What are you driving?
This is the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster, the 'cheapest' version of the new open-topped sports car, though at €199,105 it's not what you'd call bargain basement stuff. And in truth, though the brand new GT C Roadster grabs all the headlines with its 557hp, the regular GT isn't exactly wanting for pace. It uses the same basic 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine and sends chunky numbers of 476hp and 630Nm of torque to the rear wheels via the same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, though here the rear limited slip differential is a slightly less sophisticated mechanical unit. This car does without the fancy rear-wheel steering and wider rear bodywork, too, while variable damping is on the options list.
Name its best bits
There's a lot to like about the entry-level GT Roadster, starting with its beautiful lines. This is a seriously eye-catching car in any specification, which is somehow more special and exotic than its natural rival, the Porsche 911, probably because it's not as familiar a shape.
Hopping out of the GT C into the GT reveals a subtly different character and in truth better suited to longer journeys and everyday use. The GT has a slightly softer suspension set-up, a different steering ratio and different tyres to the GT C and the end result is that it's somehow more comfortable most of the time. I'm sure it wouldn't be as fast against the clock, but it's still quick by any normal measure so it's probably the best option for most buyers.
Anything that bugs you?
I had to think long and hard about this one, as the GT Roadster is a very good car. Picking nits, the boot isn't huge, holding 165 litres, and there isn't enough space to recline the seats very much before they also start sliding forward.
And why have you given it this rating?
The AMG GT Roadster is a special car by any standard; it's beautiful, fast, good to drive, has a sensational engine and manages to deal with normal driving as well as it does with much quicker stuff. It loses out only a half star, mainly because of the space limitations and the fact that we find the GT C model even more irresistible.
I want to know more
At the launch of the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster, we focused on the GT C model, but if you'd like to know anything else specific about the entry-level car that we've not covered, please go to our Ask Us Anything page and send us a question.
Further reading:
Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster review
Mercedes-AMG GT R review
Mercedes-AMG GT S review
