An Unlikely Comparison - 997 GTS vs. MB C63 AMB Black Series
09-24-2012, 06:59 PM
#16
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
We actually have the hill country here in NW Austin. Likely not as good as PA but hilly and fun. Plus where it's flat we can do 85 mph... boring drive though. I'd like to see the OP get the MB just to hear about some varying reviews on the forum. Would be interesting to see what he does after a few years of MB ownership. For me it would be the GTS with MT given the choice. BTW, beautiful g-red GTS cab!
As a driver, its like our little bit of Bavaria, when the temperature gets below 50 for about 30 days in the dead of winter
09-24-2012, 07:03 PM
#17
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Interested as to why as I have a similar car to you.
To the OP, I would ultimately pick a GTS. But from my perspective, its sorta apples and oranges. I view a 911 as a sports car with some GT like attributes. Comfortable, BT, Nav etc., so you can live with it daily. I view an M3 or a Mercedes as a Sporty Coupe/Sedan. So 911's (Carreras) start out as sports cars and Porsche makes them a little more GT. M3's and Mercedes Blk series start as sedans/coupes that the manufacturer tries to make more sporty. Different.
I had an M3 and while I liked it, it wasnt really that great at anything. But very good at a lot of things. I just prefer (for me) the sports car that I can live with daily. At some point i'm more inclined to go to a Gt3 which is further down the spectrum vs. "back" to a M3, AM, Maserati etc.
I'd love a F car - i like them. But when I get close to doing it I back away. Too much attention. Cant just run around town with it like I do the P car. I use the 997.2 for almost anything and fly very much under the radar - especially in LA.
To the OP, I would ultimately pick a GTS. But from my perspective, its sorta apples and oranges. I view a 911 as a sports car with some GT like attributes. Comfortable, BT, Nav etc., so you can live with it daily. I view an M3 or a Mercedes as a Sporty Coupe/Sedan. So 911's (Carreras) start out as sports cars and Porsche makes them a little more GT. M3's and Mercedes Blk series start as sedans/coupes that the manufacturer tries to make more sporty. Different.
I had an M3 and while I liked it, it wasnt really that great at anything. But very good at a lot of things. I just prefer (for me) the sports car that I can live with daily. At some point i'm more inclined to go to a Gt3 which is further down the spectrum vs. "back" to a M3, AM, Maserati etc.
I'd love a F car - i like them. But when I get close to doing it I back away. Too much attention. Cant just run around town with it like I do the P car. I use the 997.2 for almost anything and fly very much under the radar - especially in LA.
09-24-2012, 07:48 PM
#18
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We actually have the hill country here in NW Austin. Likely not as good as PA but hilly and fun. Plus where it's flat we can do 85 mph... boring drive though. I'd like to see the OP get the MB just to hear about some varying reviews on the forum. Would be interesting to see what he does after a few years of MB ownership. For me it would be the GTS with MT given the choice. BTW, beautiful g-red GTS cab!
I didn't know Austin had hill country. I just figured TX was all pretty flat as that is mostly what I've seen. My parents used to live in Houston and I used to travel to Dallas quite a bit.
A Maserati dealer opened near to where I live in PA. I passed by there today and a white coupe (GT?) pulled out in front of me. It sounded spectacular and possibly even better than a Ferrari. Whatever they did to make the exhaust sound like that, I want it on my car!
I don't know if that car had back seats, but it did look super sexy.
09-24-2012, 08:03 PM
#19
Rennlist Member
I'll make it easy for you...
- Do you track? or plan to track at least a few times a year?
If so, get GTS (better yet GT3), if not, get Merc!
Done!
- Do you track? or plan to track at least a few times a year?
If so, get GTS (better yet GT3), if not, get Merc!
Done!
09-24-2012, 08:43 PM
#21
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09-24-2012, 09:22 PM
#22
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I have a 7 and a 8 year old and they fit very well in the back of my regular 911. Another reason I dont have a GT3 yet
09-24-2012, 09:31 PM
#23
I have a C63 Black Series on order. 2013, one of very few. I ordered in a "subtle" spec, if that word can be used to describe this car. I.E. no wing, track pkg winglets, no matte paint, etc. Just Obsidian Black. Pretty standard spec. I have driven the "standard" C63 AMG coupe, but not the Black. From everything I read and hear, I expect it to be an "epic" (as the kids say) driving experience. Scored #2 to the 991 S as 2012 drivers car by Motor Trend, Chris Harris put it against a GT3 RS 4.0 on a recent review and raved, etc. Lots of positive press, essentially a detuned SLS AMG engine, etc.
Only problem is that the early November delivery is giving me too much time to think At the spec I ordered, the price is on equal footing to a brand new GTS. Or certainly, an opportunity to save $20k or so and pick up a lightly used GTS. I have driven several 997 S, but not the GTS. Again, I expect its as good if not slightly better driving experience with nice bells /whistles optioned. I have a read on a couple new and used that I could pull the trigger on.
They may seem like odd cars to compare. But I am looking for a weekend/toy that will be an experience and excite me. After several pristine 993s, I am looking for a more modern experience. But I require at least a small backseat. If you give yourself a roughly $100k or less budget for such a car, at least in my case, I come to these two choices. Yes, there is the 997 turbo, but having driven it (unholy fast) I find the experience a little clinincal. And for a weekend only toy, I dont think its the right choice. Of the Porsche lineup, the GTS seems the way to go.
So curious people reaction to these two cars and if if you had the option, which you would pick. Yes, I know that I am on a Porsche 997 board, and I know that the answers will be biased. But I have actually over the years found rennlisters to be enthusiasts, not just of Porsches, but in general. Which would you pick?
