Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Sports Cars - The Definitive Discussion
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
All depends on how you arrive at truth. The 0-60 I remember for the Z06 is 3.7 sec's while on Edmunds I find the base 911 at 4.5 approx. They came up with 4.3 vs. 4.4 for the two cars, 6/10th's slower for the Chevy and 1/10th
faster for the Porsche. Ignoring HP the torque comparison is 470 vs. 295, and that would seem to be hard pressed to explain with the term truth. Might even be lack of skill but after three times at the track with my C5 coupe I was able to hit the factory 13.3 in the quarter and I'm not really too good. Maybe cupholders is the real issue ...
Randy
Family weekend followed by another 3 days at Buttonwillow for the end of the month. Out of about 110 cars entered per day there should be about 10% Vettes which is higher than average from experience. Should be a challenge since we run the track in a different configuration each day with the first CW and then two days CCW. Saturday will be the fast config with my times down below 2:10's on street tires for the 3mi course.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I saw a case where a friend worked on an intake for a Subaru and forgot one vacuum tube. It threw error codes and wouldn't even start!
-juice
the ECU was reprogrammed or the car tuned with removed cold
air intake it might be starved for air. Again, it's a guess
without data.
a group of other sports cars and what not. Since I had not
signed up ahead of time I was hanging in the trailer waiting
for sign in and heard the following:
Aaron 'Do you need to run in separate groups?'
Dad 'No, we both have cars.'
Aaron 'Did you drive them up?'
Son 'No, they are being delivered.'
Check is written and I get to pay as well and get my wrist
band. As I go back to my parking spot, where there are now
6 Corvettes in a row, there is a semi hauler parked behind
us. Full graphics with picture announcing: "Ferrari of
Newport Beach" and the tail is open and what I think was
the first of two Stradale (?) Challenge Ferrari's is being
lowered on the lift platform. Wouldn't want to drive down
ramps I guess. They had a driver in addition to the tech
for the cars who was talking with the guy who trailered in
his personal Ferrari track car who was coaching for Dad &
Son. Ah, the simple life.
As for the track, sunny morning and got within a few tenths
of my PB for Laguna. Helped a few folks with the line, one
who I passed in the first session but after I suggested a
couple things was doing 2 sec's a lap faster than me by the
third session. Beautiful winter day on track, gotta love
CA between storms. I think there were 9 Vettes there out of
about 80 cars total running in three groups.
Randy
groups, I get passed much more than the reverse. The Cayman
has become the bane of my track days as I hardly ever come
across one that isn't really fast. I never went to look at
LS last week for what tires one was running, but a black
one blew by me after closing fast through the corkscrew.
My street tire setup with a 3450# loaded platform will only
go so fast around corners and where I seem to lose out more
is with only 350HP on the straights. Amazing how many cars
can pull me up the hill to turn 1 at LS. Oh well.
The two Ferrari's were beautiful to see and as most know
hearing all three going down the front straight fully wound
out was glorious. Then again there was an old orange
Pantera that had a Cleveland 351, I think, that I really
prefer for sound, no accounting for taste.
Randy
Off to Thunderhill soon, I hope ...
Thank you for any input as this is something that I'd like to become educated in before my purchase (cayman S?)
Porsche generates the highest profit per car of any company in the industry. I'm not sure that would be true if Ferrari, Aston-Martin, Lamborghini etc. weren't owned by other larger companies.
In any case high performance sports cars are very high priced, high profit items and only you can decide whether the additional performance and prestige are worth the premium prices they command.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
But a porsche is in general just a riot to drive. It's fun, it's way overbuilt, and it's "special." You're paying for that extra 1/10th. Is it worth it? You can always ask that for any car, depends on your money and priorities.
So tell me about the Porsche experience and smile factor. (It's one of the few brands I've yet to try)
But as for your quesion, to me, a porsche feels like a bmw kicked up a notch or two. It's like comparing a bmw to a lexus--the lexus may have the same numbers, but you have more fun in the bmw; the car is more live, you feel more wired into the steering, throttle, brakes, and you can hit the turn a bit faster, etc.
And yes, i agree there's definitely diminishing returns in cars, as with practically everything else.
That's just a start, the cars have to be great else the rep would only carry them for a year or two.
My buddy has a Boxster and it was a hoot. It had the best automatic transmission I've sampled in my life, by far. They went the extra mile to engineer that trans to basically read the driver's mind.
