Why Buy a New STi/Golf R/Focus RS When You Can Get a Used CLA45?

"valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option" (valsidalv)
10/14/2015 at 10:55 • Filed to: None

Well for starters, the CLA45 does not come with a stick.

But if you are willing to overlook that then what is stopping you? 2014 CLA45’s are now similarly priced to the American hot-hatch trio (fully aware that the STi is not a hatch but it sounds nice to say “hot-hatch trio”). Depending on the example you find you might pay a little more but don’t forget all the stupid dealer add-ons that come with buying a new car.

For the extra cash you get an engine that’s way more powerful than what they put into the STi or the Golf. I’ve never sat in a CLA but I’m going to assume you get a pretty nice interior, because Benz. The STi interior makes me feel like I went backwards in time, but the Golf’s is pretty nice.

As well, and this is kinda significant, if you finance the Benz you get a low 0.9% APR rate. I’ve gotten quotes for both the STi and the R and was given a stupid 4.9%. Does anyone know what Ford is offering with the RS?

DISCUSSION (38)

gin-san - shitpost specialist > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 11:00

I think it's a neat car but having seen a few in person, there's something not quite right about the back end. You can't see it in this shot, but the rear just looks weird to me.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 11:04

Would get a CLA45 over an STI, but over a Golf R or RS.....

Sam > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 11:08

Because then you’re getting one of the hot hatches, without the hatch part, with Mercedes mantainence costs? Plus the DCT is not nearly on par with the DSG in the Golf.

TylerJ > gin-san - shitpost specialist
10/14/2015 at 11:11

The back end definitely kills it for me on this car. Just looks wrong.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Sam
10/14/2015 at 11:16

But you are getting 60 HP more than the Golf. And some people would be inclined to do their own maintenance. And with the difference in finance rates the CLA, even with Benz maintenance costs, might not end up breaking the bank. A 4% difference isn’t completely unnoticeable at this price.

Aaron Brown > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 11:16

because hyperblue STi

FazeRacer > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 11:18

“I’ve never sat in a CLA but I’m going to assume you get a pretty nice interior, because Benz.”

The interior looks nice, but is made of cheap plastic like every other car these days.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Aaron Brown
10/14/2015 at 11:19

The first undebatable response.

Sam > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 11:19

You’d still be paying for parts that cost far more than on a Golf.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 11:29

Because “drift mode” on the RS.

Rico > Sam
10/14/2015 at 11:40

CPO still has warranty, extended warranties are available. That said, fuck the CLA.

Rico > TylerJ
10/14/2015 at 11:41

It’s out of proportion with the short wheelbase and FWD overhang that’s why.

Rico > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/14/2015 at 11:42

I would actually argue that the Golf R may have a better interior. CLA interior is cheapy maybe in AMG form it has more leather but overall not a great place to be and small as hell in the back. I just don’t like the CLA.

Textured Soy Protein > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 12:01

German Golf R + Japanese Impreza STI + American Focus RS = “American hot hatch trio”?

Lenders that are not the manufacturers’ captive financing arms (i.e. Ford Motor Credit) may offer lower interest rates.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 12:21

Buying new cars is stupid.

Used is the best option, so much more car for the money.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Textured Soy Protein
10/14/2015 at 12:37

Yes because these are the hatches (with the exception of the current gen STi but never lose hope for the future) that are available in America. What did you think I meant? Btw the RS is being built in Germany.

Textured Soy Protein > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 13:25

Being available for purchase in America does not make a car American. There are different definitions of “American” cars, but the most common are:

A car sold by a company based in America, built in a factory in America.

A car sold by a company based in America, built in a factory outside America.

A car sold by a company based outside America, built in a factory in America.

The Focus RS is built in Germany by Ford, a company based in America.

The Golf R is built in Germany by Volkswagen, a company based in Germany.

The Impreza STI is built in Japan by Subaru, a company based in Japan.

The only one of these cars that could reasonably claim to be “American” is the Focus RS. There is absolutely nothing American about the Golf R and Impreza STI.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 13:35

in that company I’d still go with the golf R.

why? because my dealer and my tuner are within a 3 mile radius of my home, my dealer loves me (and yes, would cut me a deal) and my tuner sees me every 2-3 months.

So I’d have a 370hp Golf R for less money than any of the other options!

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 13:35

60hp more? nothing a tune can’t fix!

APR exists for a reason y'know :P

pjhusa > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 13:55

CLA interior sux

pjhusa > Sam
10/14/2015 at 13:55

warranty tho

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 14:43

The STi has a huge obnoxious wing and I love it so STi all the way.

