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I am debating now between a Stingray and a Boxster S, Cayman S, or base 911.
Reading the car magazines they always rave about Porsche build quality. I find car magazines problematic slightly because they drive a brand new car for a day or two rather than living with a car, for the most part. I'm just wondering how true Porsche build quality is. I have also heard nightmares about Porsche.
I have never owned, driven, or ridden in a Porsche so I have no idea how it compares to the Vette in terms of quality.
Keep in mind, this question is only about build quality rather than performance quality between the two brands.
Porsche build quality is very good. I was considering a Cayman S before purchasing my C7. The Cayman S was not a sexy to me as the Corvette. Chevrolet really stepped up the quality on the C7. I'd match the C7's interior to a Porsche every day now.
You'll pay a lot more for the build quality and Porsche name. Overall, the total package went to Corvette. Maintenance will be less expensive in the C7 as well.
Porsche build quality is very good. I was considering a Cayman S before purchasing my C7. The Cayman S was not a sexy to me as the Corvette. Chevrolet really stepped up the quality on the C7. I'd match the C7's interior to a Porsche every day now.
You'll pay a lot more for the build quality and Porsche name. Overall, the total package went to Corvette. Maintenance will be less expensive in the C7 as well.
I rode in my friends 911 turbo S and it was very tight(not size but sturdy) it is a year old and had zero rattles or squeaks, doors shut nice, seats were Very nice and paint seemed really good too very smooth. My Z51 is a year old as well and seems equally as good build wise and not just saying that because I own a C7. If I could afford either car I may choose the 911s only because of the insane acceleration and braking. Visually I prefer the C7. Financially the C7 is in my budget with more service locations and more aftermarket support... my $.02.
Interesting thread as I just started a new thread over on the Jaguar Forum (I have been a member there for several years) making a comparison to my Jaguar XKR, Corvette C7, and Porsche Cayman 981. These are my impressions.
Here's the thread starter from the Jaguar Forum website:
As most of you know, I have some very nice choices of automobiles to drive. Most recently I added a 2015 Corvette C7 Stingray to my stable of premium sports cars.
A few members have asked for some comparisons and my thoughts. Please keep in mind these are personal impressions.
The stablemates:
2009 Jaguar XKR Portfolio Edition Convertible
2014 Porsche Cayman 981
2015 Corvette C7 Stingray
Ratings:
Sports Car Appearence:
1) Corvette C7 Stingray
2) Porsche Cayman 981
3) Jaguar XKR Portfolio Edition Vert
Braking System Components
1) Jaguar XKR Portfolio Edition Vert (Alcon components)
2) Corvette C7 Stingray
3) Porsche Cayman 981
Best ride EVER!
1) Phoenix F1000 Formula Race Car
These are just a few thoughts. If you are interested in any other comparisons, I will anwser any questions.
All 3 of these beautiful sports cars are a true privledge to own and drive. Each decidely different. I am so very well pleased with all 3 of these premium automobiles
I've never owned a Porsche so I can't make a comparison. In an absolute sense, though, I can say without hesitation that the build quality of my 2015 Stingray is outstanding; it's vastly superior to that of my previous C6 and I thought its build quality was pretty darned good. The C7 reeks of quality even in 1LT and 2LT trim levels. Quite honestly, I don't know how GM can offer this car at its price point.
I've owned both and worked for both companies. The corvette is by far the best bang for the buck, but the Porsche is far superior in build quality.
Before i would by a New Corvette, i'd look at a low milage pre-owned 911 Turbo or 911S. The 911S with the PDK transmission which started in 2009. The Turbo would probably be a 2007.
Currently have a 2014 GT3 Porsche and 2011 SSB Carbon Edition Z06; have also driven a friend's new Z06. This is how I would rate the fit, finish and driving experience of all three 1-10, with 10 being tops.
**truly feels and sounds like a race car, Le Mans style...it's just simply out of this world good. Also, feels very compact as if the whole car were one solid piece. Not to mention the mechanical noise at 8000-9000 RPM's....wow.
