Chevrolet's Corvette and Porsche's 911 are two of the most recognized and longest living sports car nameplates in history. Both models have evolved in many ways over the years but also remain true to their heritage.
The 2012 Porsche 911 was only just introduced into the market this year sporting an entirely new platform and a lighter body, while the sixth generation of Corvette has been with us since 2005 and has entered its final year of production as Chevrolet will present an all new model next year.
Nonetheless, since we live in the "today", Motor Trend's editor-at-large Angus MacKenzie took the 436-horsepower 2012 Corvette Grand Sport and compared it with the 400-horsepower 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S.
Looking at the price list, we see that the Corvette GS costs $56,900 or $76,130 as tested, while the 911 Carrera S $97,350 or $131,760 as tested.
We believe that a more fair comparison would have probably been to pit the Porsche against the 505-horsepower Corvette Z06 (base price: $75,600) or better yet, the more sophisticated, 638-horsepower ZR1 (base price: $111,600).
In any case, watch the video below and tell us what you think.
17 Comments:
So they compared the dual clutch automatic to the six speed manual corvette.....why not both manuals??? Not an even match up
Sorry, presently German engineering trumps American in automobiles. Love Vettes, but love the 911 series even more.
How about that price gap, this really isn't an even match up.
I'd take the 'Vette over the Porsche any day. It looks much nicer.
Presently? Always.
Corvette's are a fun car, but that's it.
Sorry, Angus, but I Love both of them.
I think it's a comparison that fits. And its well produced too! And whats about the price difference: You noticed that the cars parameters match up against each other rather nicely? And that the Porsche is more of a daily driver than the corvette ever could? If you're looking for performance and nothing else, take the vette. It has all the good stuff. The Porsche on the other hand gives you performance, looks, quality and usability.
PLEASE, I challenge you and anyone else on earth to drive both these cars for a week, and then say they prefer the Corvette over the 911. Put y'all on a polygraph and then we'll see who's getting paid by GM to lie.
[“Less weight over the router axle”] as I've been saying for about a decade now, the 911 design is flawed by the placement of its engine, which the designers must continually try to overcome with tricks like lengthening the wheelbase. It's an improvement, but far greater improvement would be gained by moving more of the engine in board of the rear axle.
[“And anyone who says they still prefer a stick over the PDK, simply isn't serious about driving fast”] Another point I've been making about the dual clutch transmission for nigh on a lustrum now is that this system is designed for performance, and anyone who wants to go faster and be more precise with their driving has no other alternative.
It's a simple choice, the Corvette is a dinosaur, for little kids who like to play cars and strut their bravado hoping to impress their ignorant friends and unsophisticated girls. The 911, despite its design flaws, is for serious drivers who appreciate a car that will allow them to plumb their own limits as a driver, without winding up upside down in a ditch calling a tow truck which is where the average unschooled Corvette driver so often ends up when they push it a little too far. The 911 is for drivers, the Corvette, any Corvette, is for posers. Which are you? Which do you want to be?
I disagree with John, these cars are pretty evenly matched, though he's correct, GM really has to go to their top shelf to challenge even the lowliest 911, so far behind are they in the area of refinement and quality for your money. If the Corvette cost $30,000 it would be a bargain, but for $70,000 it's a ripoff, plain and simple, and GM should be ashamed of themselves for continuing to foist this scam on to the buying public here in the 21st century. If they were selling this car in 1997, it would be impressive, but here in 2012 it's just a joke on everyone who puts out their money for one. All you're doing is paying for GM CEOs undeserved quarterly bonus checks, that's what you Corvette buyers a really shelling out your money for, and they are laughing at you suckers all the way to the bank.
Again I challenge anyone to spend some time driving both of these cars, and come back and tell me you'd rather have the Corvette. GM employees and paid Internet weasels need not apply, unless you're willing to take a polygraph and put up some of that money GM is paying you to talk up their junk on the Internet, put that up, and then we'll see how good a liar you really are.
I ll take the Vette any day over my A.S.S..... what you thought i am a Red-neck with sore ass and sore right hand, patriot-izing loser cars.
I'd buy the 911 but I appreciate others would prefer the 'vette. I'm glad of the diversity on the road. What I especially liked about the video clip was not the so much the cars but more the manner of the comparison. Hey, BBC take note and remind Jeremy, James and Richard that TG used to be be about cars and less about ridiculous spectacle.
Because a everything's a conspiracy?
“And anyone who says they still prefer a stick over the PDK, simply isn't serious about driving fast”
Weeeeeeell apparently 911 owners aren't serious about driving fast because there is the new 7 speed gearbox, it's not about how many milliseconds you can cut in the corner of the b roads, it´s about the connection driver-car-road, and no pdk can match the clutch pedal, no one is better than the other, it's just faster, it's a sport car, its all about sensations.
And I will tell you why I think is not a good comparision, just because the vette is a 7 years old platform, and the 911 a brand new one, when the C7 arrives will be a good one, and another one, are you kidding me? the 911 it's almost twice the price of the Corvette.
So by this basis will be a fair comparision to test and Xbow with the Corvette ZR1 and say yeah the Xbow its sooooo sporty but it´s not as refined in the streets as the Vette, hell no, it´s a track car, the Vette its an american car done right, with the heritage in it and everything, and I am not even from USA.
But it's not an every day car, well maybe the Z06 and ZR1 with the magnetic suspension I dont know about that really, but the point is that the 911 it's really and everyday sports car, that's why the price is so much higher, and the quality too.
That is why I dont think the comparision it's fair, but everybody has different view =).
Maybe a better one would be ZR1 or Z06 vs GT3, something like that.
And yes I´m a Vette guy, it's my favorite car, but I love most of the cars out there and the 911 it´s no exception, its awesome and pretty!
No because the 'vette isn't that good dude. If the corvette was any good you'd see people driving them all over the place. I see dozens of 911 every week in Toronto, just walking to and from work. I will maybe see 1 vette.
If it was such a great car, people would be aspiring to own one. Like in the old days. Now the only thing the vette has going for it is the price.
C7 BABY!!!
vettes have been kicking there ass for the longest, why didnt they do a drag race 0 to 60, bunch of bull shit,and for all those nissan gtr fans i ran one n my gs corvette his ass is proably still sick from that hole shot i did on him,536 hp vs 436 who's d fool. 2010gs auto arlington tx. black on black
that video proves nothing ,the vette is getting its upgraded n d C7,the C6 can still out perform that porsche at half the price. when u get beat on the track what r u gonna say,my seats r better, r my car rides better..lol u running to the shop for upgrades
so the 911 isn't anymore a little vw with a big engine..
Post a Comment