'05 Corvette Z51 vs '05 Porsche CS (Motor Trend Jan '05)

[Minacious]

My January '05 issue of Motor Trend came in today so I scanned up an article to keep you entertained.

http://www.misterminacious.com/scans/MTJAN05PV/PVPage1tn.jpg (http://www.misterminacious.com/scans/MTJAN05PV/PVPage1.jpg)http://www.misterminacious.com/scans/MTJAN05PV/PVPage2tn.jpg (http://www.misterminacious.com/scans/MTJAN05PV/PVPage2.jpg)
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http://www.misterminacious.com/scans/MTJAN05PV/PVPage5tn.jpg (http://www.misterminacious.com/scans/MTJAN05PV/PVPage5.jpg)http://www.misterminacious.com/scans/MTJAN05PV/PVPage6tn.jpg (http://www.misterminacious.com/scans/MTJAN05PV/PVPage6.jpg)
http://www.misterminacious.com/scans/MTJAN05PV/PVPage7tn.jpg (http://www.misterminacious.com/scans/MTJAN05PV/PVPage7.jpg)

[SilviaEvo]

wow they are evenly matched but i might go for the Vette cuz A it is a drop top and goes just as fast and B because it is a better car for the money. Vette? hmmmmm. NAH!

[JiggaStyles09]

if it was my money ill take the vette, for sure.

[JoeHahn]

Wow the Porsche seriously outcorners the Vette on the track when I thought it would be equal and maybe a bit in favour to the Corvette. I guess the Corvette is always going to win on the longer, straighter tracks while the Porsche the opposite.

[coloradosilver]

Wow, for a $36,000 difference in price it would seem that all you're paing for in the Porsche is the name. What a waste....and a rip off!!!

Go Corvette Go!!

[Guibo]

Wow, for a $36,000 difference in price it would seem that all you're paing for in the Porsche is the name. What a waste....and a rip off!!!

Go Corvette Go!!
Well, you're also paying for more steering precision, more feedback, more sophisticated engine and suspension, slicker gearshift, better interior materials (leather on the dash), better braking, import/duty fees, and whatever it's cost Porsche to make work a layout that others had given up for dead decades ago.

[bmwmpower]

i read about vette and 911 in new car and driver- wins vette,
because is more then 30 000 USD cheaper

[Fluxlo]

In the car and driver article they're comparing a standard carrera to a corvette with the z51 handling package. And in that the porsche only lost by one point.

Put the vette up against the CS? different story.

[coloradosilver]

Wow, for a $36,000 difference in price it would seem that all you're paing for in the Porsche is the name. What a waste....and a rip off!!!

Go Corvette Go!!
Well, you're also paying for more steering precision, more feedback, more sophisticated engine and suspension, slicker gearshift, better interior materials (leather on the dash), better braking, import/duty fees, and whatever it's cost Porsche to make work a layout that others had given up for dead decades ago.

Nope, all that is a matter of opinion! When it comes down to raw power, lap times, and handling, they're pretty much even.

So then it comes down to bang for buck...and thats where the porsche gets it ass kicked!

[Guibo]

Nope, all that is a matter of opinion! When it comes down to raw power, lap times, and handling, they're pretty much even.

So then it comes down to bang for buck...and thats where the porsche gets it ass kicked!
Uh...I don't think the shorter braking numbers is an opinion. Nor is the fact that the Porsche faces import duties that the C6 doesn't face. In other parts of the world, the C6 is still cheaper, but not by this margin.
Raw power...Once past 60, the C6 is actually noticeably quicker. Imagine if it were geared to hit 186 in 6th instead of 5th. :D

I agree, for the money the C6 is hard to beat. But if Porsche continues to price their cars this way, and people continue to buy them, then more power to Porsche. Porsche hasn't really ever been about bang for the buck (924's notwithstanding), when compared to the mass market manufacturers.

[Guibo]

In the car and driver article they're comparing a standard carrera to a corvette with the z51 handling package. And in that the porsche only lost by one point.

Put the vette up against the CS? different story.
But not much different.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=1652&page_number=1&preview=

The CS moves closer to the Corvette in terms of performance, but it also jumps several thousands in price.

Automobile came to the same conclusion in comparing the C6 against the CS. (Although they felt the Corvette's ability to be balanced through turns on the throttle, its higher fun factor, and the appeal of open-top motoring were all factors; not just price alone.)

[SFDMALEX]

Well the 911CS is not that great of a car. Its good yes, but there are faster Porsches out there, the TT for example, and if the C6 is even with the CS then I dont have much respect for the car.....Just think how it would do against a Turbo. :roll:

[Fluxlo]

There are always faster cars out there and as said for $/performance ratio it's pretty friggen hard to beat the vette, but almost all the reviews i've read about the 997 carrera models says it just works so well together, every piece fits perfectly. Sometimes it isn't about raw numbers, but about how the car works with the driver (drivers can vouch for the satisfaction that brings). It seems in this respect the porsche is unmatched.

