had her up to 110 last night.....

[MrElussive]

Whoa, you guys need more respect for the Corvette. That thing does 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and outhandles a Porsche 911 Turbo. The Corvette will RAPE all of our cars in overall performance (acceleration, braking, and handling), show some respect people !!

 

[jrt67ss350]

We are not talking price, it is not a factor, just what defines performance.

Ok then, lets have a look see at the stats:

2003 Porsche 911 Turbo - $116,200
3.6L H6 – Twin turbos
3388 lbs
415hp @6000 rpm
415lb-ft @2700 rpm
Braking 60-0mph: 119ft.
Skidpad: 0.96g
Slalom: 68.1 mph
Quarter mile: 12.4s @ 115.6mph

2003 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage - $141,800
6.0L V-12
3925 lbs
420hp @ 6000 rpm
400hp @ 5000 rpm
Braking 60-0 mph: 121 ft.
Skidpad: 0.92g
Slalom: 62.8 mph
Quarter mile: 13.4s @ 105mph

2003 Ferrari 456M - $224,585
3726 lbs
5.5L V-12
442hp @ 6250 rpm
406hp @ 4500 rpm
Braking 60-0 mph: 120ft.
Skidpad: 0.93g
Slalom: 64.2 mph
Quarter mile: 13.6s @ 103mph

2003 Corvette Z06 - $51,585
3116 lbs
5.7L V-8
405hp @ 6000 rpm
400 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
Braking 60-0mph: 104ft.
Skidpad: 0.99g
Slalom: 70.3 mph
Quarter mile: 12.5s @ 115 mph


Wow, when compared to the other supercars listed as competitors to the Porsche 911 Turbo, and even though it only costs $52,000, the Corvette Z06 weighs the least, has comparable power, has the best braking by 15 feet, has the best skidpad roadholding, the fastest slalom, and is neck and neck with the Porsche for the best quarter mile time. And, it manages to do all this for less than half the price of it's cheapest "competitor." I find it amazing how good old American engineering can produce the same amount of performance out of a good old naturally aspirated pushrod 16 valve V-8 as these other supercar manufacturers get out of their twin turbocharged flat six or 48 valve DOHC V-12 engines. Looks like the Corvette is the performance definer.

Price aside, the Corvette Z06 still kicks its "competitors'" asses. And when you take into account the price, well you've got one hell of a car there. Whether you like it or not, the Z06 is a supercar. I'd take two of 'em and still have enough $$ left over to buy a used M3 for the price of the Porsche 911 Turbo.

 

[MrElussive]

Yeah, the Corvette is a really sick car in terms of performance. But it is so "affordable" compared to the others because its interior is garbage and it doesn't offer much more than performance (no luxury, status, practicality, etc.).

 

[///M SPEED]

Ok then, lets have a look see at the stats:

2003 Porsche 911 Turbo - $116,200
3.6L H6 – Twin turbos
3388 lbs
415hp @6000 rpm
415lb-ft @2700 rpm
Braking 60-0mph: 119ft.
Skidpad: 0.96g
Slalom: 68.1 mph
Quarter mile: 12.4s @ 115.6mph

2003 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage - $141,800
6.0L V-12
3925 lbs
420hp @ 6000 rpm
400hp @ 5000 rpm
Braking 60-0 mph: 121 ft.
Skidpad: 0.92g
Slalom: 62.8 mph
Quarter mile: 13.4s @ 105mph

2003 Ferrari 456M - $224,585
3726 lbs
5.5L V-12
442hp @ 6250 rpm
406hp @ 4500 rpm
Braking 60-0 mph: 120ft.
Skidpad: 0.93g
Slalom: 64.2 mph
Quarter mile: 13.6s @ 103mph

2003 Corvette Z06 - $51,585
3116 lbs
5.7L V-8
405hp @ 6000 rpm
400 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
Braking 60-0mph: 104ft.
Skidpad: 0.99g
Slalom: 70.3 mph
Quarter mile: 12.5s @ 115 mph


Wow, when compared to the other supercars listed as competitors to the Porsche 911 Turbo, and even though it only costs $52,000, the Corvette Z06 weighs the least, has comparable power, has the best braking by 15 feet, has the best skidpad roadholding, the fastest slalom, and is neck and neck with the Porsche for the best quarter mile time. And, it manages to do all this for less than half the price of it's cheapest "competitor." I find it amazing how good old American engineering can produce the same amount of performance out of a good old naturally aspirated pushrod 16 valve V-8 as these other supercar manufacturers get out of their twin turbocharged flat six or 48 valve DOHC V-12 engines. Looks like the Corvette is the performance definer.

