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AUTO REVIEW

I’ve written about a good, “call in car” before, but it’s been a Kardashian-esque look from the rear. Overall it works, and, even
while. driving the 2020 Mercedes AMG GT Coupe reminded me though my press car was a boring shade of gray, it got many ap-
that’s time to write about it again. proving looks – way more than I ever get when I’m behind the
Regular readers of this column may recall what that is: imagine wheel of a 911.
a 3AM phone call during which you know, after less than 2 min- driving the AMG GT Coupe is a very positive experience. As
utes, that you have to go in. It’s an acute MI, variceal bleed, rup- noted above, it’s very fast, and it handles well, too, despite a (dev-
tured appendix, epidural hematoma, or any number of other ilish?) 3666 lbs curb weight and relatively large footprint. Naturally,
medical emergencies that can’t wait until 6AM. You’re needed at it’s not as nimble as a Miata, but it handles tight turns and city
the hospital. Right. Now. streets comfortably. And on b-roads or the interstate the AMG
As you think intently about what you’re going to face and dress GT Coupe sparkles.
quietly so as to not wake your significant other, you curse your ca- Since it’s Mercedes’ ultimate sports car, I expected the seats and
reer choice – I should have been an accountant! – and head for sitting position to be difficult, and that was not the case. In fact,
the garage. Ugh, here we go. while the standard seats look too racy to be comfortable, they felt
but wait, this time you have a good call in car. A special vehicle great during a two hour trip I took during my time with the car
that excites you and makes the drive to the hospital somehow ok. (my wife asked me to add that she thought they were the most
What kind of car are we talking about? It’s not an F-150, High- comfortable seats she’s ever sat in).
lander, or Accord, and it’s definitely not a Prius. It’s something The cabin of the AMG GT Coupe is as sumptuous as it needs
cool that settles you down and reminds you that you’re exactly the to be given its price range. Mercedes has improved the interiors
right person to help your sick patient in the middle of the night. of all their cars, crossovers, and SUvs – pushed by Audi, it must
There are quite a few cars that fit the bill – my 2018 bMW M3 be said – and the one in their most expensive sports car is their
qualifies, as many after-hours drives to the hospital have reminded best interior, in my opinion. Everything you see and touch looks
me – but I can’t think of any better than the AMG GT Coupe. and feels rich, and the cockpit-like gauges and controls impart in-
Mercedes’ answer to the Porsche 911 is as good as it gets for driv- formation without making your copilot feel like they’re not invited
ing to the ER or OR to fix something serious. to the party.
despite being a competitor, the AMG GT Coupe is no 911 car- So it’s the perfect car, right? No. Again, it seats just two, luggage
bon copy. No, this very sporty two-seater coupe – sibling convert- space is limited, and fuel economy is an uninspiring 16 MPG City,
ible and second cousin 4-door versions are also available – which 22 Highway (I can picture Greta Thunberg frowning as I type
starts at just under $116,000 (911 territory, to be sure) is best that).
thought of as an extroverted 911 alternative. but boy is the Mercedes AMG GT Coupe a good call in car.
For one thing, while the 911’s boxer six-cylinder engine is rela- It’s fast and luxurious, making sure you get to the hospital on time
tively quiet and its exterior design is understated, the AMG GT and unflustered. And it’s a car you can drive every day. Honestly,
Coupe provides a loud exhaust note and look-at-me styling. I think we physicians deserve a car like this. After all, why should
That raucous exhaust note comes from a 4.0l 469HP twin- the administrators get all the good cars? Their grades were much
turbo v8 connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, lower than ours in college, and now that they’re “the boss” they
and it fills the cabin even if you don’t push the button for the (op- get to sleep at night while we work.
tional and unnecessary) sports exhaust. Rather than nothing, all
that sound and fury signifies a ton of thrust, to the tune of 0-60 To get your best deal on a new Mercedes, call Phil Hornbeak at
MPH in 3.9 seconds. bCMS at 210-301-4367.
The exterior of the AMG GT Coupe is very eye catching. The
profile actually looks a bit 911-ish, but the front end is its own Stephen Schutz, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterolo-
thing entirely, featuring a big toothy grille highlighted by a huge gist who lived in San Antonio in the 1990s when he was
Mercedes emblem. The coupe’s posterior is visually quieter, but stationed here in the US Air Force. He has been writing
it’s also wide, giving Mercedes’ performance flagship a decidedly auto reviews for San Antonio Medicine since 1995.

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