The Illusion that is the Mercedes CLA

"LJ909" (lj909) 08/31/2015 at 22:40 • Filed to: None

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So my sister just bought this particular CLA this past weekend in this weird purple color. With her having a busy schedule I asked if I could use it for a few hours while she took care of some other errands. While having it in my possession, that’s when I discovered that the CLA is just basically an illusion of driving an actual Mercedes.

Obviously Mercedes has to cut some corners to get the price point low (which isn’t as low as it once was. The CLA has basically taken the place of the C CLass in price) but to me, it feels 10-12 grand cheaper than it really is in the driving dynamics and with some of the interior features. Heres a few things that stuck out like a sore thumb to me:

The eco mode start stop is abrupt and kind of noisey with no noticeable increase in fuel economy.

The turbo 4 isn’t refined and quiet at all. Its economy car like in sound, especially at full throttle

Dash materials look nice but aren’t upon close inspection, especially the horrible faux wood trim in her car. Looks like it belongs in my grandmas 88 New Yorker.

The seats are horrible and feel as if they aren’t mounted very well

I gave the car back to my sis in less than 2 hours. When I handed her the keys I said how could you buy this. But she’s a badge whore of the worst kind. If a Kia Rio had a Mercedes symbol on it she would have bought it. But as I said before, its basically some other kind of near luxury car masquerading as a MB all the while trying to pass off the illusion that its as well engineered as the rest of its lineup mates. How do you guys feel about the CLA and do you agree with me?

Nibby > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 22:46

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Similar thoughts on the car.

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/i-drove-a-cla2…

But hey, if she likes it... :/

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 22:46

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http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/…

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 22:48

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sat in one. was a bit “meh” imo.

wafflesnfalafel > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 22:49

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I was up in Vancouver, BC this weekend and they are all over up there, thousands of them. It’s the least expensive way to roll behind a new three pointed star...

Noah - Now with more boost. > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 22:51

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I cringe every time I see someone looking smug behind the wheel of a CLA. They have no idea why it’s an inferior product and they feel like they've just bought an S550.

Wobbles the Mind > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 22:53

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I don’t know why everyone seems surprised. The quality is the exact same as the old C250s before it when they were in that price range. I think nostalgia is setting in early and we are acting like the C-class was decent by any stretch in that range.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Nibby 08/31/2015 at 22:54

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CLA drivers like 2 things: The badge, and the “wood” because they think it's real.

x87172 > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 22:55

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This.

I can't figure out why people think a new CLA is more Mercedes than a used E-class.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 22:55

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Perfect summation. It’s the throwaway model so the peons can say they own a Mercedes.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 23:24

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I kinda like that purple color tho. I’ve seen a few on the road and it is one of my favorite new car colors. But I want it on something like an E350 wagon because I'm weird.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 23:25

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It’s a brand thing. People don’t want an Android because they want to say that they have an iPhone. Same with a Mac. For what most people use them for, they’re exactly the same. I’d rather have an Avalon.

wiffleballtony > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 23:28

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I saw one up close today. Those rims are horrible. They look like they’re off a Malibu.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 23:55

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This. It's a sham of a mercedes. They should never of made it . For stage sake money you could have a perfect 2006 S65, AND a pile of maintainence money .

Steve in Manhattan > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 23:56

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My question: if you replace the Benz badges with Toyota badges and billed it as a Camry Turbo, would it be believable? Would it fool anyone?

LJ909 > Noah - Now with more boost. 08/31/2015 at 23:57

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That’s EXACTLY it. The people just care that it’s a Mercedes.

LJ909 > Wobbles the Mind 08/31/2015 at 23:59

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Guess it just feels worse with the CLA because while the old C Class may have had similar quality, it was at least rwd and had a V6. The CLA has basic quality with a 4 cylinder and its fwd. Some how that makes it worse.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > LJ909 08/31/2015 at 23:59

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Yeah, at that price point I would find a gently used Merc of a different class. My W123 will last forever so I am not looking. I was wondering about these Mercs, they look like Civic rivals.

LJ909 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 09/01/2015 at 00:00

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Very weird. I hate this color. Reminds me of that weird purple color that the Oval gen Ford Taurus of the 90’s came in.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > LJ909 09/01/2015 at 00:01

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Well mostly that’s what any buyer of any class are like, BMWs, people who can’t drive at all or extract any performance from high end models putting around town or to tennis.

LJ909 > Steve in Manhattan 09/01/2015 at 00:02

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For some reason I think if that happened, it would be more accepted for actually being worse.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > LJ909 09/01/2015 at 00:03

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I may or may not have owned a purple Windstar from that era. I also convinced my wife to buy a Blackberry Pearl 1st-gen Fit. I have something wrong with me.

coqui70 > LJ909 09/01/2015 at 00:09

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Idiots ... for that money you can get a much nicer Volvo S60, Passat CC or a real (but used) Mercedes. Heck even the 320i is a better deal for what you get for the price.

Steve in Manhattan > LJ909 09/01/2015 at 00:18

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I think you’re right - that would be a great experiment - put a bunch of enthusiasts in a hot German sedan (not that this is one) and put Toyota or Hyundai badges on it. Like the movie Bottle Shock - blind taste testing of CA wines against French wines, and the Americans won. If you haven’t seen it, watch it now - probably still streaming on Netflix. It features Alan Rickman at his most Rickmanish. Might just watch it a 3rd time now.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > LJ909 09/01/2015 at 00:20

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These are seriously tacky with that chrome... They’re also the same vents I have in my 35 year old pickup

Party-vi > LJ909 09/01/2015 at 07:25

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Luxury cars should not have 4-cylinder engines.

CammedCTSV > LJ909 09/01/2015 at 07:29

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CLA45 AMG is an odd car to say the least

But SR20 on sister?

BloodlessWeevil > LJ909 09/01/2015 at 08:30

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That sums up my opinion of the whole lineup.

Vzwolf > Wobbles the Mind 09/01/2015 at 10:59

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Thank you for this. I requested a Camry instead of the old C class every time I went in for service for my old Mercedes. I didn’t quite get this car until one of my friends bought one [CLA], and then the whole “getting people into the brand” thing made sense. And he’s ecstatic about his car so why rain on his parade?

Xander, Proud of BOXER > LJ909 09/14/2015 at 21:33

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The base four cylinder in the C250 is worse than the CLA.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > LJ909 09/14/2015 at 23:31

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I would get a B-class before getting a CLA. But then again, I would get a Ford Transit Connect before getting a B-class. And I would get either a used Mazda 5, Focus wagon, Jetta/Golf TDI wagon, PT Cruiser or Chevy HHR (all of which can be had with a manual) before getting the Transit Connect.

And if I wanted turbocharged FWD performance, then either the HHR SS or PT Cruiser GT.

Mercedes doesn’t make anything I want or need.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Party-vi 09/14/2015 at 23:50

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Volvo, Saab, BMW, Mercedes, Lincoln, Cadillac, Audi, Jaguar and Aston Martin all disagree.

Rolls Royce and Bentley agree.

Party-vi > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 09/15/2015 at 07:58

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Volvo and Saab are not luxury brands. Lincoln isn’t either. Just because you have an option for leather seats does not mean you have a luxury car brand. A 4 cylinder is not as refined nor as smooth as a 6.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Noah - Now with more boost. 09/19/2015 at 18:50

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That’s why a badge backlight is an option on their lower-end offerings.