Yahoo Autos 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C
From the driver's seat of the AMG GT C, with that hood stretching out in front, you very much feel as if you're driving from the trunk. The AMG is 3.2 inches longer than the Aston, and you get the sense that's all between the windshield and the grille.
Actually, pop the hoods and you can see that the Mercedes does have a few extra inches between its front axle and the engine, which helps explain how this pyrotechnic Pinocchio manages to carry just 47 percent of its 3743 pounds over the front wheels. That, combined with the most rubber in the test-265s up front, 305s out back-grants the GT stupefying stability. It boasts an almost supernatural ability to put down power on corner exit. Even when we tried to upset it with early and ham-fisted (ham-footed?) throttle applications, the AMG stayed planted, powering out of turns as if it had all-wheel drive. The prominent three-pointed star in the grille, this car's demure color combination, and the existence of a GT R above the C in the lineup might have you expecting the GT C to be something of a gentleman, but don't be fooled: A 1.05 on the skidpad will dent a dainty gent. You'll want to be sure to set the seat's adjustable bolsters to maximum support; the car's enormous grip meant one of us left GingerMan with a sore back because he hadn't.
And what sort of gentleman can drag-race Vipers with impunity? As horsepower gets increasingly commoditized, we're rapidly becoming desensitized to straight-line acceleration. But consider that the GT C will outgun Dodge's paragon of excess power and compromise in the quarter-mile. The Aston hangs with the Mercedes at first, but so much greater is the AMG's pull at high speeds that we'd find ourselves with the Vantage floored, trying to push through another kickdown switch. And in spite of its turbochargers-oh, the GT C's sound. Fa la la la la. The guttural barrage is right off the main straight at Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, or any other stop on the IMSA calendar. As we rotated through the cars on our drive, all our jurors mentioned the sound in every single one of their logbook entries. Noted, fellas.
Whereas the Aston is a wild and exotic-looking thing, there's a timeless beauty to the AMG. The more you look at it-particularly in a shade you've seen on a 300SL-the more you see the homage to that car in the roofline and the way the C-pillars slope down into the stubby trunk.
We loved the color choices and material mix inside the AMG but found it to have the most cramped interior. Never mind the numbers, which figure this as the largest cabin; the GT C's space is wider than is useful and shorter than is comfortable. Oddly, the C is the only AMG GT on which a sunroof is standard equipment. Taller drivers will struggle to tuck in below the roof without jamming their knees into the dash. And the Mercedes suffers bumps worse than the others, with more harshness in body jolt and sound. All of us ranked the GT C as our last choice for highway slogs.
Not as engaging as the Aston Martin, the AMG is nonetheless more impressive, a no-drama speed sled. But the enjoyment is less experiential and more intellectual, making you marvel at what's happening rather than revel in the fun of it. The Aston Martin is all liveliness, the Mercedes all control. The Porsche is both.
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