---
title: 'Mercedes-AMG GT R Review // Now Half Price'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=o6QA8WAI3Q8'
video_id: 'o6QA8WAI3Q8'
date: 2026-07-25
duration_sec: 1278
---

# Mercedes-AMG GT R Review // Now Half Price

> Source: [Mercedes-AMG GT R Review // Now Half Price](https://youtube.com/watch?v=o6QA8WAI3Q8)

## Summary

The Mercedes-AMG GT R, originally a $200,000 track weapon, has depreciated to around $106,000, making it a compelling bargain in the high-performance sports car market. The Throttle House hosts review its brutal performance, harsh ride, and compare it to rivals like the Porsche GT3, ultimately declaring it an excellent but specific choice for enthusiasts.

### Key Points

- **Massive Depreciation** [01:20] — New in 2018 for ~$200,000 USD, now with 13,000 miles sold for $106,000 (half price).
- **Specs and Construction** [01:34] — 577 hp twin-turbo V8, carbon fiber, titanium, magnesium, carbon torque tube, wider track, and suspension modifications for track performance.
- **Active Aero** [04:23] — A button deploys a rubber bladder under the front bumper to increase downforce.
- **Track Purpose** [05:04] — Briefly the fastest rear-wheel drive Nürburgring lap, designed as a GT3 RS competitor.
- **Harsh Ride** [05:46] — Spine-crushing stiffness; not a casual daily driver. Causes headaches and is described as 'oppressive'.
- **Steering Feel** [07:05] — Sharp off-center response, comparable to a 992 GT3, with excellent feedback.
- **Impossible to Drive Slowly** [09:46] — Performance is addictive and primal; the car encourages aggressive driving.
- **Undervalued Bargain** [13:36] — Depreciation makes it a performance bargain compared to Porsche GT3s, which cost twice as much.
- **Better Value Than New 911** [16:43] — Cheaper than a base new 911, yet offers more performance and a more extreme experience.
- **Poser Car Honesty** [18:04] — James admits it's a poser car for track enthusiasts; track capability is genuine but owners are often posers.

### Conclusion

The AMG GTR is a phenomenal track car that offers incredible performance for its current price, but its extreme harshness limits daily usability. It's an excellent but specific choice for enthusiasts who prioritize track prowess over comfort.

