VetteUSA

And how does the Porsche compare to tthe C4? As long as i can remember there's always been the comparison between the Porsche and Corvette. This may be an ignorant view, but it's always been my understanding (ever since I was a kid) that when pitting a Porsche vs. a Corvette, the Porsche will typically win. True that the Corvette will pull on the Porsche in the early gears, but the Porsche will outrun the Vette if rowing through the later gears? Porsche a better handling car than the vette?

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Demonic85

Never owned or driven one, but my '85 totally owned a 928, which it was designed to do

xlr8nflorida

I've eaten my share of Porsches - they taste like chicken!

psychodiagnostik

I don't know about straight line speed, I think it would be pretty close. That's comparing similiar models (e.g., a 993/997 Carrera to a standard C4, and a 993/997 Turbo to a ZR1). As far as non-turbo 924s, A C4 is probably faster in a straight line, not necessarily more fun to drive. I imagine any Porsche 911 of a similiar year to a C4 would be more fun to drive than most non-6spd C4s, there is a pretty big range among C4s. Any 1993 911 is more of a driver's car than say, a 1993 Corvette A4 with 2.59s... like mine.


Regarding design, it pretty much comes down to personal taste.


In my opinion, Porsche has a much richer motorsports history, they're basically a racecar engineering company that happens to also build road cars. Corvette's have a more mass-market appeal. By comparison, I imagine Porsche probably builds as many GT3 Cup racecars for racing customers as GM builds free-range Z06's. Also, regarding their GT2s, RSRs, etc., GM currently has no answer for these so there is no comparison possible.

VtVette

Which model? In a drag race the Corvette will beat *most* models within the same years. The later 928S4's were 350+ HP and half the body is aluminum. Turbo 911s depending on years can be very fast. The 951 (turbo 944) can be fast as hell and handle like a surgeons scalpel.

911/993/996s are tricky to drive fast due to the rear engine and lift throttle oversteer which occurs when cornering at high speeds and you let off the gas. Again the Turbo models can be very quick but cost $$$ to buy and maintain.

Early 928s are not that fast (compared to the Vette) and the manual tranny models suffered from weak syncros. Later 928S4s were 350+hp and half the body was aluminum. In the right hands even a LT4 would have a tough time with one of these.

924/944/968/951 - the 924 was a re bodied VW, a cavalier could give it a run for it's money. The 944s were not all that quick (again compared to the V8 vette) but they are a blast to drive and handle incredibly. The 968 is interesting with a 240hp 3.0L normally aspirated 4 cylinder. The largest displacement 4 cyl ever put in a production car as I understand. 951 (turbo 944) can be made awesomely fast. Bulletproof turbo 4cyl water cooled engine. Awesome car.

The build quality on the Porsche is light years ahead of any Corvette, as is the interior quality. But it feels like a completely different car. They are all pretty small, and to me they all still feel too much like a VW. I've owned a bunch of them all different models. I doubt I will own another anytime soon just not my cup of tea.

ynk1121

porsche is a make of a car not a model. there are a few dozen different porsches some not being performance models. you really need to be more specific. if you think to compare a 2007 911 turbo to a stock to lightly modded C4 you must be smoking some serious stuff. they run mid to high 11s in the quarter STOCK. Even vs a 2007 Z06 my money would be on the 911 even though they have very similar numbers the AWD gives advantage while the Z06 would be smoking the tires.

VtVette

Very well said

psychodiagnostik

I didn't even mention the 997/911 Turbo, for the reasons you mentioned. There really is no comparison. My job takes me to Beverly Hills where 997 Turbos are all over the place, I can tell you those are some of the meanest cars on the road. They don't even look or sound that fast. I think the HP numbers are close to a Z06, but the torque figures are higher in the Turbo. Those things have enough torque to rip hell out of the ground by a tree-root.

ynk1121

Come to think of it, I think porsche made farm tractors at one point. i bet even running on one cylinder dragging an anchor you could beat one of them. then you can brag all you want that you beat a porsche.

VetteUSA

I apologize for not clarifying. I'm not up to snuff on the various models of Porsche, but Psychodiagnostik said exactly how I meant the question to be.

JD'S WHITE 93

Depends on which Porsche,

944
968
914
928
944 turbo STOCK

I drove a 930 slant nose turbo and it was pretty mean and a blast to drive.

staugur

the old herr doctor ferdinand mit der bad friends back in der 30's unt 40's did builden der volkswagen and it did go like schitzen because it not weing a thingun. Unt now same principle except price gone crazy.power weight ratio goes to them.watch the races on the tv and make your own mind up.the vette is easier to drive,with the weight in the back the porsche can be a bitch and very unforgiving.You have to crank some serious HP into a vette to live with most "VW'S".

Aaron71771

Porsche bought two C4's back in the 80's since the C4's were owning then on the race track. They bought them to find out how they were built and use that American ingenuity in their own cars.

JCD

Porsche makes great sports cars, for every corvette you can generally find a faster porsche, but dollar for dollar corvette's are better.

My coworker has a 91 911-964, numbers wise it is very close to my LT1, rated higher in some acceleration categories; but I'm a class above him in autocross and generally kill him on the track, but I drive 4x more events than he does, so at lot of the porsche/corvette comparison will also come down to driver. :?

Mouse2112

I had a 944 and I loved that car. The handling is superior to my 94 Vette but it was not as fast. As far as comfort, the Vette wins hands down. The one thing I hated about the Porsche however was the cost for repairs. Very $$$$. I finally had to dump it because I bought a house. All in all though, It was a fun car to drive and I have been thinking about getting another one.

pr1mu5

My general rule of thumb with porsches is this:

I can run with, and probably beat, any Porsche on the road if it doesn't have the word 'turbo' or the letter 'S' on the back.

JANO

I can eat them for breakfast...anytime

rocco16

All depends on which Porsche you are talking about. How about a 914?

My youngest son has a 951 (944T) that is a pretty nice car. It's not quite as quick as my C4...but it's close.
It's a LOT more fun to drive because it's smaller and easier to place.
They ARE expensive to maintain, as some have already said.
Some, like the 944, 928, and 924 are nearly invisible on the street, unlike a Corvette.

They are a different car, more costly, better screwed-together, and they generally garner more respect...as an expensive German car should.

Performance? Depends what your yardstick is.

I like Porsches. I like all performance cars.

Larry
code5coupe

_________
not easily impressed....

ps374

That says it all. Porsche like most Germany cars IMO are overated and over priced. I believe most are buying a name plate when they buy a Porsche.

Tommy T-Bone

1987 911 3.2L vs 1990 C4 L98

And you have driven how many Porsches? I like them both but for their own independent qualities. A high speed Corvette feels more unstable than a high speed Porsche (which were built for the autobahn) . They are a lighter car (2800 lbs) they they also carry a lower base horsepower (219 bhp). A 90 Corvette Coupe weighs in around 3200 lbs and 240/260 hp. The Porsche corners like a go cart. The Corvette pushes her way through the turn with all the weight from the front mounted engine. True, you dont want the engine weight trying to push you through a turn in a Porsche. Bad things usually happen. They are both a lot of fun to drive. But I have American muscle in my brain so I favor the Corvette.