Vette vs. 'Exotics'
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Vette vs. 'Exotics'
Hi guys, just wanted your opinions on something that came up while talking with a friend today about 'exotics' - porsches, ferraris, lambos, maseratis, etc. It seems that most people who purchase these cars are only doing so for the badging on the car, the flash, and the prestige that comes with owning one of these machines. Basically just to show off. Whereas the typical vette owner is a true car enthusiast who can actually DRIVE the car. I think it's pretty rare that you find a vette owner who doesn't appreciate the 'entire package' of their cars - looks, performance, heritage, etc. I'm willing to bet that not even half of 'exotic' car owners can tell you much about their vehicles other than rattling off what they've read in a brochure. What are your guys' thoughts/opinions on this?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
Likes: 61
From: Miami Beach FL
Hi guys, just wanted your opinions on something that came up while talking with a friend today about 'exotics' - porsches, ferraris, lambos, maseratis, etc. It seems that most people who purchase these cars are only doing so for the badging on the car, the flash, and the prestige that comes with owning one of these machines. Basically just to show off. Whereas the typical vette owner is a true car enthusiast who can actually DRIVE the car. I think it's pretty rare that you find a vette owner who doesn't appreciate the 'entire package' of their cars - looks, performance, heritage, etc. I'm willing to bet that not even half of 'exotic' car owners can tell you much about their vehicles other than rattling off what they've read in a brochure. What are your guys' thoughts/opinions on this?
BTW - Nice first thread.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Notorious Miami sunny south florida
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I think the Corvette crowd is larger because the car is more accessible to the masses vs. Porsche, Ferrari, etc. However at the end of the day, the current year Corvette (C6/Z06) can outperform the high end exotics costing 3 times more. That is something even my Porsche friend agrees with.
From a drive train and performance perspective, there is no greater value than a Corvette, especially a Z06 with it's lighter body frame. Since GM put the majority of it R&D into this area, I also agree that the exotics put more money into the leather, interior and other creature comforts than Corvette which raises the production costs.
However, a guy in my local club recently ordered a stripped down new Z06 and then invested another $20K from Caravaggio and his interior is now right on par with a Porsche or Lambo IMO.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
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From: Miami Beach FL
My initial reply was to address the personal attack made by OP on the owners of other sports cars and to take him up on his proposed bet.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 648
Likes: 1
From: South Jersey
I know 3 guys that have Lambos & 1 guy that owns a Ferrari. All of them are car guys that know their cars & 3 of the 4 own multiple cars, everything from a 55 chevy, hi-boy, a Ford GT and a ZR1. Obviously, they have deeper pockets than poor me ... if they want something, they can just go out and get it while I can only dream about it. They do have a tendency to go thru a lot of cars and no one can ever keep up with what everyone still has at the moment.
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Agree and disagree with your comments. Yes.....I believe that the majority of vette owners are true car enthusiast but I would give the "exotics" their due. I would take your bet that less than half of those drives are not as much of an enthusiast as a Vette owner........the percentage is much greater than your giving credit for. How much you putting out there? Good post though....stimulates discussion.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,079
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From: Richmond VA
My vette helps me overcompensate for my insecurities.....
FYI - people buy what they like. Who cares why? If it makes you feel better, your car is the coolest, and those guys in lambos suck.
FYI - people buy what they like. Who cares why? If it makes you feel better, your car is the coolest, and those guys in lambos suck.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 159
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From: Allentown PA
Let's change the forcus of this thread ... are corvette owners more loyal to their machines than owers of European exotics? Any thoughts on that?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
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I didn't mean to imply that porsche/ferrari/lambo owners are not enthusiasts. I'm just saying that if you were to compare the percentage of corvette owners who are enthusiasts vs. european performance car owners who are enthusiasts, the vette percentage would most likely be a much higher number. No hard evidence, just going by what I seem to notice with car owners. Which is why I posted the thread, to get YOUR opinions/ideas.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
Likes: 61
From: Miami Beach FL
I didn't mean to imply that porsche/ferrari/lambo owners are not enthusiasts. I'm just saying that if you were to compare the percentage of corvette owners who are enthusiasts vs. european performance car owners who are enthusiasts, the vette percentage would most likely be a much higher number. No hard evidence, just going by what I seem to notice with car owners. Which is why I posted the thread, to get YOUR opinions/ideas.
You'll be amazed how many owners of those cars do their own engine out service.
Last edited by MagRedConv; Sep 10, 2010 at 04:52 PM. Reason: Added info.
