The 2017-19 Mercedes CLA 45 AMG is the dumb car I shouldn't buy but it keeps tempting me anyway

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
08/19/2020 at 12:59 • Filed to: None

Did you know that after Mitsubishi discontinued the Evo, Mercedes started making the Evo instead? Well, not exactly, but this CLA 45 AMG is Mercedes’ bonkers hopped up awd turbo 4 banger econobox. It only really got good later in its model run, and it’s not really the smart choice for me, but I dig it anyway.

The CLA was Mercedes’ attempt to turn the fwd econobox A-Class into a swoopy 4-door “coupe” like the CLS. Taking the styling from the long, wide, rwd CLS and applying it over the proportions of a fwd compact sedan doesn’t quite work, but over time, Mercedes refined the look of the first gen CLA to the point where the last couple years of the 45 AMG version actually look borderline good. This particular car has the optional aero package with the obnoxious canards on the front bumper and the other assorted black painted tacked on aero bits. In white, it actually somehow kinda works!

The CLA 45 AMG has a turbocharged-within-an-inch-of-its-life 2.0 liter turbo 4 that makes 375 hp. It’s a real AMG motor hand-built by one technician, this is no AMG Lite car. When it first launched it made “only” 355 hp, but in 2016 the motor got the 20 hp bump and the 7-speed DCT also got shorter gear ratios and quicker shifting logic. 2017 brought the facelifted styling with revised fascias, lights, and interior pieces. Its awd system is a pretty basic transverse engine fwd-ish system, but the AMG Dynamic Plus package adds a mechanical limited slip differential to the front axle. Its ECU tune makes silly pops and bangs that don’t actually do anything but sound fun, and the optional 2-mode AMG exhaust amplifies the silliness. (Basically all aftermarket exhausts for this car have their own 2-mode systems for owners of cars without the AMG exhaust to get a similar function.) It weighs 3,457 lbs which is not that light, except that bigger, rwd-based, performance-ier compact-ish luxury competitors weigh a good bit more than that nowadays.

The childish AMG styling bits of the facelifted 1st gen CLA go a long way towards making the overall proportions of the car work. Also, white with black accents is very much this car’s best color combo. Here’s a pre-facelift version with the same color scheme. Looks pretty similar, not too bad, right?

But here’s what most of the pre-facelift cars look like. Those black accents above are part of the AMG Night package. Without that package, most of the 2014-16 cars have chrome window trim, and these horrible silver accents along the bottom of the car that clash horribly with red or black paint.

Yeesh.

Earlier versions were also heavily decontented, but by the time of the facelift and with the right options boxes checked that’s no longer the case. Doug however savaged an early car for its alarming lack of content for its price. The car he reviewed also lacked the adaptive shocks so it has a punishing ride all the time.

The 2017-19 facelifted version, in white, with the AMG Night package for the black accents, and AMG aero package for the stupid canards and lips and whatnot, and the quasi-pano roof (it’s a pano roof front sunroof with no glass over the rear seats) are the move. Just need to get the little painted roof panel wrapped black to complete the full pano look.

Meanwhile, the 2nd gen CLA that came out for 2020 cleans up the proportions of the car to look a little more cohesive overall, but unfortunately comes with Mercedes’ new corporate face with squinty headlights and upside-down grille. I personally thought the final evolution of Mercedes’ right-side up grille was a great corporate face and this new one is a step down. But Mercedes decided all its cars have to look like the AMG GT so here we are. Meh. Not like I can afford a new one anyway. Optioned up the way I like, it’d be at least $69k! I can afford a used one, thanks to massive depreciation.

One cool thing about the 2nd gen CLA 45 in particular is it has a torque vectoring rear diff and the AMG Dynamic Plus package adds Race and Drift modes. Very cool. It probably makes for a more rwd-feeling driving experience than the 1st gen Dynamic Plus package’s front LSD but at least the 1st gen has a lot of mechanical grip, if not tail-happiness. It also has a much better interior than the 1st gen, which in AMG form with the right options gets classed up but is still at its core a European-market econo car with some hard plastics and cheap controls no matter how much AMG gaudiness gets layered on top of it.

