A35

[Hertsman]

It's a hard move from a Golf R. I watched a video in my travels and the classed it as the best hot hatch in the world ever.

It's hard to disagree with. My partner wasnt sold on the R, I tried, but she was sold on the A35 in minutes. I would have had an R a long time ago if it was MY choice.

The Golf R by nature/design is more of a Q car, understated and subtle in its intent, thats the attraction to many, including myself, but of course others simply seek more visual intent and thats where the Ford RS and the Honda Type R fills its orders and now there is the somewhere in between I think with the A35 (with Aerodynamic kit) and can certainly see why the wife would be attracted to the A35 over the Golf R and no judgement here as I obviously like the AMG enough to seriously consider it as an alternative over such a great car as the Golf R.

My wife likes her cars also, was quite specific on what she wanted (this was bought mainly so can have my R back, as her Mini Cooper was feeling quite unloved!)when we sourced an A1 Black Edition 185 BHP Mythos Black (2 Door) so she has an appreciation for cars and she liked the Mercedes also, but her concern was the spoiler as "its a bit too much" and she said if pushed she would stay with the R - So she also loves the R, often gets some young lad with a noisy exhaust make himself known and she usually leaves that person looking at the 4 pipes (love my wife, takes no sh*t )

But digress! 2 great cars, there is no real loss in which way you choose, just have so much love for the R it would be hard to part and decided to take that love affair on 3 more years. Truly feel its set the curve in this sector and these cars might actually be some of the last great ones as electric, semi and autonomous take over the world.

 

[A35Kid]

The Golf R by nature/design is more of a Q car, understated and subtle in its intent, thats the attraction to many, including myself, but of course others simply seek more visual intent and thats where the Ford RS and the Honda Type R fills its orders and now there is the somewhere in between I think with the A35 (with Aerodynamic kit) and can certainly see why the wife would be attracted to the A35 over the Golf R and no judgement here as I obviously like the AMG enough to seriously consider it as an alternative over such a great car as the Golf R.

My wife likes her cars also, was quite specific on what she wanted (this was bought mainly so can have my R back, as her Mini Cooper was feeling quite unloved!)when we sourced an A1 Black Edition 185 BHP Mythos Black (2 Door) so she has an appreciation for cars and she liked the Mercedes also, but her concern was the spoiler as "its a bit too much" and she said if pushed she would stay with the R - So she also loves the R, often gets some young lad with a noisy exhaust make himself known and she usually leaves that person looking at the 4 pipes (love my wife, takes no sh*t )

But digress! 2 great cars, there is no real loss in which way you choose, just have so much love for the R it would be hard to part and decided to take that love affair on 3 more years. Truly feel its set the curve in this sector and these cars might actually be some of the last great ones as electric, semi and autonomous take over the world.

I do have a soft spot for that type of driver. You would have to be thick as two short planks or completely un-knowledgeable about cars to annoy an R.

It's what I like about the A35 I'm getting. Ok, its standard so wont be as 'wowy' as having the aero kit but I like that. It will blend in well with the standard cars out there but I still know whats under the hood and only people that know anything about cars will too. That's the way I like it.

 

[Hertsman]

I do have a soft spot for that type of driver. You would have to be thick as two short planks or completely un-knowledgeable about cars to annoy an R.

It's what I like about the A35 I'm getting. Ok, its standard so wont be as 'wowy' as having the aero kit but I like that. It will blend in well with the standard cars out there but I still know whats under the hood and only people that know anything about cars will too. That's the way I like it.

You do not buy a Golf R to put your keys down and impress anyone, most will just see you drive a Golf, the slightly more informed will be impressed if it was a GTI as they had heard of that - So the pool of appreciation out there is quite small as drive about, but we spot each other, the nod, the admiring glance, we all know, and actually thats good enough for me.

Most of the noisy aftermarket modded assortments do know an R and that will extend to the AMG to, and most you can treat with contempt they deserve, but there is always one little Herbert with something under the hood thats ridiculous and do value my licence so if not seen off in the initial drag do back off (usually before theirs breaks up like a satellite reentering atmosphere!)

You will be driving a premium vehicle with a lot of talent with that 300 BHP coupled to the AWD, so in for a treat, every journey will have satisfaction and look forward to seeing you early adopters receive and feedback how feel

 

[A35Kid]

Finding it hard to get a test drive of the A35 as they know its not a test drive with a view to buy.
I'm now on to the 3rd garage to see if they can show come customer service.

