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      01-21-2018, 05:08 AM   #1
tsubi
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M2 or A45 - opinions please

Hi guys,

Test drove an A45 today and surprising, I really liked it.
Seats are amazing, the crack of the exhaust is addictive and really, really liked the stiffness of the suspension..

I know this is a BMW forum so answers will tend to be one-sided, but it doesnt look like there's a big AMG community in Australia.

Have any of you owned (or currently own) an A45 and what are your opinions vs the M2?

As we all know, both cars are going to get fundamental changes, so I guess equal situation with that regard.

Car will be a daily and what I'm most after is "theatre"... the driving/aural experience of it all (especially a loud exhaust).

number of doors is no concern either is power output. will never be tracked and not interested in modding (except MPE if I decide on the M2) and I'll be buying new.

I've been offered an amazing deal to take a new, 17 build A45 on the showroom floor, which is why I'm now in a dilemma.

Any opinions/thoughts most welcomed.


thanks in advance!
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      01-21-2018, 05:57 AM   #2
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One of my friend got a 2014 (pre-owned) A45 AMG, uses it as daily drive. He likes the engine and overall stiffness like you, but the transmission is a huge disappointment as per his words. Most likely he'll sell it soon for a RWD.

I haven't driven an A45 yet, I'll need to tho. Once I have done that, I'll let you know the difference between the two and my thoughts ;-) My personal taste is definitely M2 for the win.
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      01-21-2018, 07:28 PM   #3
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If you are looking at hatches and want theatre then - RS3
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      01-22-2018, 03:19 AM   #4
tsubi
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Quote:
Originally Posted by terrywang View Post
One of my friend got a 2014 (pre-owned) A45 AMG, uses it as daily drive. He likes the engine and overall stiffness like you, but the transmission is a huge disappointment as per his words. Most likely he'll sell it soon for a RWD.

I haven't driven an A45 yet, I'll need to tho. Once I have done that, I'll let you know the difference between the two and my thoughts ;-) My personal taste is definitely M2 for the win.
Thanks!!

With regards to transmission am guessing he means due to the AWD and not because of an odd/quirky gearbox?
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      01-22-2018, 03:22 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpine* View Post
If you are looking at hatches and want theatre then - RS3
Yep, test drove one and certainly agree.

Though by the time I added all the options I wanted, it ended up being more than the M2 I'm currently looking at - DCT, LBB, Sunroof, Heated seats, lumbar support and alarm.

At that price, would definitely prefer the M2 hence why I ruled it out.


thanks!
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      01-22-2018, 06:22 AM   #6
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I drove both A45 and M2 (and the RS3 Sedan) as part of my purchase process of the M2. As I posted elsewhere, the RS3 was the car I waited for and expected and wanted to love, but I didn't. It just left me a little cold and boy was I disappointed. I think it looks pretty average too.

A45 was just a car I never loved from the exterior or interior. I strongly dislike the look of this car but given its rep when it came out it had to be given a look. To drive it was fun - snappy, harsh and felt so fast to me. Like the RS3 I did not enjoy the AWD experience, but I do recall getting out and the heart rate was up.

But yeah, superficial and subjective as it is, I washed my M2 the other day and it just about stopped my heart when I came back to it parked on the street, it looked so sinister, and I find it an electrifying drive when the opportunity to get it into the twisty roads comes about.

I prefer the sound of the M2 by a significant margin, 4cyl can't compare to the inline 6.

Spoilt for choice, it's largely personal and they are all great cars, but very different cars.
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      01-22-2018, 04:04 PM   #7
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I test drove the a45 before buying the M2 and wanted a change from BMW.
I found the Merc so dull and uneventful. I got out of the car and never thought about it again. It did nothing for me.

Test drove the M2 and knew I had to get it.

The M2 is the drivers car, for me the seats, interior etc are all secondary. It's got to excite me and I do track my cars so we're probably very different buyers.
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      01-28-2018, 10:46 PM   #8
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Think the conversation should be RS3 vs M2. A45 isn't even in the same league!

RS3 is $20k cheaper. It's a really good car.

I'm just waiting for the S55 M2 in 6 months or so and decide then
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      01-28-2018, 11:03 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by den525 View Post
Think the conversation should be RS3 vs M2. A45 isn't even in the same league!

RS3 is $20k cheaper. It's a really good car.

I'm just waiting for the S55 M2 in 6 months or so and decide then
Love to know where you can buy and RS3 20k cheaper than an M2, got quoted 106k for a sedan a few months back with RS Performance & Gloss Black package.
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      01-28-2018, 11:08 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Prodigy. View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by den525 View Post
Think the conversation should be RS3 vs M2. A45 isn't even in the same league!

RS3 is $20k cheaper. It's a really good car.