Why is the 17-19 the car I shouldn’t buy? Because it only sorta kinda aligns with my priorities for a new car. I want something fun but also better as a DD than my modded 335xi coupe. I’m working from home now, and will be for the foreseeable future, but whenever the world is right side up again I’ll be back to slogging through DC beltway traffic, and sometimes-crap roads when I go into the city. I want a performance-y car with an automatic transmission (yeah yeah I know boo), some room to spread out inside, active cruise control, surround view camera, a comfy ride (ideally from adaptive suspension), vented seats, and as many LSDs as possible. The car that absolutely checks all these boxes is the Kia Stinger GT2, especially the rwd version which is lighter than the awd and has a proper helical gearset rear LSD. The surround view camera was added to that car for 2019, which is a knock against the 2018s on the used market.

The CLA 45 theoretically checks most but not all of my boxes, except vented seats and surround view camera are totally unavailable. The 2018-20 GLA 45, which is the “crossover” (but really more just hot hatch) version of the CLA, does offer an optional surround view camera, but for whatever reason Mercedes didn’t offer that on the CLA. I actually like the GLA 45 a lot too, but finding one with my desired options including that surround view cam is similarly difficult as on the CLA.

There are a couple problems though. The adaptive suspension in comfort mode isn’t as bumpy as the base suspension, but many reviewers have called it somewhat stiff. I’d have to see for myself. I haven’t driven one so I don’t know how well it’ll tolerate the roads around here, but it’s a concern. Also, because of Mercedes making all their options very a la carte, it’s tough to find an example with the options I want. Luckily there are a couple good VIN decoders which will show every option on a Mercedes, but the cars just don’t appear to have been built with the options that I want.

The specific breakdown I want is the sunroof, AMG Dynamic Plus package, AMG performance exhaust, base non-Recaro seats (the Recaros are too confining), and the Driver Assistance package which includes active cruise. One of the upholstery options has alcantara-like suede in the middle of the seats which would be a little cooler in summer. So far I’ve been able to find a small number of cars with the Dynamic Plus package, exhaust and non-Recaro seats, but but none of them have the alcantara or Driver Assistance package. In theory a car with those options could exist, but it’d be an exercise in waiting around for it to hit the used market and for me to VIN decode it.

I’ve been ping ponging between settling on the Stinger as the for-sure comfy, rational, thoroughly practical, all-my-desired-options choice. It’s got plenty of aftermarket stuff for me to play with, and it just makes a ton of sense. But there’s something about the CLA that keeps drawing my interest, in spite of its depreciation, stiff ride, and lack of certain options. Out of the box it’s already quicker than the Stinger and it’s 15” shorter in length. Even with the crazy 375 hp number from a 2.0 liter 4 banger, it’s still plenty tune-able, and it’s a much more compact zippy little car where the Stinger is almost as big as family sedans like the Accord & Camry. Also, I showed my wife the pics at the top of this post and asked her whether she likes the looks of it or the Stinger more and she was CLA all the way. I think the Stinger looks cool too but I may very well have to agree with her assessment.

The irony is not lost on me that in this particular comparison, the Kia is the better-optioned, more comfortable and luxurious car with a better interior than the Mercedes. At least the Benz gets better mileage...

DISCUSSION (44)

Spanfeller is a twat > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 13:08

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Kinja'd!!!

Also, on the Stinger... I have the 2018 and it has the surround view camera... though I don’t know how it came equipped in the US. Can’t say the Stinger has a less stiff ride than the Germans though. If you want to go about DC traffic maybe a Lexus? Or perhaps that’s going too far on the other end.

Arrivederci > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 13:21

I’ve never liked the CLA - looks like a melted bar of soap. The new one is a massive improvement, though if I was getting an AMG Merc, the smallest one would be the C63.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 13:30

I honestly like the base CLA, especially in yellow.

Milky > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 13:31

The 2017-19 Mercedes CLA 45 AMG is the dumb car I shouldn’t buy because it has an insane engine made by Mercedes that will probably be a nightmare to own out of warranty.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 13:33

Did you know that after Mitsubishi discontinued the Evo, Mercedes started making the Evo instead?

was a great hot take to start with and it got me thinking, and here’s some numbers:

Evo X curb weight: anywhere from 3131-3527 lbs
CLA 45 curb weight: 3494 lbs
Evo X hp: 291 (stock at least)
CLA 45 hp: 375 noted in this post, 387 per google in MY2020, 421 in S trim I guess?
Both AWD sedans. Basically the same thing, but the AMG’s more coin obviously.

So like, yeah. Buy the CLA45.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 13:39

Isn’t the switchgear in the 1st gen pretty horrific? Is the AMG model any better than the regular CLA? I have a coworker who had one and would often namedrop the fact that he drove a Mercedes (and I would mutter “yeah, a fucking CLA” under my breath). It was not up to par for what you expect from a Mercedes, or for what you’re used to even with an older BMW.