## Transcript

You're watching Throttle House. I'm Thomas. And I'm James. And this is the AMG GTR and it's a deal.
[music] the word deal these days, but in a world where Porsche GT car prices don't seem to answer to gravity, it's refreshing that the same is not true for refreshing that the same is not true for the AMGs. When new in 2018, this car was
about $200,000 US. [music] And now with just 13,000 m on it, this exact one just sold for 106,000 [music] USDs. That's half price. And need we
remind ourselves, this is no regular AMG [music] GT, nor is it the GTS or a GTC [music] GT, nor is it the GTS or a GTC even. This is the GTR, a 577 horsepower twinturbocharged [music] V8 laserg guided 50 caliber freaking
carbon fiber laden beauty. AMG Christ, we're talking about a serious machine here. So, let's drive it.
[screaming] we do car reviews, track tests, and quite a lot of messing around. So, [music] subscribe and enjoy the So, [music] subscribe and enjoy the show.
time with this car. Yeah. No, it's real quick. That is 577 horsepower from a 4 L >> Yeah, I'll turn the traction off one. >> No, don't do that. No, no, no. No >> None traction off. Careful, careful, careful, careful, careful.
careful, careful, careful. Okay, was exactly the speed limit. As I've been saying, I've been living with this car >> and I'm having a hard time understanding
what it is or really what you're supposed to do with it. >> Yes, we did >> because Thomas got to play with the AMG >> Oh, and I loved that car. I was sleeping on that car. What a magnificent
>> mag so magnificent >> automobile. and I had to defend the [music] newest version of the AMG GT and you failed comprehensively. >> But in my mind, [laughter] I've seen GTRS and they absolutely nail what this
GTRS and they absolutely nail what this car could be. And in my head, I thought the convertible was the move cuz there >> No, no, cuz No, because it it it could be peak. It could >> No, it couldn't be peak because the GTR,
this car is meant for the track. >> Careful. Jesus. Good morning. M >> sport traction. >> So, what is this car? This going back a few years. This is not a new vehicle. Obviously, this is a bargain now because
these. >> Yeah, this passed us by. Sorry about >> Yeah. And and and what you're getting with this is an AMG GT with a whole lot of stuff done to it. It's got a wider front and rear track, which means wider
fenders. It's got carbon fiber, titanium, magnesium. It's got a carbon fiber [music] torque tube. It's got absolutely every single suspension modification modified for the purpose of going around corners quickly. It's got
here that if you push that, a little like bladder comes out underneath the front and it gives you some more downforce.
the way, as the new AMG GT. >> Ah, yeah. That is a lot of torque. >> Like all the way through. >> Yeah.
makes the difference. This car has different transmission ratios and a normal engine. Massively different car. >> This is a massively different car. And it is purposebuilt for the track. Right. When this came
for the track. Right. When this came out, it was briefly the fastest rearw nerving. >> But wasn't it a GT3 RS competitor and it quicker than the GT. >> You know what? I don't remember how the
we're quicker than that. Everyone says they're going to quicker than the GT. Pro above this and a black >> and a black series. I know whole host of other stuff. >> I know cuz they just kept improving the
car. But this one is, I would say, similar in philosophy to a GT3, maybe a >> right? >> In that I don't know if you've noticed, >> It's very stiff. >> Yeah. I went over a bump when I was
eardrums burst and my spleen started bleeding. Right. It was like absolutely spine crushing ride. I It's just It's a >> The whole thing's quite oppressive. This isn't a casual I can't I don't feel like
[music] chill ride. The seats are stiff. It has the turning stuff. It's got rear >> It has rear wheel steer. It's part [music] of this like GTR package thing, barrier? No. Oh, that's good. >> Those front tires need their own
>> Those front tires need their own differentials. Everything is so wide. >> Yeah. Um, so tell me what you think about driving this. What do you got? >> It feels immediately very hunkered down, very, very flat.
very, very flat. >> The performance feels Jesus. >> You can't You can't use this on the >> Uh, well, we are currently >> It's almost as wide as an Aventador.
>> Yeah. >> But it it feels almost as powerful and >> Yeah, it's loud in here. >> No, like the echo in it's got that kind of hit you in the inner eard drum. >> And it's also not that insulated. And
the cup twos increase the road noise a lot and they tram line, but the steering feels really good. The offc center is >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know. It's got >> Yeah. It's crazy sharp. It's really, really good.
>> That feels like a GT3. >> Yeah. No, it does feel like a GT3. 100% >> A 992. >> A 992 GT3 in terms of steering. I agree. >> But I still don't fully understand, you know, why. Okay. caveing with the fact
know, why. Okay. caveing with the fact that the regular AMG GT just the the the S, right? And there's a C as well. Those cars are so beautiful to drive [music] >> Just got race, isn't it? >> Oh, I see. Oh my god.
>> Oh my god. >> Jesus. Oh, spinning tires. Oh, J. Keep going. You're keeping your foot in it. That's real brain. Yeah. Hello. >> I got a heavy foot. You knew this about me when you met me. I've noticed.
