2018 Mercedes AMG GT C Roadster FIRST DRIVE REVIEW (2 of 2)

MotoMan drives the 550 HP Mercedes AMG GT C. Yes, the obvious question is how does is compare to a Porsche 911 – which he does answer – but after driving and finally spending some quality time with this first ever purpose built, twin turbo V8 sports car from the AMG group of Mercedes Benz, MotoMan realizes the AMG GT C poses a far bigger and more important question . . .

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[amill]

Love this car. Classic lines and sick driving. Long hoods almost never go out of style.

[dad]

De Ce and others. I've owned the GT C roaster for 10 months and 11k miles. Awesome. Top down 99% of the time even at 70+mph. Always puts a smile on my face when I drive it. The sound, performance, the driving feel are fantastic. MotoMan, I actually like the volume knob on the right side as its comfortable for me to reach. I've owned multiple Porsches and corvettes including the 2016 Zo6/Zo7. This seems to be a combination of them; American muscle/sound from the Vettes and fit/finish, ride etc. from the Germans. In the crazy COVID car market I could sell it for more than I paid last November, but I can't find anything I would want to daily drive more than the GT C. -Bear

[jerrybillings]

*I love the color combination... That deep red, combined with the cream colored interior is such a classic look!*

[vincentvandermeijden]

First car I ever drove (clandestine, on holiday in the US @ 17 years old) was a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. I remember the roaring V8 in that thing and although at first sight I was not a real fan of the Trans Am it left an impression which stuck for a long time.
When I test drove the AMG GT I remembered how I instantly could fall in love with a car. I went back in time.
I love my GT.

[LlyleHunter]

That's the difference. The SL is a GT and the GT is a sports car

[petedavis]

One of your best vids, Moto Man! and what a beautiful car, wow, just wow

[hockeymann]

It certainly is a beautiful car. Head turner. Probably one of the best recent design efforts by Mercedes. Looks like it will age well (says the guy typing a comment 2 years later).

[jimmyyoh]

To answer the question of whether there is a reason to have this AMG GT-C and the SL-63 AMG co-exist in the Line up. My answer is simple - I own both. On some day, I am in the mood to go charge the twisty 2 lane roads, I will take out the GT-C, it is a much harder drive but in return, gives you the total sports car control and feel. However, on more days than not, I will drive the SL-63 which is a lot more softer than the GT-C, but still can out accelerate almost any car on the road and also has a trunk which can take golf bag (s with a squeeze). By the way, I also have Porsche Turbo’s, and a few fast Ferrari’s including the 812 SuperFast.

[bingo]

Epic! I guess as a customer I wouldn't mind looking at both in the showroom. Whether it makes financial sense for the manufacturer is a different thing. Look at the SLK going the way of the dodo. Now looking at Porsche they seem to have a clearer vision ahead of them. Within the 911 lineup you can see the sports car and the GT car in the same showroom as in the GT3 and Turbo plus everything in between so you can try the different engines and cars and choose what suits you best. It's tough though. If I had room in the garage now, and money to spend it would not be a clear slam dunk decision. The two are very appealing propositions. Then you look at the R8 which is well within the price range and that makes it even more complicated. Love your work man!

[puffrooster]

There are so many versions of this car, now and in the future; AMG GT, GT S, GT C, GT R Coupe, GT C Roadster, AMG GT R Black Series (2020 release date), AMG GT R Clubsport (spy shots c/o motorauthority(.)com), AMG GT 4 Door Saloon (or Panamera version as mentioned by MotoMan); and possibly an Estate model AMG GT, a special edition Maybach AMG GT, and dare I say an AMG GT Hybrid, Coupe, Roadster, and or Saloon... an electric ride-on toy GT roadster for children... I'm personally waiting for the Black Series and Clubsport to be released because when they are, the GT R's and GT C's price will fall to well within my financial means to purchase!

[Zuhzuhzombie]

IMO, the difference is basically do you want front engined long bonnet great sounding off the line magic? AMG GT. Do you want a compact and sporty and svelte and wonderfully handling sports car? 911. There's really no wrong answer unless you want the GT to handle like the 911 and the 911 to out muscle the GT.

[anthonycarter]

I love this car. Been drooling over them for two years now since the Gts. Then I got the chance to sit in one. The sales man even let me start it. Now I’m not so sure. Very hard to get into and exit. Not a lot of room for me, five nine and two hundred, so not slim but not really obese. In his video the seat seems to be moving a great deal. I’ve owned many 911’s and they have all been easy to enter and the seats were rock solid. I didn’t really get to play with the seating settings, but I don’t think it would work for me even I’d I could afford one.

[DWELTYPC]

going to put this on the list.have sat in one or two but will drive one soon. thanks for the review - great

[zakhool]

WOW you're putting out quite the quality content with tsunami of information. It's a shame you're not tapping into 100k views.

[rudolfpianos]

That would depend on the price, which means the answer is yes. The SL will remain as a GT (common noun), and this GT (S)(C)is really the successor of the first SL which was a sports and not a GT!

[eusebiumoisii]

You’d have to be a fool to buy an SL over that GT C. It’s so much better in every way. It’s how the SL should have looked and should have been like. The 911 it’s the classic car which you’d buy if you succeeded in life, got a family and also enjoy driving. But if you want something special and don’t have a family the GT it’s the perfect choice.

[shannonjude]

Of course there's room for both and not just because I love both of those cars... But what you have just described is the Entirety of the Aston Martin business model...

[LlyleHunter]

There's room for both at Mercedes as there are markets for both among Mercedes buyers. They're well heeled you might have heard.

[mlamesq]

No, there’s no place for both the GT C and the current SL under the MB tent. The low sales of the SL is all the business case you need to consider to the put the SL in the “for later return bin”. Since the retirement of the SL55 AMG, all the SL’s have been the 15th prettiest girl at the prom at best.

[chsica]

In response to the question is there room for an SL/GT type convertible alongside an AMG/Sports car convertible in the same showroom I say yes! Bean counters aside if MB goes back to making the SL as the pinnacle of understated elegant luxury and drops the AMG performance variants which are now no longer needed, the two models can be equally attractive to very different audiences. AMG GT = younger more performance-oriented customers. SL = older softer more luxury oriented. If built correctly, the SL would be the exceptionally gorgeous, classy and elegant car that appeals to someone who has to have the best and is willing to pay ungodly more money just to say he/she has the most expensive thing available (e.g. SL 65 money). Drop the SL400's and go for the top end. Now they only thing MB would have to do is junk the SLC altogether or make it something a lot sexier and better than the pug-like very femme car it is today.