The 2nd gen fixes a lot of that, and is a genuinely nice car..but obviously newer, more expensive.

If you’re going this route why not just go for a Golf R or an S3? Similar concept, much better put together car although the marque might not carry the same “prestige” (at which point, come on we’re talking about a CLA here).

p.s. - same coworker now drives a Tesla Model 3. After he got it he told me he used to read up about cars a lot (sure!) but now he has zero interest anymore, because he has the best car now. **insert gagging noises**

Textured Soy Protein > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
08/19/2020 at 13:52

The switchgear is a bit cheap but the facelift improved it a little bit. The overall interior vibe is definitely less than a typical US-market Mercedes but when you get some of the upgraded upholstery options they wrap the dash in stitched MB-Tex which helps to make it a lot nicer looking.

Textured Soy Protein > Spanfeller is a twat
08/19/2020 at 13:54

I’ve driven both a Stinger and G70 and they’re plenty comfy for me. They’re firm-ish but have enough compliance, and e ven in sport mode they’re noticeably comfier than my lowered 335xi.

I’m pretty sure but not 100% that the 2018 doesn’t have the surround view cam in the US. It’s not in the 2018 brochure but is in the 2019 brochure. There was some youtube video review of a 2018 that specifically called out the lack of the surround view cam but I’m not remembering exactly what it was in this moment.

Textured Soy Protein > Milky
08/19/2020 at 13:55

The M133 is relatively simple and reliable at least within the realm of AMG motors. It’s not remotely in the same universe as the hot-V turbo V8s.

Spanfeller is a twat > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 13:57

Might be the GT1 version or something, when I decoded my VIN it said it was a “GT2" but of course, here in Mexico the Stinger was only sold in three trims, and only one has the V6 ... I don’t know how well the stinger sold in the first year but it shouldn’t very impactful , I don’t think it affects your search much...

if you’re happy with the ride, the stinger is a great cruiser... I do get pathetic gas mileage in traffic, though.. .So if you can get the G70 with the manual i4 you might have more fun and a healthier wallet.

Textured Soy Protein > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/19/2020 at 13:58

USA isn’t getting the 2020 S, only base version, but at least with the Dynamic Plus package it has the torque vectoring drift mode. No tail-out shenanigans to be had in the 1st gen but with the front LSD you basically drive it like a fwd car where you trail brake into turns and then jump on the gas way early to claw out of turns with alacrity.

The Stinger is definitely the better DD choice but there’s just something a little stupid and bonkers and special about the CLA that draws me in to it.

Textured Soy Protein > Spanfeller is a twat
08/19/2020 at 14:02

The trims have been simplified here for 2020 but originally it was base & premium for the 4, and GT, GT1, GT2 for the V6. The base and GT have pretty low equipment levels, Premium & GT1 are similar except for powertrain, GT2 fully loaded. The review I watched was a 2018 GT2 RWD. In the 2018 brochures, there’s no mention at all of surround view , and in 2019 it’s in the standard equipment for GT2.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Milky
08/19/2020 at 14:08

It’s actually been insanely reliable.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 14:10

I wouldn't call them simple necessarily, there's a lot going on. And it is quite literally half of the 4.0L hot V. But it is insanely reliable, and they can even be a little tail happy under certain circumstances.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 14:11

but with the front LSD you basically drive it like a fwd car where you trail brake into turns and then jump on the gas way early to claw out of turns with alacrity.

Interesting. Auto only means lots of left foot braking, sounds like a hoot.

Spanfeller is a twat > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 14:18

Strange. I wonder why Kia made such a fuss of the trims.

That said, I think that if you want the LSD it has to be a GT2...

Nibby > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 14:19

you couldn’t pay me to drive a first gen CLA... horrific car. terrible interior, noisy cabin, meh handling, cramped interior, shitty build quality

Milky > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 14:19

Imma check back in after 10 years.

* siri set a reminder ....

Milky > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/19/2020 at 14:20

Happily surprised to hear that, genuinely . I’ m still not touching one.

Textured Soy Protein > Nibby
08/19/2020 at 15:03

The facelifted 4 5 with the wrapped dash puts enough lipstick on the piggish interior that I don’t mind it. With the dynamic package it out-handles the RS3.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 15:04

You lost me at 375hp out of 2 liters. That sounds like a reliability nightmare in a few years.

