Any AMG GT owners also driven the new Vantage?
#1
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Thread Starter
Any AMG GT owners also driven the new Vantage?
I just spent some time with the new 2019 AM Vantage and am heavily considering it. However I love the looks of the AMG GT and you can pick up a barely used one for far less than I can get the new Vantage for. I know the motor is essentially the same aside from the headers/exhaust and manifold. I have yet to actually get behind the wheel of the GT and am curious if any of you GT owners have driven the new Vantage as well? If so how did it compare in your opinion. Styling of course is subjective, I'm more interested in opinions on the driving dynamics and usability.
#3
I've spent time with both. Not an AMG GTR but a GTC coupe which is a fairer comparison. Really wanted to like the GTC as I was ready to purchase after selling one of my weekend cars.
The Aston kills it in terms of interior quality - AMG was not much different in terms of quality than my C-coupe. The rear subwoofer cover was very cheap flimsy plastic which suprised me for a Benz AMG. Looks are subjective but I personally prefer the Aston (esp. the rear) - looks more special. From the front the GTC looks far more aggressive though. Ride-wise the Aston is better - in fact the GTC was dissapointingly harsh but did have the dynamics package. Aston again beats it in the sound department. Whatever Aston have done with the exhaust works. The GTC coupe sounded like the exhaust sound was continually echoing around the rear trunk area - almost artifically so. Steering-wise the Aston is also more precise. The GTC felt a bit vague off-centre. Nice, big shift paddles in the Aston were appreciated. Seats in the Aston are MUCH more comfortable than the sports seats in the GTC. Paint finish quality on the Aston is tremendous - nil orange peel. Not sure on how hard the clear coat is on the Aston and hence durability, because I really like Benz paints in this respect. Wheel choices on the Aston are rubbish. Much prefer AMG here. Also the options list on the Aston is lengthy and expensive for what you get.
Also don't forget this is the entry-level Vantage. An 'S' version is expected as well as a V12.
Overall the Aston is in a different price bracket once optioned fully but is truly fantastic.
The Aston kills it in terms of interior quality - AMG was not much different in terms of quality than my C-coupe. The rear subwoofer cover was very cheap flimsy plastic which suprised me for a Benz AMG. Looks are subjective but I personally prefer the Aston (esp. the rear) - looks more special. From the front the GTC looks far more aggressive though. Ride-wise the Aston is better - in fact the GTC was dissapointingly harsh but did have the dynamics package. Aston again beats it in the sound department. Whatever Aston have done with the exhaust works. The GTC coupe sounded like the exhaust sound was continually echoing around the rear trunk area - almost artifically so. Steering-wise the Aston is also more precise. The GTC felt a bit vague off-centre. Nice, big shift paddles in the Aston were appreciated. Seats in the Aston are MUCH more comfortable than the sports seats in the GTC. Paint finish quality on the Aston is tremendous - nil orange peel. Not sure on how hard the clear coat is on the Aston and hence durability, because I really like Benz paints in this respect. Wheel choices on the Aston are rubbish. Much prefer AMG here. Also the options list on the Aston is lengthy and expensive for what you get.
Also don't forget this is the entry-level Vantage. An 'S' version is expected as well as a V12.
Overall the Aston is in a different price bracket once optioned fully but is truly fantastic.
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I've spent time with both. Not an AMG GTR but a GTC coupe which is a fairer comparison. Really wanted to like the GTC as I was ready to purchase after selling one of my weekend cars.
The Aston kills it in terms of interior quality - AMG was not much different in terms of quality than my C-coupe. The rear subwoofer cover was very cheap flimsy plastic which suprised me for a Benz AMG. Looks are subjective but I personally prefer the Aston (esp. the rear) - looks more special. From the front the GTC looks far more aggressive though. Ride-wise the Aston is better - in fact the GTC was dissapointingly harsh but did have the dynamics package. Aston again beats it in the sound department. Whatever Aston have done with the exhaust works. The GTC coupe sounded like the exhaust sound was continually echoing around the rear trunk area - almost artifically so. Steering-wise the Aston is also more precise. The GTC felt a bit vague off-centre. Nice, big shift paddles in the Aston were appreciated. Seats in the Aston are MUCH more comfortable than the sports seats in the GTC. Paint finish quality on the Aston is tremendous - nil orange peel. Not sure on how hard the clear coat is on the Aston and hence durability, because I really like Benz paints in this respect. Wheel choices on the Aston are rubbish. Much prefer AMG here. Also the options list on the Aston is lengthy and expensive for what you get.
Also don't forget this is the entry-level Vantage. An 'S' version is expected as well as a V12.
