GTS vs 911 Turbo vs McLaren: my thoughts


You cannot really compare a stock GTS to other cars because Mercedes has severely detuned the engine for their own marketing purposes. Tuners like Renntech Brabus etc have very easily removed all sorts of electronic limitations on this engine and they were massive. If Mercedes sold the GTS without detuning it, they would have no justification for selling the GTR - which still has lower HP numbers than a tuned GTS. I have clocked my tuned GTS 0-60 times at 2.8 seconds which sounds right considering Car and Driver gets 3 second 0-60 all day and night on a stock GTS.
In comparison, the engine on the 911 Turbo is pretty much maxed out as is the McLaren. Yes both engines still have a bit more power that can be tuned out of them but not as much as the GTS. The GTS engine in a detuned state is a tamed beast.
In comparison, the 991 911 Turbo is one of the most boring cars I have ever driven. Yes it is fast but it has no soul. The McLaren 570 series feels like a go cart with an awkward driving position, does not feel that fast, and has interior ergonomics that are dated and spartan. I'm not a fan of the front end either. But not a bad first effort by a company that sold its first car just a few years ago.
It's unfortunate that car magazines test the GTS against lesser 911s. I wish Mercedes would stop restricting their engines so much which would allow their cars to go head to head with supercars. Imagine how great it would be for their image if they simply let their engines perform as they were supposed to?
Last edited by sl600fanatic; Jul 7, 2017 at 06:55 PM.
-How are you launching the car to get down to sixty that quick? stock tires? I have not been able to get close to 3.0 let alone 2.8.
-I respectfully disagree that the 911TT and 570S are maxed out. I have encountered both cars tuned and it is a substantial improvement especially on the McLaren.
I am no match from a stop light against both. I hang in there from a roll with a TT where it is a driver's race. The 570S ends up being a bit faster than a 675LT (private event on an air field against its bigger brother) and the GT is no match.
-It is obviously a personal preference on the interior and I agree with you that the TT is boring and does not feel any special. The 570S is on par with the Benz if you get the upgraded interior in the MB. The MB is a better DD as the entry in and out is much easier.
-Bottom line is that you save at least $50K if compare GT vs TT and close to $100K for GT vs 570S and that's where IMHO MB is the clear winner.


570 interior quality is waaaay below the AMG GTS with the exclusive interior. We can agree to disagree that's okay.
As for the interiors, MB hands down imo smokes the others, nice layout and more creature comforts, GTs and TT easier/more pleasant to use as a daily compared to the 570.
Handling on the track they are all very close with the TT the least of the three to be an actual track car, GTS and 570 are closer with the GTs more friendly for green track drivers, the 570 will get out on you real quick.
2. With by baby... I’m in love and there isn’t a day that goes by that I’m driving it and don’t have a **** eating grin on my face.
3. Mine has an add in tuning box and a pedal box and between the two the combo makes an already great car almost perfect.
Ive never driven a Mclaren but also have no real desire to as they have never spoken to me. My car strikes me as the perfect combo. I daily drive mine and it’s one of the most comfortable cars I’ve ever owned. And it’s dead sexy...
Well I guess you have never driven a GT3 or GT3rs, or any Porsche GT car? (which is more comparable to a GTs than a TT). Because nobody will ever say those are soulless, Porsche fan or not. But I will agree that many P-cars are very boring to drive, just like (more)many MB vehicles.
All in all it’s just my 2 cents but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who has the same opinion. Bang for the buck it’s hard to challenge the value of the GTS is all.
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Well I guess you have never driven a GT3 or GT3rs, or any Porsche GT car? (which is more comparable to a GTs than a TT). Because nobody will ever say those are soulless, Porsche fan or not. But I will agree that many P-cars are very boring to drive, just like (more)many MB vehicles.
Nice post. AMG overbuilds their motors and warrants them for reasonable track use. Porsche doesn't. Don't know about McLaren, but their electrical and trans problems in the 12c gives one pause. Maybe the 650 fixed that but now the 720's here and I'm sure that makes the 650 owners happy!
Saw the 720 up close at cars and coffee in Scottsdale today and that looks like a 488 killer.
At 325K, I could buy a GTS and a soulless GT3.
How would you like to pull up to the light on PCH you know th e one by Mastro's with your 720 and a Dodge Demon with a transbake looks over at you and smiles. How you like your 720 now.
I think it's fascinating that a lot of people criticize the 911 TTS because almost anyone can drive it quickly.. It is surely a huge accomplishment that this is actually true. In comfort mode the car rides better than a lot of family saloons, in sports+ on a track it isn't far off being unbeatable on standard tyres.
570 interior quality is waaaay below the AMG GTS with the exclusive interior. We can agree to disagree that's okay.
The 911 is not built to be full of surprises. It's a car you can drive every day in about all weather. The GTS not even close so they're really different cars and I wouldn't compare them.
I had a cls63 RWD tuned by renntech and ended up hating it. The rear end was all over the road and the wife refused to ride in it. Wouldn't even consider taking it out if the roads were wet.




Nice post. AMG overbuilds their motors and warrants them for reasonable track use. Porsche doesn't. Don't know about McLaren, but their electrical and trans problems in the 12c gives one pause. Maybe the 650 fixed that but now the 720's here and I'm sure that makes the 650 owners happy!
Saw the 720 up close at cars and coffee in Scottsdale today and that looks like a 488 killer.
At 325K, I could buy a GTS and a soulless GT3.
How would you like to pull up to the light on PCH you know th e one by Mastro's with your 720 and a Dodge Demon with a transbake looks over at you and smiles. How you like your 720 now.
Demon is a wonderful effort by Dodge but in real World will not be very competitive with it's relatively poor traction.
GTS is more fun then the 911 but for folks like myself who want to enjoy their cars year round (Chicago), a 4wd is unbeatable.
570 interior quality is waaaay below the AMG GTS with the exclusive interior. We can agree to disagree that's okay.




The demon is a really limited in what it can do and you sign your life away to buy, but would be a blast on the track.
The newest Tesla model should be able to take a Demon.
It's a sad day for us combustion engine addicts.
(Go to You Tube and google Tesla)




circling back, my thougts are sports cars must accelerate, handle and brake. So if you take the same driver (Randy Pobst) and put them on the same track (Willow Springs) how do they stack up.
Here is the lap times
AMG GTS 1:27.04
Porsche TTS 1:27.81
McLaren 570 1:27.21
Porsche GT3 1:27.22
Scoreboard!




