..So I have this boss who owns a 2000 Vette with a touch of mods representing Chevy and I represent the Porsche side of things with only my knowledge of Porsche and desire to get my C4S in a few years time. Living and working in Germany helps add to the flame of our everyday discussions in which is better overall(Performance Drag/Nuerburgring; comfort; interior;exterior looks; drivability..etc.). What do you Rennlisters think of the 2 names and the cars behind each? Why do I feel it's my duty to stand up for Porsche(not the company but more the beliefs and engineering)? What makes Porsche more superior over a C5 Vette when we must pay 30k+ more than this Chevy? Geez I hope I got my idea across..just always buggin me.

harrY

 

Big IRON vs Finesse...

I would admit that if I could get that anniversary special Corvette in a T-Top with a modern day V6 (4 valves/cyl, OHC, etc.) I would be first in line.

Something about the use of BIG IRON, Corvette, Viper, moves the vehicles away from "sports", and into DRAGSTER.

 

I am from Bowling Green, KY, were they make the Corvette. This doesn't make me an expert but here is my opinion.

It is all about 'passion' -- passion for American muscle, passion for German engineering, plain a simple passion. Instilling passion, which is what both companies do very well, is what makes a great brand in both cars.

Corvette owner's are 'into' their cars as much as 911 owners. However, Corvette owners are 1) more focused on HP and speed and 2) less on handling and balanced performance.

The Corvette is more affordable new, much more affordable as a used car, and can be purchased basically everywhere, by anyone. The exclusivity of a Porsche is part of the brand that makes us all want one.

Just like passionate 911 owners, Corvette owners overlook the shortcomings and focus on the strengths of the car. I won't go into these for obvious reasons:-)

I was at the 50th 'b'day' party for the Corvette last weekend. These guys have the same passion, do the same things and talk about the same topics we do! There are just more of them, so don't get into a bar room brawl defending your position!

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Big IRON vs Finesse...
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">think of barry bonds and his muscles vs. hulk hogan or arnold schshaneger(Excuse spelling) with their muscles hitting home runs.

Who can hit them farther and who do you think will hit more? Yes, the bigger two can probably outpower him, but what is the use if
#1 they don't know how or can't to use the power
#2 which one was made for what?

 

Both look like sportcars from the outside but,

996 = Handling, driver involvement, reliability, quality build, brakes, track performance, versatility, balance, finess, engeneering perfection...

C5 = Straight line performance, lower cost, ah, hmm, well, hmmm... thats it!

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Carlos from Spain:
<strong>Both look like sportcars from the outside but,

996 = Handling, driver involvement, reliability, quality build, brakes, track performance, versatility, balance, finess, engeneering perfection...

C5 = Straight line performance, lower cost, ah, hmm, well, hmmm... thats it!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Carlos,
I agree with most of your comments but, reliability, quality build... In my opinion, those two are still on the table for the 996... I know that in this forum, because of the nature of it, we will see most of the problems reported... but that still does not give me a good feeling about the increase in problems the new 911 series have. Porsche is not the only german company affected by this... I have seen Mercedes fall into the same reliability, build quality issues. I read somewhere that the percentage of failures in engines for Porsche was high (35%???). I just hope Porsche refocus quickly and start giving us the level of quality and reliability expected from the Porsche name.

 

Yes, there is some truth to that Wachuko, but not to the point to compare with the Chevy. Overall, a Porsche (or a Merc) has better build qualilty than a Vette or a Viper.

And also reliability, because sportcars are suposed to be driven hard and you can drive a 996 around the track all day long but with a vette you will start getting brake, engine, transmition, etc issues much sooner.

80,000kms on mine and not a single problem ever

 

Did anyone see a single Viper at the 24 hours of daytona this year?

I think Corvette was there but not sure.

 

I once heard someone say: "if you have to explain a Porsche, they'll never get it..."

I drove a '03 Z06 recently, and I was very impressed. With all due respect to Carlos, unless you have tested one, I would reserve comment about the Vette's capability. The standard C5 is less better but still more than a match for a 996 (performance-wise).

 

Carlitos,

I partially agree...I drive a Z06 Vette and it handles likes its on rails. I've owned NSX's, M3's, Audi S4's and Nissan TT 300Z and this Z06 is equal if not better the best of those cars I mentioned. Yes straight line speed is superb, but handling and braking are also very good. Keep in mind I always hated Vettes and I had driven many before, but once I drove a Z06 I knew that it was one of the best overall performance cars I'd ever driven, 993's & 996's included...I've learned not to knock something until I've tried it, regardless of what people say. Just my $.02

 

I think everybody would agree that the NA 996 is a little under powered for the class of car it's in.

Espically now with all these saloon cars from Merc and Audi with 500HP?!

 

I own a 993 now and recently sold a 98 C5. I have also driven a few 996's which in my opinion are very nice capable cars. For the people who say Corvettes are more grunt straight line cars have not owned a Corvette after 97. The C5 Corvette especially the Z06 outhandles, outbrakes and holds up with the best cars in the world including Porsche. For me personally the C5 is a little bulky, interior is not as nice as a 996 but better than say a 993. Porsche gives you a feeling of a true road racer in EVERY aspect. In my opinion so does the Z06. It comes down to personal taste because we all know the Z06 is faster than the 996 and the 993 and a second or two off a TT. Just my .02

My picture link below has a couple shots of the C5 and the 993. The C5 had a 383 upgrade,programmed, Z06 package and on and on. Very nice cars.

 

Fahren & MJSpeed, notice I always reffered to the C5 meaning the the standard C5 to which tetzlaf reffers in his comparison, nobody was talking about the Z06, which is a whole different story in terms of handling & performance which is up to par with even the 996TT in that sense nor are we comparing the GT2 to the Z06 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> In the case of the Z06 I would agree with you guys there in what you've said

 

This is more relevant to track use. I was doing Panoz Lapping Days at Sebring and there were 2 guys with ZO6's there. They said that their cars would need a lot of upgrades in order to run reliably over a period of time on the track in the way Porsches do. For example, the stock brakes may produce one time results equal to Porsche brakes, but over time they do not compare. One of the guys left his car parked on pit lane after doing some hot laps. He went for a ride with one of the instructors in a Panoz race car. We were standing near his car and heard a loud ping and crack. His rotor broke. I saw them again at a PCA event at Sebring and both cars did not last the whole day. They both cracked rotors, and this was with extra care in rolling the car so as not to build up as much heat behind the calipers. Our cars are pretty good out of the box for track use.
Regards,
Mike

 

I've read about Chevy admitting to having some overheating problems in the ZO6's 385HP LS6 engines when used hard such as in tracks that they were going to try fix it for updated 405HP engine models.