What do you guys think about the MB CLA?

[Ryan]

My Maxima has required very little work in the 10 years and 125,000 miles I've put on it. Cam sensors, a radiator, motor mounts... that's about it really.

I'm not sure a Mercedes would be as reliable but condemning FWD based on that alone seems a bit... unfair.

I think you are drawing insufficient conclusions between reliability and platforms. The fact that your Maxima is reliable has nothing really to do with drivetrain layout. You statement has as much validity as saying your Maxima is reliable because it has 4 doors. The two have nothing to do with each other.

 

[crackerjacks]

I like it, RWD would be cool but it's not a deal breaker when buying a car as a sporty daily driver with a nice interior. Wife likes it and it's on the radar as a replacement for her 2005 mazda 3 with 140k miles on it.

 

[Murloc]

most cars are FWD, all cheap cars are FWD, so I can assume it costs less.
I've always driven FWD or AWD and I can't say I feel that much of a difference or that I notice something lacking. Seriuosly, most people don't want to take their car to the track, they just want to get from A to B in a comfortable way with sufficient power and stability to maintain the top speed and reach it fast enough to be able to merge easily in fast traffic or overtake people on mountain passes.

It's more difficult to work on? 99% doesn't care. Since it's the standard car, that's the expected price of a mechanic for the specific job. Buying a BMW is going to cost you more than whatever less money the mechanic is going to make you pay because it's a RWD (I think it's bs, they're still going to ask you teh same amount of money) so it evens out. Only few people repair their own car so that doesn't enter the equation.

I don't like the rear of the CLA.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I think you are drawing insufficient conclusions between reliability and platforms. The fact that your Maxima is reliable has nothing really to do with drivetrain layout. You statement has as much validity as saying your Maxima is reliable because it has 4 doors. The two have nothing to do with each other.

Christ, do you read anything before commenting? I never said that it was more reliable because it is FWD.

 

[Throckmorton]

You said, and I quote, "it's much harder to work on which more than offsets any cost savings." :whiste:

If you don't have to work on it then what offset is there?

I didn't say RWD cars are more reliable, I said they're easier to work on. All else being equal, including reliability, the RWD car is cheaper to maintain because it's easier to work on.

The only way the FWD car can be cheaper to maintain is if it's more reliable, which isn't something inherent to FWD... if anything it's less reliable because you have more duties assigned to the front wheels and suspension. 60% or more of the weight is on the front wheels, they do 100% of the propulsion, 100% of steering

 

[JulesMaximus]

I didn't say RWD cars are more reliable, I said they're easier to work on. All else being equal, including reliability, the RWD car is cheaper to maintain because it's easier to work on.

The only way the FWD car can be cheaper to maintain is if it's more reliable, which isn't something inherent to FWD... if anything it's less reliable because you have more duties assigned to the front wheels and suspension. 60% or more of the weight is on the front wheels, they do 100% of the propulsion, 100% of steering

I never said FWD would be cheaper to maintain. But you implied that they are more expensive. I have not found that to be the case. And all else being equal is an impossibility when it comes to cars.