911 GT3 Takes On 500-HP Rivals from Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG
Porsche GT3 has the least power out of the three, but it makes up for it with its gearbox and driving dynamics.
The crew at Car and Driver recently hit the roads of Kentucky and a track in Michigan in a trio of European performance cars: the new Porsche 911 GT3, Aston Martin Vantage, and Mercedes-AMG GT C. It turns out not all 500+-horsepower exotics are created equal.
It’s hard to imagine that there any losers in a contest filled with such high-end machines; anyone behind the wheel of one of them is bound to feel like a winner. But Car and Driver tested three cars to find out which was best and there’s only one 1st place.
They conducted their testing in the winding Appalachian foothills southeast of Richmond, Kentucky and at the Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Michigan. Such diverse testing environments revealed each car’s strengths and weaknesses.
For instance, the 503-horsepower AMG-powered Vantage may have easily been the most visually distinctive and attention-getting car of the trio (especially in its highlighter paint job), but it had flaws in terms of its exterior and interior build quality and driving dynamics.
“King Hooligan” had a willingness to slide and looks that appealed to everyone, but demanded a level of driving focus that some would tire of in time, so it came in third.
The Mercedes-AMG GT C had the same basic twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, but it had more HP (550 horses and 502 lb-ft of torque – three fewer than the Vantage) and fared better than its British cousin.
Thanks to its ample output and 265-section-width front and 305 rear rubber, it had a shocking ability to rocket out of turns. Flat out, it could pull 1.05 g on the skidpad while blasting out an exhaust note that brings racetracks to mind.
The major downside to the GT C was that it was more lovable than livable. Its oddly-proportioned interior was cramped. That, combined with a harsh suspension to make the GT C a terrible highway cruiser and the 2nd-place entry in this contest.
The 500-horsepower Porsche 911 GT3 Touring had none of the QC or practical issues of its rivals. Although it only generated 339 lb-ft of torque and could be noisy inside, it offered plenty of legroom, impressive outward visibility, and a supple ride quality.
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s had loads of grip, which Car and Driver‘s team could exploit without worrying about snap oversteer.
Its mixture of practicality and performance allowed it to take 1st place – quite an accomplishment for a car that wasn’t as visually distinctive or powerful as its competitors.
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*Photos courtesy of Car and Driver.