Overall the Aston is in a different price bracket once optioned fully but is truly fantastic.
The Aston kills it in terms of interior quality - AMG was not much different in terms of quality than my C-coupe. The rear subwoofer cover was very cheap flimsy plastic which suprised me for a Benz AMG. Looks are subjective but I personally prefer the Aston (esp. the rear) - looks more special. From the front the GTC looks far more aggressive though. Ride-wise the Aston is better - in fact the GTC was dissapointingly harsh but did have the dynamics package. Aston again beats it in the sound department. Whatever Aston have done with the exhaust works. The GTC coupe sounded like the exhaust sound was continually echoing around the rear trunk area - almost artifically so. Steering-wise the Aston is also more precise. The GTC felt a bit vague off-centre. Nice, big shift paddles in the Aston were appreciated. Seats in the Aston are MUCH more comfortable than the sports seats in the GTC. Paint finish quality on the Aston is tremendous - nil orange peel. Not sure on how hard the clear coat is on the Aston and hence durability, because I really like Benz paints in this respect. Wheel choices on the Aston are rubbish. Much prefer AMG here. Also the options list on the Aston is lengthy and expensive for what you get.
Also don't forget this is the entry-level Vantage. An 'S' version is expected as well as a V12.
Overall the Aston is in a different price bracket once optioned fully but is truly fantastic.
Bish
#7
A Jaguar Ftype SVR sounds better in my opinion than either the Aston or AMG. It won't be easy for Aston to get away from the whole 'engine from a C-Class' thing though amongst the purists.
I was expecting that large expanse of mesh to ruin the front end but in real life it doesn't. What detracts from the front end is the sheer simplicity of the design and lack of aggressiveness to be honest. It's supposed to have cues from the Aston Martin Vulcan. In reality it can be viewed as contemporary and elegant but I can see why it has caused so much controversy. I suspected Aston wished to broaden their appeal to a female audience; this was confirmed in a recent publication I read. It does need some hood vents to break things up a little. Time will tell if it will be a winner.
I was expecting that large expanse of mesh to ruin the front end but in real life it doesn't. What detracts from the front end is the sheer simplicity of the design and lack of aggressiveness to be honest. It's supposed to have cues from the Aston Martin Vulcan. In reality it can be viewed as contemporary and elegant but I can see why it has caused so much controversy. I suspected Aston wished to broaden their appeal to a female audience; this was confirmed in a recent publication I read. It does need some hood vents to break things up a little. Time will tell if it will be a winner.
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Agree on the looks of the front end. In an attempt to make the new Vantage look a little different they made it look unfinished. The other angles and the interior are superior to the GT in my opinion.
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A Jaguar Ftype SVR sounds better in my opinion than either the Aston or AMG. It won't be easy for Aston to get away from the whole 'engine from a C-Class' thing though amongst the purists.
I was expecting that large expanse of mesh to ruin the front end but in real life it doesn't. What detracts from the front end is the sheer simplicity of the design and lack of aggressiveness to be honest. It's supposed to have cues from the Aston Martin Vulcan. In reality it can be viewed as contemporary and elegant but I can see why it has caused so much controversy. I suspected Aston wished to broaden their appeal to a female audience; this was confirmed in a recent publication I read. It does need some hood vents to break things up a little. Time will tell if it will be a winner.
I was expecting that large expanse of mesh to ruin the front end but in real life it doesn't. What detracts from the front end is the sheer simplicity of the design and lack of aggressiveness to be honest. It's supposed to have cues from the Aston Martin Vulcan. In reality it can be viewed as contemporary and elegant but I can see why it has caused so much controversy. I suspected Aston wished to broaden their appeal to a female audience; this was confirmed in a recent publication I read. It does need some hood vents to break things up a little. Time will tell if it will be a winner.
Apart from the front grill which feels a bit unfinished, the new Vantage is also a very pretty car. AM’s are some of the most beautiful GT’s around but I have to admit that I like to look at them more than owning them.
#10
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if you just drive around town a aston would be ok, but can you imagine trying to go across country and finding a dealer when you break down? I will depend on MB for my security and convenience
#11
The 8 Cyl vantage (AMG engine) is a beautiful sounding machine, the exhaust notes are amazing. still the GTS provides a more unique styling - depending on where you live you may not have that many.
The suspension on the GTS is a bit more forgiving than the Vantage. there are Aston Martin Drivers and AMG drivers...... both hvae their followers. its a good dilemma to be in...
The suspension on the GTS is a bit more forgiving than the Vantage. there are Aston Martin Drivers and AMG drivers...... both hvae their followers. its a good dilemma to be in...
