It's no secret that we're fans of the rather impressive Mercedes-AMG GT range with its attractive combination of unique looks and blistering performance. It carries a hefty price tag but despite this, finds itself in amongst some stiff competition. Buyers in the market for a high-performance sports car with roughly R2 000 000 to spend will be spoiled for choice as the GT finds itself keeping company with the likes of the BMW 8 Series, Lexus RF range, Nissan GT-R lineup and a handful of Porsche offerings, to name a few.
While running costs are slightly irrelevant when one considers purchasing a vehicle of this calibre and cost, some owners would like to be assured that they're not diving into an abyss of unsightly costs and unimaginable grief. Running costs vary heavily with these cars, largely based on the actions of one's right foot - drive it harder and the costs go up. Miss a service and you will inevitably end up paying more than you should.
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That said, we can still look at the basic predictions that will blanket the ownership experience.
Mercedes-AMG GT coupe - initial costs.
Powered by a 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8, the AMG GT produces 350 kW and 630 Nm to rocket it from 0 - 100 km/h in only 4-seconds. It's the only one of the three with a strict 2-seater arrangement but that's a small price to pay for the dynamic nature of the machine.
Before you add any extras, the Mercedes-AMG GT runs up a bill of R2 248 837 including VAT and emissions tax. This translates into a monthly repayment of R39 660.96 when taken over 72-months with a 10% deposit, no balloon and an interest rate of 12%.
BMW M850i xDrive Coupe Individual - initial costs.
The BMW M850i is the newest vehicle of the three and is powered by a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 that churns out a volatile 390 kW and 750 Nm torque for a sprint time of 3.7-seconds from 0 - 100 km/h. It sends the power to all four wheels through its xDrive AWD system and has seating for 4.
As with the AMG GT, the options list on the BMW can be rather extensive and can run you into several thousands of Rands, but before you go crazy on the options list, a BMW M850i xDrive Coupe Individual will rack a tab of R2 033 634 including VAT and emissions tax. Based on the same 72-month, 10% deposit, no balloon, 12% interest rate as before, a BMW M850i will cost R35 874.03 per month on instalments.
Nissan GT-R Premium - initial costs.
The oldest of the three, the Nissan GT-R in R35 guise, has been with us for over 10 years now but has received several updates along the way to keep it relevant in today's market. It's powered by a 408 kW and 632 Nm twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6, giving it the smallest engine of the three, but the most power. It does the 0 - 100 km/h dash in an unfathomable 2.9-seconds - it's the performer of the trio.
With a price tag of R2 317 500, the GT-R presents respectable bang for your buck and the options list on it is considerably shorter, meaning that the base figure is a lot closer to what you can expect to pay. Nevertheless, the GT-R will cost you R40 868.44 per month on the same 72-month, 10% deposit, no balloon, 12% interest finance arrangement.
Fuel consumption.
What the manufacturers claim you will use and what you will actually use are two considerably different things but we have to guess as to how you will drive your car. Controlled environments are one thing but they don't account for a spirited blast through the mountains, now do they? Working off of the manufacturer claims for combined cycle driving, we see the following averages:
| Mercedes-AMG GT coupe | 11.4 l/100km |
| BMW M850i xDrive Coupe Individual | 10.4 l/100km |
| Nissan GT-R Premium | 11.7 l/100km |
Warranties and Service Plans.
Ensuring that you're covered in the event that there's something arwy with your car is critical to your peace of mind, that's where a manufacturer warranty comes into play. All three models are covered by respectable, industry-accepted warranties with small variations in their structure.
The AMG GT is covered by a 2-year/Unlimited kilometre warranty and the BMW M850i gets the same coverage. The Nissan GT-R is covered by a slightly different 3-year/100 000 km warranty.
The two German cars are covered by a Maintenance plan while the GT-R gets a Service plan. The duration of these is the same for the Mercedes-AMG and the BMW M850i with a 5-year/100 000 km Maintenance plan where the Nissan GT-R gets a 3-year/50 000 km Service plan.
Tyre replacement.
Sooner or later you're going to have to replace the tyres on your car and while Maintenance and Service plans will cover items like oils and filters, they won't cover consumables such as tyres. This can lead to an often costly bill when you least expect it. Knowing what you're in for with regards to tyre prices will help you plan for this eventuality.
The Mercedes-AMG GT runs a mixed set of 255/35R19 tyres up front and a set of 295/35R19 tyres at the rear when ordered with the standard wheels. A set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres will cost approximately R3 800 each for the front and R5 400 each for the rear, resulting in an estimated total of R18 400 excluding fitting and balancing.
The BMW M850i xDrive also uses a mixed set with the front measuring in at 245/35R20 and the rear at 275/35R20. Each front tyre will cost approximately R3 900 and each rear tyre roughly R4 600 for a total of R17 000 for a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres excluding fitting and balancing.
With the GT-R, Nissan recommends the Dunlop Sport Maxx run-flat tyre. The front of the GT-R wears a set of 255/40R20 tyres while the rear is wrapped in 285/35R20 size. Each front tyre will cost approximately R5 600 and each rear costs roughly R5 800 for a total replacement cost of R22 800 excluding fitting and balancing.
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