The Golf’s coolness under pressure had it in a points lead
until we hit the B660. By the time we turn off it at Kimbolton,
the A45’s exhilaration has put it fully back into contention. So, lessons
learn : don’t leave the Merc’s gearbox in Comfort
(it’s too sleepy), don’t meander around at low revs (the turbo takes an age to
get going) and don’t guide it gently into corners (it’ll feel dull and nosey).
Unfortunately, we’ve learn these lessons just as evening
rush hour is looming on the most tedious leg of our journey: the Midlands. None
of the B-roads seem to go in the right direction to start with, so we’re on
minor roads picking a route south of Northampton and Daventry,
before linking up with the B4100 near Gaydon. The
Golf is better at this sort of stuff. Its more traditional hatchback packaging
means it’s easier to see out of. It’s a taller, more upright car. You sit deep
within the A-Class, hemmed in by pillars and narrow windscreen, and while the
A45 has the more design-led cabin, it’s the Golf that feels better-built and,
in places, from better materials. It also has a set of standard-fit xenons that reflect so vividly off distant signposts it’s
almost blinding.
The Mercedes-Benz
A45 AMG have 18-inch wheels as standard, although
19-inch items are available as an option
The B4100 and B4455 are fast, straight roads, the latter
tracing the route of the 2,000-year-old Fosse Way. Traffic then blights the
B4086 into Stratford-upon-Avon and the B439 out the far side and despite the
best efforts of these cars, after 270 miles we’re getting tired. To be fair, I
can’t think of another type of car that might have coped better with the
stresses imparted by the thousands of corners and millions of bumps we must
have dealt with today. Both do the daily grind stuff with aplomb, although the
Golf’s seat is firm and could do with a few more planes of adjustment and the Merc’s lazier manners did give us a few nerve-racking
moments pulling out of junctions. Highlights so far? The A45’s thumping engine
(plus its associated noises) and the Golf’s security and handling balance. VW
is winning the efficiency war so far, with 24.6mpg playing 22.9mpg.
The Volkswagen
Golf R sits on 18-inch alloy wheels
Spirits are high the next day. There are precisely three
towns of noteworthy size in over 100 miles of B-road between here and Aberystwyth: Tenbury Wells, Presteigne and Rhayader. Fewer
towns mean less traffic means more fun. The B4204 is wide enough in places to
pass for an A-road, but beyond Martley reverts to
type, as it rises and falls with the knotted countryside. We stage a diversion
to Shelsley Walsh hill climb because, well, because
we want to. It’s a crisp bright morning, and diversions such as this are
automotive pilgrimages – later, we’ll do the same to the Phil Price Rally
School.
It feels quite
tight around your shoulders and head in the cabin of the Mercedes-Benz A45, but
there's room enough once you're on board
The B4204 has been a belter, staying high on the crest of
the hills with wonderful open views, a flowing third- and fourth-gear road
that’s helped both cars shine. It’s been smooth enough not to upset the Golf
and has allowed the A45’s punchiness to come to the fore. It does make the best
set of noises of any four-cylinder: downshifts come with a flurry of soft
backfires, and full throttle upshifts a hard crackle.
OK, so it all happens at the exhaust end, but at least the sound is more
genuine than the heavily synthesised Golf’s, which
seems unable to decide whether it’s pretending to be a flat-four or a V6. But
that’s not enough to put us off the car. We’re having such a good time as we
cross into Wales that we actually tab on an extra loop, sampling the B4355 as
well as the B4356. We spend some time on the wonderful bit between Felindre and Dolfor, driving both
cars back and forth, starting to finalize opinions.