B_dol > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 15:29

You obviously haven’t driven one. The direct competitor to the CLA45 is the 228/235i which are vastly superior cars at a better price point.

GolfR can match the interior game and hold similar performance, that’s my pick over the Ford and Subaru.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
10/14/2015 at 16:22

I love the dinner table wing on the STi but I really like the RS’s wing as well. It is way smaller but equally extravagant because it just looks unnecessary.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/14/2015 at 16:25

This is like... super specific to your situation but whatever works for you! What if you took the dealer/tuner out of the equation?

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Textured Soy Protein
10/14/2015 at 16:29

Not sure if you are trolling or just captain idiot. The word “American” was used to refer to the trio as a whole and not any particular one of them because they are all sold in America. Ever heard of the American car market? It refers to cars sold in “America” (which I’m using to say USA but it can also mean all of North America) which includes vehicles from Germany, Japan, Korea, England, etc. If there was a Renault in the list it would no longer be a list of American hot-hatches.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 16:31

if you take the dealer\tuner out of the equation, I’d still get the Golf R. I really like it. drives great (yes, I’ve test driven one. GAWD is it good) looks great, does everything it would need to do as my daily driver, and keeps me in the loop with the VW crowd (a crowd in which I have a few friends....)

EDIT: but, swap the CLA45 AMG for a 2010 E63 AMG, and we're in an entirely different game. odds are that I would buy an E63 AMG used over a new Golf R 7/10

Textured Soy Protein > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 16:39

I’m neither trolling nor captain idiot.

While you might think “American” means “sold in America,” that’s really not what “American” means. “American” means the thing being described as American, in some way originated in America, or is the product of an American company or institution.

So when I or anyone else who knows what “American” actually means read the phrase “American hot hatch trio” it looks like you’re talking about three cars FROM AMERICA. So I was confused as to why you would call Japanese and German cars American.

Instead, if you said “trio of hot hatches available in America,” it would make much more sense.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 16:40

And to finish, I don't want one.

jkm7680 > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 17:28

Looks melty and you can easily tune a new GTI to be FASTER than a CLA for less.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Textured Soy Protein
10/14/2015 at 18:40

It’s a colloquialism, I think it was very widely understood.

Textured Soy Protein > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 19:50

Look, I get that what you meant by “American” was actually “sold in America.”

That’s still not what “American” actually means , nor is it a common usage of “American.”

If a word that means “from a place” could also mean “sold in a place,” nobody would be able to figure out if the word were being used to describe an object’s place/culture of origin, or the location it was being sold.

“Italian olive oil” means olive oil made from olives grown in Italy.

“Florida orange” means an orange grown in Florida.

“Indian coriander” means a powder of ground cilantro seeds grown in India.

“Japanese knife” means a knife made in Japan.

“Wisconsin cheese curds” means cheese curds made in Wisconsin.

Just because I live in Wisconsin, and at my local supermarkets I can buy Parmigiano Reggiano, Brie, and Emmentaler cheeses, does not mean they are Wisconsin cheeses, because they are made in Italy, France and Switzerland.

Just because someone in Jamaica can buy a Jaguar XF, Honda Civic, and BMW 535i, doesn’t mean they are Jamaican cars, because those cars are made in England, Japan and Germany.

How many more ways can I possibly explain this?

Jdrentarol > Aaron Brown
10/14/2015 at 19:59

Dear Aaron Brown...

Listen to this man’s stupidity.

Steered by hamsters, powered by f*%$ing idiots.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/14/2015 at 21:25

I prefer the sedan of the STi anyway. Not that the RS’s wing isn’t equally obnoxious lol

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Textured Soy Protein
10/15/2015 at 01:05

You understood what I meant!! So you were just being a grammar nazi, which I’m totally cool with. Just didn’t really expect that to happen here on Jalopnik.

Textured Soy Protein > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/15/2015 at 11:24

My original post was a response to the actual meaning of the words you wrote. I.e. “Why are you saying these cars that are not from America, are American?”

Once you explained that you were not using the word “American” to mean “something from America” even though that’s what “American” means, I understood what you were trying to say, even though the words you used didn’t mean what you were trying to say.

All these other posts have been because for some reason you keep saying in new and different ways that your made-up definition is actually the real definition.

Aaron Brown > Jdrentarol
10/16/2015 at 03:05

i like subarus

Jdrentarol > Aaron Brown
10/16/2015 at 09:00

Who doesn’t?

Kinja'd!!!