don't want a full size SUV (selling Cayenne)...Macan and Cayman are what I am after.