It will tighten its line on the throttle (though not by you coming off it, not like the 911) however doesn’t accomplish that as naturally as any longitudinally engined roadster from Affalterbach ought to.
It clings doggedly onto that feeling of stability that appears to be its chosen calling card. It’s all very ‘fast grand tourer’, moderately than ‘proper sports car’ and once more makes you surprise: the place’s the AMG-ness? Meanwhile, the 911 is trickier to steadiness however rewards precision and is prepared to bounce. It’s extra enjoyable.
Mercedes-AMG SL 55 vs Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet: verdict
So the place does this go away us? It’s fairly clear-cut, I might say. One approach of framing the decision is to ask: does the reinvented SL get nearer to being a sports activities automotive than the 911 will get to being a long-legged grand tourer? Because if it does, chapeau AMG, because the end result could be fairly compelling, even at £150,000. But no.
The AMG is a tremendous cruiser, however the 911 is not any horse and cart and even in Cabriolet kind has the area and beauty for day-long drives. Then, on these final half-hour from motorway to in a single day, it is going to take the SL aside in nearly each measurable approach, and in a number of methods you’ll be able to’t simply measure, too.
That stated, there’s clearly fairly a little bit of potential within the SL. If AMG may give the Mk2 GT the identical dealing with aptitude as its predecessor but additionally the highway manners of the SL and, say, disengageable entrance driveshafts? What a factor that may very well be.
Mercedes-AMG SL 55 vs Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet: winner
1st. Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet
Road roar hampers its GT credentials, nevertheless it’s stunningly full in nearly each different respect. Subtler than the SL but additionally extra detailed and rewarding.
2nd. Mercedes-AMG SL 55
Fantastically succesful in isolation however considerably confused. Loses some GT slickness in an try and chase the 911 however by no means lands any convincing blows.
