Kayvan

I went to a Porsche dealer in NY City today to test the 911 Carrera.

Bottom line: its a porky mass produced car.


-The days of the 911 being an exotic ultra elite sports are over

-Interior door/tunnel plastic is marginally better than a Vette. Yes, I have sat in 10 Vettes and dozens of exotics, and own an exotic.

-Vast use of lower quality leather, rubber, plastics, rugs

-Fit finish is around the level of C class Mercedes, Z4 or Mazda Miata

-doors close with shudder clunk w. window raiser, not vault like thunk

-Engine bay is generic; gone is the race inspired turbine finned fan shroud, plenty of plastic fascia, and rough finish components

-trunk is another disappointemnt; plenty of fiberboard, low grade plastic thumb screws and graying rubber trim. No spare/or wheel

-Seats has nicer stitching, yet were very, very thin and you coud stress/strain frame just by moving around

-Guages/dash again were Ok, unless you dropped $5-10K for upgraded trim/bezels

-Wheels were alloy, looked like painted aluminum.

Posche has over 12 911 models and you can load $35K+ in Options; yet, it tends to be owned by successful dentists. Somehow i think the 911 has been diluted. The Top speed is -20pmh below the base Vette!!

I have tried to give Porsche, BMWZ4 M, Jag XKR the opportunity to win my business v. a Vette.

So far it not happening even at $20-30K over the Vette.

They even offered -4% off MSRP.

Agapemou

Say what you want but a Porsche is a Porsche.
A Corvette is a Chevy.

And what is wrong with successful dentists?

Kayvan

I aggree but the dilution of the Euro cars is something.

No one likes the Dentist.

photoguy

I owned a 944. It was over rated and had numerous VW parts. I have not driven a porsche lately but the design does nothing for me.

Zozzie

My son does. His G/F is one. She doesn't have a Porsche either.

last901

Not surprising since the precursor to the 944 was the 924 and that was never meant to be a Porsche in the first place. It was a Porsche design, to be sure, but done at the request of Audi, who wanted a sports offering.

Long story short, Audi abandoned the idea and Porsche took it up. Audi and VW being joined at the hip, so to speak, it's not surprising a lot of VW components were used. I suppose if you looked back to Porsche's origins, even more VW parts were used back then. Who would you guess was the original designer and advocate of the VW?

Okay, as a former owner of 4 Porsches, I tend to bristle at some of the criticism being leveled at the marque. They have long been well-built, extremely durable and fascinating cars. An Icon, if you will.

Yet, I agree that the later models are perhaps too luxurious and with too many driver's aids, for those of us who grew up with the original lightweight 911. I fear the current pricing structure has elevated them to "boutique" status as well and the addition of an SUV to the product lineup kind of dilutes the mystique as well.

Okay, enough said. Porsches are wonderful cars. I don't want any more of them, but I'm not going to be critical of them. I often think that any Corvette owner who feels the need to compare their ride of choice to a Porsche, Ferrari or whatever, may have an problem, emotionally.

I certainly see a lot more comparisons of Corvettes to Porsches, and arguments as to the Corvette's superiority, et al, on this forum than I do seeing criticism of Corvettes on any Porsche website.

C'mon guys. I'm sure the original post was meant with all good intentions and it was pretty well done I think, if subjective.

I wonder how light this forum would be if we eliminated all the posts from members who felt a need to justify why they have a Corvette? It's really weird to me, but I love my C6 and have no regrets about no longer having a Porsche.

V Vette

I wish GM built to Porsche's tolerances..Bad revew

Notch

The shroud was part of the air cooled engine. The engines are water cooled now.

johnodrake

Same thing that is wrong with successful lawyers

And a Corvette is NOT just a Chevy.... (Do you own one?)

welcome2try

A corvette is a chevy? Tell the C6 Z-06 boys that burning up some dentist in an exotic(Track course or the 1/4 mile)..Or for that matter a Z-51 c6..

jimmie jam

say "what" if you want me to pimp your ride!

a corvette IS a chevy but a porsche is a VW. yes it is. and, they are just like V DUBS: OVERPRICED little german boys. but hey, what do i know????? i didn't say that they weren't "nice" just OVERPRICED.

say "what" if you want me to pimp your ride!

SoCalPhil

Hitler was an advocate of the VW, and had an influence in the Beetles design.

SOCalPhil

V Vette

What the ~#%$#&~ does this have to do with anything???

SoCalPhil

See/read Last901 above.

chris_u

id put the Porsche fit and finish agents a vette any day

"its a porky mass produced car.:" and the vette is what a hand built one off car. im a chevy guy and love vette's but i think you have no idea what you talking about Porsche is a one hell of a car and the interior is 1st class.

mtb996

Why do all these Porsche vs. Corvette threads remind me of 2nd grade...

They are both superb cars. Very different in their respective approaches to performance, but both excellent in their own right.

CH-Z51

I'll take my "Chevy" any day over an uninspired, super bug!

cthusker

and those were the cars and engines I loved.......... Not interested in what they are building now.........

Notch

Just letting him know why the 996 doesn't have one of those shrouds. It's not because Porsche was trying to save money, or dumb down the product.

saber

I have buddys with Porsches and every time I buy a new vette I drive the Porsches to give them a chance. I could care less about the quality of the plastics, the vette just feels better to drive.