[Guibo]

Well the 911CS is not that great of a car. Its good yes, but there are faster Porsches out there, the TT for example, and if the C6 is even with the CS then I dont have much respect for the car.....Just think how it would do against a Turbo. :roll:
I doubt GM thinks of the C6 as an answer to the Turbo. They will have another car for that...

http://img56.exs.cx/img56/1690/133fi.jpg

[SFDMALEX]

Well the 911CS is not that great of a car. Its good yes, but there are faster Porsches out there, the TT for example, and if the C6 is even with the CS then I dont have much respect for the car.....Just think how it would do against a Turbo. :roll:
I doubt GM thinks of the C6 as an answer to the Turbo. They will have another car for that...

http://img56.exs.cx/img56/1690/133fi.jpg

Like? I'd love to see one, because the three way Ferrari, Porsche and now Lambo battle is kind of boring.

The Z02?

[Fluxlo]

Man I hope that's just a concept because, personally i think that looks attrocious...Takes the sleek smooth sexy corvette and makes it butch.

BTW, thanks for the scan. It was a good read.

[is64fun]

porsche is the bestttt

[T-Bird]

Well the 911CS is not that great of a car. Its good yes, but there are faster Porsches out there, the TT for example, and if the C6 is even with the CS then I dont have much respect for the car.....Just think how it would do against a Turbo. :roll:
I doubt GM thinks of the C6 as an answer to the Turbo. They will have another car for that...

http://img56.exs.cx/img56/1690/133fi.jpg

Like? I'd love to see one, because the three way Ferrari, Porsche and now Lambo battle is kind of boring.

The Z02?

Don't forget Ford is in that mix now aswell and the Z06 will definitely be in the mix now that it will have 500hp.

Oh and does anyone else notice that American cars are really putting pressure on the Europeans lately?

[JiggaStyles09]

Well the 911CS is not that great of a car. Its good yes, but there are faster Porsches out there, the TT for example, and if the C6 is even with the CS then I dont have much respect for the car.....Just think how it would do against a Turbo. :roll:
I doubt GM thinks of the C6 as an answer to the Turbo. They will have another car for that...

http://img56.exs.cx/img56/1690/133fi.jpg

Like? I'd love to see one, because the three way Ferrari, Porsche and now Lambo battle is kind of boring.

The Z02?

Don't forget Ford is in that mix now aswell and the Z06 will definitely be in the mix now that it will have 500hp.

Oh and does anyone else notice that American cars are really putting pressure on the Europeans lately?
yep for sure and its about time. it really makes me happy though, that the americans are putting pressure on them.

the new z06 is definitley my new favorite now that it is official 427 500hp/500tq. i am generally a ford guy and i love the new GT but i really think the z06 will be just as good if not better and a lot cheaper.

[Guibo]

Man I hope that's just a concept because, personally i think that looks attrocious...Takes the sleek smooth sexy corvette and makes it butch.

BTW, thanks for the scan. It was a good read.
The look is largely the same (aside from the intakes, wheels, and fender flares). Personally, I think this is quite appropriate for the performance version of the Corvette. :twisted:
If black is too hardcore, there's alway mellower yellow:
http://www.mustangmods.com/data/5830/z06_race.jpg

[SFDMALEX]

I still think the new Vette is hideous...it's just plain ugly. I'd love to see that performance is a nice body...but I just cant stand the look of this thing.......the Gen5 shape, was the best looking Vette ever (Sorry I think the classics ones are hideous aswel).

[lakatu]

I liked how they did the track comparison and graphs.

Interestingly Willow Springs has been the site for a number of test by different magazines comparing the corvette with other cars and the 911 as well. The interesting part is that the lap times haven’t changed very much for the Vette. Possible this is due to the extremely stiff suspensions of earlier model C4 verses the softer C5 and C6 suspensions. Here are some examples:

1984 C&D 911 Carrera Turbo Look 1:43.8
1986 MT Corvette Z-51 1:39.8
1986 MT 944Turbo 1:43.5 (this was a comparison tests to the above Vette)
1989 C&D Corvette Z 51 1:41.0
1989 911 Club Sport 1:44.2 (They mentioned they could have lapped faster but were afraid to push the 911)
1992 Corvette 1:39.5
1992 Same issue as above NSX 1:39.9
1988 Automobile Magazine 911 Turbo driven by Derek Bell 1:43
1988 Automobile Magazine 944 Turbo S driven by Derek Bell 1:41
1993 Corvette 1:40.7
1993 Same issue as above Supra Turbo 1:39.0 & 300ZX 1:41.6
2003 R&T 350Z Track 1:40.1
2003 R&T M3 SMGII 1:40.1
2003 R&T Corvette Z06 1:36.5
2003 R&T 911 Targa 1:40.8