You need to be on the McLaren Pistonheads Forum. Not many on here drive a 540C or a AM GT
My guess would be the Porsche if it’s a daily driver, it will be more reliable
Hello all,
Can't decide on what car to go for.
Was considering the 540C/570S and the AMG GT but have heard that McLarens aren't the most reliable and this car would be my daily car for driving to work etc.
Am now thinking the AMG GT or a 911 GTS. Also trying to see if I can get the new Cayman GT4 but that seems very unlikely as I don't have a serious Porsche history.
This would be a used car and I plan to keep this for atleast 3-4 years. Budget is 80k.
Any advice much appreciated!
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You need to be on the McLaren Pistonheads Forum. Not many on here drive a 540C or a AM GT
My guess would be the Porsche if it’s a daily driver, it will be more reliable
Last edited by hilly10; 12th September 2019 at 06:11.
As decisions go its at the pleasant end for any brain.
If you have a baldy head and are over 50 and slightly overweight then the Porsche is a no brainer, and if you still frequent nightclubs at roughly the same age and wear a toupee then the Merc is the one.
For the record Id be in the Merc
Last edited by 100thmonkey; 12th September 2019 at 07:27.
RIAC
I would normally say the 911 every time - but the AMG just has so much presence on the road and they are lovely inside too.
I also can't imagine it being any less dependable than the Porsche as an everyday car.
Whichever way you go, it's a nice conundrum to have. Pictures when you pull the trigger?!
The V8 sounds better... and it's a V8.
Great cars I gave them both to my son for his 21st.
Other than a few drive shaft issues on very early cars, what reliability issues have there been with the AMG?
Its only very recently that Porsche have got it together regarding reliability.
I've got the Merc and would say its the best normal car I have ever owned, only car I like better at the moment is a 720S but servicing is eye watering and they do break.
The only Porsche I ever owned was a 996GT3 but got bored with it, other thing about the Merc, so far I have not seen another one on the road.
The bargain Maclaren at the moment is the 650S, I keep thinking about getting one as well.
Last edited by adrianw; 12th September 2019 at 07:58.
If you’re at all concerned about reliability then remember that Porsche are the only “approved used” seller of those 3 that are offering a 2 year warranty.
Depends on what you want to use it for.
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Dpends on what you are looking for I suppose.
If its to pose in, then I would go Mercedes simply because it looks great (and it's not a boring 911). However saying that the new AmG 63 GT 4 door is just plain nasty IMHO.
If its for ripping it up on track days I would say the Porsche GTS - a much better handling car.
If its for driving at 70 Mph on the roads, then either will do it.
If it's all about cost of ownership, reliability, fuel consumption, car tax and insurance, then it's much of a muchness, however I believe the Porsche would be better on depreciation.
if it's about joining an owners club - then go Porsche.
If you are looking for a keeper, then go Porsche
Nice first world problem. Please post pictures of whatever you decide.
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Work harder and up your budget
Lambo or go home.
You never seem to see Audi R8s mentioned. Is there something wrong with them? Image perhaps?
No experience myself but my ex boss had a 991.2 GTS before changing to an AMG GTC. He got rid of the 911 because it had multiple problems and the build quality was poor compared to the Merc. He absolutely loves the AMG and said he doesn't plan on changing it any time soon, which is surprising as he normally changes regularly.
From an aesthetic point of view I have always found AMG stuff to look just a little too "flash" and after a few years dated, almost to the point of "cheap and nasty" ...... whereas modern Porsches still reflect the classic 911 heritage which I find attractive.
From a performance standpoint presumably there is little in it and it depends on how you drive and how you want to use it.
We, (I gave it to me son a few years ago), still have my 911 which I bought new in 1989 - I suppose it is quite agricultural by today's standards, but it still puts a smile on my face when I drive it and I love the shape and engineering.
If you are going to keep it an use it everyday, I would think the Porsche will give you great satisfaction........... but £80k, that's a lot to spend on a car
Still got some years to get to 50!
Most dealers offer a 2 year warranty on used AMGs compared to a 1 year warranty on standard Mercedes cars.
I prefer the interior of the GT but also love the way the centre-lock wheels on the 911 look!
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Also depends where you live for access to servicing. Some Porsche dealers are up their own ar**s and a pain to deal with. Porsche UK even have a fixed price service schedule but not all dealers adhere to it.
I just had an oil service (intermediate) on my Boxster S (the older 6 cyl 981). Hatfield wanted £1,380, the OPC I bought it from charged less than £600 (Porsche Solihull). If you have a friendly Porsche dealer within reasonable distance, I'd consider one but if they have a "reputation" and an alternative wasn't available, I'd certainly consider another marque.
Personally, I don't really like ostentatious cars, so the fat spoilers for a daily drive would attract too much attention for me. Even driving the Boxster compared to the regular daily, I notice more people don't like letting you out of junctions etc. I prefer a bit of friendly admiration of something more unusual rather than the cars that shout [Harry Enfield accent]I'm considerably richer than yow[/Harry Enfield accent] since our country is overloaded with jealous gits.
I would regret in your situation not getting the porsche, loads of mercs around of various types, my friend has a c63s, beautiful, but it's still a merc. Porsche that's a marquee car I dream of.