Textured Soy Protein > Spanfeller is a twat
08/19/2020 at 15:30

This is from the 2019 brochure for USA. The LSD is standard on all GT trims.

Kinja'd!!!

The GT2 adds the following over GT1:

Surround view monitor
Heads-up display
Power tailgate
More front seat adjustments including the all-important thigh shelf
Heated rear seats

This is the same chart from the 2018 brochure. It doesn’t mention the surround view monitor at all. It also doesn’t mention the ventilated seats, but those are mentioned elsewhere in the brochure. The SVM isn’t anywhere in the 2018 brochure.

Kinja'd!!!

Also I found that youtube review I was talking about. This should start where he shows the regular, not surround, backup camera.

I’m pretty sure this car is a GT2 as you can see the HUD projector reflecting in the windshield when he shows these POV shots.

Kinja'd!!!

So yeah if I went for a Stinger I really do like that surround view so I would go for a 2019-up GT2 RWD.

Textured Soy Protein > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
08/19/2020 at 15:31

And yet, here’s confirmation from a real AMG tech that the motor is actually reliable.

Textured Soy Protein > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/19/2020 at 15:34

Well hey I did only say relatively simple within the AMG engine lineup.

I knew the M133 was not not terribly scary in terms of reliability, but how about the rest of the car it comes in? This is only an assumption on my part but I feel like since it’s based on the A-Class it’s more of a mainstream car from a build complexity /repairability standpoint so that could mean less shit to break and then be super complicated to fix.

Textured Soy Protein > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
08/19/2020 at 15:39

Also I don’t care at all about prestige brands, the Kia brand is a point in favor of the Stinger. Besides my general dislike of VW and Audi, neither of those cars you mentioned excites me. The Golf R is stick shift only and doesn’t offer a sunroof. The S3 is fine but just doesn’t feel special to me. Both of them are much less quick than the CLA 45, which competes against the RS3. The CLA 45 with the aero package may not be beautiful but it at least has some character. The overall lines are good and the aero bits are just boy racer enough.

Spanfeller is a twat > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 15:39

It has the electronic shifter, so it must be a GT2...

Again, it’s a great car, but if you sit in traffic a lot, your mileage will be pretty bad. why not the G70?

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 15:45

That’s genuinely impressive. Might even convince me to be the first owner, if that was my sort of car. Maybe even the second. Still wouldn’t want to be the third though - I wonder what the indie techs h ave to say about the older ones.

Textured Soy Protein > Spanfeller is a twat
08/19/2020 at 15:49

In the US the electronic shifter comes on both the GT1 & GT2 so not really a GT2 confirmation here like the HUD.

I can live with the mileage. My total driving distance isn’t all that high. At most I’ll be sitting in traffic 3 days a week. Whenever I have to go back to an office I’ll still have 2 WFH days a week. F or the 3 days I do go in I’d like something ok at crawling through traffic. The CLA 45 does get better mileage, that’s basically the only practicality thing it wins out over the Stinger.

BTW I just noticed in comparing the 2018 & 2019 brochures that the LSD was exclusive to the GT2 in 2018 and then became standard on all GT trims in 2019.

I like how the G70 drives but don’t love its styling. It’s blah at best and the grille doesn’t work for me at all. The Stinger styling is so much better to me, plus I like the bigger back seat and the hatch. I do prefer the G70's dash design, quilted leather upholstery, and better rear visibility, but those things aren’t enough to sway me to the G70 over the Stinger.

Spanfeller is a twat > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 15:57

The Stinger’s sloping roofline means that the rear seats aren’t very comfortable even if you have good legroom ; I’m six two and I can’t fit behind myself comfortably... plus the rear seats are too low or the floor is too high... Now... the Stinger has a fantastic driving position, one of the best seats I’ve tried in a car thanks to all the adjustment.

Which is more expensive to insure? I’d guess that even if it’s a merc, since it has a smaller engine the CLA45 must be cheaper to insure....

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t want you to get a Stinger... it’s a fabulous car, but it has some limitations that are important to keep in mind.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 16:16

The worst thing about these in terms of "reliability" is rattles. We mostly just service them. Actual repairs are not common. Brakes and tires wear out faster on AMG stuff, but that's expected.

Textured Soy Protein > Spanfeller is a twat
08/19/2020 at 16:31

I’m not too concerned about back seat room. I’m 5'11" and it passed the sit-behind-myself test for me. It’s much more comfy back there than my E92, that’s for sure, and it’s also a good bit roomier than the CLA.

