Meanwhile this was going on i got to test drive the new CLA. normally they never allow test-drives but this vehicle was of their manager or something so they let me behind the wheel, ill give a very brief review of it. the car as tested cost 6.5 million with optional extras except the allow rims which were later installed form shahnawaz. sorry i was not able to take much pictures as i wanted to experience the car int he time that i had so that i could form a opinion about it.
The Exterior
IMG_4635 by Arzaam Bhatti,
on Flickr
IMG_4647 by Arzaam Bhatti, on Flickr
IMG_4636 by Arzaam Bhatti, on Flickr
There is no doubt that its one really good looking car. with its sweeping curves and aggrieves wide face, the car had the AMG package though all badging was deleted, i dont have much details on what shahnawaz includes in that but what i noticed was dual exhausts and rear diffuser, black out side mirrors and 18inch black wheels as well as paddle shifters in steering wheel and one piece integrated headrest seats with rather aggressive bolstering and by the way the car drove it probably had the AMG suspension as well.
it looks like a Mini CLS and form the outside beats any of its competitors Audi a3 bmw 1 series in raw appeal, though for its price it better should and i think it looks better proportioned and the similar design offering of the A5 though much smaller in person.
The Interior
IMG_4643 by Arzaam Bhatti, on Flickr
IMG_4644 by Arzaam Bhatti, on Flickr
IMG_4645 by Arzaam Bhatti, on Flickr
IMG_4640 by Arzaam Bhatti, on Flickr
IMG_4641 by Arzaam Bhatti, on Flickr
is both a let down but also a lesson in quality and design.
its a let down because its tiny! my father sat in the back seat and he's not particularly very tall and with the seat in my driving position his knees were jammed right with the seat in front an head wedged sideways against the roof and being the car too low the pillars doors very small its very easy to hit your head going in. My Mercedes C class is way way bigger in the back and its a big drawback of the CLA. similar story in the front the car feels very narrow about the same as new corolla with similar dieting language and high raised up dashboard. now wide feeling like in bigger mercs and elbows touch while both occupants resting their arms on console.
IMG_4637 by Arzaam Bhatti, on Flickr
its a lesson in quality as it was exquisitely built. it really felt so premium each and every button as so well damped and everywhere was soft touch materials the perforated leather steering felt so special and it was exactly the same you get on a new e class so it gives the feeling of quality and image even down the MB lineup. all the thunks and lucks were there when you close the doors even despite being pillar less something i found the audi a5 to be lacking when closing its doors. and overall the aluminium vents and panoramic sunroof option as fitted to this gave a nice premium coffee house like ambiance but like a coffee house its a really small car and frankly too small for any family.
Gadgets
IMG_4646 by Arzaam Bhatti, on Flickr
for me i wanted to see what gadgets this latest Mercedes has. it was fine but nothing really wowed me. it had memory seats but all the electrical adjustments were the same as on mine no new adjustment. it had no power retracing mirror unlike mine. the steering had same controls and although the trip computer screen with colour display looks really nice and crisp it was missing some of the displays like my car has and had very few customisable convenience options. the command screen looked bad likes somebody stuck up a toaster or a iPad up there at the last moment but actually interface is top notch and the controller is really easy and quick to use unlike audis MMI the logic of which i never understood 4 buttons which correspond to 4 corners of screen seem like a childish interface and some of the scrolling in menus in MMI is in opposite direction. i actively tested the MMI of a 2011 a4 i think thing shave improved much more since then. compared to i drive i think i drive has way more options and seems more modern and their new controller is superb too.
The drive
i did not have a long drive,i just read to get a feel of all the parts of the car and what i felt was the suspension was intolerable it was rock hard and had 40profile tires on it and with the AMG pack every single bump and imperfection was felt and really uncomfortable. did not feel like a mercedes at all. The engine was very powerful springily i was was expecting 1.6 turbo to be slow but little turbo lag and smooth and responsive. it had 3 modes eco sport and manual. eco had stop start technology which frankly was vert bad whenever it restarted it vibrated the car a bit so it best to keep it out of eco for a clean MB experience. sport was bit too touch but manual was good though and it was the best automatic transmission i had ever driven, its actually a sequential 7 speed transmission and not a regular automatic but what higher praise can there be for a sequential that it felt just as smooth as a regular automatic and the paddles were a joy.overall way better calibrated and audi DSG in at least the whole a4 i have driven dont know about new ones. Its FWD which is really disappointing you can fell it in the handling dyanicmis which although very sharp dont have that lovely rear drive push and steering feel. i think cars who aspire to be remotely luxury should have rear wheel drive or AWD.
Verdict
the most important thing to me was how far behind am i owning my w203 and the answer i came to was i am better off, the CLA simply is not practical similar story on the a3 if you come from a bigger class variant these cars feel tiny. is missing the MB experience in comfort and solidity and is reserved only for young fashionable people who dont really care or would want to get their. hands dirty underneath the car. its also too expensive and for that price if it were my money i would go with a w212 E class any day now thats a proper Mercedes and would be a upgrade from a lower class. but what this car establishes is i still prefer it in its design to it competition and i have just entered in this world and this CLA and experience at shanawaz is enough that it will keep me in the Mercedes family for a long time to come.
The purpose here was not really to give a proper spiced up review, i deliberately kept it simple and obejective as possible as the question relevant to this thread was to form the opinion on this car and whether cla or subsequent models could ever in the future be my second mercedes and the answer came as no, the e class in same price is better
but this car did interest me and excite me enough to keep me in the brand and it clearly still has a lot going for it and did i mention its so pretty.