I drove a Mercedes-AMG GT. There are several GTs in the Mercedes lineup. I tested the base GT Coupe, equipped with a twin-turbo V8 with 523 horsepower and 494 lb-ft of torque. It remained in the fleet as a 2021 model as Mercedes struggled to produce the V8 in 2022 due to supply chain issues.
I spent quite a bit of time in the AMG GT, much of it stuck in traffic and navigating a sea of orange construction barrels. When I was able to uncork the AMG GT, it was quick (0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds) and had phenomenal traction. The V8 sounds strong. It is not extremely light. But it has a majestic presence that reminded me a bit of the 1988 560SL my parents had and unwisely sold. And it looks the part of an aggressive sports car, especially with my tester’s $9,150 Stealth Edition exterior package.
The AMG GT is nearing the end of its model run, having gone into production in 2014. And while the materials – Nappa leather and piano black lacquer – were sumptuous, the interior has taken a step forward since then. The AMG GT felt cramped and not very ergonomic, and the touchpad infotainment system looked a bit dated.
There are two main problems with the AMG GT. First, it’s expensive. My base model started at $118,600 and ended up at $137,050. Heated and ventilated seats and a premium sound system had to be added. The second problem is that the Porsche 911 exists and is the default choice for this type of sports car until proven otherwise. Maybe Mercedes will do it next time. – Tyler Duffy
Base price (tested): $118,600 ($137,050)