Price aside, the Corvette Z06 still kicks its "competitors'" asses. And when you take into account the price, well you've got one hell of a car there. Whether you like it or not, the Z06 is a supercar. I'd take two of 'em and still have enough $$ left over to buy a used M3 for the price of the Porsche 911 Turbo.

! To completely ignore the Corvette, because you think the quality is "just not there" is a bunch of BS. The quality is there. The Corvette can more that hold it's own for price much less. I love all exotics and sports cars and to not include the Corvette is just ridiculous. The Corvette has always been a bad motha and always will be.

I'll take a Grand Sport Corvette anyday!

 

[mikev]

Whoa, you guys need more respect for the Corvette. That thing does 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and outhandles a Porsche 911 Turbo. The Corvette will RAPE all of our cars in overall performance (acceleration, braking, and handling), show some respect people !!

So if your beloved Corvette is better in so many ways than all other cars and costs very little. Why then (despite being available for sale) has there been only a handful of them sold in Europe. You know the guys who can and have been building cars to go around corners since the beginning of time. It is a WORLD WIDE know FACT that the majority of us cars don't handle well. even the new ford GT stunning as it is (relitivily cheap to) simply doesn't go arounds corners as well as the European rivals. I'm not starting an arugement here but how many cars that are ONLY us built handle like or better than an M3???

 

[Bryan330i]

So if your beloved Corvette is better in so many ways than all other cars and costs very little. Why then (despite being available for sale) has there been only a handful of them sold in Europe. You know the guys who can and have been building cars to go around corners since the beginning of time. It is a WORLD WIDE know FACT that the majority of us cars don't handle well. even the new ford GT stunning as it is (relitivily cheap to) simply doesn't go arounds corners as well as the European rivals. I'm not starting an arugement here but how many cars that are ONLY us built handle like or better than an M3???

Thank you Mikev.

This is the point I am trying to make. These guys here think the Corvette is tops, defines performance. I just don't understand that. [???1] I guess it is all relative, some think a Civic is the ultimate race car. Also, there is more to performance than HP, again, for this post you can see some don't see it that way.

So why are there not more of these performance-defining Corvettes in Europe? At least a couple of us know the answer.

And yes, I would go for the M3 over the Corvette any day. But I still think it is cool if the rest of these guys would go for the Corvette, no big deal, drive what you like.

 

[adrean8j]

Ok quickly on the original subject.....I regularly drive on the autobahn(everyday in fact) and I am American. Average cruising speed for "most" cars is about 140kph(I should say most family cars and older drivers age50+) Now for the rest the cruising speed is about 160kph(around 100mph) and most times faster. I normally drive on the autobahn at 185-220kph. The speed of at least 160kph you get used to pretty fast. I remember when I came back to the states and I was on I-95 with my mom driving 55-65 and thinking how friggin' slow we were going.
Oh yeah and the Corvette definitely is an awesome performance car.....but. But the interior is crappy and boring. The materials may be high quality(namely the leather seats). But they need something else besides "black" to make it seem more exotic or to move it up that class.
The interior looks like something I would find in a midrange sports sedan with the leather seats option. Like I said boring, boring, boring. Look at the Aston Martin for example...the interior is awesome...easily the best out of the cars listed above...but it looks like someone actually took the time to really design it. ok I am done...

 

[jrt67ss350]

Also, there is more to performance than HP, again, for this post you can see some don't see it that way.

I agree. That's why I posted most of the other performance stats of the four cars above. The stats show that the Corvette performs at least as well (actually better than in many areas) these other exalted holy grails of performance.

I agree that there is more to a car than just performance. There is something to be said about the styling of a Ferrari or Aston. However, from what I have heard, the reliabilty and build quality of Ferraris suck.

I personally like the interior of the Corvette, especially the two tone interiors available in the Z06. How many of you guys have actually sat in one or driven one? Plus, since when do the materials and color of the dashboard have anything to do with the car's performance? I get the feeling that some people in this online community don't want to admit that the Corvette is just as good of a performer as these other exotics simply because it is built in Kentucky by a manufacturer named Chevrolet.

I would certainly hope that the interior of the Aston Martin is exciting. It only costs $141,000. What luxury or practicality does the Ferrari offer? And, while yes, most American cars don't handle as well as your run of the mill BMW, the stats about the Corvette don't lie. It's a car you can drive everyday in whatever weather you want. It has a simple engine that requires very little maintenance, and even major problems can typically be handled by a semi-knowledgeable person in his or her driveway. Show me a Porsche, Aston Martin, or Ferrari that you can drive day in day out no matter what the weather and that you don't have to take back to the manufacturer to constantly have maintenance done on it.