So, to the people that can afford it, it's worth every penny, yes.
Now, speaking from a practical stand point, you tend to see diminishing returns as you spend more to get more.
A $20k car tends to be much better than a $15k car. Step up from $20 to $25k and you get smaller improvements. To $30k and again, smaller gains.
So it's hard for a practical person (myself included) to understand why pay $50 grand for a Boxster when a $25k Miata is plenty fun enough.
-juice
There are lots of people who think the high prices of 3-series sedans are not justified by any concrete advantage over competitors from Lexus, Inifinti, Acura and Audi to name a few.
Let me hasten to say as a BMW owner, I am not one of them.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
That's just a start, the cars have to be great else the rep would only carry them for a year or two.
My buddy has a Boxster and it was a hoot. It had the best automatic transmission I've sampled in my life, by far. They went the extra mile to engineer that trans to basically read the driver's mind.
Porsche has what pedigree to command what prices? Last time I checked, the car below had a 4-cylinder that was also used in the AMC Gremlin, an engine that generated a whole 110 hp-, a 0-60 sprint of 10 seconds and retailed for an astonishing $10,000--the same price as the 205 hp, 250 ft/lbs, V8 Chevrolet Corvette!
I owned the 924. I bought it for about $1,500, the same used car price as a Honda Prelude although I went with the Porsche since it had the better displays.
Still, $10K new for that? The same price got this in 1984:
Porsche is pulling the same gimmicks, even now. A Porsche Boxster, which competes in the same class as the Miata MX-5's, Pontiac Solstice GXP's and Honda S2000's, commands nearly $50,000!!!
And Porsceh consistently loses in endurance races such as 24-hours at LeMans!
Where's the "pedigree" to which you refer?
...boxster with automatic transmission is a "hoot." lol...
I've driven Porsches on-track as a track instructor and they are far and beyond most other cars out on the road, stock to stock in terms of sports car ability.
-mike
hearing all three going down the front straight fully wound
out was glorious.
I can't see how you think Ferrari's are beautiful, unless, of course, you think a Toyota Camry is beautiful...
I know it's hard to tell, but the first car is the Camry and the second car is the Ferrari...
I've driven Porsches on-track as a track instructor and they are far and beyond most other cars out on the road, stock to stock in terms of sports car ability.
Mike, why on God's Green Earth would anybody want to take a Porsche on a track? The 'Ring I can understand, but a track?
I can't see a putt-putt like a Boxster or Cayman which has less power than most V6 family sedans 'racing' on a race track.
Ferrari F430 certainly and Z06 definately but a Porsche?
There are lots of people who think the high prices of 3-series sedans are not justified by any concrete advantage over competitors from Lexus, Inifinti, Acura and Audi to name a few.
The high price of BMDubya is not justified!
I mean, the BMW 3-Series is little more than a European taxi. The difference between the two is the American-spec 3-Series has a vinyl interior (not even real leather!), a 6-cylinder engine and about $30,000 increase in the sticker price; the Euro-spec 3-Series costs their taxi fleets $14,000.
About the only advantage to the 3-Series is flat-out acceleration but then again, that's why the 3-Series is so popular in America. That's all Americans care about. Why do you think NASCAR is so popular in this country? I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see the NASCAR parking lots cram-packed to the rafters with BMW 3-Series cars, since Americans are about as refined as the vinyl siding in the BMW that rubs the butts of the Americans driving them...
I can't see a putt-putt like a Boxster or Cayman which has less power than most V6 family sedans 'racing' on a race track.
Ferrari F430 certainly and Z06 definately but a Porsche?
Wow, I guess I'm a real idiot then! I road race a 1994 Subaru Impreza Turbo. As for a Z06? Haaa, with my Legacy GT Wagon I usually lap those guys at Watkins in the spring and fall when it's nice and cold and damp out.
I actually rarely see any Ferraris or Z06s racing on US tracks. Here and there you see em but the majority are Miatas, Hondas, Acuras, Nissans, Mustangs, BMWs.
Here's a pic of my racecar...
C4 was a weak example of a Corvette. My brother-in-law buys and sells those, he's owned 3. I never understood the appeal.
C5/C6 on the other hand...
I can't see a putt-putt like a Boxster or Cayman which has less power than most V6 family sedans 'racing' on a race track.