I'm just waiting for the S55 M2 in 6 months or so and decide then
Love to know where you can buy and RS3 20k cheaper than an M2, got quoted 106k for a sedan a few months back with RS Performance & Gloss Black package.
My mate bought rs3 sedan in December. Did have a bad trade in, so taking that into consideration, can still pick one up for low 80kish
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      01-28-2018, 11:13 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by den525 View Post
My mate bought rs3 sedan in December. Did have a bad trade in, so taking that into consideration, can still pick one up for low 80kish
But cash price for the car was $105,500 if i'm reading that correctly.
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      01-28-2018, 11:16 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Prodigy. View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by den525 View Post
My mate bought rs3 sedan in December. Did have a bad trade in, so taking that into consideration, can still pick one up for low 80kish
But cash price for the car was $105,500 if i'm reading that correctly.
Hahahaha

It's called negative equity. $49,000 owing on finance. Trade in value $20,000.

$76,500 car + $29,000 negative equity = $105,500
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      01-29-2018, 01:35 AM   #13
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I think the true trade in value of that car is around $25k, so yeah it’s low 80’s. Reasonably well priced but not $20k less than a M2.
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      01-29-2018, 04:41 AM   #14
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I'd have picked up the M135i for $20k!
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      01-29-2018, 11:58 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WAY View Post
I think the true trade in value of that car is around $25k, so yeah it’s low 80’s. Reasonably well priced but not $20k less than a M2.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WAY View Post
I think the true trade in value of that car is around $25k, so yeah it’s low 80’s. Reasonably well priced but not $20k less than a M2.
Yes, BMW offered $25k trade, but only offered the car at $108k (with $5k finance incentive, so $103k)

For my mate it was $20k difference. But the lowest I got to was $99k a few weeks back, but the rumours of the impending release of the M2 with S55 engine, I just couldn't pull the trigger.

I guess if you're nit picking it's not "$20k", $99k-$81.5 is $17.5k for sedan and $99k-$80k is $19k for hatch. But that's also depending on options for both Audi and Bmw

I know it's a Bmw forum, and I agree M2 is the better driver's car, however rs3 is a very good car and in many other ways better, and 17k-20k is still a lot of money

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiley1175 View Post
I'd have picked up the M135i for $20k!
It was a 2013 model with 65,000km+ best and only carsales offer was $31k. He ended up losing around $6k but he's convinced he would not have gotten such a good price on the RS3 if he didn't have a trade, plus trade was a straight swap and no gap waiting without car

It's on carsales all the way in Perth now for $40k lol

Anyways the drop in value is rather ridiculous. Car less than 4 years old bought for $73k lost 60%...
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      01-29-2018, 10:03 PM   #16
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I had a RS3 and am still considering if I should get the updated one with the new engine. So I know them well. They are completely differently cars to M2. I won’t say if one is better than the other. Both have their strength and weaknesses.

Our M135i was given a trade in price just a few days ago. 2015 build 2016 complied LCI that has done 35k km with all the options. $36k. Ouch.
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      01-30-2018, 01:57 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WAY View Post
I had a RS3 and am still considering if I should get the updated one with the new engine. So I know them well. They are completely differently cars to M2. I won’t say if one is better than the other. Both have their strength and weaknesses.

Our M135i was given a trade in price just a few days ago. 2015 build 2016 complied LCI that has done 35k km with all the options. $36k. Ouch.
Trade in value sucks, the sales guy told me to focus on the M2's value at the time of negotiation lol
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      01-30-2018, 04:02 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by den525 View Post
Think the conversation should be RS3 vs M2. A45 isn't even in the same league!

RS3 is $20k cheaper. It's a really good car.

I'm just waiting for the S55 M2 in 6 months or so and decide then
Yep, completely agree but I ruled out the RS3 because at that price, I would pick an M2.

Would have been a completely different story at low $80, but the best I could do was $98k for a Nardo Grey with sunroof and black pack.

And it was during Open Haus, which apparently doesnt mean all that much for an RS3.
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      01-31-2018, 07:45 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tsubi View Post
Yep, completely agree but I ruled out the RS3 because at that price, I would pick an M2.

Would have been a completely different story at low $80, but the best I could do was $98k for a Nardo Grey with sunroof and black pack.

And it was during Open Haus, which apparently doesnt mean all that much for an RS3.
I'd say work harder on the RS3 deal. For me personally if I had to buy right now... I'd pick the Rs3 at low 80s vs M2 at high 90s. $15k-$20k difference is just massive for these kind of cars.

With cars these days depreciating so much, I just don't see the M2 holding it's value that well either.
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      02-04-2018, 04:35 AM   #20
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Personally I think go for what you liked to drive the most... Then look at how you use it... then look at the financial side... then pick best compromise. Personally I hated the A45 and CLA45 - one drive of the A45 was enough to rule out the Mercs.

The RS3 was really, really good but this is where the usage comes into it - I wanted a fun weekender, not a daily driver, so the M2 in manual easily won over the RS3. Had it been a daily driver I'd probably have gone the other way...

Depends also if you like traffic light grands prix, if so the AWD works better for launches. As I track the M2 it was a no brainer - it is serious fun on track.

I also might add I don't get the whole "pick the right colour and options for resale" thing. Buy what YOU want and enjoy the car.

My $0.02.
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