Porsche Carrera GT vs Chevy Corvette: Which Is Better?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the comparison between the Porsche Carrera GT and the Chevy Corvette, with a consensus favoring the Carrera GT for its superior handling and engineering. Participants emphasize the importance of chassis design and aerodynamics over sheer power, noting that the Corvette's outdated leaf spring suspension detracts from its performance. The conversation also touches on the broader context of automotive engineering, including the multinational nature of car manufacturing and the personal preferences of car enthusiasts.

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  • Understanding of automotive engineering principles, particularly chassis design and aerodynamics.
  • Familiarity with the specifications and performance metrics of the Porsche Carrera GT and Chevy Corvette.
  • Knowledge of the historical context of car manufacturing, including multinational ownership and production.
  • Awareness of the differences in suspension systems, specifically leaf spring versus modern alternatives.
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  • Research the engineering specifications of the Porsche Carrera GT, focusing on its chassis and suspension design.
  • Explore the performance metrics of the Chevy Corvette, particularly its handling capabilities and suspension system.
  • Investigate the impact of multinational ownership on automotive design and manufacturing practices.
  • Learn about modern suspension technologies and their advantages over traditional systems like leaf springs.
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Car enthusiasts, automotive engineers, and anyone interested in high-performance vehicles and the intricacies of car design and manufacturing.

Which car rules? (Latest models of each)

  • Porsche Carerra GT

    Votes: 26 86.7%
  • Chevy Corvette Z06

    Votes: 4 13.3%

  • Total voters
    30
  • #31
Last edited:
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  • #32
  • #33
Porshe. I always prefer European to American or Japanese if money doesn't matter. If it does, then japan has my vote.

I drive an '05 Mazda 3, russ watters. You ought to be ashamed having to ask which country Mazda is. Tisk tisk.
P.S. Let's race. zoom zoom.
 
  • #34
zanazzi78 said:
Thank you, BWM from where ... EUROPE!
Actually, I think that might be the race version of the BMW M3 GTR. The fastest production time on that list looks like 7:32.4 for the Carrera GT.
 
  • #35
I'd say the Porsche. Generally prefer European cars for their handling, which is more of an issue over here because we actually have corners in Europe.

However, I'd never have a Porsche. To me, they seem devoid of all character. Give me something like a Lotus or TVR instead.
 
  • #36
Mixing BMW-parts

Hello everybody !

Here's a complete newby as far as kitcar building goes. I'm still (for a long time now) thinking about what to built and if I could make it work. My choice was almost made for an Autotune Gemini, but recently I found out about the Marlin Sportster. I like the BMW idea of this built, so I'm considering the options now.

My actual question is: Could I use suspension, gear box, rear axle etc. of E30 BMW's and use the BMW E36 M3 engine, wiring loom etc or that of http://www.auto-parts-wholesale.com/mm/bmw/7-series/760.html"? I think it would be cheaper to use as much E30 parts as possible, but I like the M3 engine ... Besides that I read somewhere that using E36 suspension, axle, diff bits give more trouble in mounting ? Or is this all just coming out of the mind of a mad man and would I better buy a complete E36 M3 ? Finally perhaps anyone who says that an M3 enginge is not necessary or useless anyway ?

Like to read your thoughts on this ! Guess I'll might have some more questions/thoughts before and after the purchase ! Hope to read some usefell stuff !

Cheers !
 
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  • #38
Like Russ pointed out a couple of years ago, the nationality of the nameplate means nothing. Ford closed their Marysvill, OH, plant saying that it was old and antiquated and citing high labor costs. Honda bought the plant, hired back most of the Ford labor force and launched the production of the Honda Accord, built in the USA with the highest percentage of US-made parts of all the cars that were supposedly manufactured in the US, and took the #1 spot for mid-sized cars sold in the US. The only way Ford was able to topple them from the #1 spot was to buy their own cars (Taurus) from themselves and lease them to rental car companies at huge discounts.
 
  • #40
I own a Z06, and would prefer the Carerra GT, however, I don't have $450,000 (USA) to buy the Carerra GT. The Carerra GT has 606hp and is lighter than the Z06. Nordschleife time in the Carerra GT is 7:28, while a pre-production Z06 ran a 7:42.9, although the actual car has had slight improvements since that run.

However, the Z06 just looks like another Corvette, so it doesn't attract a lot of attention and I use it as my daily driver (or my motorcycle).

Regarding the Nordschleife "production" car record, a Radical SR8 holds the current record at 6:55. This is basically a street legal (in some countries) race car.

Sedan type race cars run faster times than 6:55, but these are true race cars with slicks. A video of a BMW M3 GTR race car running combined Nurburg F1 track and Nordschleife:

http://jeffareid.net/real/m3gtrnrd.wmv
 
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  • #41
GREATTT VIDEO JEFF. Thats what I call being alive!
 
  • #42
zanazzi78 said:
The Carerra if far better than the Vette. Mainly due to the fact that it doesn`t matter how powerfull the car is, if it can`t transfer that power to the road it sucks, and unfortunattly that is where the Vette falls down they still use leaf sprung suspention in the 21 century. My dad had a 1950`s Landrover with leaf sprung suspention!

I bet both cars have pneumatic tires too :rolleyes:. Stop making stuff up and learn a little about cars before condemning them over nationalistic prejudices. That Land Rover uses heavy longitudinal multileaf steel springs that serve as suspension links. Corvettes use lightweight transverse composite springs that do not affect the suspension geometry in any way. Such a spring is no better or worse than an equivalent coil. It just takes up space differently.

Vettes are actually known to be excellent at transferring their power to the road. The design is about as good as it can be for that purpose. For overall chassis performance, nothing else can touch a Z06 on the track for anywhere near that price range (unless you go to stripped out race cars with no bodywork, near-solid springs, and 2" of ground clearance). You can argue about various subjective qualities, but the Vette is an excellent value if you want to go extremely fast in comfort for relatively little money.

All that said, I don't see how anyone would take the Vette over the Carrera. The Porsche costs 6 times as much, so it had better be a much better car.
 
  • #43
Greg Bernhardt said:
This isn't even a fair poll. The vette is one of the worst cars for the money.
The Carerra GT costs something like 8 times more though...
 
  • #44
moose said:
The Carerra GT costs something like 8 times more though...

Right but at the Z06's price tag of 70k, I'd rather have a BMW 6 series or Audi A8.
 
  • #45
Greg Bernhardt said:
Right but at the Z06's price tag of 70k, I'd rather have a BMW 6 series or Audi A8.

Ok, but those cars are designed to do completely different things. If that's what you like, I doubt you'd want a CGT either.
 

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