Ferrari F430 certainly and Z06 definately but a Porsche?
You are really showing your complete ignorance of what sports cars and tracking them is all about. Even if it were true that the 250 HP of the base Boxster/ Cayman were less than "most V6 family sedans" they would still be miles ahead in such track essentials as power-to-weight, balance cornering and braking.
Tracking isn't about power, it's about wringing the most out of a car and sports car cognoscenti will tell you the little Porsches have more "most" than most other cars. Our friend Shifty said it best when he said "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow".
If you'd ever seen a Mini-Cooper or an Alfa GTV scoot around a 427 'Vette at Lime Rock or Laguna Seca you'd know what I meant.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Tracking isn't about power, it's about wringing the most out of a car and sports car cognoscenti will tell you the little Porsches have more "most" than most other cars. Our friend Shifty said it best when he said "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow".
If you'd ever seen a Mini-Cooper or an Alfa GTV scoot around a 427 'Vette at Lime Rock or Laguna Seca you'd know what I meant.
Well put. Another thing that I like to adhere to is "In order to finish FIRST, first you must FINISH" I can't tell you how many positions we have moved up during races due to attrition from cars that are fast, but have mechanical issues and our "slow" car passes them while they are sitting in the pits....
-mike
C4 was a weak example of a Corvette. My brother-in-law buys and sells those, he's owned 3. I never understood the appeal.
The reason I picked the C4 was that the Porsche 924's were selling at roughly the same time the C4's went on sale. Remember, both the C4 and the 924 were selling for $10,000 at about the same time.
I would have failed to get my point across if I said, "In 1983 you could have wasted your money on a $10,000 924 if you saved up the $35,000 that in 1997 would fetch you a great C5..."
Tracking isn't about power, it's about wringing the most out of a car and sports car cognoscenti will tell you the little Porsches have more "most" than most other cars. Our friend Shifty said it best when he said "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow".
My, don't we all suffer from the 'underdog' syndrome on this message board!
(The 'underdog syndrome' was suffered from the Toyota fanboys back during the 90's because Toyota was way behind the greedy capitalist pigs at GM in terms of revenue generation. What's funny is now that Toyota is the greedy capitalist pig, and at #1, the underdogs are still behind Toyota for some reason--they should have defected to GM, but then I digress...)
Truth be told, cars that are 'well-balanced' or that 'handle like a surgical scalpel' or (the one I hate the most) have "telepathic steering" are suitable for curvy road corses ("the Twisties") only.
("Telepathic steering"? What's next? An optional Ouiji board? Crystal ball shifters instead of cue ball shifters?).
Handling takes second-place on the track. That's why cars like the Z06 or rear-engined 911's rule at the track, but feel cumbersome or otherwise unwieldy at the road course. mid/rear cars like the Cayman and mid-engine econo-boxes like the Boxster will fare well on the road course, because they feel lighter than they really are, thus, inspiring driver confidence.
Oh you mean the DRAG STRIP. Then I agree, the Z06 will be faster.
As I've stated, how many road course miles have you driven or instructed at? I have many many years at the road courses and time and time again the Z06 is passed easily by more nimble, far superior handling cars. My own 05 Legacy GT at Watkins Glen has passed tons and tons of Z06s over the years.
-mike
As I've stated, how many road course miles have you driven or instructed at? I have many many years at the road courses and time and time again the Z06 is passed easily by more nimble, far superior handling cars. My own 05 Legacy GT at Watkins Glen has passed tons and tons of Z06s over the years.
Mike, it seems an introduction to Automotive Racing 101 is in tall order.
The Corvette is a sportscar, not a musclecar nor a dragster, thus it belongs on a track and not a drag strip as you suggest.
Secondly, anyone who loves their Subaru can register their car at any amateur racing event; there's a racing event held here in San Diego at Qualcomm Stadium and all kinds of cars are there.
History has shown the Corvettes race the shortest lap times at this track (at or around 54 seconds) with cars like the Mazda RX8's finishing around very suprising 56-57 seconds (great-looking cars on this track, I might add!).
Cars like yours usually finish very late, around 65 seconds and such.