 

[JBD]

Finding it hard to get a test drive of the A35 as they know its not a test drive with a view to buy.
I'm now on to the 3rd garage to see if they can show come customer service.

If you take a jerry can of fuel with you they might be more keen...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gugne]

My A35 will be arriving in the next few weeks. I should be doing about 42k over 3 years. Is it worth me taking the £29 a month service pack? That'll work out at £1044 over the term. Will it need 2 or 3 services in that time? What will be the cost of 2 services v 3 services?

 

[A35Kid]

My A35 will be arriving in the next few weeks. I should be doing about 42k over 3 years. Is it worth me taking the £29 a month service pack? That'll work out at £1044 over the term. Will it need 2 or 3 services in that time? What will be the cost of 2 services v 3 services?

Yeah, 3 services, 2 A's and a B - so you'll have A, B, A.

Cost of A is around £420 with a courtesy car.
Cost of B is around £620 with a courtesy car.

For your 3 years, thats roughly £1450. Service plan for 3 years, is £1045. You're basically saving £400 over the 3 years.

Call your dealer tho, have a chat and see if the prices are what I got quoted.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Yeah, 3 services, 2 A's and a B - so you'll have A, B, A.

Cost of A is around £420 with a courtesy car.
Cost of B is around £620 with a courtesy car.

For your 3 years, thats roughly £1450. Service plan for 3 years, is £1045. You're basically saving £400 over the 3 years.

Call your dealer tho, have a chat and see if the prices are what I got quoted.

There was a Black Friday event when I took out ours which saved another 10% or so.

 

[Okcoky]

I know this is a weird question but do a35 or aclass have auto wipers?

 

[drcarrera]

I know this is a weird question but do a35 or aclass have auto wipers?

The A35 definitely does - I used them today!

 

[drcarrera]

Finding it hard to get a test drive of the A35 as they know its not a test drive with a view to buy.
I'm now on to the 3rd garage to see if they can show come customer service.

Surprised! I called in to a dealer today and didn't even know if they had an A35 in - I just happened to be driving past. 10 minutes later I was driving one!
Perhaps it helps if you turn up in a Golf R ...

 

[Okcoky]

Surprised! I called in to a dealer today and didn't even know if they had an A35 in - I just happened to be driving past. 10 minutes later I was driving one!
Perhaps it helps if you turn up in a Golf R ...

What was it like to drive?

 

[drcarrera]

It was pretty much as I had expected, really, in that it drives as well as the Golf R but is nicer and more "techy" inside. This one didn't have the ride control and the ride seemed to be marginally better than in my (standard dampers) Golf despite the Golf having 18s and the Merc 19s. It's hard to compare too much though without driving both down the same roads. The general control weights felt slightly "heavier" than the Golf, as did the car, but not to the detriment of the driving experience or handling.
Switch gear and trim was, in the main, a step up from the Golf. The infotainment interface was very intuitive and it's so nice to not need to rely on the touchscreen! Gearbox was a bit hit and miss but I'm used to manuals so this would probably improve with experience and familiarising with the various driving modes. My wife hated the HUD, though, so that's one option we won't be ticking! Advanced nav was nice but not worth having if it puts the car over the £40K VED threshold. I think we'd spec Denim Blue, PremiumPlus and Ride control which keeps the RRP just under 40K. Now just a question of seeing how much discount we can get out of the dealer ...

 

[Okcoky]

It was pretty much as I had expected, really, in that it drives as well as the Golf R but is nicer and more "techy" inside. This one didn't have the ride control and the ride seemed to be marginally better than in my (standard dampers) Golf despite the Golf having 18s and the Merc 19s. It's hard to compare too much though without driving both down the same roads. The general control weights felt slightly "heavier" than the Golf, as did the car, but not to the detriment of the driving experience or handling.
Switch gear and trim was, in the main, a step up from the Golf. The infotainment interface was very intuitive and it's so nice to not need to rely on the touchscreen! Gearbox was a bit hit and miss but I'm used to manuals so this would probably improve with experience and familiarising with the various driving modes. My wife hated the HUD, though, so that's one option we won't be ticking! Advanced nav was nice but not worth having if it puts the car over the £40K VED threshold. I think we'd spec Denim Blue, PremiumPlus and Ride control which keeps the RRP just under 40K. Now just a question of seeing how much discount we can get out of the dealer ...

