Motor Trend: Corvette vs. 991 Carerra S
02-19-2012, 12:19 PM
#31
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I thought about buying a Z06 Vette especially since my parents worked for GM but I'm very pleased that I purchased a slightly used well maintained Porsche. The car is fantastic!
02-19-2012, 06:42 PM
#34
Nordschleife Master
Well you all seem to think the performance is an inherent and monolithic aspect of a vehicle.
One thing you can notice over the years is how much difference a tire can make.
Cannot speculate what "might have been" but even the rag mentioned the tires as a weak link. If I were driving for fun would agree with 1 Carnut. he's only had a few more Porsches than me, and also a Z 06. They are a great car and you can put a few $$$$ into them and make them even nicer...
On the track, a proper Z 06 can catch and dress an RS. Been there, both sides...
These are new cars. A Gran Sport... meh.
One thing you can notice over the years is how much difference a tire can make.
Cannot speculate what "might have been" but even the rag mentioned the tires as a weak link. If I were driving for fun would agree with 1 Carnut. he's only had a few more Porsches than me, and also a Z 06. They are a great car and you can put a few $$$$ into them and make them even nicer...
On the track, a proper Z 06 can catch and dress an RS. Been there, both sides...
These are new cars. A Gran Sport... meh.
02-19-2012, 09:40 PM
#37
Race Director
what kind of asinine comparison was that. Ridiculous price difference (grand sport plus a daily driver E-class for that rain...), in the rain, brand new platform vs one that is 7 years old.
waste of time.
waste of time.
02-19-2012, 09:58 PM
#38
Race Director
I enjoyed it.
02-19-2012, 10:29 PM
#39
Race Director
Of course you get what you pay for...and in this case you're paying about $55k more. That isn't chump change.
Of course chevy is still hyping and selling it. Its entering its last 2 years or so of production, and they are trying to squeeze it to the last drop. Why wouldn't they?
02-19-2012, 10:40 PM
#40
I drove my previous Boxster once in conditions where it was in the mid to upper 30's and snowing, but the roads were wet and I had my summer tires mounted. It was probably very similar conditions to what this test was done in. That was down right scary in a 245 hp whimpy Boxster. The Boxster was moving constantly from side to side at 55 mph on the freeway as I white knuckled it to work (and everyone blew past me at 70+ mph). I can't imagine what those conditions would be like in a large horsepower 'Vette. Even more scary. Those massive performance Goodyear Supercar tires are hard plastic in temps below 40 or 45.
With winter tires, my Boxster was a snowmobile, but I got caught in a late spring snow fall but had my winter tires swapped out already and was too lazy to change them for this late April batch of winter.
Obviously the 991 was on summer tires as well in this test and those OEM Pirelli's (I assume) did well in the 30 degree temps and with wet roads from the snow, but I bet there is a bit more all season compound in the OEM tires Porsche has equipped the 991 with.
It would be very interesting to equip both cars with winter performance tires and run the same test. Would the 'vette still be a handful?
Tires are everything...
With winter tires, my Boxster was a snowmobile, but I got caught in a late spring snow fall but had my winter tires swapped out already and was too lazy to change them for this late April batch of winter.
Obviously the 991 was on summer tires as well in this test and those OEM Pirelli's (I assume) did well in the 30 degree temps and with wet roads from the snow, but I bet there is a bit more all season compound in the OEM tires Porsche has equipped the 991 with.
It would be very interesting to equip both cars with winter performance tires and run the same test. Would the 'vette still be a handful?
Tires are everything...
02-20-2012, 12:27 AM
#41
Race Director
People are overthinking this and focusing on the wrong issues, IMO. That price is skewing the results, in particular, is way overblown. For example, let's say that the comparison was between a 991S and a Ferrari 458. The 458, at more than twice the base price of the Porsche, would outshine the 991 in performance by close to the same amount as the 991 beat the Vette, but in terms of quality and everyday useability the Porsche would be close and even superior in some ways. The 458 would come out on top overall but I guarantee that no one would conclude that it was "10 times better" than the 991.
This was a look at the quintessential German sports car and the quintessential American one. They are the only two sports cars that have been around for 50 years, give or take. It's a natural comparison and has been since the beginning of both models. Everybody knows the Porsche is more expensive. Everybody knows the Corvette has the big V8 and more power. German technology versus American muscle. Get over the money part, look at the objective facts and subjective impressions, and evaluate them at face value. Then if the money part of the equation is important to you, decide for yourself if the extra cost is worth the extra capability. But no excuses; in this test, between these cars, the Porsche was the best, by a lot. Simple.
This was a look at the quintessential German sports car and the quintessential American one. They are the only two sports cars that have been around for 50 years, give or take. It's a natural comparison and has been since the beginning of both models. Everybody knows the Porsche is more expensive. Everybody knows the Corvette has the big V8 and more power. German technology versus American muscle. Get over the money part, look at the objective facts and subjective impressions, and evaluate them at face value. Then if the money part of the equation is important to you, decide for yourself if the extra cost is worth the extra capability. But no excuses; in this test, between these cars, the Porsche was the best, by a lot. Simple.
02-20-2012, 08:37 AM
#42
Rennlist Member
People are overthinking this and focusing on the wrong issues, IMO. That price is skewing the results, in particular, is way overblown. For example, let's say that the comparison was between a 991S and a Ferrari 458. The 458, at more than twice the base price of the Porsche, would outshine the 991 in performance by close to the same amount as the 991 beat the Vette, but in terms of quality and everyday useability the Porsche would be close and even superior in some ways. The 458 would come out on top overall but I guarantee that no one would conclude that it was "10 times better" than the 991.
This was a look at the quintessential German sports car and the quintessential American one. They are the only two sports cars that have been around for 50 years, give or take. It's a natural comparison and has been since the beginning of both models. Everybody knows the Porsche is more expensive. Everybody knows the Corvette has the big V8 and more power. German technology versus American muscle. Get over the money part, look at the objective facts and subjective impressions, and evaluate them at face value. Then if the money part of the equation is important to you, decide for yourself if the extra cost is worth the extra capability. But no excuses; in this test, between these cars, the Porsche was the best, by a lot. Simple.
This was a look at the quintessential German sports car and the quintessential American one. They are the only two sports cars that have been around for 50 years, give or take. It's a natural comparison and has been since the beginning of both models. Everybody knows the Porsche is more expensive. Everybody knows the Corvette has the big V8 and more power. German technology versus American muscle. Get over the money part, look at the objective facts and subjective impressions, and evaluate them at face value. Then if the money part of the equation is important to you, decide for yourself if the extra cost is worth the extra capability. But no excuses; in this test, between these cars, the Porsche was the best, by a lot. Simple.
02-20-2012, 09:19 AM
#43
In Your Face, Ace
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Maybe I could understand the comparison better if these cars ended up on a race track against each other..... I sure wish these cars would wind up on a race track to face off. Maybe an endurance race something.. 
02-20-2012, 02:36 PM
#44
Race Director
You seem to still feel that there are some left over bones to pick between the 911 and the Vette-which is fine. For me, the Vette/Porsche thing may have been valid 10-15 years ago. The two models today IMO from a consumer's eye, have never been more further apart. What's left for me is the value proposition.