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Aye, Solihull is my local OPC, was in there the other day chatting about the GT4. Have always found them to be nice.Sent from my SM-G965F using TZ-UK mobile app
Your right, teach me to read the whole thing!
In that case the Porsche, no question! One of the best all round sports cars available and as others have said great reliability, usability and brands. The Merc is a great car and would love one but probably as a second car.
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My neighbour has 720S, my god what a car!
Sounds like the proper formula one cars before the hybrid days, looks amazing light metalic blue.
Just image, I think, it's a great car, especially for everyday use, but excellent in most respects.
If I couldn't afford a Ferrari 458 (and I can't!) and was in the market for a sportscar like this, I'd be tempted to the Audi, even if I will get people telling me the Porsche is a better car every day.
Personally, I have a pathological hatred of 911s, I should see someone about it - Nasty, nasty things...
Luckily, perhaps, I'm never going to be in the market for such a car.
M
Last edited by snowman; 12th September 2019 at 13:34.
It requires no effort
Each to their own and I must admit to liking the looks of older ones they way I like the looks of old Ford Escorts and Triumph Heralds, but they're not for me.
Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder...
I must admit, though, that I have a tendency to eschew the 'obvious choices' and the 911 is that.
M
The occasional track day but mainly just as a normal car, go to work, Tesco, the odd road trip etcSent from my SM-G965F using TZ-UK mobile app
Only airport chauffeurs drive mercs.
The Porsche all day long for me. But then I am a massive fanboy.
Porsche all day long - had a 911 4s - loved it - Mercs aren't for me - too "keeping up with the Jones's"
Residuals - my money is Porsche will outrun it for payback
Dealership stories vary (as mentioned earlier) - but fo rthe money you are spending they'll kiss your R....olex
For day to day driving they are excellent to drive imo. I much prefer the V8, to drive but it's slower. The V8 is also v cheap to insure for some reason, less than half the price of other sports cars for me when looking.
Personally, I think I'd have the MCLAREN. Then the Porsche 911 - if I could find a 911T with folding carbon buckets, rear seat, PCCB's and PDK, oh, and not in yellow or red. Or maybe a slightly older 911 Turbo
The Merc AMG is nice - but the brakes fade v easily. Well they do on the Isle of Man, or any track day apparently.
It's just a matter of time...
Inded - After posting earlier, I went out for a walk.
Two 911s passed me, one directly after the other. I can't recall the last time I saw an AMG GT.
I sat in an AMG when they came out at the Geneva Motorshow and it seemed a pretty nice (if rather cramped) place to be.
I like front engined sportscars (most fun I've had in a long time was a few laps in the most recent Viper!), but I sometimes think the AMG has a bit of an identity crisis.
If it's an AMG (rather than a Mercedes) why do they have the Mercedes badge on the grille? If it's a Mercedes, why don't they just call it one.
It's not like Rolls Royces have BMW badges on the bonnet, is it?
Other than that, it seems like a pretty likeable car, although the euphoria in the press that greeted it initially ("Better than a 911!" I seem to recall) seems to have been moderated over time.
I've not driven one, but, honestly, on the road, all these cars are a hair's breadth apart.
M
Last edited by snowman; 12th September 2019 at 16:45.
FWIW a good friend has a 911 GTS cabrio from 2013
He’s had loads of trouble and it’s now out of warranty and needs 5k worth of clutch
It’s low mileage too- under 30k.
It’s stiillnicer than the AMG imo.
Probably too slow and too heavy compared to something for fun track use, but very nice for spirited road use for me - I found the v8 quite composed on rough UK/IOM roads and fast enough if you are used to hot hatch type performance. I did prefer the newer 991 911 for handling - but the R8 feels more planted more of the time at speeds under 100mph. I'd still like a fully specced 911T to play with though. We will see. My sensible old self wants day to day comfort with some performance on the side, rather than the other way round.
I loved being a passenger in Wayne's supercharged Lotus Exige, and the McLaren 720S earlier in the year, and was surprised by the performance of the Lotus and just how stable and well mannered the 720S was on fairly average road surfaces.
It's just a matter of time...
Over 40 posts and no one has suggested the obvious MX-5 in red as red ones go faster...
I lement the drop in standards evident on the forum these days...
Equally surprised there’s been no mention of Aston Martin?
We’ve got a 540C and 991 Turbo S in the family.
As an everyday car the McLaren 540c is perfectly usable if you can live with the attention which is generally positive but significant. The only unreliability I’ve experienced is occasional but irritating gremlins in the user interface.
911 is the other way around, flawless all-round reliability, less attention but what you do get is less positive.
GT we didn’t buy because it didn’t impress on a test drive - I found the power delivery unrefined and the rear end snappy, which didn’t appeal.
Last edited by cmcm3; 12th September 2019 at 19:27.
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
Neither are great cars. Try a Nissan GTR - loved mine. But what do I know? With a budget just above yours I recently bought a G Wagen.
Last edited by Skyman; 12th September 2019 at 20:18.
In my experience the big HP AMG's are owned by people who like noise and presence. Having driven a C63, it sounded great but the drive was fraught with the sense of disaster and a 911 GTS would eat it on a decent road with a decent driver in the seat.
Nissan GTR has an identity problem for me - too 'yobish' if that is such a word? Flying machine for sure (even more so when tuned) but it is just, wet, 'yobish'.
Other opinions are available.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........