Somewhat lame MT Head 2 Head pits the W205 Mercedes-AMG C63 S against the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V sedan leaving the BMW F80 M3 out

[Sticky]

This MotorTrend Head 2 Head episode is not exactly their best. Why? Well, because it is rehashing a MotorTrend comparison we already saw a month ago. Except they are leaving the F80 M3 out of it this time. Why? Because their reasoning is the Mercedes and Cadillac need to climb the ranks first before getting a shot at the title.

Trying to apply a boxing analogy here is so idiotic it is hard to even articulate it. If Mercedes and Cadillac have not yet proven enough in their history to have their cars compared to the M3 something is seriously wrong with the people at MotorTrend. Furthermore, these are cars, not boxers. There is not some long string of challengers the ATS-V must topple for years and years before getting a shot at the M3. It is just moronic, compare the three cars.

Everyone already has compared the cars including MotorTrend themselves so why do they do not throw in the M3 they already have sitting there that already was used for this purpose as it is the same damn press car they already tested?

The numbers are the exact same from the comparison from last month making us think all Head 2 Head does is take the test figures the other editors get and simply adds video to them.

Since we already know the results from the magazine the C63 is the fastest while the ATS-V is the best handling and the F80 M3 is the lightest. MotorTrend picks the C63 with the ATS-V coming in second and the F80 M3 comes in last place.

Now to continue on how this Head 2 Head video just stinks as it adds nothing new the tester states the ATS-V is more powerful than the F80 M3. We are sick of hearing this. The M3 does not have 425 horsepower. What the hell does it take to get these journalists to do some basic research to figure this out? Just because the ATS-V is rated at 464 horsepower on paper does not make it more powerful. MotorTrend's own test results show the M3 trapping higher. The F80 M3 S55 engine is underrated. Google it, look at a dyno, do something more sophisticated than spewing the same manufacturer specs anyone can parrot back.

We learn nothing new. The ATS-V drives great but has garbage interior refinement. The Mercedes-AMG is more well rounded. It is everything we already knew and MotorTrend already told us. He complains about the ATS-V transmission but somehow forgets a manual is available for it. At least complain correctly.

Is there anything of merit? Well, seeing the cars on the track lapping to put them context of the track numbers we already got is nice to see. Randy Pobst is the resident MotorTrend hotshoe and he adds his impressions. He comes away impressed with the ATS-V handling and feels the C63 is more of a brute but its braking is more confidence inspiring.

Here are the laptimes:

Lap times:
Caddy ATS-V 1:31.43
C63 1:31.52
BMW M3 1:32.51

We included the M3 because as stated we already had the M3 data. So why do they omit it when they have it as well? Would it have ruined their track overlay by including a third car when they already did include a third car originally?

Ultimately they say the ATS-V is the car for performance enthusiasts as it outperforms the C63 AMG S but the thing is, it doesn't. Sure, it has the quicker laptime but they forget to mention the C63 has the faster trap speed. Enthusiasts interested in raw grunt will prefer the faster C63 with the larger V8 motor.

This Head 2 Head could be a hell of a lot better. You do not learn anything new but you get video to go with the text and numbers a month later and MotorTrend generates clicks reusing content. That's automotive journalism today for you.

[prelude2perfect]

Totally agree with your entire rant. Piss poor automotive journalism

[BlackJetE90OC]

Sticky, they didn't leave the M3 out. It was included in the three car comparo. Head to head videos are always two cars.

They used the ATS-V and C63S from the three car comparo, to make this head to head. That is why the numbers are exactly the same as the comparo with the M3.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...n/viewall.html

It isn't...head to head to head.

[Sticky]

Sticky, they didn't leave the M3 out. It was included in the three car comparo. Head to head videos are always two cars.

It doesn't have to be two cars, why? It's just the name of the video. They have done multiple cars before:



What upsets me is that if you are going to make this class of comparison include the M3 and the numbers for it if you are talking about it and you already have them. They did leave it out.

Head 2 Head can mean the cars in that class going head to head, right? Why limit yourself?

It's lame as stated.

[Mrpikolo]

I'm convinced that these magazines are owned by certain manufactures. Motor trend LOVES their GM products.