>> Um, >> this is a high octane automobile. >> You can't daily this. >> No. I have a headache already. >> It's long. It's loud. >> Yeah.
>> No, I know. >> Lots of performance here. >> And here's the thing. So, let's just say this is meant to go up with the GT3, GT3 >> Transmission's fantastic. >> It's brilliant. Yeah. Yeah.
compromised, I think I would take this over a GT3 just because this is meant for and good at doing the same track duty that a GT3 would be. Oh, careful. Jesus. >> Look at the cost saving as well.
>> Look at the cost saving as well. >> The cost saving is immense. And this one you can have more fun with, right? >> I'm going to pop it in race mode now. any amount of throttle and it just lights up the rear tires. It's so fun.
That engine is wild, isn't it? >> Really, really, really, very good. >> It's one of the few turbocharged engines that I don't really care that it's that I don't really care that it's turbocharged.
>> Yeah. You're always in the torque, so you haven't got that naturally aspirated build, but Yeah. You're also not waiting to get into a torque band there. >> No, you're not. It's just crushing all the way to the red line. Brilliant,
brilliant engine and transmission. >> And obviously the chassis is just top top top. >> Well, the 710 on the Nurburgring this. I think the Pro did a 704, >> so it's it's it is monster. [laughter]
>> so it's it's it is monster. [laughter] >> That was so loud. Gunshots on the over. I'm I'm I'm I have I have to admit this on camera. >> I have stepped over the speed limit by a kilometer an hour or two multiple times
impossible to drive this slow. >> No, you can't. I don't like who I am in this. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> I know. >> It's like primal.
>> It is primal. Is You're right. There's something about a GT3 that's like uh much more German in its demeanor, right? [music] It's like very precise and almost calm in some ways about the way that it extracts performance from the
road. And it's it's almost like you know how the Germans at the press launches feeling, [laughter] right? That's the GT3. It's just we gave us a sporting feeling. That's what this car is. It's just way angrier. And I think if you're
all the time. >> Yes. >> I don't know if I would buy this car. So maybe the convertible. >> I've been wait. Maybe the convertible GTC or GTS. No,
>> no, you still get a hard top. >> I would get the hard top AMG GTS in silver. Exactly like we drove in that previous film because it looks like a piece of art. And it drives so similar to this in terms of like how much you
lose the rear. The steering is really good. The engine's fantastic, but it's not painful at all times. >> This is >> Isn't it so wickedly good? It's Yeah, it's monstrous. [music] It's monstrous.
>> Wo wo wo. >> Compared to the AMG GT, >> have you seen this? Talk about R. Have you seen the carbon fiber on it? >> I've seen it. I've seen it. But let's look at it again.
>> Look at that piece. >> What? Oh, this. Yeah. Yeah. of the vehicle world. >> Oh, it's >> Yeah. It's something that protrudes through. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know what
I mean? >> It's like a a death spear. >> So, this is wider than the normal AMG GT, right? Like these panels are always associated this car as a long car, but this is a long and wide car.
>> Yeah. And it's one of the first instances of the Paramac Paramanakana Panameana >> Panameana grill. >> AMG grill. >> It looks astonishing. I think it looks
fantastic. Was this a magn gray magno sort of thing? the name of this one, but the green famously was green hell magno after the >> I like the magnos. The mats on the >> Is that what that means? Is that
here? is different. >> That's very strange choice. Um no, I think this is an absolutely brilliant
looking car and that's because of just the design of it. The hood is super low >> Right. It's a transaxle. So, the transmission is right here and the cab is so rearward, right? Like you are your butt is right there.
so much. >> It's also why we called the new one a >> Yes. >> It just it just is a bit more normal. not real. The new one is >> it's not real.
>> It's not a knockoff. >> It's a knockoff. It's just a front engine, rear drive Mercedes. This is a race car. You drove it? when we got in the car, you said you're not sure what this is all about.
>> it's a track car. >> It It is a track car, but >> it's just less roadworthy than something like a GT3. >> You know what? Actually, I'm not sure that's true. Like, I've lived with a GT3
and a GT3 RS, and they're both loud, boommy, and harsh. slight headache every time I drive this. I never got that with the GT3. >> I don't know. I think that this is an undervalued car right now.
>> I think you How can you say that? The whole world is hurting automotive >> Your brain has been skewed by how overpriced everything is. >> This is this has done the normal thing. >> You're so right. This is priced exactly
stupid. >> Yeah. In in seven years, this has lost German sports car to lose. >> Yes, exactly. fortune. Those those got the mark of like GT Porsche level stuff.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Those are very very rare. Um, can we look at the interior? GT and I think very very cool >> and very different to a Porsche. inferiority complex. You >> I like it.
>> I just I felt like you were there. >> No, 100%. >> No, 100%. Come on, James. Get some confidence.
