The current ConsumerReports (August, 2014) rates the Porsche 911 (score 95) above the Corvette (score 92) from a performance standpoint. Of course, as they point out, the tested price of the Porsche is $110,630.00 and the Corvette $73,260.00. They go on to say, "Despite their stellar test scores, we can't recommend either car. The redesigned Corvette is too new for us to have reliability data, and the 911's reliability has been below average." They say the 911 handles better but the Vette "feels more muscular than nimble". The 2014 Vette is a great car, the 2015 may be better. I know a number of people who have chosen the Vette over the Porsche, none who have gone the other way. The price differential may be a large factor in that choice but personally I would choose the Vette even if there weren't that price difference. Might see a different point of view on a Porsche Forum.

 

The new Corvette is no looker but the Porsche is absolutely hideous. Even if I had the disposable income I'd still keep my '79.

 

But that doesn't mean I wouldn't buy something in addition.

 

That's where you and I differ. I wouldn't want either of those new cars at any price.

 

40 years from now that 2014 Vette might be looking pretty good to you.

 

Thinking back 40 years I can't think of any car I thought wasn't good looking then that I'd think is good looking now.

 

out of curiosity what does this have to do with the C-3 Corvette?

 

Exactly. You won't get many unbiased, objective viewpoints here.

 

I'm happy if I can think back to yesterday.

 

LOL, I hear you.

 

Reading Consumer Reports on what they think about sports cars is like having a 5yr old recommending a restaurant for me to go to!! They never thought much about sports cars anyway. Stick with them on Camrys, Accords, Altimas and Malibus!

 

I'm in my 70's. Go back in time and collect all the automobile magazines, Road and Track, Motor Trend, Consumer Reports, Automobile, etc. Get a pile of 51 years of these magazines, going back to 1963, ...one magazine per month is 612 magazines. Pick any random number of magazines with 12 articles about comparison of a Corvette with a foreign sports car...[U]do that and by reading these 12 articles you will have read every article about Corvettes in the last 51 years in this pile of 612 magazines. [/U] All these Corvette comparison articles in automobile magazines for the last 51 years are all the the same.

The original post alluded to, a $73,260 Corvette is compared to a $110,630 car...WHY DON'T THEY COMPARE $73,260 CORVETTE WITH A LITTLE DIP-SCHEISS ECONOBOX $73,260 FOREIGN SPORTS CAR??????? This is precisely the prejudiced re-occurring theme that you will find in all automobile magazines going back to 1963.

There's one more thing about the automobile magazine Corvette/foreign sports car comparisons that also has been the same for 51 years...its the cheap plastic interior comment. Even if a auto magazine review should have some positive comments about Corvette performance..they are apparently embarrassed about anything favorable about a Corvette so they'll throw out the "cheap plastic interior card." Once again, the Corvette with it's interior costing much less than a much more expensive car, is not unexpected due to the cost differential of the cars. I was so annoyed about this continuing "cheap plastic interior" comment that I bought the leather covered interior option for my 08. Leather dash, leather passenger and driver panel leather door covering, leather console, carbon fiber instrument panels...$6,500 in 2008. This option is over $10,000 today. I don't think I have a Corvette with a cheap plastic interior. The story goes that Chevrolet had difficulty finding someone to make their leather interior..The company that makes their leather interiors has a primary business of making the interiors of executive jet aircraft.

Compare a Corvette with any car in comparable COST car and the Corvette is a world class champion.

 

Eggs zackly. CR is more interested in gas mileage and interior room than performance for the money.

 

 

Consumer Reports knows as much about performance cars as I do quantum physics. While I would take a new 911 over a new Corvette, I would happily take either. They are both great cars.

 

Sensible response, although since I don't know you, you may be a quantum physicist. Personally I would take the Corvette over the Porsche for many reasons that I won't mention so as to avoid the inevitable controversy. However, if I could choose one as a gift and then flip it, I would go with the Porsche. They are both great cars in different ways.

 

I'm surprised by the comments on this forum about the C7 not being a good looking car or wouldn't take a a C7/911 for free or at any price. I've never thought of the 911 as a nice looking car, pretty much meh and hasn't changed much. The C6 was a huge improvement over the C5 and the C7 looks even better.

 

Tastes vary quite a bit. I'd agree that the C7 is less ugly than the C5 or C6 but its not what I would consider an attractive car, very few new cars are. About the only car I like the looks of in the past 20-25 years is the current version of the Dodge Challenger(the new 707 hp version is shockingly awesome). If I had the money for one of those I'd consider trading my '79 for it but probably still take the '79 over it.

The new cars have wonderful technology and I'm sure they're great driving vehicles but the trade-off is they're sadly lacking in the looks department.

 

As far as the Porsche 911 goes I think the vast majority of people who say they like them do so as an obligatory nod to its high price. For a lot of people just making something expensive makes it desirable, regardless of its intrinsic value (or lack thereof). Women don't buy $20-$30,000 handbags because they're any better than the $100 ones, they do it because the price is high, what makes it desirable is the high price alone

I'm sure if the exact same new Porsche 911 was a $14,000 car with a Nissan nameplate on it the vast majority of people who now fawn over it would turn up their nose at it.

 

just speaking for myself, pictures of the C7 do not do the car justice. I was awed the first time I saw one in person. The precision and lines are amazing.