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ronin amg (11-02-2018)
#15
Agreed Bish, it looks unfinished for some reason. They did do the great departure of the signature grill when FORD started putting it on the FOCUS.... changes to the iconic should be better thought out.
#16
Junior Member
A-M Vantage Driving Experience vs. GT S
I just spent some time with the new 2019 AM Vantage and am heavily considering it. However I love the looks of the AMG GT and you can pick up a barely used one for far less than I can get the new Vantage for. I know the motor is essentially the same aside from the headers/exhaust and manifold. I have yet to actually get behind the wheel of the GT and am curious if any of you GT owners have driven the new Vantage as well? If so how did it compare in your opinion. Styling of course is subjective, I'm more interested in opinions on the driving dynamics and usability.
Trans/engine mapping settings (Sport, Sport+, Track) on the Vantage seem farther apart than in the GT S so Sport seems less aggressive than Comfort in the GT S. This would be OK for long trips as the rear axle ratio is a high 2.93 so I was getting 23+ mpg for combo stop-and-go and highway over a 30' period, but it takes conviction to get a downshift to make a move in traffic. Track is very aggressive. Comparable to PDK Sport in the GT3 and likely Race in the GT S. Sport+ is the sweet spot for everyday driving. The ZF 8-speed is good - nearly PDK-like in Sport+ and Track modes. Suspension settings are Sport, Sport+ and Track. Sport seemed more compliant (though still stiff) than the 2016 GT S (see avatar) with the dynamic suspension option although the Vantage sometimes seemed "jouncy" like loaner C-classes that I had with the GT S. There are settings for turning ESP or ESP/TC off completely. Even in normal settings, the e-dif allowed aggressive cornering without serious intervention. The Track setting is as stiff as the upper settings on the GT S and GT3. I was surprised at how good the cornering is. Weight distribution is 50/50 because the engine is pushed back like the GT S. A-M likes to say one feels as if the car is rotating around you. On two of my favorite corners - a tight chicane on a weird onramp and a downhill, off-camber, decreasing radius entrance to our community, I felt that the Vantage was surprisingly close to the GT3 but given the hazards associated with blowing one of these turns, I was probably only at my 8/10 in each car.
AMG GT car vs. Vantage: If I were buying today I'd likely buy a GT C coupe or roadster, but it would be a close call. When I had a 911 Turbo S before the GT3, the GT R would have been the perfect garage/road/track-mate but now with the GT3, a GT C would be a good fit. The Vantage is roomier (I'm 5-10 and drove the AMG GT S with the seat all the way back, which was borderline OK) and the Vantage interior finish is terrific looking. The loaner Vantage with the kind of options that I'd get on a GT C was at approximately the same price - $184K but HP is 503 vs. 550 and although torque at 505 lb-ft is higher than in my former GT S but less than the GT C. As another member mentioned, service and maintenance are scarce compared to M-B and prices for parts and accessories are much higher with the Vantage. The Vantage has the same nav/infotainment system + cruise, etc.) as my 2016 GT S had - so that's fine. I don't think reliability would be as good as the AMG GT cars. Also, two of our several former AMG cars (SL63 and GT S) were F1 Safety Cars as the GT C is now, which I think is cool.
When I had the GT S Ed1, the ratio of comments, videos, high-fives was GT-S=100/911 Turbo S=1. The Vantage is comparable to the GT cars in terms of Wow Factor. One night at the gym, I had about 8 guys with cars like a Nissan Nismo GTR and BMW i8 going crazy over the Vantage. I was sorry to return the Vantage because I like sports cars more than GT cars, I guess. The rear bushings in the Vantage are more solid compared to the DB11 (but also like the new DB11 AMR). I hope these comments help and perhaps stimulate some additional discussion. There are so many cool cars - in fact, I sorta want the new Bullitt Mustang ...and a GT C...and a Vantage - you know what I'm talking about!
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California John (11-04-2018)
#18
Senior Member
I had a AMG GTS for about a year and loved it! I was considering trading it for GTC, GTR or DB11. I ended up trading it for a DB11 V-12 this past summer. As much as I like everything about the DB11, the ZF 8-speed is a slush box. It is so disappointing that I just put it in auto and let it do it’s thing. With my GTS, I would shift gear not because it needed it, but because how I felt, the throttle blips on the down shift sounded awesome and the DCT was so smooth and crisp. I have DCT in my Huracan and Cali T, but IMO, AMG's DCT beats them all.
I test drove the Vantage, the ZF tranny does behave different than my DB11, it is smoother but still not a DCT and I don't think long term I would be happy with it. I do love the rear end but can’t get used to the front. I am now considering trading my DB11 for a GTR. I have not driven a GTR and want to make sure the ride is not too stiff. If it is anything like my GTS, I will do the trade this week.
