Part of what made it so fun was that even with two turbos strapped to the engine, it still sounded maniacal and evil – exactly like an AMG engine is supposed to sound. You can appreciate listening to it in videos, but I don’t think you can fully understand it until you’re actually behind the wheel with the top down, listening to it in person.
What surprised me the most, though, wasn’t the sound or the power. Instead, it was how refined and sophisticated the ride was. The car felt lighter than I expected and surprisingly athletic. I don’t know if I would necessarily want to tackle the Tail of the Dragon with it, but it’s clearly been built to take a corner.
The suspension was also much less harsh than I had expected. Were I driving it around in the city, I’d probably have left it in comfort mode, but even at highway speeds, putting the suspension in sport mode didn’t lead to any crashing, punishing, or torturing. It felt taut and composed, but it was never harsh.
When you put all those pieces together, what you get is a truly spectacular vehicle. It may be the best-sounding car I’ve ever driven, it’s stupidly fast, and yet it’s also comfortable enough to drive for hours on end. Yes, it’s expensive, and no, it’s not the best-looking car in Mercedes-Benz’s current lineup, but it’s also one of those cars that tap directly into your emotions and make you feel alive.