I have had mine now for 1 month and done 1000km in it. I love this car. I think it is a really genuine GT in the original sense of the term. It is a fast comfortable cruiser with real grunt and sophistication. It is no fire-breathing beast, but if you want this you buy a CLA 45, or better still a C63 or RS4.
I have a pretty fully specced SB. DSG. ACC. Panoramic roof. Super sports seats. B&O. Mag ride. Rails. Privacy glass. LED lights. In Estoril Blue. the Aussie cars come with all that stuff you guys here agonise about; the hill hold, keyless start, MMI, interior lights, monopur and tech pack. I came out of a string of golfs, with a 2010 R the most recent.
Styling:
The front end lets the car down and is really my only solid disappointment. I was hoping it would look better in the flesh, but it doesnt really. To my mind it just needs some more aggression. The rest of the exterior is great. Quad pipe, subtle body work and I really like the red calipers. The Super sports seats set off the interior really nicely
Inside:
The seats are comfortable and very supportive. I love the thigh extension. The roof is fabulous and I leave the blind open most of the time, or the roof open. Dunno about summer. Everything inside is of good quality, put together well and feels good. It is a nice place to sit.
Motor/drive train:
They have really nailed this. It pulls hard and strong. The DSG settings have been re-jigged a bit and it is just much better than the R. it is deceptively fast and has a nice gurgle when you hit it hard. It will toodle along when you have to. Love it
Handling/ride/steering:
The steering is not as good as the R. A bit vague and soul-less. Comfort is just stupidly light. The car handles flat and secure and is better the harder you go. The grip is sensational. The ride is much better than the R. It is however a bit weird when you go over low speed speed-humps. Feels a bit like a boat, all floaty. Maybe that is the Mag ride. Actually I find it quite hard to tell the difference between the settings, to the point where I even harbour a doubt that it has been installed... Dynamic is a bit thumpy, so it is probably on the car. If the drive train is a 9, this is 7/10.
B&O:
I love my music. I have a $15000 two channel hifi at home. I am a bit disappointed about the B&O. I have tried CD, WAV, MP3 at 320 and 190. It is a harsh and metallic. It is either thready and weak or boomy and tiring to listen to. I may have been expecting too much. I have probably been ruined by valve amps. It is certainly better than the standard VAG from the Golf.
ACC:
The radar cruise control is a great leap forward and very interesting technology. It is still clearly immature and not as good as a human at times. I find myself waiting for it to back off the throttle when the brake lights come on ahead, but it is not clever enough for that yet.
The side warning is interesting and I leave this on all the time. Both these things will become standard fare in a few years.
The lane guidance is weird and I dont get any feeling of reassurance that it is really doing what it says. I have tried to drive out of the lane and sometimes I get a jiggle and sometime I dont. I dont really like this and think I will rarely use it.
Minor Gripes:
The sat nav is not in the league of Google Maps. It is teutonic and knows how you should go somewhere even if you have other ideas. it then takes a long time to adapt. I find using the MMI awkward to enter addresses. Perhaps I will get better, but I have had many false starts on this. Other wise the interface is pretty good, once you understand it.
There are not enough little places to put things, like sunglasses
No way of opening the car without the electronic key. Those of us who like the beach will have to work something out.
These should not detract from the fact it is a great car. The best I have ever owned. I am very happy with it