I test drove the Vantage, the ZF tranny does behave different than my DB11, it is smoother but still not a DCT and I don't think long term I would be happy with it. I do love the rear end but can’t get used to the front. I am now considering trading my DB11 for a GTR. I have not driven a GTR and want to make sure the ride is not too stiff. If it is anything like my GTS, I will do the trade this week.
#19
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Remarkably Similar Experience to Mine!
I had a AMG GTS for about a year and loved it! I was considering trading it for GTC, GTR or DB11. I ended up trading it for a DB11 V-12 this past summer. As much as I like everything about the DB11, the ZF 8-speed is a slush box. It is so disappointing that I just put it in auto and let it do it’s thing. With my GTS, I would shift gear not because it needed it, but because how I felt, the throttle blips on the down shift sounded awesome and the DCT was so smooth and crisp. I have DCT in my Huracan and Cali T, but IMO, AMG's DCT beats them all.
I test drove the Vantage, the ZF tranny does behave different than my DB11, it is smoother but still not a DCT and I don't think long term I would be happy with it. I do love the rear end but can’t get used to the front. I am now considering trading my DB11 for a GTR. I have not driven a GTR and want to make sure the ride is not too stiff. If it is anything like my GTS, I will do the trade this week.
I test drove the Vantage, the ZF tranny does behave different than my DB11, it is smoother but still not a DCT and I don't think long term I would be happy with it. I do love the rear end but can’t get used to the front. I am now considering trading my DB11 for a GTR. I have not driven a GTR and want to make sure the ride is not too stiff. If it is anything like my GTS, I will do the trade this week.
Also, I just read that Aston Martin is planning to put a hybrid six-cylinder engine in the Vantage as the agreement with Mercedes for the AMG V8 was short-term. They plan to use the V12 from the DBS Superleggera as the basis (so I guess that would be 357.5 HP). :-). Also, they promise a manual transmission and eventual V12.
Considering my terrific experience with my GT S and the many features built into M-B/AMG cars like updated nav/infotainment, latest safety advances and smart tranny programming, I probably will not own another Aston Martin. I had similar experience with the ZF 8-spd in the DB11. In GT (= Comfort) mode it’s slow. On the highway I appreciate that it doesn’t seek a lower gear if I want to speed up a small amount to change lanes - but if I want the lower gear, it’s slow. Conversely, in Sport+, I can be caught off-guard with a sudden lurch from the V12’s torque under quick acceleration. I, too, found the Vantage ZF programming better.
The Vantage loaner that I had at about $187K was about the same price as a well-equipped GT C.
BTW, I’m not liking what I’m hearing about significantly restricted availability of the GT cars in 2020. Some at M-B are saying they realized that they made too many. Another theory stated on this forum is that the Black Series will have significant changes. Could those be features that will carry over to a GT redesign? As with Porsche’s race-based GT cars that are limited (especially the RS versions), maybe M-B/AMG is going that way with the GT C, GT C PRO and Black Series. Our two cars are daily drivers so I’m not willing to pay a huge price (MSRP + Market Adjustment) for a great car that will increase in value over time (SLS, Porsche 918, SL65 Black Series, etc.).
#20
Senior Member
Considering my terrific experience with my GT S and the many features built into M-B/AMG cars like updated nav/infotainment, latest safety advances and smart tranny programming, I probably will not own another Aston Martin. I had similar experience with the ZF 8-spd in the DB11. In GT (= Comfort) mode it’s slow. On the highway I appreciate that it doesn’t seek a lower gear if I want to speed up a small amount to change lanes - but if I want the lower gear, it’s slow. Conversely, in Sport+, I can be caught off-guard with a sudden lurch from the V12’s torque under quick acceleration. I, too, found the Vantage ZF programming better.
Just wondering if you had a chance to drive a AMG GTR and if so, what are your thoughts on the ride quality? Some of the magazine reviews say the GTR is more compliant on the street than the GTS which if true, it would be fantastic
#21
Junior Member
Ride Quality: GT R vs. GT S
I feel exactly the same way. The DB11 is my 2nd Aston and last one. Among all the cars I have owned, I feel that the GTS was the best driver car.
Just wondering if you had a chance to drive a AMG GTR and if so, what are your thoughts on the ride quality? Some of the magazine reviews say the GTR is more compliant on the street than the GTS which if true, it would be fantastic
Just wondering if you had a chance to drive a AMG GTR and if so, what are your thoughts on the ride quality? Some of the magazine reviews say the GTR is more compliant on the street than the GTS which if true, it would be fantastic