Battle Of The Best Luxury Convertibles: 2017 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible vs. 2017 Mercedes-AMG S63 Cabriolet

Nov 28, 2016 07:15 AM EST | Rachelle Balanay

Two luxury cars battle it out which will reign as the best luxury car: 2017 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible vs. the 2017 Mercedes-AMG S63 Cabriolet. Both cars have their own defining features that set them apart from other cars. These luxury cars have distinct style and performance which makes them a good choice for a buyer looking for a high performing luxury car worth its price.

These convertibles have money written all over its body. With the revival of the full-size convertibles by big time car companies like Bentley and Mercedes, car buyers are at a loss which of these two cars are the better choice. One by one we will give the defining points between the two cars in order to come to a conclusion which is the better convertible.

 Let us start with the 2017 Bentley Continental GT V8 S.

2017 Bentley Continental GT V8 S

On the right corner, we have the first contender representing Bentley, the 2017 Bentley Continental GT V8 S. This German contender opens at a price of $234,525 packed with 520-hp. First released last 2004, the Continental Bentley's performance dimmed in comparison to Ferrari 612, Aston Martin DB9, and Mercedes-Benz CL600 when a test was given to the group of cars. As years passed and with a steady stream of upgrades and increased performance tunings, the 2017 Bentley Continental GT V8 S has become a top-performing car.

The Bentley Continental added an Audi's 4.0-liter V-8, shedding the twin-turbo W-12 anchor that weighs it down with the previous model. The relatively lighter and livelier machinery also had an enhancement pack with a skid pad grip of lackluster 0.81 g allowing a better grip on the road during intense swerves and turns, even reaching an inertia of 150 mph.

Bentley has two versions of twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8. With a 520 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque, it cannot match the acceleration of 2017 Mercedes-AMG S63 Cabriolet which is 643-pound-lighter, according to Car and Driver. Despite this downside, Bentley's timbre is honey-combed compared to the metallic rasp of the Mercedes AMG.

Bentley's conventional eight-speed automatic gears switch smoothly and gracefully. Interior design stayed loyal to Bentley fashion of pure luxurious soft hides that are perfectly matched and flawless. With its ludicrous price of $272,995, 2017 Bentley Continental GT V8 S delivers a rich feel, but is it the better car to drive?

2017 Mercedes-AMG S63 Cabriolet

The Mercedes AMG is known for its ample strength and sophisticated electronics which can leap from 60 mph in 3.7 seconds thanks to its 577 horsepower. But the downside to this convertibles' complicated system of Attention Assist is the car does not seem to want or need the driver.

A planetary gearbox with multiple start-up clutches replaces the conventional torque converter. During acceleration, the clutch is slow causing a jerking and bucking motion during stop-and-go traffic. Although the steering is smooth as silk, it lacks tactility. AMG is equipped with an instrument panel made of two big flat-panel display, but it is set too high and obscured by the small-diameter steering wheel.

The rest of its interior, however, there is much to love. Expensive Bengal-red-and-black leather which costs $3250 encases the whole cabin while the remaining gaps are covered by Carbon-fiber and black-lacquer-wood trim.

The verdict? 2017 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible wins hands down, according to Car and Driver. With endless enhancements and upgrades, however, there will be a rematch soon. 

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