Trojan Man

I owned a 1999 C5 convertible, and I currently own a 2001 996TT. I absolutely love both cars, but as far as a car that I would keep longer, the Porsche takes the cake, hands down.

The Vette has severarl distinct advantages:
*(much)Lower cost of entry for comparably equipped car
*more standard power
*(much)cheaper to maintain
*Cheap and easy custom mods
*Easier to drive and justify as a daily driver
*The awesome rumble of a big V8
*Surprisingly great gas mileage (20c/30h)
*Designed to store 2 sets of golf clubs in trunk

A smart man once said: "There's no replacement for displacement!"

The Porsche's Advantages:
*(much) more exclusivity in smaller towns and countryside (Porsche's are a dime a dozen here in L.A.)
*better fit and finish for body panels
*(much) better leather and less plastic trim
*better handling
*MANY more factory options available
*4 seats (yeah, I'm stretching it)
*MUCH better resale value
*German engineering = more reliable (usually)

Tom Cruise said it best, "Porsche. There is no substitute."

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Jim Hodel

I've never been a big Corvette fan, but after shopping for Boxster S's and used 993s I drove a new C5 and ordered a Z06 two days later. I like the Z06, but it is like every other sports car I've owned, meaning it has it's weak points and strong points.

I think the cars need a differential/gearbox cooler and maybe a power steering cooler to stand up to extended hard track use, but they are quite competant on a road course, however, the drag car only myth persists anyway.

I'm pretty much a general car nut so I don't get into the loyalty thing too much. I'm sure I would enjoy owning a 993 or 996 also. Plus, I run enough track days to know that there are all kinds of 'fast' out there.

Jim

dougsikora

I have a fairly tricked 1999 996 and have owned many neat cars and bikes including corvettes. The Porsche is the only car that over time i still go out to the garage just to sit in. The Classic style and the whole experience of owning one is overwhelming. Yes even some of the new Japanese turbo all wheel drives may out perform it in a drag. But!!!! Not only does driving the Porsche make you fell great but whether they admit it or not most people would love to be able to own one.

Doug

1AS

I have a ttX50, and have driven it back to back with a Z06 at the track. The cars are within a whisker of each other. The Z06 turns in better, the tt comes out harder.
The choice for me was based on the perceived quality of the Porsche (particularly the interior) and the tt is more exciting to drive. The price difference is hard to swallow, especially when they offered 0%financing for 60 months at GM.

ruey220

funny how people keep comparing the two in performance just because they are so close to each other in performance. I think chevy made a poor man's porsche as porsche is a poor man's ferrari?

Chevy markets vettes to be low cost porsche eaters while most likely porsche probably doesn't even concentrate on this comparison as they can easily build a car that will outrun a vette. Porsche focuses on pleasing people who consider buying their cars. These are individuals who can afford them without calculating if they can pay monthly payments. It just so happens that people with performance in mind will always bring up this comparison just because they only see the sport side of the car buying decision.

The danger I see in such comparisons is they always leads to someone saying one is better than the other. I respect everyone's opinion but, often we will see one that debates one is better than the other.

Just get a mclaren and the conversation is finished.

Jim Hodel

Hi doug and ruey, I can afford a Porsche, and I would own one if I really wanted one. So far, I just haven't 'seen the light', and I've ended up buying and driving other makes of sports cars. I know this is a Porsche board, and I do hang around here from time to time, but too me, a Porsche really is just another make of sports car.

Do not rationalize your purchase of a Porsche by convincing yourself that everyone else really wanted one. I honestly do not believe that is true.

Ok, I can't afford a new Carrera GT (or Enzo or Mclaren for that matter).

