Mr. Mercedes' 911 GTS

[Sunny]

Brave colour choice for your mate. When I bought my car there was a similarly equipped Speed Yellow GTS with 2000km on the clock at the Ferrari dealership. 6 months later the car remains unsold, in a market that is clamouring for GTS availability.

I think it was probably Racing yellow. To get get Speed yellow, you have to go PTS and pretty rare. The last 911 model that Speed yellow was standard color was 997.

 

[Big Sam]

I think it was probably Racing yellow. To get get Speed yellow, you have to go PTS and pretty rare. The last 911 model that Speed yellow was standard color was 997.

I think you're probably correct, looking at the configurator. Maybe he said it was Racing Yellow and I've misremembered, having seen it in the car park several times in the meantime.

 

[martinbo]

@Mr. Mercedes - thanks again for the informative write up. A 992 GTS definitely represents the sweet spot in the 911 range. What it loses in emotiveness over the GT3 it gains back in on-road usability, real-world tractability and price. It’s a solid choice, in my opinion.

It’s disappointing to hear about the niggles, most of which are just that - niggles - barring the front axle lift failure which is the main concern.

You and I have discussed in detail the cabin quality of the 992 and - you’ll know where I’m coming from - but to me it’s like Porsche elected to “Audi-fy” the 992 interior where the focus is more on the aesthetic rather than the underlying build quality. 991’s interior remains the 911 benchmark for quality. I bet things will be better screwed together in 992.2.

Fantastic to be able to talk with someone who has firsthand experience with both M4 and 992 as an owner. Love the insight into the suspension kinematics differences between the two. It’s exactly as I would imagine as I’ve driven neither. Porsche’s PASM is just fantastic in the way it delivers control and composure with polish. In isolation, I’ve no doubt the M4’s chassis builds on the excellent foundation laid by the G20 and I’m sure that in outright terms it’s extremely capable but when compared against 992 PASM it’ll fall short.

What remains impressive is how, time and again, BMW’s build quality punches above its weight.

Good luck with the running fixes! I hope all gets resolved quickly and entirely.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

911 is at service for aforementioned issues and I have this Taycan 4S as a back to back, if anyone has any questions about comparatives between the two.

Hideous spec IMO.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Some observations:

1. Standard interior is just not up to scratch. It doesn't feel special at all. It's well built but everything is just rubberised plastic. The leather or Racetex interior upgrades are essential. 13,000km on this example, but no signs of any rattles or creaks.
2. Seating position is very similar to a standard executive saloon and not like a sports car. You don't feel like you're sitting tucked in and low.
3. The immediacy of the acceleration is fun, but there is simply no soul. The 'Sports sound' is welcome, but obviously artificial.
4. The steering is precise, but much more filtered than a 911. It is notably lighter than the 911 GTS and has a stronger centering action.
5. The ride and handling trade off is very well judged, but again it's more akin to a sports executive sedan and not a real sports car. I remember my Taycan GTS being a better compromise for me in this respect.
6. Refinement is top notch even without the noise insulated glass. In a different league to the 911 GTS, but I don't think that's the point of the GTS. In fact Porsche removed a lot of sound deadening for the GTS.
7. The standard Bose sound system is nothing special. The standard Bose sound system in the 911 is better IMO.
8. I have no idea what the stock controller was thinking when they specified this car. Externally it just looks garish. I'm not surprised it's ended up as a loan vehicle.
9. I think the ICE Macan GTS or Cayenne GTS would be more enjoyable to drive largely due to their petrol powertrains. Before they dropped of the Taycan 4S I had a pre-facelift Cayenne S for 2 days and would say I actually preferred driving that vehicle. I guess I'm simply not an EV fan yet.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

What the Taycan 4S is, is an amazing freeway vehicle. The suspension is beautifully adept at soaking up the highway miles and isolating its occupants from road surfaces and imperfections.

The example I'm driving has the smaller battery however, and 350km per full charge is simply not enough. Oddly this vehicle also seems to default back to non recuperation settings in 'Normal' mode every time you start the vehicle, which further degrades the range until you remember to switch the recuperation back on. I don't remember my Taycan GTS doing this.

Annoyingly you also can't lower the vehicle to its lowest settings manually and this vehicle doesn't look great on the default 'Medium' setting. 'Lowered' only comes on automatically when freeway driving.

Despite my strong distaste for this spec, it does still get positive reactions from some people including the Golf GTI, M135i and S3 drivers, all easily dispatched traffic lights, in fun and good spirits.

The cabin feels positively commodious compared to a 911, even just comparing the seats up front, and you are always aware this is a very very wide vehicle.

With some nice interior upgrades, paint and wheels this would be a beautifully resolved sports sedan with top notch cruising abilities.

 

[AndreB]

Good write up. How would you describe your previous M4 compared to 911 and Taycan?

 

[martinbo]

Glad to hear you first hand re-count. Does it appear small and lithe or large and muscular? How would you compare it's presence to a 911?

They land here in September. I'm so tempted to flick the 911 for one as I could probably get 95% of my money back having done 15,000km. But will I regret it?

@Monster, @Merc1 @martinbo @Centurion @sako97, @Big Sam, @Mick Briesgau and others, please weigh in with some thoughts. Biggest car purchase regret to date was buying the M850i GC instead of the S580 Coupe. Don't want to do that again! LOL.

