Used Mercedes-AMG GT for sale: everything you need to know

Mercedes-Benz has offered a wide range of sports cars over the years, but the AMG GT comes from perhaps the most impressive lineage. Its predecessor was the gull-winged SLS AMG and that, you could argue, was preceded by the SLR McLaren. The recipe has certainly been similar throughout: a large, powerful V8 engine up front underneath a long bonnet, and a low-slung roofline over the passengers.

The GT was more accessible than its predecessors though, taking aim more at the Porsche 911 than mid-engined supercars. It debuted in 2014 and was finally replaced by a second generation model in 2013. It’s the former we’re covering here, offered in a wide range of variants from high-performance grand tourers and roadsters, to ballistic track cars.

It wasn’t short of competition either, not just from the Porsche 911 but a spectrum of others over the years, including the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, BMW i8, the Nissan GT-R, Audi R8, and even cars like the McLaren 540C and 570S and GT.

Should you buy a Mercedes-AMG GT?

You’ll probably have decided already whether you want an AMG GT, purely from the way it looks. Its front-engine, rear-drive proportions are probably the most exaggerated of any car since the Jaguar E-Type - though they do also follow on from two other prominent front-engined Mercedes, the SLS and the SLR McLaren. It’s a distinctive look and nicely rounded out on the GT by a curved tail that almost has a Porsche 911 look from some angles.

It feels similarly dramatic inside too, as you sit very low with that bonnet stretching out ahead of you. There’s a proper cockpit feel, enhanced by an incredibly wide centre console. Some of the seating options are more comfortable than others, and the gear selector is positioned strangely far back on the console, almost requiring you to reach backwards, but it still feels special. Later models got an upgraded infotainment system, though even the earliest are still easy to operate.

When you start up the V8 engine though, you probably won’t care about infotainment. This generation of AMG 4-litre twin-turbo V8 has a thunderous sound and even the least powerful cars still made 462PS, so you’re really just choosing your quantity of blistering speed. All used a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, which isn’t as quick-changing as a Porsche PDK but it’s still swift and smooth.

Handling too gets more extreme the further up the range you go, with features like four-wheel steering, adjustable dampers and super-sticky Michelin tyres gradually increasing cornering power. But even the regular GT feels nimble, and tyre noise aside, most settle down into a comfortable enough cruise.

Diversity might have disappeared from most automotive segments but you still have a lot of choice when it comes to used sports cars. For AMG GT money you can find everything from Porsche 911s to Aston Martin V8 Vantages, and BMW i8s to Nissan GT-Rs. You’ll even find McLarens and Ferrari Californias in the same ballpark. It’s hard to recommend one over any other, as the driving experience from all is so different.

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What’s the best used Mercedes-AMG GT model to buy?

Earlier AMG GTs are looking like fabulous value now for a car that looks and sounds that good, so if a cared-for car comes up in budget, we’d not steer you towards any one version over another purely on the basis of a few mechanical changes. That said, the GT S’s tweaks will be desirable for those who wish to drive their cars a little harder and possibly even on track, where the standard GT will be more than enough on the road.

There’s also the coupe or Roadster dilemma, but this will come down more to personal taste. The GT doesn’t lose much by losing its roof and the wind-in-the-hair factor adds a new dimension to the experience. Lets you hear that V8 even better, too.

Used Mercedes-AMG GT fuel economy and performance

• Mercedes-AMG GT: All AMG GTs used a derivative of AMG’s 4-litre twin-turbocharged V8. In basic GT trim it made 462PS at launch, which rose to 476 and then 530PS in 2017 and 2020 respectively. 0-62mph was a claimed 3.8 seconds regardless of output, with WLTP economy of 21.9mpg.
• Mercedes-AMG GT S: The S received a little more power, growing from 510 to 522PS during the time it was offered. 0-62mph took 3.5 seconds, and economy was as high as 30mpg, albeit on the older NEDC scale.
• Mercedes-AMG GT C: Introduced in 2017, the GT C made 557PS, and had a 3.5-second 0-62mph time. Claimed economy was 22.1mpg.
• Mercedes-AMG GT R: The GT R was a more extreme version akin to Porsche’s GT3 models, and made 585PS. It could get from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds, with economy of 22.2mpg.
• Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro: The GT R Pro had the same output as the GT R but even more of a track focus, and its performance and economy figures matched those of the GT R.
• Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series: While the Black Series used the same basic 4-litre engine as other AMG GTs, the V8 is very different internally, going some way to explaining the huge 730PS power output. 0-62mph was quoted at 3.2 seconds, with 22.1mpg consumption.

What used Mercedes-AMG GT trim levels are available?

The AMG GT’s trim levels correspond to the engines each car used. Mercedes-AMG did offer a few special edition models now and then, but these had less bearing over the rest of the car than the powertrain. As a high-end sports car though, you can assume most prominent specification features such as air conditioning or an infotainment screen are standard across the range, and we’ll concentrate below on the most notable differences.

• The Mercedes-AMG GT was the GT in its purest form, available as a coupe from launch and a Roadster from 2017. It got 19-inch alloy wheels and a mechanical limited-slip differential.
• The Mercedes-AMG GT S gained a more powerful engine and other performance-focused features, including an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential, a Race Mode in the driving mode settings, adaptive suspension, an active exhaust system, and a staggered wheel setup, with 19-inch wheels up front and 20-inch wheels on the rear axle.
• The Mercedes-AMG GT C gained the wider body from the GT R, but without so many aero additions, while retaining the GT S’s mechanical changes and adding rear-wheel steering.
• The Mercedes-AMG GT R is notably different visually from the GTs below it, with a rear wing, a more prominent body kit, use of lightweight materials, forged alloy wheels, and underneath, a wider track (covered by wider arches). There was also a driver-adjustable traction control system, while a dry sump setup allowed the engine to be mounted lower.
• The Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro was the most track-focused GT until the Black Series came along. Visually similar to the GT R (exterior colour packages and even more aero elements aside), it got manually-adjustable coilover suspension, carbon underbody bracing, ceramic brakes, a roll cage, and bucket seats with harnesses.
• The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series took the GT to a whole new level. Its V8 used a flat-plane crank (like Ferrari’s V8s) rather than the crossplane design of other GTs, had even more widespread use of carbon fibre, got adaptive suspension, bespoke Michelin Cup 2 tyres, and even more aero.

Used Mercedes-AMG GT dimensions and boot size

The Mercedes-AMG GT’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4546mm (GT)
• Width: 1939mm (GT, GT S, without mirrors), 2007mm (GT C, GT R, Black Series, without mirrors)
• Height: 1288mm (GT)

The Mercedes-AMG GT’s boot size is:

• 350 litres

Used Mercedes-AMG GT road tax

First-year road tax for all AMGs was steep thanks to its high CO2 emissions, and for cars build from April 2017 onwards, they’re also subject to a surcharge for the second to sixth years of registration, which currently means a £570 bill each year. That does mean some cars are already coming out the other side of that surcharge though, with tax dropping down to only £180 per year. Prior to April 2017, tax remains CO2-based, which means a minimum bill of £395 as things currently stand.

How much is it to insure a Mercedes-AMG GT?

This may not come as a huge surprise, but all AMG GTs sit in the maximum group 50 for insurance. Actual quotes will vary hugely though, as you can imagine from a range with such a spread of models, so we’d advise shopping around for a competitive quote.

Read our full Mercedes-AMG GT review