Thanks for the info as I pick mine up Saturday morning.

 

[Kirk88]

It was pretty much as I had expected, really, in that it drives as well as the Golf R but is nicer and more "techy" inside. This one didn't have the ride control and the ride seemed to be marginally better than in my (standard dampers) Golf despite the Golf having 18s and the Merc 19s. It's hard to compare too much though without driving both down the same roads. The general control weights felt slightly "heavier" than the Golf, as did the car, but not to the detriment of the driving experience or handling.
Switch gear and trim was, in the main, a step up from the Golf. The infotainment interface was very intuitive and it's so nice to not need to rely on the touchscreen! Gearbox was a bit hit and miss but I'm used to manuals so this would probably improve with experience and familiarising with the various driving modes. My wife hated the HUD, though, so that's one option we won't be ticking! Advanced nav was nice but not worth having if it puts the car over the £40K VED threshold. I think we'd spec Denim Blue, PremiumPlus and Ride control which keeps the RRP just under 40K. Now just a question of seeing how much discount we can get out of the dealer ...

As a fellow Golf R owner it’s interesting hearing your thoughts on the A35
Shame it didn’t have the adaptive dampers as that’s what I’ve gone for but good that you thought the standard ride was a little better than the golf on 18s!

 

[AndyRC]

Saw this in MB York yesterday, looked good in red. I’ll not mention the interior other than to say the half and half way better than the full “leather” I tried previously

 

[gugne]

Yeah, 3 services, 2 A's and a B - so you'll have A, B, A.

Cost of A is around £420 with a courtesy car.
Cost of B is around £620 with a courtesy car.

For your 3 years, thats roughly £1450. Service plan for 3 years, is £1045. You're basically saving £400 over the 3 years.

Call your dealer tho, have a chat and see if the prices are what I got quoted.

Thanks for that. My only question is if I only do 42k miles in the 3 years will it need 2 or 3 services? Do they come at 15k intervals, 12 month intervals or something else?

 

[drcarrera]

Saw this in MB York yesterday, looked good in red. I’ll not mention the interior other than to say the half and half way better than the full “leather” I tried previously

I'm undecided on the "half and half". The fact the "Artico leather" parts aren't real leather puts me off a bit and I wonder how well the inner "Dinamica" bits would wear compared to leather. It did look quite good from a distance in the B-Class they had in the showroom.
The A35 we drove had full leather two-tone with the inner seat panels and door inserts in grey and the rest in black and that looked quite nice. It's sort of surprising that both options cost the same (i.e. zero!) as usually real leather commands a premium, so perhaps that says something about the quality of the man-made materials.

 

[A35Kid]

Thanks for that. My only question is if I only do 42k miles in the 3 years will it need 2 or 3 services? Do they come at 15k intervals, 12 month intervals or something else?

I didnt quite get, do you own the car or lease it. If you lease it you WILL have to service it for the 3 years. You can always check that. If you own it, then its really up to you if you want to service it. It starts to get tricky if you dont service it and you need to use the cars warranty. Morally, even if you only plan on keeping it for 42k miles/3 years or even if its a lease, I'd still service it, its the right thing to do imho.

For interval info etc, you might be best asking in the Maintenance/Service section

Parts, Maintenance & Servicing

 

[gugne]

I didnt quite get, do you own the car or lease it. If you lease it you WILL have to service it for the 3 years. You can always check that. If you own it, then its really up to you if you want to service it. It starts to get tricky if you dont service it and you need to use the cars warranty. Morally, even if you only plan on keeping it for 42k miles/3 years or even if its a lease, I'd still service it, its the right thing to do imho.

For interval info etc, you might be best asking in the Maintenance/Service section

Parts, Maintenance & Servicing

It's a lease. It will go back at exactly 3 years- say 8th March 2022. The question is will the 3rd service be due before this date, say 8th Jan/Feb 2022 or does it work exactly annually? I shall ask in the section you suggested.
As for morals, they really don't enter into it when you drive a lease. If it isn't asking for a service I'd be a fool to do it as the only person that would benefit would be the next owner who probably bought it cheap anyway.