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2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray vs. 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera S


It's the battle Chevy has wanted since the C7 Corvette began development. We face off the 2014 Corvette Stingray and 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera S.
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Most impressive is the Stingray's superiority in on-track traction, braking, handling, and steering, this despite a noticeably taller ride height, smaller tires, slower tranny, and body roll. When the Z06 (7?) is released with a stance more similar to the 911 CS (and hopefully a short-throw MT or a DCT), this will be no comparison at all...
As for the 911 being a car with a superior interior and intangibles (suspect journalism again) - it'd better be! The car is $144,000! That's crazy money.
Of COURSE the 911 is the Better Car overall...at a Base Price damned near twice what GM asks for a Corvette...it HAS to be. I've been in Porsche's..and it is the little things that make the difference...I really believe Porsche Spends as much engineering the feel and functionality of a window button as most MFG's Spend on something like a Suspension. If you've never been in a Porsche...try it, you'll understand why these things are so damned much money.
That Said...Porsche has gotten STUPID with the pricing. They've always been more than a typical car...usually $10-20K more than a comparable Vette over the years...but they are slowly pricing themselves out of the Enthusiast Market; even a Cayman S equipped with only Sporting essentials is over $70,000. Porsche seems to be heading towards the Poseur Pricing the Italians seem to covet, and thats not very Porsche like.
Jeremy Clarkson "You'd me mad to buy a Corvette over an R8 but that's why you should"
Aside from the interior, no one ever questioned the performance of the Corvette. It's handling was good and steering feel was OK, at best, but there were other players out there who bested it in those areas, especially the 911. For generations, the 911 always, somehow, handled better and had superior feedback. Corvette wasn't the only victim, though. Now, with the C7, they have finally built a machine that not just goes fast in the straight, but it's handling and steering feel is as good or better than the 911! That's huge. If MT was running this test (and it will appear in their magazine this month or next) or if MT was judging on which one is a better driver's car, they would pick the C7. To me, that's all that matters. You have to toss road noise and your interior criticisms aside, until a production C7 is ready. But as far as I'm concerned, the C7 is the better driver's car.
This statement is laughable. I agree that in some color schemes the 'ray would look more refined and upscale if the vents/slats were body color. Consider the facts that render this quote baseless:
The stingray has less thermally efficient steel brake rotors compared to the 911'a extremely exotic brakes, and yet it outperforms the 911 in braking thanks in part to the vents and ducting. The Stingray's transaxle and differential, which succeed in achieving superior power transfer after exiting an apex, benefit from the vent designs as well. If you, as a journalist, have the empirical data to prove that those design elements on the 'vette have no statistically significant impact on the systems for which they were designed, then I'll concede that they are "gratuitous". I doubt very highly that you can produce that data. Additionally, the reduced front end lift, documented aerodynamic advantages (a lower drag coefficient on the 'ray), the mpg advantage despite greater engine power, and the racing record of the similarly equipped C6.R racecar, point to functional excellence in the details you suddenly criticize.
Why not mention then that the 911 is motivated by what WAS basically a Beetle engine? Originally it was an air cooled boxer configuration. Like the Beetle that it was based from.
Moving along.. the Stingray smells like chemicals on a hot day because it's bodywork is not made of metal like the 911, but from some sort of composite. I know they used to be made from fiberglass, not sure if that is still the case.
"The Corvette, partly because it was a preproduction car and partly because it cost half as much, simply lacked the same quiet confidence."
@noburgers - agreed on all points. However I don't think there's that much to do on the interior - other reviewers have said as much. If the 'Ray had a DCT, or if the 911 tested had a manual, Corvette would have won in every performance category.
The Porsche on the other hand was always a beautiful driving car with great materials, superb handling and an incredible driver's feel. Refinement inside was superb with great materials, seating position and quality. What bugged me most is just the laziness of the overall exterior design. It seems like all Porsche does is lower, widen and flatten the design of their older models. I don't know of any other car company that just refuses to acknowledge that a bow tie and grease in the hair is just not all that in style anymore. So while it functions well, it is an extremely ugly car by today's standards. Porsche seems bent on playing it safe in every respect while charging astronomical prices for their products. But I don't see that gamble working long-term save for a niche market. They need to make large design changes to attract new buyers and they need to take some risks with exterior design.
For almost $150K they better do something radical.
In my book, this new Vette demolishes the 911... not because of performance and specs or testing, but because GM -- a company known for being pretty lazy and subdued in their designs -- actually took a huge risk in upping the ante on what a real sports car should be like and what it can do. Much better interior and exterior than the outgoing model while still being probably the best value in the market today. I wish they would apply this energy to all their other vehicles (it looks like it is catching on with Cadillac and vehicles like the Impala as well). Porsche could certainly learn a few things from the new Vette -- if only their pride/ego doesn't get in the way...
I don't know about the new Corvette but it sure looks attractive. The Boxster S is beautifully balanced and I hope the Corvette is as well. Great choices for sports cars enthusiasts. Can't go wrong with either or the Cayman S.The 911 is a lot more money, 2 Boxsters worth.
Given my last 28 years of despising American cars, to be honest I can't even believe myself that I actually got excited and anxious about the C7 Stingray. At half price of 911 with comparable performance, I am willing to give C7 a try. I only hope that it does not disappoint me since this is imho, GM's last HOPE to show the world that they can still make great sport cars!