Hello everyone!

I have recently been considering purchasing a new car, and am edging closer to the AMG GT/GTS. I went and looked at one today and took it for a spin. I think it is really nice, but I need to make sure I do my homework before I move toward a purchase, which is why I am here. I haven't truly dove into all the different trims/iterations/ect, though I've heard that the GTS has some features that aren't available on the GT that are really nice to have, as well as the 2020 had somewhat of a refresh, combining the GT and GTS into one?

Could you please share your knowledge of important things one should know to look for - mainly feature-wise - as I have done a bit of research on the known issues like exhaust bracket, leaking fuel injector o ring, ect. And also, perhaps things you wish you would have known?

I haven't searched the forum just yet as I also wanted to use this post to introduce myself as well as I might be a frequent member should I end up making a purchase! Thanks in advance for your insight.

Here is a photo of the one I drove today:

 

That's a clean looking car!

Unfortunately, I can't help much on those trim models, but I will say that when I was in the market, YouTube review channels were immensely helpful; I'd recommend you dive down that rabbit hole if you haven't already. On the 20/19 refresh, some notable changes include Apple carplay availability in later models and a change to the center console buttons, moving away from the dials to haptic rectangular LCD (LED?) buttons. Preference is personal imo. The center display got a bit bigger to take up the full bezel also. Oh- there's also front and rear bumper updates from 2016 to 2017-2019 and again in 2020. 2019/2020 saw headlight and tail light updates as well.

 

The AMG GT has gone through some evolution with the options. Some of the performance features that became standard in later models where initially part of the optional AMG Dynamic Plus package. Such as Race mode and dynamic engine/transmission mounts. I don't remember if all GT variants always had the electronic rear locking differential, but at least for other AMG models that was reserved for the S and the non-S had a mechanical LSD. The Dynamic Plus package also added a retuned suspension and improved engine mapping for a wider powerband. Things became a little more straight forward with the GT C and GT R.

But IMO, you want to have Race mode and the dynamic engine/transmission mounts along with the electronic locking differential. The GT R and above also have a new 9-stage traction control system that is amazing. It was later added to the refreshed C63S and I have it. One of the best performance improvements as it works with the driver to make you faster instead of killing the fun.

The 2020 model year was the facelift, so it got the upgraded cabin tech from the C63S facelift and a front camera (still no 360 camera). Same latest COMAND system etc. Yes, it changed the center console for the GT, which some people don't like. It got rid of the 8 round buttons that symbolized the V8 engine. But the best new addition to the interior is the AMG Drive Unit, which allows you to change drive mode and drive mode related settings directly from the steering wheel via a rotary knob and two programmable soft buttons. I love the AMG Drive Unit. Totally changes the experience in my opinion as it's so intuitive to change drive modes. My favorite feature is that you can press the drive mode selector to immediately activate the Individual mode regardless of the current mode, and in my case with the C63S it doubles as the controller for the 9-stage traction control, so I can quickly adjust the level of TC I want. The GT R and above have a dedicated knob for it, but it's kinda over in the center console, so you have to reach over and take your hand off the steering wheel. Another thing that was added to the 2020 and all other AMG facelifts is a new chassis dynamics system called AMG DYNAMICS. I also have this in my C63S and it's sublime. It has 4 modes, basic, advanced, pro and master and it changes the dynamics of the car. I love master in the canyons. Noticeably more neutral and balanced than even pro. It influences the locking differential and torque vectoring.

The GT S was later discontinued, that's correct. I think it was with the FL if I remember correctly and the regular GT was made more potent and pretty much became the replacement for the GT S. The entire GT line up then kinda suddenly went out of production during the pandemic and it finished off with the GT Black Series, which was the last production run.

 

I have a pretty high mileage one at 60k, it's driven a lot. Have not experienced transmission issues, rear main seal issues, injectors or anything. As far as I know, it's just a car to me. No mods. Just oil, gas, brakes and tires. I don't even use summer tires anymore, DWS06+ all around so it gets real greasy after 2-3 50mph turns but it's good to practice handling at the limits.

If you don't need a pseudo-supercar experience an E63 is probably a more realistic, useable, less expensive option that gets less attention has the same power output more doors and better availability of parts. It's not particularly subtle, lots of things are bespoke to the car like all the chassis sensors, body parts, lights. The money item is the transmission here. It was like 32k new for one, the MB dealer "hooks you up" for 25k these days. It's reliable on every other car it's installed on. Just replace your fluid every 30k along with your diff.

