2016 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe Vs Mercedes-AMG GT S

True, these two super sports cars aren’t exactly rivals. They are, however, both monstrously powerful coupes with six-figure price tags. Except they’re not, because the Jag actually costs under 100k … barely.

A closer look at the numbers and it’s obvious you could buy the Jag and a Mercedes CLA for the price of the AMG GT. With a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 with 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque, the Jag has a bigger engine and makes more power, but the Benz with its twin-turbo V8 with 503 hp and 479 lb-ft is quicker to 60 mph. And if we take this race to the autobahn for some top speed action, it’s little surprise that the German is going to win. The Benz will get a top speed of 193 mph while the Jag tops out at 186 mph.

Based on looks alone, it’s hard not to side with the Jag. It’s just more sleek and shaped like a true sports car. Yes, the Benz is more exotic, but it looks a touch too phallic from some angles. And along with the overall shape, the F-Type’s carbon fiber roof and big yellow brake calipers really pop.

What the Benz lacks in initial impact, however, it makes up for in the details. You can see it the higher quality paint, but the whole package just looks like the more expensive machine.

And it should look more expensive because it is more expensive. You see, another reason why you could argue these two remarkably similar machines aren’t rivals is that this is the most extreme AMG GT you can get. It’s also the only one you can get. Mercedes will offer a less powerful and less expensive version in the future, but for now, this stands alone as something truly unique.

ALSO SEE: Top 10 Best Jaguar Sports Cars of All Time

Meanwhile, you’re likely to see a lot of other F-Types on the road that are nothing close to the R Coupe. Yes, it’s the best F-Type money can buy, but there are a lot of more attainable ones on the road and that makes this machine a little less special.

Switching to the interior, you can see that it’s not just the body of the Benz that looks more expensive. The $30,000 price gap between the two cars becomes very obvious when you take a seat inside.

In a vacuum, the Jag is great, but compare it to the Benz, and the switchgear looks cheap, the leather doesn’t feel as smooth and it all just seems more ordinary.

Sure, the Jag’s Alcantara is nice, but the Mercedes looks like nothing you’ve ever sat in before. The embossed red leather, the polished aluminum and carbon fiber all come together in a truly original design.

One real surprise when comparing these two cabins is somewhat ironic. Mercedes is known for its door-mounted seat controls that mimic the design of a seat. But they’re nowhere to be found in the GT. Meanwhile, the Jag makes use of that trademark Benz design. So where are the AMG GT’s seat controls? Simply placed (where, let’s be honest, they really should be) on the left side of the seat. If nothing else, this at least proves that even Mercedes wants its flagship sports car stand out from the rest of the brand’s products.

On the road, the Benz simply feels more like an exotic, like driving a Lambo or Ferrari. You sit a lot lower, and while that seems like a big plus, the down side is thats it’s hard to get into, see out of, and get a good feel for your surroundings.

ALSO SEE: Watch the Mercedes AMG GT Get Sideways

The steering wheel also doesn’t seem to telescope out far enough, or tilt up high enough and with my seatback upright, the top of the steering wheel hides the readout to tell me what gear I’m in. Overall, it just makes for a more nervous experience.

The uniqueness of the cabin also makes it somewhat alien. It even took me a few seconds to figure out exactly which button turns the car on.

The Jag, on the other hand, feels more, dare I say, ordinary. But that’s not entirely a bad thing. It’s easer to get into and see out of. It also feels more familiar; more like a normal car. Simply put, it’s more livable and, as a result, you immediately feel more confident driving it.

Then there’s the performance. Honestly, they’re both spectacularly fast and I have no idea which one would come out the winner on a track. But if that’s all you’re interested in, then just buy a Porsche 911. But I guarantee it won’t sound as good.