I have always been under the impression that the C5 handled very well. However, a Porsche enthusiast I spoke with seems to think other wise. Now i dont know much about the 911's (thats what he was referring to) handling characteristics so i didnt say much. I wanted to get some opinions from some more knowledgeable vette owners.

I know im not being specific on what year 911 to compare it to, or if its a Turbo, Carrera, Carrera S, etc. but thats because he wasnt either.

Thanks!

 

What, that over-powered Volkswagen!?!

Being that our weight distribution is superior at 51%F - 49%R, where the Porsche's is probably more like 40%F - 60%R, and historically they have a tendency to over-steer (the earlier models were down-right dangerous), I'd have to say we have the upper hand.

 

They're 2 different cars, the 911 has rear engine therefore the driving feels different if you're going hard in the turns, the normal "let off the throttle" when you fishtail is not going to work, as a matter a fact if you're driving hard and let of the gas in the middle of the turn will get you sideways. The 911 (I had a 95 turbo) feels like a go cart compared to a C5, the steering is more percise brakes better but again the rear engine requires you to be on top of your driving. The C5 is more forgiving and the car doesnt translate as much road feeling as the 911, although you have the feeling that you can take corners at higher speeds but it has a little more body roll than the 911.

 

[QUOTE=Darkness]They're 2 different cars, the 911 has rear engine therefore the driving feels different if you're going hard in the turns, the normal "let off the throttle" when you fishtail is not going to work, as a matter a fact if you're driving hard and let of the gas in the middle of the turn will get you sideways. The 911 (I had a 95 turbo) feels like a go cart compared to a C5, the steering is more percise brakes better but again the rear engine requires you to be on top of your driving. The C5 is more forgiving and the car doesnt translate as much road feeling as the 911, although you have the feeling that you can take corners at higher speeds but it has a little more body roll than the 911.

Agreed with the exception that the Porsche I raced. A 1986 Carerra SC. While road feel was great, the front end was skiddish and unpredictable. I'm not a professional at the track, but I have driven a heck of a lot of cars from Testarossas, porsches, import 4 bangers etc. I would take my Vette, of course in all fairness, newer technology than the others I drove. Body roll is not the Vettes strong point though, I agree. Porsche also has it's power band much higher in the rpm range than our V8's. I had to be 5k plus to feel over half of the cars power capability.
Germans are precise, but I'll take my window shakin' a$$ bakin' US V8 over their powerplants anyday.

 

Driving technique plays a huge role in how quickly the two cars can go around a road course. The Corvette's neutral handling makes it an easier car to go fast in, but an experienced 911 driver can use the car's tendency to rotate on trailing throttle to steer around tight corners. Hard to say which handles "better", they just handle differently.

 

Depends on what you are talking about. The Porsche is a go-kart. In the real tight & twisties (read AutoX) the Porsche will be uncatchable. Give us a real roadcourse though and things even out. The flexibility of the Vette engine and the neutral handling catch it right back up. Then it's just driver vs driver.

--Bill

 

Porsche 911 turbo skidpad g=.96 Porsche 911 Carrera = .91
Corvette Z06 skidpad g=.94 Corvette coupe= .89

I would say for a car that costs 1/3rd (almost) the cost of the Porsche that is close enough for me....I'll take 2 06's and a coupe

 

A quick look at this year's Solo2 National results might dispute that claim of the Porsche being better in the twisties, and the 996 is classed with the Z06 in T1, and you don't see any of them there, either.

Hard to separate cost versus capability as the reason for nobody competing with them though - but racers being who they are, if the P-cars were significantly better, you'd see at least some folks racing them, IMO.

-Jake

 

The Z06 is easier to drive fast... the Vette has more neutral handling & better balance. That said, it comes down to the "Driver" when comparing a Porsche Twin Turbo to a Z06 at the track.

Stay away from the Porsche GT-2, unless you are "modified".

Real world, SCCA T-1... shows the Z06 as the weapon of choice!

 

 

I've spent a reasonable amount of time on road courses with guys in Porsche's and it really depends upon the model. The base models, unmodified, are at a significant disadvantage to the Z. Not enough power and more difficult to drive. As you move into the GT2 and GT3 and turbo models, it becomes totally up to the driver. They make more damn models of the 911 (something like 10 or 12), it is really a tough question to answer. Porsche guys will always say the corvette is a poor handling car until all they have to point you by or you dive under on braking. Then they say you must have been trained by Schuey himself. The more sophisticated Pcar drivers suggest that our active handling has some type of NASA inspired logarithims that allow us to defy the laws of physics. If you tell them you drive with it off they go

 

 

A newer Porsche VS a stock C-5, would probably have the upper hand in handling. Now a Newer Porsche VS a Z06, especially a 2004...would be pretty much a toss up as far as cars are concerned, but most people would probably goe faster in the Corvette because of the familiarity of being a front engine
car. I own A porsche and I don't like the light front end feeling especially if the pavement is wet....the front wheels push too much.

 

all Pcars have seen on my car this year at the track events are 4 tails and some the headlights as I lap them. No longer impressed with them. Even highly modified. The brakes either.

 

the c5 really dont have great "feed back" like 911

 

I like driving with GT3 and 996s they are a lot of fun.

But when two Grand Am prepared GT3 pcars racers come up and ask "what is in that thing?" Yah know yah made an impression on them.

And then they ask, "What does it take to prepare a vette for he track?" and all you say is, "Pick it up from the dealer."

Can we say Bang for the buck.

 

I fondly remember the 1st time I tracked with the S E POC (Porsche Owners Club), it was at CMP... back in the spring of 2001. The Z06 hadn't been out too long and I was the ONLY (lonely) Vette at their event.

Jim Frazier, who puts on their events, had a clue about the Z06. He knew these suckers could "Stick" !

The rest of the guys thought it was a typical Corvette. I got many wierd looks and sly smiles at the drivers meeting! I felt like the new FISH at a convict's reunion!

After my 1st sesson, a couple of 944 twin turbo guys ( both instructors), came over to talk. We hit it off and ran together the rest of the weekend. They helped me to learn the lines and by Saturday afternoon, we were a parade at the front of the groups!

That said, it still comes down to the driver, comparing the Porsche GT3 or Twin Turbo to the Z06! The GT2 is ~ 200 large and anyone bringing one of those to the track can both Drive & modify that thing!

 

My experience is that my Vette and I can beat the cheaper or older P cars on any track. However, if the Porch (mis-spelled on purpose) is relatively new and cost over $100K, then it has an advantage. The GT2 and GT3 are VERY fast, but VERY expensive too.

I've got about 2 years track experience, so I've gone up against a few Porches.

I prefer my Vette, because it is so civilized on the street, and yet quite fast on the track.

 

Wow, nice to hear from you experienced road racing guys. Has C&D or R&T ever compared the Z with any of the porsches? Being able to compare times stock for stock would definintely be some hard data to back up my deffense of the vette.

 

I drive with the Porsche club, and they are nice cars. They tend to be a bit faster on slow tight turns, and have better brakes. Under hard braking, they understeer less because they keep more weight on the rear wheels. The C5s tend to be faster on the high speed, wide sweeping turns, and on the straightaways, but slower on tight, complex, low speed turns. A good Porsche driver on a tight road course can be hard to catch.