Spent all day driving a GLA250 - AMA

"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
10/06/2017 at 20:24 • Filed to: None

Had this Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4matic for the day, to ferry me, my uncle, and my aunt to and from the Niagara Falls (best side of course, the Canadian one).

The Falls were awesome! Didn’t know they were this impressive. Also hadn’t expected to find all the entertainment around it.

Crappy phone shot, better ones to come to Photography some day.

We basically spent whole afternoon sitting in Toronto traffic, on the way back, and it is definitely good for that. Don’t use it to get flatpack furniture from Ikea (needed a desk) with 3 people in it, because you will end up having to have one of the passengers squashed behind the furniture. Also parking sucks, because you have basically only the mirrors to use due to those huge pillars. In Europe that wouldn’t be a problem, but apparently using spherical mirrors is too much to ask for here...

Anyhow, AMA (Either about the Benz or the trip to the Falls, or anything else really)

DISCUSSION (13)

average user > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
10/06/2017 at 20:54

At barely 200hp, how did the car drive? I almost got a CLA but I decided against it because it’s history of complaints and the very apparent cheapness.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > average user
10/06/2017 at 21:03

Well, it sure has enough power to get out of it’s own way, but I wouldn’t call it fast. It definitely doesn’t feel like a 200hp car, and is pretty slow to respond to throttle (probably just how the pedal is mapped). The handling was decent, but not great, due to the highter centre of mass. All in all, I liked it enough to spend a day with it, but it wouldn’t make my list if I were shopping for a crossover in this price range.

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
10/06/2017 at 21:09

Why is it so expensive?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough
10/06/2017 at 21:13

[Points at badge]

pip bip - choose Corrour > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
10/06/2017 at 21:22

how well does it hoon?

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough
10/06/2017 at 21:23

Because it is a Benz! (While meant jokingly, this is probably the reason though. And it being a Benz doesn’t really help you in traffic, people just assume you are an asshat)

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > pip bip - choose Corrour
10/06/2017 at 21:24

Not too good, about a 5/10 on the scale of hoon. It does pull if you put your foot down long and far enough, but it’s definitely not made for sporty driving..

average user > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
10/06/2017 at 21:27

Thanks. I am loving my S3 but I am having a “what could have been” moment.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > average user
10/06/2017 at 21:29

Nah, the S3 is definitely way more sporty, and faster too. Also I like the design of the S3 more than the CLA, so in my opinion you made the right choice.

RPM esq. > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
10/07/2017 at 01:57

On a scale of tiny to useless, how stupid is the shape of the hatch area?

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > RPM esq.
10/07/2017 at 07:36

Very useless. I guess it is great for groceries, or for putting a gym bag, but anything bigger requires you to put the back seat down/put your stuff in the back seat.

TractorPillow > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
10/28/2017 at 12:49

I really enjoyed test driving the GLA250 a few years ago. It was nicer interior than anything I had ever owned. Almost bought it, but after some soul searching, bought a Viper instead. Went back again earlier this year to look at them again and was very pleased I didn’t buy it. The new car smell had deceived me into thinking it was bigger and faster than it was.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > TractorPillow
10/28/2017 at 13:41

Sounds like you made a good decision. A Viper is way more exciting than a GLA. Yes, the GLA has a nice interior, but it is very cramped, as I noticed when picking up a very tiny desk from Ikea.

Good of you to be able to resist the new car smell’s deceiving.