Compare the2022 Ford Shelby GT500VS 2021 Mercedes AMG E-Class Coupe

The Ford Shelby GT500 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The AMG E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Shelby GT500 and the AMG E-Class Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Shelby GT500 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG E-Class Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the AMG E-Class Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Shelby GT500’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 14th in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th.

The Shelby GT500’s 5.2 supercharged V8 produces 331 more horsepower (760 vs. 429) and 241 lbs.-ft. more torque (625 vs. 384) than the AMG E-Class Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Shelby GT500 is faster than the Mercedes AMG E-Class Coupe:

The Shelby GT500 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The AMG E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Shelby GT500 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The AMG E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Shelby GT500’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The AMG E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Shelby GT500’s brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG E-Class Coupe:

The Shelby GT500 stops much shorter than the AMG E-Class Coupe:

For better traction, the Shelby GT500 has larger tires than the AMG E-Class Coupe (F:305/30R20 & R:315/30R20 vs. F:245/40R19 & R:275/35R19).

The Shelby GT500’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG E-Class Coupe’s standard 40 series front and 35 series rear tires. The Shelby GT500’s tires are lower profile than the AMG E-Class Coupe’s optional 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Shelby GT500 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the AMG E-Class Coupe.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Shelby GT500 is 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the AMG E-Class Coupe.

The Shelby GT500 handles at 1.05 G’s, while the AMG E 53 Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Shelby GT500 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the AMG E 53 Coupe (23.5 seconds @ .89 average G’s vs. 25.3 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

The Ford Shelby GT500 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG E-Class Coupe.

The Shelby GT500 has 3.2 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG E-Class Coupe.

The Shelby GT500 has a much larger trunk than the AMG E-Class Coupe (13.5 vs. 10 cubic feet).

The Shelby GT500’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The AMG E-Class Coupe does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Shelby GT500 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Shelby GT500 will retain 63.08% of its original price after five years, while the AMG E-Class Coupe only retains 41.24%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Shelby GT500 will be $11823 less than for the Mercedes AMG E-Class Coupe.