No idea on insurance but here in the US the cost of insuring a car isn’t really tied to engine size like often is the case in other countries. The formulas the insurers use to determine premiums are thoroughly opaque here. I’d just have to run a quote for each and see how it all shakes out.

Textured Soy Protein > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/19/2020 at 16:32

Hmm well I do hate the hell out of rattles, so something to keep in mind.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 17:36

Totally get that, to each their own. If the design and material quality is good enough for you and the car itself excites you, sounds like a great option. Is AWD a must for you given your history with the xi and this next car you’re considering?

Textured Soy Protein > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
08/19/2020 at 17:52

Awd is not a must for me at all. I bought the xi when I lived in Wisconsin. I’m in DC now. Snow here is usually very minimal with the occasional multiple-inch storm. But my work is flexible enough that I rarely if ever need to drive to work if it snows. If I absolutely need to go somewhere then we have my wife’s CX-5 which is awd with perfectly decent enough all-season tires.

I’m not stuck on any particular driveline layout, I just like good handling. I prefer the rwd Stinger over awd because it’s lighter and has a proper LSD. Basically I want something that’s capable of being a fuss-free DD, while being unique, and with the ability to drive like a complete hooligan when desired.

The rwd Stinger GT2 checks literally every box for me, and the CLA 45 is stupider in various ways, but the insane over-boosted motor with the pops & bangs, tidier size and sharper handling keep drawing me back to it even though it’s not as comfy/roomy as the Stinger and is missing a few features like active cruise, vented seats & surround view cam. Technically that active cruise is available but I’ve yet to find an example with the AMG Dynamic Plus package & exhaust, plus the active cruise. The looks of the facelifted version with the AMG Night & Aero packages are really growing on me. I’d prefer little bit smaller headlights and less front overhang but beyond that I’m starting to feel like it’s a pretty good looking car.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 18:28

I like em quite a bit. I like the current gen one as well, though neither version is worth it imho for new car prices. But if you’re buying used and you’re cool with the auto, I think they’re a good choice.

Stingers are also good (though personally I prefer the looks of the G70, but both are attractive looking vehicles.) The size thing does make a pretty big difference though IMHO. Smaller cars are almost always more fun. Wheelbase matters a lot when it comes to agility. And If you’re worried about visibility, having a smaller car just means a lot less to worry about.

I’m assuming RS3s are holding their value better? That’s another great one in this class.

Edit: one thing to consider is that when you’re dealing with the EXTREME performance version of an economy car, you usually end up with a gas tank sized for a car making half as much power, so if you plan on long road trips or just hate filling up, that’s another point for the Koreans.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 18:32

God. I read “Hot V” and I think “cool!!!! I’m not touching it with a Ten foot pole though!”

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 18:43

I love the Stinger too, sounds like a great option. Such a highly strung aging Mercedes motor...makes me worry about maintenance. I know nothing about how reliable these cars are known to be?

Sounds like you’re pretty open to options...Civic Type R??? The styling is ahem boy racer to say the least...too over the top for me, but sounds like a seriously good handler. And goodness I dream about Honda shifters on a regular basis. Do you need this car to be auto?

Textured Soy Protein > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
08/19/2020 at 18:54

I like the CTR but for this purpose I’m specifically looking for an automatic.

Textured Soy Protein > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/19/2020 at 18:57

RS3 is holding value better but it honestly doesn’t interest me. It’s very hard for me to get excited about any VW or Audi. They just don’t do it for me.

The CLA is smaller than the Stinger but for visibility both of these cars have swoopy back ends with compromised visibility. The Stinger GT2 has the surround view cam which the CLA lacks.

Reliability... https://oppositelock.kinja.com/1844777967

The CLA 45 has a smallish 12 gallon tank but it’s rated at 23/26/30 mpg. Honestly though I don’t do a ton of long-distance drives where I’d need to worry about stretching each leg to 350+ miles where this is any concern for me.

Really the choice comes down to a simple decision: the Stinger is bigger, comfier, more practical and has every option I want. The CLA is smaller, stupider, quicker, noisier, easier to chuck around on tight roads , and lacks some of the options I want. Each of those has its own appeal.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 21:36

Well, i’m definitely in the camp of “if you don’t NEED the space....”

I dailied a 2-seater for many years and the lack of rear seat came up a lot less than i expected it to (granted, i don’t have kids. ) You may find something similar regarding smallish back seats, because I gotta be honest, it sounds like you want the CLA a lot more than the Stinger, and I think you should just go for it.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Textured Soy Protein
08/19/2020 at 22:20

It’s usually only one or two in a single car, and not that hard to fix. But yeah. Some don't rather at all, some do.