Aside from that it's a pretty sweet car, you're probably here to be a 911 contrarian and it's not a bad place to be. It's just incredibly expensive upfront but you get a really nice car out of it with MB build quality, MB oem parts which are world class, and probably the best brakes in the business, 390mm rotors are no joke.

To be honest we did zero research when getting ours. We bought it on the premise of looks alone, and worked on the rest of it. It's a weird car in that it doesn't feel like Mercedes made it, they really outdid themselves on the build but the layout of everything is completely brand new after like 20 years of being in Mercedes.

 

I kinda echo the above suggestion about considering an E63, or obviously I'm biased towards the C63S coupe. I've driven almost all GT variants including the Black Series. Amazing cars. I've driven them on the track in anger, but they are better on the track than the road. The lack of certain creature comforts, lack of 360 cameras, long hood with low nose (w/o nose lift) and older model years don't even have a front camera make this car not particularly road and parking lot friendly and it will attract unwanted attention. While I still get plenty of unwanted attention with my C63S coupe w/ aero package (it does have a presence), I find it to be the much better and more useable coupe for the road. A GT won't have much on it in the canyons, either, but for the track I'd go with a GT R or above.

If I could justify it, this would be my track toy. Hauled this thing around the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit.

 

Great suggestions above on model differences and things to watch out for. I have a '19 GTC Roadster. I have had zero issues, but I have had two annoyances that are readily solvable: (1) the car is too low for streets in my country. I solved this with the German HK front end lift (afterwards I noticed they have a fore and aft lift too I would have ordered). Works great and makes the car much more usable here. And (2) it was annoying not to have Android Auto. This was solved with an aftermarket box. Being a '19 the screen is a bit small but it works well. Good luck in your search.

 

Thank you all for the replies thusfar.

I've been diving more into the options and such and looking at some that are currently FS in my area.

One quick question. I found a 2016 GT S that does not appear to have the "RACE" mode on the knob. Can you opt to not have race mode? Aside from it being a TCU tune for shifting, is it related to anything else? The reason I ask is I do like the exterior color of this one a bit more along with the carbon fiber inserts.

The white one I test drove had the race mode - although I opted not to use it as to not scare the car salesman too much!

I also looked at another lower mileage example (2017) but on the carfax it stated that it already had a crankshaft seal replaced. Yikes! It only had like 8k miles I believe.

 

Yes, so I believe Race made was originally not standard and instead part of the AMG Dynamics Plus package I mentioned. The presence or the lack of Race mode indicates whether it has the the Dynamic Plus package. The early GTs have some known issues such as driveshaft and early locking differential failures, especially 2016 models.

 

Good info on the early models having issues. Important to know about.

So from what I'm seeing in 2018 the GT S was discontinued and replaced as the ""Base" - however, it appears that the engine output is lowered to 469, from the 503? If correct, is that simply just the tune? Or is there more to it?

 

I have had a 2018 coupe and now have a 2020 roadster. In terms of ergonomics, the 2018s (and 2019s) are better even though they don't have a front camera nor Apply Play. The new controls in the 2020 are awful, buggy touch screen controls which can't be confirmed without looking at them.

Mercedes also decided to load up the steering wheel and has festooned it with controls which don't make sense and are certainly not driver-centric. One example is the controls for the Distronic. (I also had this control on my 2001 CL55AMG.) It was a single stalk which you could turn on and off, set and adjust all with just feeling and without looking at. Very intuitive after a few uses. The new controls are all over the steering wheel and you have to look at them to see what you are doing. Just awful.

 

Unless I'm mixing you up with somebody else I believe you shared this opinion before. Still don't know what you are doing, though. I operate the DISTRONIC buttons blind. They are within reach of my thumb and I don't have to look. Press Resume, which sets DISTRONIC to the current speed limit, then I use the rocker switch next to it to adjust it up 10-20mph. If the speed limit changes I press Resume again to manually adopt the new speed limit and then adjust it again slight upward. It's two buttons basically that I just need to stretch my thumb for to operate. Don't even have to take my hand off the steering wheel. It's the same with everything else. All reachable with the left or right thumb and operated blindly. Not sure how much time you've actually spent with the new wheel, but seems like you didn't even try to memorize the buttons.

 

GT's have 469 HP/ GTS's 503 power climbed up to I believe 515 for 2020 and up GT's. It's all software. Tuning a GT or a GTS nets the same power output across the board from pretty much all of the tuners.