nrgy

Knight_rider

obbob

I would say the Vanquish is the closest comparison. The Bentley is a lot more luxury focused.

I can't remember if the AMG GT can be had without performance seats, but opting out of those will help the daily drive ability factor. 5000 miles a year implies to me that your daily use is filled with mostly short commutes and the occasional long trip. I think you will be fine with an AMG GTS. Put the driver safety package in it to up the comfort.

thecutter64

AMG 17GT

surfah

I daily my GTS, 12 mile round trip commute, spend about 45 minutes daily driving with traffic. If this is your only car, it's not a practical choice. I have an X3 for the wife and daughter, shopping, golf and beach. The GTS is a nice ride, I don't like leaving it for 3 hours while I'm at the movies. It's a better daily driver than my 991 GT3 but has a long hood so it's more challenging to navigate tight spaces. Storage space is decent for it's a sports car but less than adequate. Thick front and rear pillars and side windows create blind spots.

If it's your only car I would stick with the C63 or consider the new M5 or Alfa Quadrifoglio. More trunk space and usable rear seats.

If you have to have a two door the new Continental looks sweet. The old model is long in the tooth and drives like the Titanic. You may consider a slightly used 991 Turbo S. More practical than an AMG GTS. However, 911s are a dime a dozen and the GTS is a more unique driving experience.

Don't have exprience with Aston's.

sno

I daily my 2018 GTS and I love it! but I also have a GLE 43 AMG that I my wife uses to haul the kid to school and and what not... The GTS is a great car to drive.

nrgy

Thanks for everyone's input. Yes, I am looking for a car that I'm not afraid to park at the movies or feel paranoid leaving in public parking places, though realistically unless I get a 20 year old beater I think I will always have that protective instinct. I would be looking at low mileage 2016's IF I went this route which might ease some of those nerves just a little compared to buying a brand new car.

I know the AMG GT is more special than to be subjected to the abuse of "daily" driving, stop and go traffic, and rainy winter weather that we get here in the NW, but as another member pointed out, my commutes are short. I guess I'm trying to look for that fine line between a usable sports car, comfort and practicality. I wouldn't dare driving my LP570 everyday, not solely for the reason that it is a very raw and rough experience, but that it feels more special after being deprived for a week or two. I was hoping to find a car that could equally bring that same smile to my face for those times in between.

I do know I'm ready for a change though with my W204 C63. I've had that car 10 years now, only put on 45,000 mi, but I've lost passion for the car. I did lower it with KW coilovers, and put on LT headers which makes the car obnoxious at times. The exhaust is a bit ridiculous for civilized driving (even though I love it), and even on this car the road noise is noticeable. The ride not too bad, but stiff compared to other more luxury rides. I was thinking at least the AMG GTS has an exhaust button and adjustable dampers that might alleviate some of my pet peeves with the C63.

I agree with 2+2 coupes the rear seats are virtually useless, especially with the Aston and Bentley from my research. My thinking was simply more storage space in the rear when needed rather than hauling people.

surfah

What about trading in the C63 and the LP570 for a 580-2? You can daily a Huracan, the tech is way newer and it's a reliable car. I daily drove mine, it's doable. My main gripes were poor rear visibility with the transparent rear engine bonnet, passanger side blind spots and you need to use the front axle lift for steep driveways.

thecutter64

AMG 17GT

2016amggtsed1

obviously predicated upon your individual daily driving requirements such as traffic, commute, parking, storage needs...
I attempted to daily my supercharged, V-10 R8 but with it being lowered and modded with exhaust, front carbon fiber splitter...it didn't work for me
too much attention, too low for driveways and bad roads...
I daily my GTS without any reservation especially now that it has ppf on it and ceramic coating
silly to me to not enjoy this car full time

AtTheGlen

My wife and I had a 2016 Edition1 GT S that we used as a daily driver. We only put about 5,000 miles/yr on it but never regretted not having a larger car (we don't have kids, dogs, etc., though) and figured we'd rent a van for deliveries to Goodwill or to pick up large items from a store. Our other car at the time was a 2015 991.1 911 Turbo S, also a daily driver. I loved both cars and never wished I was in the other one: the 911 was more surgical; the GT S more visceral. Looks/waves/comments/photos: GT S to 911 was 100 to 1. Driving from SoCal to Laguna Seca in the GT S for the AMG Driving Academy, we were able to pack two carry-on bags, a large tote bag, a gym bag a garment bag and some odds and ends like jackets. The ride in Comfort was a bit stiff but our SoCal roads means that wasn't a problem - it might be better with newer models. I'm 5-10 and I had the seat all the way back with just enough room and I don't drive with my arms straight out. I currently have a 991.2 GT3 and a DB11 (I had ordered a GT C Roadster but didn't like the dealer so bought the DB11 so as to have one Aston Martin in my lifetime). What I've found is that I'm really a sports car guy. I find the DB11 big though fast and loud and unlike the new AMR DB11, the rear suspension is too compliant on hard cornering. I'll likely go back to a GT X (C or R) coupe when my DB11 lease is close to being done. I've driven the new Vantage and was surprised how well it handled through a couple of chicanes and tight, off-camber corners, but there are the issues of cost, repair time and parts availability, etc. Also, Mercedes has the most advanced safety features. I have the feeling that Aston Martin is limited by contract to keep the HP of the Vantage at 503 although they whisper that they've done something with torque. The Vantage has a nice interior and a hatch for convenience but I don't like pushbutton gear selectors. Except for the relatively rare older Vantage V12s with a stick, it would seem that an older Vantage would be lacking the power, refinement and safety features of the new Vantage or GT S. Also, dealer proximity is an issue but not here in SoCal where I'm less than 2 miles from both M-B and A-M. I think the new Bentley GT is cool but those cars are heavy and you might find as I have with the DB11 that it's a lot of car wrapped around you if you enjoy taking corners at 10/10ths whenever the opportunity arises. Good luck with your choice. Thanks for reading all the way through this!

kumizi

Plenty of room since it's a hatchback. The front splitter has quite a bit of clearance.

The ride quality is below average. If your local roads are bad, it will jarr you even on the comfort setting. I have the dynamic package so not sure how much of a difference the motor mounts make. I've owned a couple other cars known for a jarring ride (Giulia Quad, GT3) and both of them seem to have a wider range depending on the shock setting. They're tolerable in the softest mode. On the GTS, the softest mode is still borderline annoying on bad roads.

If you have nice roads in your town, I would go for it.

emericr

I have 13K miles on mine and used it as a DD for a year. I have the dynamic package and as long as the roads are smooth, the car is a perfect GT. Drove to Atlanta (8 hours drive), stopped only for gas and did not feel like I was beat up after the trip. It's no S class but far better than my 911S or Corvette to give you a comparison .
Plenty of week end trips with the better half and never felt there was not enough luggage room. The exotic cars can't remotely come close in that department.
My car is not lowered and other than being careful parking (I wish the car had 360 cameras), I have never scraped anywhere but I live in Florida so no inclines.
The dynamic package does make a noticeable difference on the bounce rate of the vehicle so make sure you get this option if you are buying a GT versus a GTS.
I only stopped driving it daily to limit the mileage of the car and the loss in value otherwise it would still be my DD. This car is an amazing value.
If I had to buy one model today, I would probably splurge for the GTC as it has the wider look and the rear wheel steering.
Good luck and post pics when you get it.