Textured Soy Protein > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/19/2020 at 22:38

I have rattle PTSD from my old Mazdaspeed 6, which somehow managed to have every possible interior rattle imaginable. They do bug the hell out of me but if it’s one or two that crop up and are fixable that’s not enough to dissuade me from the car.

The real sticking point for me is that Distronic that Mercedes equipped so few of these cars with. It's hard to find in general and that much harder to find with the Dynamic package & exhaust.

Textured Soy Protein > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/19/2020 at 23:55

I’ve been DDing my E92 for the past 4 years. The space is fine. The back seat room isn’t what’s keeping the Stinger in the game. It’s the ride comfort, features, and rwd+LSD.

(This could be its own post but what the hell I can always copy n paste this later so it’s not wasted effort lol.)

The CLA in stock form is the more obnoxious stupid fun car that, for an AMG, isn’t too bad on maintenance/reliability. The CLA appeals to my silly side that little/lot bit more.

Both of these cars have plenty of power and plenty more to be had with bolt-ons and a tune. The Stinger motor is less special but it is bigger and torquier. It’s in the rwd+LSD car which isn’t faster but a specific kind of fun. The CLA is smaller and everything about it makes it objectively faster pretty much anywhere: 400 lbs lighter, more mechanical grip, quicker shifting, more top end power. But the Stinger ain’t slow, it’s plenty fast stock and modded.

I like how the Stinger looks plenty, but the more I look at the CLA the more I love the looks. The facelift is good enough where if Mercedes had just friggin started like that nobody would be talking shit about the looks. It’s the mini version of the bigass CLS that messes with my head a little when applied to fwd proportions.

Kinja'd!!!

So basically the munchkin cat version of this. Which is hilarious.

Kinja'd!!!

AND it has entirely juvenile factory tacked-on aero nonsense. But you can get away with all of this stupidity because it’s a non-color, and has a Mercedes badge on it. Hell this is one of the very few cars I would actually buy in black, because I love how black looks but never want to deal with keeping it clean or looking at it when dirty.

Kinja'd!!!

If the WRX STI is the literal vehicular embodiment of a vapebro with a flat brim hat ripping fat clouds, there’s something a little perfect about the CLA 45 and my musclehead stoner hippie nerd with a fancy office job self. But it has tradeoffs with less comfort & features, that the Stinger is much better at.

While I love sporty handling, I also like to relax and cruise and not get beat up all the time. I’ve been driving stupid modified sporty cars for a long time, and sometimes the ride gets tiring. When I drive my wife’s CX-5, which is nice, but no crazy fancy luxury car, I’m like, damn this is smooth and quiet. My next car, I really should have something I can chill with.

The adaptive suspension on the Stinger is way comfy even in Sport mode. It’s about the biggest car I would drive, but even stock it’s pretty good to chuck around, especially the rwd version, and I don’t leave my cars stock. I wouldn’t do too many suspension mods, but with some springs and sway bars and the no-shit-this-exists tuning box for the adaptive shocks (made by the OE shock supplier, controllable with an app!) it’d be great. With that box you can make comfort mode even softer, and save multiple custom settings so you’re not just limited to sport or comfort drive modes.

Active cruise, surround view cam and vented seats aren’t must-haves but would give me a lot of value/enjoyment. I love active cruise in my wife’s CX-5 for longer highway trips and would love to not have to drive her car to use it. The surround cam is cool because you can select any of the cameras, not only the surround view. I’ll use the shit out of that front view cam for avoiding the parking blocks that are EVERYWHERE here, especially once I lower it. Vented seats are the least necessary of these but also super nice on swampy hot-ass DC summer days.

Tl;dr... Everything rational tells me to pick the Stinger, but the CLA is just the right kind of stupid that I can’t give up the possibility. Especially since this is something I’m in no rush to do.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Textured Soy Protein
08/20/2020 at 00:35

Most of the interior just unclips, or has a few screws. On the off chance you end up getting one and have some rattles, I’ll totally walk you through it if it’s not under warranty (4yr/50k original warranty, transferrable of course; but CPO does not cover rattles).

Finding the right options isn’t just these models. Everything is so a la carte that unless you social order from new, you might have to let something go. It sucks, but there’s just so many options and if people picked all of them every car would be like 50% over MSRP new. Problem is, most people want crap options. Or, at least what I think are crap options at least