As performance car lovers, one of the main things we've always wanted in a car, despite the speed and technology, is the sound a vehicle makes. As proven in today's world, no matter how fast a car is, it needs the appropriate sound to accompany that aggression. This is something AMG did right, especially with cars from the 2010s, such as the W204 C63 AMG. It was a car that balanced refinement and craziness in one package. With cars like this, your right foot was not just for performance, but almost an alarm that lets the whole neighborhood know you're driving by.For the later generation, Mercedes moved to a smaller turbocharged V8 but still managed to retain a good soundtrack and give the engine some character, but this also meant a more complex vehicle. But what if you wanted a sports car that still had the same old-school V8 feel and aggression, with the performance of a modern car, with reliability comparable to a Lexus? This may sound impossible in today's world, but a fast sports car like that exists, and it might not be what you expect. Why People Love AMG BringATrailer The main reason people love AMGs is simply because of the raw drama they bring. Anything that had an AMG badge from the C-Class all the way to the S-Class was a masterpiece of engineering and aggression in one package. When you fire up a naturally aspirated C63, the bark from the exhaust tells the world that a beast has awoken. They are some of the finest engineered cars, but they are made to feel like you can barely keep them in a straight line.Anything with an AMG is a raw, visceral, Rear-Wheel Drive experience that makes every drive exciting. This was the recipe of AMG — they were gentlemen's luxury cars that you could do almost anything with, from being sensible daily drivers and luxury cruisers to neck-breaking sports cars when they needed to be. However, these are high-performance German cars that can be quite expensive to run, but the excitement keeps enthusiasts coming back despite the potential expensive repair bills when they break down. Ford May Have A Great Alternative Option For You Ford Mercedes and Ford cater to two totally different customers. One brand's identity caters to luxury car buyers despite offering cars in lower price ranges, while the other is a volume manufacturer catering to the everyday man with affordable cars and trucks. However, when it comes to performance cars, these companies share similar ideas, creating fast, loud cars with large engines and a wild personality.Mercedes takes a standard car like the C-Class and shoves a big, powerful V8 under the hood to create some of the meanest machines on the planet. However, with the latest C-Class, it seems to have lost the soul that made AMG-powered cars so exciting. However, Ford has an alternative vehicle in their lineup that has retained the same characteristics for decades despite the strict emissions and downsizing of engines. A car that truly stands out in the company's current lineup. The Ford Mustang GT Is A Great Rival To The C63 AMG FordThe Ford Mustang GT is a great rival to the C63 AMG, and this is still an odd car in the company's lineup. Ford is a volume manufacturer that currently produces only trucks and SUVs. Sedans have been completely removed from the American lineup, but the Mustang remains the only car left in its lineup, and it is a performance car. This is a great move by Ford because the Mustang is an American icon that has been in production longer than any American sports car.The Mustang GT has evolved over the years, but has retained the same philosophy from day one. In its current form, it is a legitimate performance rival and a great alternative to the C63. Both are front-engine, Rear Wheel Drive cars with aggressive styling and tunable engines. The Mustang gives the same sense of occasion as the C63, especially when the big V8 engine roars to life — this is the same sound that made the C63 so addictive, an engine to match the looks of the vehicle. Naturally Aspirated Power Vs Turbo Grunt Bring a TrailerMercedes used to have some of the best engines in this segment; in the W204 C63, it was the highlight. The M156 is still regarded as one of the best AMG engines, but was later replaced by the M177 twin-turbo engine in the W205. This engine lost the harsh sound of the naturally aspirated engine, but AMG still managed to make a turbocharged engine sound good. But this is where the Mustang really shines. Ford's Coyote V8 is one of the best and last naturally aspirated V8 engines still in production today.While manufacturers like Mercedes have downsized their engines and added turbochargers to make more power, even in their base C63, Ford still has a naturally aspirated engine in the Mustang. Turbos may add low-end torque and be a great way to make more power with a smaller engine, but it also adds complexities like cooling. The Mustang still sticks with a simple, big naturally aspirated V8, which retains features we love about engines like this. This pure NA engine has instant throttle response, a high redline, and a booming exhaust note — all features no turbocharged engine can ever replicate, no matter how good modern engineering is. The Mustang Is A Very Reliable Sports Car Bring A Trailer / Alec Paris PhotographyComparing an American car with a Japanese car in terms of reliability may sometimes be laughed at, but the Coyote V8 has proved to be as reliable as the V8 engines found in Lexus vehicles. Just like the 5.0-liter V8 found in modern Lexus vehicles that have been used across various models, the Coyote V8 has powered vehicles from F-150 trucks to the current Mustang. This engine has been in production since 2011, and Ford has continually made improvements to improve the performance and overall reliability of this engine and the Mustang in general. This is one of those engines that has been engineered to work well over 200,000 miles with just regular service. At high mileage like this, an AMG might start to become a challenge to keep running, and the cost may deter most buyers, but the Mustang can easily keep going. The Mustang Is Easier To Maintain Credit: Ford Motor Company Complex cars are the enemy of used car buyers, the AMG may be a masterpiece of engineering that incorporates some of the most advanced technology for its time, but it also requires specialists to take care of them. Beyond the engine, you also have a maze of sensors and modules that can hinder a car's operation if anything goes wrong, but the Mustang is quite the opposite. Parts are available at almost any AutoZone and parts outlet. Most issues are inexpensive fixes that any local mechanic can handle. You get the performance without the anxiety of a crippling maintenance bill.The 10-year running cost of the Mustang is about $7,830 with a 21.47 percent chance of having a major repair in that time. Compared to the Merc, the running cost is much higher at $12,942, with double the chances of having a major repair bill at 41.24 percent. This shows that the Mustang has proven to be a more reliable sports car. The Ford Mustang Is Great Value For Performance Ford When you look at the current market, the Mustang offers one of the best values on the new and used market. You can pick up a brand new Mustang GT well under $50,000 with most of the options ticked. A comparable C63 AMG starts around $90,000 and well over $100,000 but it doesn't offer the engine most enthusiasts want and adds way more complexity with the hybrid powertrain. While the W204 and W205 still offer great value for money on the used market, the Mustang offers better value.The average price of a used 2019 Mustang comes in at $28,000; a comparable C63 has an average price of $40,000. You get the same action for way less than the C63, and the total cost of ownership is significantly lower. You don't give up performance either, early S550 manual Mustangs make 435 horsepower, but by 2019, these cars were easily pushing 450-460 horsepower, and if you can grab a Mach 1, that makes 480 horsepower but comes as at slight premium. But you can get a regular Mustang GT and have enough cash left over for a few mods to easily beat the Merc. The Naturally Aspirated V8 Lives On carwow / YouTube As we move into an era of hybridization and small-displacement turbo, the Mustang GT stands as one of the last high-performance cars with a big naturally aspirated V8. The Chevrolet Camaro is no more, and even though the Challenger has returned, we are yet to see a big V8 under the hood. The Mustang is a big, soulful machine that mixes some of the latest technology with the simplicity of older sports cars to give us one of the best and most reliable sports car experiences in the modern world. While the world switches to quieter and more efficient powertrains, the Mustang remains loud, proud, aggressive, and incredibly reliable. It’s the smart way to still get that old-school AMG vibe in a modern vehicle.Sources: Mercedes-AMG, Ford Performance, Repairpal, Caredge.