Stiff competition for the Mk7 Golf GTI - Second Edition

[thezoneR32]

well I've made the switch, bye bye golf gti loved you while I had you...and hello merc a250

over the moon ! one big grin and the wife absoluely loves it

took a few pics,

Merc A250 Photos by alebonau | Photobucket

Congrats mate what an awesome looking car! The quality/design of the interior is miles above the gti (sorry I do like the gti but......) plus your neighbours will think you've dropped $100k on a merc!
4 Questions,
1) Does the A250 sport come with an LSD?
2)Can the 7spd take more than 350NM?
3) Is someone doing a tune for these?
4) Can I fit a drum kit in the back?

[alebonau]

Congrats mate what an awesome looking car! The quality/design of the interior is miles above the gti (sorry I do like the gti but......) plus your neighbours will think you've dropped $100k on a merc!
4 Questions,
1) Does the A250 sport come with an LSD?
2)Can the 7spd take more than 350NM?
3) Is someone doing a tune for these?
4) Can I fit a drum kit in the back?

hehe thanks the zone,

no LSD but it puts power down better than the golf which used to scramble around for grip and could even get to axle trap. not had that with the merc. but possible have not pushed it hard enough as yet or found limits

the 7spd I believe is used across the merc range and good for 450 nm.

some mentions of tunes from brabus and others around the world but not seen heck of a lot locally in oz.

drum kit seats do fold flat but no clue about a drum kit hehe.

[alebonau]

some weights and measures

merc a250
L 4292mm, H 1433mm, W 1780 mm, W/base 2699mm, F/track 1553mm, R/track 1552mm, Fuel 56L, Weight 1432 kg

vw golf gti
L 4213mm, H 1501mm, W 1780 mm, W/base 2578mm, F/track 1533mm, R/track 1514mm, Fuel 55L, Weight 1380 kg

[backdoc]

Kind of off topic, but based on the pics of the CLA45 AMG released today I'm definitely putting in an order for that beast!

[noone]

The back looks horrible in the shots I've seen, I'm sure the driver experience would outway some squinty taillights.

I can't see that car being the 80K they say it will...

[JT_MKVi]

Re: Stiff competition for the Mk7 Golf GTI - Second Edition

Completely agree. It looks ok from most angles, even the side profile is nice, but the rear three quarter angle is possibly the ugliest angle of a merc ever

[backdoc]

Completely agree. It looks ok from most angles, even the side profile is nice, but the rear three quarter angle is possibly the ugliest angle of a merc ever

It's funny isnt it how we perceive the same things so differently. I actually think that is the best view of the car.......even better than the aggressive front. Side profile does look great and those quad pipes.

I plan on preordering and suspect it will be about 95k on the road, maybe with an option or two.

[DoggieHowser]

It's funny isnt it how we perceive the same things so differently. I actually that is the best view of the car.......even better than the aggressive front. Side profile does look great and those quad pipes.

I plan on preordering and suspect it will be about 95k on the road, maybe with an option or two.

I guess it just shows taste can be personal. I quite like the rear as well.

Reminds me a lot of the CLS

[JT_MKVi]

Re: Stiff competition for the Mk7 Golf GTI - Second Edition

Yes, it is all subjective. I still love my MKVI though. Got this understated look yet still slightly aggressive.

Don't know why but my inner hon has been reawakened or something but I'm totally in live with the brz and wrx. One of those will be my next car

At least until I sit in the cabin lol

[backdoc]

[cktsi]

well I've made the switch, bye bye golf gti loved you while I had you...and hello merc a250

over the moon ! one big grin and the wife absoluely loves it

took a few pics,

Merc A250 Photos by alebonau | Photobucket

Congrats!

What tyres did they fit your your car? Would you recommend those?

I took one for a test drive today and must say I am impressed (and forgot to check out the tyres). For me, i am not looking for outright performance, but this has all the grunt i would need for my purposes. I love the warbling sound the exhaust makes on the downshift!! Also love listening to the wastegate... No reason to close the roof except very high temps and rain!!

I decided to buy this month's wheels mag, and yes whilst the numbers are behind the others... so what. Look at all the equipment they give you!! Also, the car's ergonomics are fantastic AND it is quiet like the Golf.

The A250 to the other hot hatches, are like the wrx and sti to these hot hatches. Different priorities in a spectrum of vehicles that put priorities on different attributes. I value comfort, functionality and ergonomics above outright speed and pick the A250 over the bunch personally.

I have no idea why some reviews are panning their twinclutch low speed operation. To me it was as smooth as any torque converter... And definitely better than the DQ200 at low speed!!

[kaktusdigital]

I have no idea why some reviews are panning their twinclutch low speed operation. To me it was as smooth as any torque converter... And definitely better than the DQ200 at low speed!!

I see you're also rocking a 118TSI, as a direct comparison, would you say the power down low is similar or is there a noticeable difference? I'm also interested to know how the ride quality is compared to the 118 with a sport pack.

[alebonau]

Congrats!

What tyres did they fit your your car? Would you recommend those?

I took one for a test drive today and must say I am impressed (and forgot to check out the tyres). For me, i am not looking for outright performance, but this has all the grunt i would need for my purposes. I love the warbling sound the exhaust makes on the downshift!! Also love listening to the wastegate... No reason to close the roof except very high temps and rain!!

I decided to buy this month's wheels mag, and yes whilst the numbers are behind the others... so what. Look at all the equipment they give you!! Also, the car's ergonomics are fantastic AND it is quiet like the Golf.

The A250 to the other hot hatches, are like the wrx and sti to these hot hatches. Different priorities in a spectrum of vehicles that put priorities on different attributes. I value comfort, functionality and ergonomics above outright speed and pick the A250 over the bunch personally.

I have no idea why some reviews are panning their twinclutch low speed operation. To me it was as smooth as any torque converter... And definitely better than the DQ200 at low speed!!

thanks cksti, mine came with standard tyres which are the continental contisport SP's lovely tyres great blend of grip and traction vs comfort. where I absolutely hated the orginal tyres on the golf gti which were the michelin primacy and couldnt wait till could swap them out, with the conti's on the merc am very pleased to point if had to replace down the track would go with the same.

we came back from a couple of hours drive and must say this is a very comfortable car to be in over distance

love the exhaust sound indeed. ps I understand with the pana roof the dealer mentioned the rain sensor is always active and if detects rain will shut the roof. plus did you notice it has anti buffetting so no buffetting if open the roof right up !

[cktsi]

I see you're also rocking a 118TSI, as a direct comparison, would you say the power down low is similar or is there a noticeable difference? I'm also interested to know how the ride quality is compared to the 118 with a sport pack.

Well, as i have been saying in other threads, nothing beats the instant response of the supercharger. However, once the car picks up a few rpms it gets going it will reel in the 118tsi. No different to other high powered turbo cars. The 118 even makes my F30 328i feel laggy, but then it feels it runs out of lungs at the higher rpms.

As for ride quality, i havent driven a sports suspended Golf much for a comparison. All i can say is that it's very well tuned for comfort and sporty handling.

the 25 min demo drive is not long enough to find nuances beween the. MB and the Golf... Best defer to alebonau for a comparo.

No matter what, all i can say is that for your next car, no matter which brand if it is available tick the option for adaptive suspension. It is worth it! I have only driven VW and BMW adaptive and they are very good!

[backdoc]

Put a 2k deposit yesterday on a CLA45 AMG. Giddy up! Now I have to wait 11 months