CTR vs AMG GLA45

[VarmintCong]

I thought this is an interesting comparison cause 1 year old CPO GLA45s go for $50k, and they’re similar to the CTR in being very practical 4 door hatches and similar performance at least straight line.

Seems like maybe 2023 is the last year of the GLA45.

We are planning to buy a CPO GLB 250 next year along with a Type R when we move back to the US. Loved the GLB when I test drove it.

Sponsored

 

[VarmintCong]

The A class available here in Taiwan looks amazing. I see a ton of them (regular and AMGs). We in the US get the pudgy older brother cause SUV.

 

[NoelPR]

The maintenance of that Benz must be fun and cheap.

 

[WeudS]

The maintenance of that Benz must be fun and cheap.

Not to mention insurance and property tax. As far as my tax office and insurance are concerned my civic type r is no more valuable then a base civic hatch. Works for me. ?‍

 

[svvitch]

I looked at GLA in the states when I was shopping. If you actually need to use the backseat the CTR wins. The GLA is much smaller back seat. It is a fun car however just need to get the correct options.

 

[Junsupersti]

 

[Acropora]

As hatch enthusiasts, we should always welcome more competition as that only raises the bar for all manufacturers. Kudos to Mercedes for making something interesting in a car martket where we are moving towards "cars" that dont drive on gas.

 

[VarmintCong]

I looked at GLA in the states when I was shopping. If you actually need to use the backseat the CTR wins. The GLA is much smaller back seat. It is a fun car however just need to get the correct options.

That’s probably cause of the silly sloped roof design that’s all the rage, and eats up rear seat and trunk space. That’s what drew us to the boxy GLB, which is the same car without the cramped rear end design, and looks better imo.

 

[VarmintCong]

The maintenance of that Benz must be fun and cheap.

As long as it’s better than my 2017 Sport hatch.

Depreciation is a bitch, although it’s also why you get $15k off a 1 year old CPO. I kept my 2004 330i for 12 years so it wasn’t a big issue. I find you keep a car longer if you love driving it or it fits your needs perfectly.

 

[VarmintCong]

A good read. The GLA45 wouldn’t have done as well as the A45.

https://www.evo.co.uk/hot-hatchback...mg-a45-s-v-hyundai-i30-n-v-honda-civic-type-r

Which means our winner, by a unanimous decision, is the Honda Civic Type R. The composure and effortless precision of the Civic are sensational, and much else is five-star quality too, from the brakes to the gearshift to the seats. Its depth of ability makes it a remarkable car by any measure.

‘You sense that every single individual involved in its development was on exactly the same page, from the people who make one of the world’s best gearshifts to whoever engineered the click of the heating controls,’ says Ingram. ‘If Honda could somehow engineer-in some of the old naturally aspirated character and sound, it’d be damn near perfect.’

‘It feels like a bigger car now,’ says Taylor, ‘but I love the clarity of it, the feedback through all the controls, the precision of everything. It’s become a cliché, but it really is the hot hatch equivalent of a GT3. Objectively, it’s probably the best front-wheel-drive car I’ve driven.’

The Civic Type R is simply sublime, the most polished, poised and accomplished hot hatchback of all time, and it ensures that the time-served and much-loved internal-combustion hot hatch genre goes out on the highest of highs.

 

[TurboZed-R]

I sold my 23 Amg Cla 45 for my 24 FL5. The hand build 4 cylinder in the 45s is an engineering masterpiece, draggy confirmed 0-60 in 3.9. It's a rocket. However being it's an automatic and has 4matic+ it takes the rawness out of the drive. It's very quiet inside, ride quality is great. Like others have said maintenance isnt cheap, extending the power train warranty on a 45 is 5-7k. Honestly don't miss the Amg, however my wife has a 2024 Gla 35 so I can scratch the mercedes itch whenever I need to.

 

[VarmintCong]

I sold my 23 Amg Cla 45 for my 24 FL5. The hand build 4 cylinder in the 45s is an engineering masterpiece, draggy confirmed 0-60 in 3.9. It's a rocket. However being it's an automatic and has 4matic+ it takes the rawness out of the drive. It's very quiet inside, ride quality is great. Like others have said maintenance isnt cheap, extending the power train warranty on a 45 is 5-7k. Honestly don't miss the Amg, however my wife has a 2024 Gla 35 so I can scratch the mercedes itch whenever I need to.

Thanks for the input!

Yeah, a nice manual gives a car such a huge leg up in fun.

I was trying to drive the Focus ST-Line fast today, put it in sport mode, shift with the paddle shifters (it has a nice 8 speed auto) - it just doesn't feel natural. The car would be a blast in manual (Taiwan only gets the automatic).