Just don't sit here and tell me the Corvette is crap because it's made in America.

 

[mikev]

I wasn't saying the corvette is crap. Definatly bangs for bucks its a good investment. Alot of fun can be had relitavily cheaply noadays Its just that the corvette defines the ultimate sports car (below ferrari) as much as McDonalds defines the ultimate Hamburger. There both good at what they do, they fill a quick gap in you somewhere, quickly and cheaply. However neither can fulfill you anytime, anywhere forever. Whilst the CV is great fun, and cheap, it can't be driven every single day, in any weather, to work, for 250k miles the way an M3 could and STILL be a blast on a sunday track day in june!

 

[jrt67ss350]

Whilst the CV is great fun, and cheap, it can't be driven every single day, in any weather, to work, for 250k miles the way an M3 could and STILL be a blast on a sunday track day in june!

I disagree.

I'm not saying everyone has to agree with my point of view - to each his own, ya know? I just get the vibe that alot of people dismiss the Corvette as a supercar because it is made in America and because they are relatively plentiful over here. I just want to do my part to dispell this injustice and point out that it is a damn fine car that will run circles around most other cars out there. Europeans are not the only people that can build a high performance car. Yes, they do a fabulous job building ultra rare, ultra high dollar cars, but IMO, rarity does not a supercar make. Maybe that's just my opinion.

 

[mikev]

Exactly its a super car not something you could use everyday on an inner city commute. and definatly i agree that americians can build high performance supercars. my all time favorite car is the dodge viper GTS-R and the ,English/Americian joint venture, the Shelby Cobra. I personally don't class any M3 as a supercar. its got performance but also creature comforts such as cup holders/sat-nav/rear parking sensors. these things don't say supercar to me. however you can use it everyday on a traffic filled highway for 40miles. Could you really sit in a 'vette for 2hours crawling along without a. overheating b. having your ass fall asleep from the overly supportive racing seats c. not having anywhere to put my damn latte think about this for a sec a supercar defining example is the ferrari F40. No electric windows, no central locking, not even a radio. the word supercar itself has changed in meaning what just 10 years ago we called supercars, have all become reality for most of us. what were Hypercars such as the Mclarean F1 are really now the benchmark for the new "supercars" such as the Zonda and Murchelago.

 

[Krafty04]

wow, looks like I struck a nerve with that 8 letter word... C O R V E T T E.... easy to see by the replys who has never driven one.... 165 MPH at 3.5 inches off the ground hitting the off ramp is like nothing else....

Let me answer one of the many crazy questions asked..... why are there not more of the corvettes in Europe? actually there are quite a few, but only for the rich and famous. The purchase price of an American corvette in europe is like an american buying a german made porsche in NYC.. outrageous.. and the specs... crazy, thats why a european choses to buy european made.... affordable.

one quick example, a portugese was going to purchase a corvette pace car here on the island for $28k. the taxes were 14k.. sound insane? it is, but the truth. so the buying bought a audi tt brand new for under the $42k it would have cost him for the vette.

JRT, thanks for the stats bro', but it appears they still don't get it...
let me guess, you've driven/owned one before, right?

peace,
krafty
26 more days...

 

[QuickCivicGuy]

So if your beloved Corvette is better in so many ways than all other cars and costs very little. Why then (despite being available for sale) has there been only a handful of them sold in Europe. You know the guys who can and have been building cars to go around corners since the beginning of time. It is a WORLD WIDE know FACT that the majority of us cars don't handle well. even the new ford GT stunning as it is (relitivily cheap to) simply doesn't go arounds corners as well as the European rivals. I'm not starting an arugement here but how many cars that are ONLY us built handle like or better than an M3???

The Z06 is probably THE fastest and best handling corvette ever mass produced....it still gets beat by the Viper but the Viper is 80K

.99g on the skid pad....did you even READ that....thats close to a G in lateral acceleration and more than 70mph through the slalom

Put simply for you non-race types...it would RAPE an M3 up and down the block, road course, 1/4 mile....just say when and where

If a super car is a mid-13 sec ride thats pretty pathetic look at my sig.....naturally aspirated 4 cyl with maybe 210-215hp

The Z06 will be a legend both for its price and its performance....add a few mods and you have quite a performer out of the box....