Has anyone sat in one yet? I'm curious about the seating position compared to the SL, which was not as low slung has I was hoping.

@Mr. Mercedes - thought to reply here in your own thread as it's a personal decision.

My thoughts, summarised as follows:

• Based on the mileage on your GTS, it looks to me like you use it as a daily driver.
• I have a very personal view that a 911 or Coxster should not be used on a daily basis. Such cars are about driver engagement and sense of occasion.
• IMHO, when you use a car in this way, over-familiarity with its daily-use imperfections (ride, tyre noise, interior build, frustration with not being able to enjoy the performance potential) can tarnish your passion for the car.
• If I had the means, I'd have that 992 GTS in the garage, as my special weekend and occasional-use car, in a heartbeat.
• An AMG GT Coupé wouldn't even blip on my radar because that's not what I'm after.
• HOWEVER, if you said to me that I needed to use the car on a daily basis, then that would change my perspective considerably.
• I think you already know what you need to do.
• Get your order in for the GT Coupe as allocations are going to be scarce.
• Resolve within yourself that the GT won't match the 911 on a visceral level with the same level of excitement / immersiveness.
• The trade-off will be much bigger straightline punch (if you go 63) and better luxury / comfort for daily use whilst still being plenty engaging enough for when the conditions present themselves.
• You're Mr. Mercedes - stop naffing about and get a Mercedes Benz, FFS.

 

[Monster]

@martinbo I can confirm that @Mr. Mercedes daily drives his GTS plus more.

We just completed a 400km return road trip from Brisbane to the northern tip of the Sunshine Coast , and he was very kind to let me take the wheel and share the driving duties.

Through the sunshine and the rain, from urban stop/start city driving, cruising on the motorway, to carving through the tight and twisty back roads in the middle of nowhere, the 992 GTS is supremely smooth and capable in all situation. It feels composed, refined, and extremely well engineered to enable the driver to go very fast.

The car is also surprisingly practical as well, I didn't think it can carry all of our bags and luggage, but the car manages just fine.

After a short while, I have forgotten that we were road tripping in a compact, high performance sports car, until you notice the reaction of other drivers and onlookers turning their heads as you drive pass. I remember there were several occasions when bystanders thought we would never make it over the steep driveway, or steep and tight entry/exits. They were surprised to see that the car cleared the driveway with the help of the front lift system.

I have more to say, and will post more later. For now a sincere thank you to @Mr. Mercedes for organising everything. It is a road trip I will remember for a very very long time.

 

[martinbo]

@martinbo I can confirm that @Mr. Mercedes daily drives his GTS plus more.

Thanks @Monster for the lovely post. Living the dream!

When you describe using a 911 GTS for such adventures... well, I'm sorry but it doesn't get better than this (for me!) and an AMG GT Coupé 63 wouldn't even feature in my selection process.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

@Mr. Mercedes - thought to reply here in your own thread as it's a personal decision.

My thoughts, summarised as follows:

• Based on the mileage on your GTS, it looks to me like you use it as a daily driver.
• I have a very personal view that a 911 or Coxster should not be used on a daily basis. Such cars are about driver engagement and sense of occasion.
• IMHO, when you use a car in this way, over-familiarity with its daily-use imperfections (ride, tyre noise, interior build, frustration with not being able to enjoy the performance potential) can tarnish your passion for the car.
• If I had the means, I'd have that 992 GTS in the garage, as my special weekend and occasional-use car, in a heartbeat.
• An AMG GT Coupé wouldn't even blip on my radar because that's not what I'm after.
• HOWEVER, if you said to me that I needed to use the car on a daily basis, then that would change my perspective considerably.
• I think you already know what you need to do.
• Get your order in for the GT Coupe as allocations are going to be scarce.
• Resolve within yourself that the GT won't match the 911 on a visceral level with the same level of excitement / immersiveness.
• The trade-off will be much bigger straightline punch (if you go 63) and better luxury / comfort for daily use whilst still being plenty engaging enough for when the conditions present themselves.
• You're Mr. Mercedes - stop naffing about and get a Mercedes Benz, FFS.

I really value your feedback Martin.

You make SUCH a valid point about daily driving a car like the GTS. It is such an occasion when you first drive it with it's crispness of steering, immediacy of response and overall agility. It's special. But that does become very familiar when driven daily and you only truly 'appreciate' it once you hop into another car. On the daily grind, road noise, ride etc. can become a concern, detracting from the essence of the car. I do on occasion wish for more suspension compliance and less road noise, but you know what, I still look forward to driving it every day when I wake up. I've had multiple offers on the car but I just can't bring myself to sell it.

Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of a two car garage at the moment and I think the only way to tell if the AMG offers a better blend of luxury and sports, for my needs, would be to have the car for a few days when they do finally arrive down under.

Even then however, stretching to a Turbo or Turbo S might be a better outcome than the AMG GT.

@martinbo, @Monster drove both the 911 and S-Class for a couple of hundred KM's over the last weekend. I'm sure he will in time have some views to share, but I think at the end of the trip we were on the same page on two things:
1. The S is a noticeable step up from the E in all respects
2. The 911 and S really perform their roles pretty flawlessly. You couldn't want more from a sports car or luxury sedan used on a daily basis.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

6 month wash and Ceramic check up.