2011 CE Z06
Interior/Exterior/Driving Experience
7/8/8.5
*basically a ZR1 with a naturally aspirated engine; exhaust crackles like a bastard, simply a sinister sound. Wish the chassis had a pinch tighter feel.
**I personally like the CE Z06 naturally aspirated engine better, but this Z06 is down-right nasty in it's own right. Super tight, responsive chassis. and, to me, feels smaller than it really is which gave me confidence to put the petal to the metal.
In either case, they are all awesome.
Last edited by corvettemonster; 02-07-2015 at 12:48 AM.
I was in the same situation, hesitating between the new Boxter S 2015 and the C7 2015 convertible. I tried both and love them. For me, it came down to the price. If you add some "essential" options on the Porsche, the price goes up a lot compare to the C7! And the Corvette looks better. Build quality is slightly better on the Porsche but still very close. I ended up choosing the Corvette.
Agree with above post. Made same Boxster S v C7 comparison. Found porsche build quality slightly better. But by the time I speced a Boxster S to C7 3LT levels it was over $100k. Vette won on value and performance and I'm a 40+ year porsche owner.
Between my wife and me we have owned a lot of Porsches since 2005 and I have had 4 Vettes C4 (1993), C5 (2004), C6 (Z06) 2008 and the 2014 C7 Z51 LT3 with mag suspension, sport exhaust ($76k).
These are the Porsches: 2005 Turbo S (new $150k), 2006 911 Cab (base $85K), 2006 911 S cab (95k), 2008 911 Turbo Cab with Tibtronic auto ($145 k), 2008 911 Turbo coupe stick ($147 k), 2010 911 4S cab with PDK ($120 k), 2010 911 S cab with PDK ($125k), 2011 Boxster ($55k), 2011 Panamara 4 ($92k).
We also had 3 Porsche Cayenne Turbos (one being a Turbo S), a Cayenne GTS and I just traded my Cayenne S a few months ago for a RAM Sport 1500.
We also had a Mercedes AMG SL 6.3, E550 coupe, SL 550, 2 2008 BMW M5s and a 2010 M3.
Reason I put Porsche prices is to put things in perspective. Some of the Porsches we bought new, some were certified pre-owned with low milage.
So here is the scoop - we obviously love the Porsches, great cars but not perfect and costly to maintain and repair if out of warranty. For the present cost of a 911 S you can get a fully loaded Z06 which will blow it away without a doubt. Porsche 911 turbos are north of $150 k, so you can get 2 C7s Z51s loaded, not as fast, but a lot of fun.
Forget the Boxster or Cayman - these are baby Porsches and very few Porsche buyers keep them long, since the real lure is the 911. A base 911 is OK, but cannot come close to a C7 Z51 loaded, and the Vette is still less expensive.
So maintenance - You pretty much need to take a Porsche to Porsche. Oil changes are close to $300 every 10-12 k miles, recent front breaks on my Cayenne was $1200, 20,000 mile check up is close to $1,500.
My 2008 911 Turbo coupe/manual - at 7,500 miles, the hydraulic clutch system went and it was in Porsche shop for 3 weeks waiting for parts from Germany. My 2006 911 Cab, had outside mirrors that whistled like banshees - 4 times in the shop before they were able to stop the noise plus the leather around the windshield on the drivers side started wrinkling after 1 year - looked like crap. The 2005 911 Turbo S had ceramic breaks - car lost breaking power when they got wet. The recent 2011 Cayenne had an aluminum package, and one side was never seated right and had waves in it. At 35 k miles, the power window on the drivers side went, then it turns out there is a drainage system that had to be cleaned out as water was getting into the space between the fenders and the frame, the radio/nav system had to be replaced at 40k miles and on a number of Porsches - the lug nuts rust after 15 k or so miles.
My wife traded he Boxster in after 5,000 miles since she was disappointed in the acceleration compared to a 911.
The Panamara was a great car - no complaints and all the other Porsches were great. Just very expensive.