But what is lacking is quality....yes I will say its 80's plastic at its best but most big honking americans that can afford this thing are used to GM plastic and could care less

I'll take an Enzo Ferrari.....smack the crap out of these piddly lilttle wanna-be's

 

[Bryan330i]

JRT, thanks for the stats bro', but it appears they still don't get it...
let me guess, you've driven/owned one before, right?

peace,
krafty
26 more days... [/B][/QUOTE]

Well, not just driven one, I have owned one. There are MANY other cars I would pick for 165, and the Corvette sure would not be one of them. Also, trade with Europe is very relaxed, there are not more Corvettes because it is not viewed as the performance car there that Americans think is it here. The Corvette in Europe is still cheaper than most performance cars in the area, check the wed sites and convert the dollar to Euro and see. Not to say that it is not nice in some aspects, just far from what I would pick. And yes, as a former Corvette owner I can say this. The quality is just not there for me to try 165 in the thing.

 

[Bryan330i]

Hey Krafty04, did you forget the US Trade with Europe? The price for the Corvette there is almost the same as in the US. Look, cheaper than many performance cars in Europe. Even the 3 Series runs $30+ starting there. Due to trade agreements, there is almost no difference in price between US and Europe on most any car. Any big difference is likely caused by demand, looks like the Corvette lacks the demand there.


EUR 46.900
Erstzulassung 9/2002
Laufleistung 20029
Kraftstoff Benzin
PS/kW 344/253
Aussenfarbe schwarz
Getriebeart Automat
ccm 5700 cm³
Türen 2
Fahrzeugart Gebrauchtwagen
Fahrzeugnummer 4502780
Garantie 12
Besonderheiten Mwst. ausweisbar

 

[Bryan330i]

Krafty04, this one is for a 911 Carrera. A bit more than the Corvette hey.




EUR 63.900
Erstzulassung 7/2001
Laufleistung 14500
Kraftstoff Benzin
PS/kW 301/221
Aussenfarbe blau metallic
Getriebeart Handschaltung
Fahrzeugart Gebrauchtwagen
Fahrzeugnummer ex. Munck
Besonderheiten Mwst. ausweisbar

 

[Bryan330i]

Here is a newer 2003 911 Carrera. You can almost get 2 Corvettes there for this price. At least 1 new and 1 used for sure.

EUR 92.990
Erstzulassung 5/2003
Laufleistung 8000
Kraftstoff Benzin
PS/kW 320/235
Aussenfarbe grau metallic
Getriebeart Handschaltung
Fahrzeugart Vorführwagen
Fahrzeugnummer WI- PZ 33
Besonderheiten Mwst. ausweisbar

 

[Bryan330i]

Hey Krafty04, no big deal if you like the Corvette, this is all in fun. But the truth is in the US there is not MUCH Diff. in trade with Europe other than the increased cost of trasport between the two countries and some market price adjustment for demand.

 

[jrt67ss350]

Could you really sit in a 'vette for 2hours crawling along without a. overheating b. having your ass fall asleep from the overly supportive racing seats c. not having anywhere to put my damn latte

Yep, you sure could. I guarantee you that you could let the thing idle all day long and it wouldn't overheat. Have you ever sat in a C5 Corvette? Hell, my ass falls asleep while driving in my 325e for two hours straight. And yes, there is a cupholder in the Corvette (not the best, but there is one). I am not lucky enough to have owned one, but I have driven one, and I would welcome the chance to drive one as my daily car on a 40 mile commute. And with standard traction control and an awesome active handling system, you can truly drive the 405 hp Z06 in any weather all while getting 19/28 mpg.

You are right about the evolution of the supercar - the lines definitely have become blurred from what was considered a supercar 10 years ago.

In the end, it's all about personal preference. That's why there are so many different cars - if personal preference didn't matter, we'd all be driving government mandated Geo Metros.

 

[///M SPEED]

Thank you Mikev.
These guys here think the Corvette is tops, defines performance. I just don't understand that. [???1] I guess it is all relative, some think a Civic is the ultimate race car. Also, there is more to performance than HP, again, for this post you can see some don't see it that way.

But I still think it is cool if the rest of these guys would go for the Corvette, no big deal, drive what you like.

Who stated it is 'tops" and "defines performance"? Just what "rest of these guys would go for the Corvette" are you talking about. People here are stating you can't leave out the Corvette, just because you don't like it, think it shouldn’t be considered in the tops with all other sports cars of the world, and use the excuse about the quality being crap to leave it off the list as well. The performance numbers speak for themselves.