And before anyone mentions 2005 Aston Martins or new Maserati GTs, etc....those cars are all very cool looking and certainly head turners, but I think I would like to stick with Porsche or AMG. Not looking for the maintenance/reliability/depreciation headaches from exotics. The Audi RS5 is a car I have tried to get excited about, but for a weekend toy, it just doesnt cut it for me. And I dont like the direction BMW has gone on design and some other elements of their M cars. The M6 could maybe be interesting, but I dont think it will be as raw or fun as a GTS or Black Series.
Thanks!
Only problem is that the early November delivery is giving me too much time to think
At the spec I ordered, the price is on equal footing to a brand new GTS. Or certainly, an opportunity to save $20k or so and pick up a lightly used GTS. I have driven several 997 S, but not the GTS. Again, I expect its as good if not slightly better driving experience with nice bells /whistles optioned. I have a read on a couple new and used that I could pull the trigger on.They may seem like odd cars to compare. But I am looking for a weekend/toy that will be an experience and excite me. After several pristine 993s, I am looking for a more modern experience. But I require at least a small backseat. If you give yourself a roughly $100k or less budget for such a car, at least in my case, I come to these two choices. Yes, there is the 997 turbo, but having driven it (unholy fast) I find the experience a little clinincal. And for a weekend only toy, I dont think its the right choice. Of the Porsche lineup, the GTS seems the way to go.
So curious people reaction to these two cars and if if you had the option, which you would pick. Yes, I know that I am on a Porsche 997 board, and I know that the answers will be biased. But I have actually over the years found rennlisters to be enthusiasts, not just of Porsches, but in general. Which would you pick?
And before anyone mentions 2005 Aston Martins or new Maserati GTs, etc....those cars are all very cool looking and certainly head turners, but I think I would like to stick with Porsche or AMG. Not looking for the maintenance/reliability/depreciation headaches from exotics. The Audi RS5 is a car I have tried to get excited about, but for a weekend toy, it just doesnt cut it for me. And I dont like the direction BMW has gone on design and some other elements of their M cars. The M6 could maybe be interesting, but I dont think it will be as raw or fun as a GTS or Black Series.
Thanks!
You new car will be here within 6 weeks, a beauty to add.....good luck
But your second thoughts, I would be costly to lose your deopsit as you had to have put a deposit on the Merc to order it right ???.......
If I were you I'd be over the moon Mr Sullivan, and countin the days..
09-24-2012, 11:16 PM
#24
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Mumbles, refundable deposit, no issue there, they would easily sell the car to someone else. I am excited about the Black. But I also have really enoyed Porsches over the last several years...and the other day saw a GTS in person, white, beautiful, read a couple reviews, really got me thinking about one. I guess the point of my thread was just to vent a little amongs other enthusiasts, get some perspectives, etc. that may /may not influence final decision. I have a strong case of ADD sickness when it comes to cars, even when they are still on order
09-24-2012, 11:53 PM
#26
Rennlist Member
Mumbles, refundable deposit, no issue there, they would easily sell the car to someone else. I am excited about the Black. But I also have really enoyed Porsches over the last several years...and the other day saw a GTS in person, white, beautiful, read a couple reviews, really got me thinking about one. I guess the point of my thread was just to vent a little amongs other enthusiasts, get some perspectives, etc. that may /may not influence final decision. I have a strong case of ADD sickness when it comes to cars, even when they are still on order
Again, for tracking, I'd pick 911 anyday, for sports car with back seats and luxury, Merc looks like an amazing car!
09-25-2012, 02:30 PM
#27
Mumbles, refundable deposit, no issue there, they would easily sell the car to someone else. I am excited about the Black. But I also have really enoyed Porsches over the last several years...and the other day saw a GTS in person, white, beautiful, read a couple reviews, really got me thinking about one. I guess the point of my thread was just to vent a little amongs other enthusiasts, get some perspectives, etc. that may /may not influence final decision. I have a strong case of ADD sickness when it comes to cars, even when they are still on order
Good Luck
09-25-2012, 03:58 PM
#28
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
I get it though, thanks for the advice...
09-26-2012, 07:13 AM
#29
I love my GTS, but it seems like you want something a bit more crazy so maybe the c63bs might be the right car for you. The only thing that I don't like about the bs is lack of aftermarket support. There's only a few companies that I know of that have stuff for the bs. You probably could flip the bs for a few bucks too if you decided to pass on it. Seems like theres people on mbworld.org that still want one and missed out on the final allocations.
I bought the GTS because I decided that it was time to get a proper midlife crisis car and I have wanted a Porsche for over 30 years. If I was the type of person that swapped out cars every few years then I don't know what I would pick, but hopefully this is a keeper car for me. It is everything I wanted and more. It can be very civilized in daily traffic and a crazy monster in sport and sport plus mode at the track.
I bought the GTS because I decided that it was time to get a proper midlife crisis car and I have wanted a Porsche for over 30 years. If I was the type of person that swapped out cars every few years then I don't know what I would pick, but hopefully this is a keeper car for me. It is everything I wanted and more. It can be very civilized in daily traffic and a crazy monster in sport and sport plus mode at the track.
09-26-2012, 09:08 AM
#30
Rennlist Member
What's the Porsche tag line?
There is no substitute
See you back here or on another Rennlist forum in 18 months. Meanwhile have fun with your right foot in that Black Series Benz.
There is no substitute
See you back here or on another Rennlist forum in 18 months. Meanwhile have fun with your right foot in that Black Series Benz.