Other than the Z06 and the present Vette, the Porsches would probably win out, but the Z06 was a different animal and felt much more powerful than the 911 turbos, even though it wasn't - it felt it. However, the C7 Z51 is as good as the 911 S (better than 911 base) and you get it for 70% the cost.
Forget the Mercedes AMG - I found it to be basically a boring car to drive, and was disappointed with the quality. The M5s were 10 cylinders and beautiful interiors, but not great on performance.
I've owned both Porsche and Corvette. When I recently went new car shopping, I compared both (again) and had a tough time choosing. It came down to ease of maintenance. There are several Chevrolet dealerships and Corvette specialty shops in the local area. There is only one Porsche dealer within a 100-mile radius, and they know it. So not only is Porsche maintenance far more expensive than Corvette maintenance (both parts and labor), there's the "nuisance factor" of a long drive to and from the dealership.
I am debating now between a Stingray and a Boxster S, Cayman S, or base 911.
Reading the car magazines they always rave about Porsche build quality. I find car magazines problematic slightly because they drive a brand new car for a day or two rather than living with a car, for the most part. I'm just wondering how true Porsche build quality is. I have also heard nightmares about Porsche.
I have never owned, driven, or ridden in a Porsche so I have no idea how it compares to the Vette in terms of quality.
Keep in mind, this question is only about build quality rather than performance quality between the two brands.
IMO Porsche's build quality is still a step or two better than GM's on the C7. Better in terms of higher quality in the materials, the fit & finish, the solidity, the composition & tolerances, and basically the overall assembly. Both manufacturers have tight QC procedures and you see it in the final end-product, the deliverables. The Porsches have just been better at it longer term.... can't go awfully wrong with any of your choices though in terms of quality.
In the Cayman, the 911, the Panamera, etc., it's been proven that Porsches predominantly have an impeccable solid build quality. I also have a Porsche, the all new Macan and is made in Leipzig, Germany and I can see/feel/hear/touch the solidity and overall excellent build quality in my car. This isn't taking anything away from the C7's quality arena, but just merely providing my feedback of the intangibles I also appreciate now during my Porsche ownership.
Car & Driver has a few good short snippets/videos here of 911's assembly line:
The Macan is a nice car, we test drove an S and a turbo. It is probably the best Porsche buy out there.
How do you like it?
Very satisfied, it was worth the 6-month wait from deposit to delivery. Immediate allocations are hard to come by due to the demand. Makes the C7 wait feel like a short line in the tool booth.
I have the S version and the biturbo 3.0 matched with the PDK is a nice combo. Love the PDK! I also ordered this with a bunch of options including PASM and PSE. For those unfamiliar, these are equivalent to GM's Mag Ride and NPP respectively. There are many more things I like but it's also worth mentioning the 918's steering wheel found in the Macan. Its best asset is that it handles so well, like a sports car it could be dubbed as a 911 in SUV/CUV guise. Totally different than the Cayenne and even the Audi's SQ5 which was my 2nd choice
As for the OP's decision... good luck and choose wisely not just emotionally. Porsche has an a la carte type of buying/ordering experience so be prepared to spend. The Porsche Configurator online won't help in deterring away from being cost conscious...
^ Love the 991 series.... here's my Macan S just after a wash & wax this morning, she was already quite clean though... now time to dust off the Z06 and go out for a spin later this afternoon.
And for the OP, if you so happen to rule out a C7 Stingray and it's down to either the Cayman S / Boxster S or the 911... that would be a touch decision too. And if you still cannot decide between the 3 P-car variants... then just go back to the C7 and take one home asap.
A number of posters here have cited Porsche's "better build quality". I'm very interested in knowing what in their opinions better build quality consists of. What do you see in the Porsche that translates to "better build quality"?
A number of posters here have cited Porsche's "better build quality". I'm very interested in knowing what in their opinions better build quality consists of. What do you see in the Porsche that translates to "better build quality"?
sure....
the interior is a better stitching and fit
the paint is better
the body seams are smaller and equidistant in all respects...
02-06-2015, 11:53 PM
Porsche build quality vs Corvette build quality
