It is a crowded marketplace, but there is always room for another great choice.

Dec 12, 2014,18:31 PM
 

Patrick, keep in mind my reference is the 997.2 GT3RS. 


Compared to that, 99% of everything else are soft cushy comfy but also wallowy Grand Touring cars.

Yes, AMG's mandate was supposed to be a pure sports car, vs the SL.

In this they have succeeded.

But just as many feel the 911GTS, even the 911 Turbo, is rather more GT than track weapon, so to the AMG GT-S. We are splitting Purist hairs here; I had an interesting discussion with Will Vetter about this.

The transmission was impressive; it was neither slow nor occasionally indecisive like early SLS trannies, and certainly not so unnecessarily brutal as the early Aventador gearbox. In Sport+ mode under WOT then sudden liftoff, it did hang at a high RPM longer than I would expect for a sports car tranni; still scratching my head on that one. 

But definitely very developed, much improved from even just 2 years ago in the SLS.

Comparing overall driving experience between the SLS to the GT-S, I'll save that discussion for another time, suffice it to say at this point I prefer the later SLS' then the GT-S then early SLS.

i8!?! Um...I would never compare them as competitors if one can afford the luxury of narrow categories. Only if under broad considerations of sporty 4 wheeled vehicles in the mid$100k USD range. Otherwise two different animals.

R8 was not a benchmark - Will answered, when asked, besides the 911, what else?

"Is there anything else?"

As great as the R8 is, it is not a commercial success as the 911 is, and it has that damned electric power steering...though I found the GT-S steering too light and overboosted, it did have decent feel.

I'll bet money the AMG GT-S will be a bigger commercial success than the R8.

Which is the greater drivers car?

Seat Time and the passage of time will tell...but I can say the AMG GT-S is designed for a more traditional dynamic feel and performance at the limit - rear bias rear wheel drive.



More posts: 911AMGAudiAventadorBentley MotorsBMWBMW i8ContinentalI8LamborghiniMercedes-BenzPorscheR8SLS

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Mercedes AMG GT-S very impressive grand touring car

 
 By: ThomasM : December 12th, 2014-10:42
i had the chance to spend some quality time with the new (2015 release date) Mercedes AMG GT-S sports car, both on the big (3.1 mile) track at Thermal, on a big auto-X track set up, and up into the hills on 74. The GT-S is fast, yet comfortable. A very im...  

It's a crowded marketplace...

 
 By: patrick_y : December 12th, 2014-13:21
Grand Touring Car? I thought this was supposed to be more sports car than grand tourer. What are your thoughts about the transmission? Shifts were smooth and quick? Good lock up? If memory serves me correctly, it's a double clutch and not a torque convert... 

It is a crowded marketplace, but there is always room for another great choice.

 
 By: ThomasM : December 12th, 2014-18:31
Patrick, keep in mind my reference is the 997.2 GT3RS. Compared to that, 99% of everything else are soft cushy comfy but also wallowy Grand Touring cars. Yes, AMG's mandate was supposed to be a pure sports car, vs the SL. In this they have succeeded. But ... 

997.2 GT3RS ...

 
 By: bimbeano : December 13th, 2014-12:12
.. was really a surprise to me ... my Clio feels five times harder on the suspension as the GT3 RS :-) ... no wonder my back hurts from time to time ... but then my Bimota had the suspension made out of a stone brick :-) ... . A real sportscar for me ? I ... 

I didn't know this one. Looks very sensual. Beautiful.

 
 By: amanico : December 12th, 2014-13:25
I fear it is much more expensive in France! Best, Nicolas

The lines are quite fresh for AMG...

 
 By: ThomasM : December 13th, 2014-07:34
It reminds me a bit of the Z8 and F-Type but definitely cuts it own very distinctive character. You should definitely check it out when you get a chance.

What a pity they remove the gull wings...to try and

 
 By: Clueless_Collector : December 12th, 2014-15:45
capture the "not so lower end" market? Seems like a trend for most marque to start making many new models....just like at the new GLE, another X6 wannabe...boring. Main competitors will be 911, Jag F-type, a little shift since previous SLS looks very simi... 

Standard doors broaden the potential market...

 
 By: ThomasM : December 13th, 2014-07:39
Hi Raymond, Like the big and little bulls from Lamborghini, the SLS and GT-s appeal to different markets. I quite liked the latter SLS, but it for me could never be a daily driver simply because the doors are fairly impractical and you dont really want it... 

Agree, takes some acrobatic skills to go in and out of some cars...

 
 By: Clueless_Collector : December 13th, 2014-08:01
My favorite performance cars? Quite a few, currently Aston Martin, especially so after their cooperation with AMG to get their engines tuned. Previously, their 0-60 numbers are not justifiable for their price, but of course, their sensuous beauty and V12 ... 

That rear end has a lot of Porsche influence.

 
 By: JerryW : December 12th, 2014-21:06
Wonder how the numbers compare to a Carrera S? JerryW

That's what a lot of journalists have written but personally...

 
 By: ThomasM : December 13th, 2014-07:43
I'm more reminded of the BMW Z8 and Jag F-Type. Performance figures will be interesting to compare between the Carrera S and the GT-s, I believe the P-Car will have a slight edge price-wise. Today, I believe the GT-s has more systemic tech...