Jim

docjackson1

i have driven a c5 on many occasions and have owned various porsches-i presently own a 996tt. the c5 is a great car, and for the money, you can't beat it. but it is impossible to fairly compare it to a car that costs 2-3 times as much. if chevy could spend a similar amount of money on a car, they could approach or equal the build quality of a carrera. even though they are both competant sports cars, you are comparing apples to oranges.

ruey220

jim,
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">
Do not rationalize your purchase of a Porsche by convincing yourself that everyone else really wanted one. I honestly do not believe that is true. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I rationalize my decision to buy a porsche as a wise one after noting that I am buying german engineering at its best. I've driven many american car rentals Corvettes, camaros, and after only a few minutes of driving i was reminded why I never considered owning one.

I used to own a BMW and still have a few Mercedes, and I've learned that Porsche takes the fun factor to the next level.

Jim Hodel

Doc, I agree with you. I would not compare a Corvette to a 996TT. Diminishing returns is at work for sure, but I would also choose the Turbo over a Corvette (I think you'll find that many Corvette owners think Porsche Turbos are great cars). Or, the new GT3 for that matter, which looks to be fantastic.

Oh, and ruey, I'm glad you prefer your Porsche too a rental car.

Jim

redhatcab

Little story for you all:

When I was in college I had a neighbor who drove a 944. He babied that car and loved it to death washing and waxing and driving it constantly. Out at the pool one day another loud mouth brash guy started giving him **** about the 944 and how his new Integra had more horsepower and could whip the 994 0-60, etc, etc. After listening to this for a few minutes he just looked at the guy and said, "Yeah, but it's still not a Porsche".

The crowd went wild...

Enough said. :-)

RWO

A few things to consider:

When the 996 first came out, one of the mags compaired the C5 to the 996 and picked the C5 as the better overall car.

According to JD Powers, the quality of the Porsche is as follows:

Mech Quality - 4 out of 5 stars
Feature Quality - 4
Body/Interior - 2
Overall - 4

Corvette

Mech Quality - 3 out of 5 stars
Feature Quality - 5
Body/Interior - 2
Overall - 4

In my track experiance, C5s run simular laptimes to 996's, Z06s kill 996s except the TT. I think they are very good cars.

I drive a Porsche because I like them better. No real objective data, I just like them

Roy

ruey220

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Oh, and ruey, I'm glad you prefer your Porsche too a rental car. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">when i had my BMW, BMW of SF used to let me loan cars from Specialty car rental of SF for loaners while mine had service work.

I tested the C5, and the camaro from there, really you can feel and see the difference between American and German cars. I was comparing German vs. american engineering, not the Porsche. I compare the porsche to the other german cars, as being higher.

magnetic1

Both cars are superb... but don't go assuming the Corvette lacks handling.

Also remember that 95% of it is also the driver. I love Porsches and until I get one, my "regular" Corvette will hang tough in the striaghts AND corners.

Agreed that a stock Corvette w/out the suspension upgrade is not very good, but it doesnt take much $ in suspension mods to make it much better.

Trojan Man

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by docjackson1:
<strong> if chevy could spend a similar amount of money on a car, they could approach or equal the build quality of a carrera. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I hate to disagree, but I do. GM and the other 2 detroit companies will simply NEVER build a car in the U.S. that rivals the quality of fit and finish as a luxury German automaker. They have all had their chance. Best current example: Cadillac XLR. I had the (mis)fortune of getting to see the production model up close and in person. For $75K+, the fit and finish of components is equivalent to their $30K CTS (AKA plastic up the yin yang).

I hate to rub it in, but the intro model MB C230 coupe has better interior components for only $25K+.

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RWO

Torjan Man,

I hate to rain on your parade but the JD Powers 2003 survey have the highest German brand at 7th behind 3 domestic brands...

My experiance with my 2 P cars is that they do LOOK well built but send more time in the shop than my Ford Expedition, Lexus LS430 or my old Infiniti.

Roy

ps. Here's the link

<a href="http://www.jdpower.com/presspass/pr/images/2003028bfull.gif" target="_blank">http://www.jdpower.com/presspass/pr/images/2003028bfull.gif</a>