>> Like we Okay, coming from the the same brand that gave us the CLE, >> Heaviest doors in the world. I think those doors are really shockingly light. materials in this car. It actually has all of those things. Right. It is.
>> I love this. I love the same stitch as it curls around this vent, but again on >> Yeah. Don't know why. Just it just does it for me. >> You like repetition and simplicity. >> Repetition with a slight change.
that as a metaphor for your wider life, but physical buttons exists. much piano black here. >> Yeah, it's so dirty. >> Um, you know, no, the interior to this car isn't vastly different to the
regular AMG GT, but it still feels special. Like this is a design piece. as dirty and piano blacky as it is. It's really really nice, right? And the embossed aurak is beautiful. >> And this and I love the carbon fiber
>> This is the thing here. Look at this. Everyone just can't stop. They can't review, they're like, and then there's a dial for the traction control. >> But again, on the road just now, just pressing that once for sport was all I
needed. So that's surely track stuff. >> But nine stages, >> I it's pointless. Like we have three stage se heated seats which is up here. earth that can tell the difference between stage two and stage six.
>> You should have gone with a safer a safer delta there. Like stage three and >> No, I still get I still >> two and six I can feel a mile away. You >> abs Oh, I can
>> old Mercedes tech now. >> Isn't that weird? >> No, it's good. Um, I still think this isn't the answer >> cuz it doesn't have CarPlay. >> No, that's No, I don't care.
did do a software tune and it has it has CarPlay for that. >> It's wonderful. No, my point is is that if you're going to get this shape and back up a step. If you're going to get a
do it. >> Because it's too nice and it's too compromised as both track and road, right? If you if this is such a serious track car that if you're actually this
amount of serious about going to the track, you are genuinely better off >> Yeah. >> For just over 100,000 US, which is what the owner, Ryan, thank you very much for lending us your car, just switched it
for a 992.1 911 turbo. >> So, a much more usable road car. >> That's a much more Yeah. But for the money, what car gives you this performance?
performance? >> I can't maybe like does a C7 ZR1 even >> This is so much more refined than that even though it's harsh. argument falls down. Yes, it's got nicities, but for the performance there,
the GT3s are twice this price. Even if you go 997 GT3, and I'm sorry I'm >> He's lost me, so it's >> if you go 10 years back from this >> Yeah. and then get the GT3 of the 911 range, it's still more money.
range, it's still more money. So, what I ask you again, can you get for this money with this performance? >> No, you know what? Listen, just because I am such a deep and insightful person, I can admit when I'm wrong, and I think
get. >> In conclusion, I don't know what I'm talking about. Um, >> there's more livable things. There's V10 road car. >> No, you have. Honestly, I am actually
stupid enough to do something like this. Do you know what I mean? Like, like, and convinced myself I'm going to do track days every weekend. You want to know how five times in my life already, right? So, this is something that I would do
because I'm actually 8 years old. >> Just like all those off-road adventures you've done in your Land Cruiser. >> There was one both Land Cruisers were on it. I didn't even drive both the Land Cruisers. So
0.5 >> 0.5 off-road adventures in my Land >> But then you're suggesting this is a poser car. poser car. >> James, of course it's [laughter]
>> No, there's no serious stuff. You don't get this and be like, I'm a serious track enthusiast. No, you don't. You go you join a a racing club and you have it and you get harnesses and helmet and Hans device and you do real racing. And
this is still a poser car, but that's okay. I'm a poser. You Everyone that owns one of these should absolutely admit that they are a poser and that's >> But they can lean on the fact that as a track car, I don't think you can get
better for the money. However, let's remove track from the equation. Let's it's time to get a cool sports car discriminate. >> True.
>> But it's quite you get you'll get headaches. You'll get old people. >> But you won't have to wear your hearing aid. So just Oh, that's a cool move. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Anyway, out there in this price range,
there are options. There's Yeah. >> Used R8, Lotus Amiras. >> 911. >> So, this is cheaper than a base new 911 >> That's how much car this is. >> Oh, this is this is so much better than
any 911 though in terms of like experience in like killing tires and >> Just a complete the livability graph is just absolutely at the bottom. hate yourself. >> Yeah, 100%. But if you like that type of
want people to get in it and go like, "Oh, this is harsh." You're like, "Yeah, no, it's okay. IT'S BECAUSE I LIKE TRACK DAYS." Are you deaf? What? Right. You know what I mean? Like that's [laughter] >> you thousands of Tylenol pills fall out.
specific. [clears throat] >> There you go. Excellent but specific. And that is all you need to know. Is that all they need to know? >> I think so. >> Okay, that's all you need to know.
[music] >> No, that that is pretty much it. The AMG [music] GTR. Now another string to our bow of performance knowledge. Perfectly bow of performance knowledge. Perfectly AMG, perfectly Mercedes, and now pretty
AMG, perfectly Mercedes, and now pretty perfectly priced. Thanks for watching.