No one in their right mind would accept your fantasy that your car can remotely touch a stock Vette let alone a Z06; your car would lose to any stock vette save for the C1's and C2's. Even if your car is heavily modified, you cannot bypass the laws of physics, Mike. -- The Subaru Legacy GT-- heavy, pondering, 250 hp near sport sedan that retails around Honda Accord territory ($25,000) cannot compete against a toned-down version of a podium-finishing endurance racer that won virtually every world-renown endurance racing circuit it ever participated in (24-hr at LeMans; ALMS). Your car is going against a car that routinely defeats Porsche GT-class and Viper GTS-class racing cars.
Heavy, numb, $25,000 3-Series contender with a steel chassis, 250 horsepower turbo'ed I4, standard family sedan clutch, .86g of grip on the skidpad and foregone technology versus a near-exotic that has carbon fiber panels, all-aluminum chassis construction, an Empire State-moving engine with 500 horsepower and 490 ft/lbs of torque that's arguably the most tuned powerplant in the industry and 19" tires that runs on EMT tires that can pull well over .95g's of grip, magnesium engine cradle and an illustrius racing history on the world's endurance racing circuits?
I'd go with the latter...
Mike, you can register your Subaru in an amateur, local racing event and actually race it in a class, but in the end it's still just a Subaru.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
If you've driven that many miles on track (road course) then you should know that
passing anything is a function of driver, not the vehicle. I pass Z06's in my C5
coupe, even a few C6 Z06s, so what? I only have 5 years on track and 2 doing
some volunteer work in the right seat but I pass GT3 911s fairly regularly, again
so what? If the driver doesn't have the experience it isn't a fair match. There is
one particular Honda Civic that I remember seeing going by me at Laguna Seca last
year, great driver in a well set up car, boosted.
If you run with groups that allow timing at road courses then you will see 911's and
C5Z06's at the top of most charts. The C6Z is in another world altogether. My
C5 coupe on street tires ($40k/$45k new) is usually faster than even the Boxster S
on DOT-Rs, at least one has never passed me, yet, and they run $40k-$90k if you
believe Edmunds. At the track $ usually translates to pretty good potential but
some cars are a better bang for the buck and the C5 is one, then again the 4wd
Evo and WRX cars are probably better and the S2000 is great.
Here on the left coast, at least at Sears Point, Laguna Seca, Thunderhill, Reno-
Fernley and Buttonwillow what you are likely to see on track is as much a function
of who is running the event as anything else. Some groups started as single marque
clubs and expanded to run events for all marques but still get large showings from
their original roots. We have had two all Corvette events at Thunderhill in the past
year and I just got back from going to Spring Mt. Raceway in Pahrump to instruct
at a Corvette Museum event that pulled in Vette's from all over the country. Expect
to see more Vettes at a track near you, and when the drivers learn to get around
quickly, don't be surprised at being passed. Then, of course, I'm sure it will be the
HP and not the driver that made the difference.
Randy
Then again, it might just be more fun to drive a fast car, really fast!
At the Corvette Museum track event a couple weekends ago at Spring Mt. Raceway
in Pahrump, NV there were close to 50% C6Z06's of the cars entered. Really a
street legal race car and everyone at least stayed out of the walls and tire barriers,
if not always staying on track. For $75k you get exotic car performance and in a
package that is amazingly durable. There were 9 cars from GM there with over
20 staff folks and a few former professional drivers and the cars were going out
in 4 of the 5 sessions repeatedly during the day. Of course a couple techs were
swapping in new brake pads at the end of day one since it seems some folks were
harder on the brakes than others.
Randy
I never said that on a dry track I ran past the vettes. However in the cold and/or rainy weather often found here in the Northeast, I routinely pass equal drivers in the their Z06s.
While the vette is a nice car, I still think that porsches are far better stock to stock.
As for racing in REAL races where $$$$ is no object, it's anyone's guess and the correct amount of $ will yield the winner no matter what car you are driving.
I've driven stock Z06s on track as well as Porsches and the balance of a porsche is very difficult to match, this balance will yield you faster lap times on a consistent basis.
Maybe on the west coast where it's sunny and dry all the time and the tracks are perfectly smooth with no gravel or imperfections, a vette would win but in the real world or in a place where there are environmental variables, a more balanced car would be my preference.
As for racing, everything is setup by classing, no matter what you race someone will have a faster car in a faster class.
-mike
Certified Track Instructor
Cold and rainy or nice and sunny. We get our share of rain here in Northern Calif.,
as a matter of fact had a couple sessions yesterday in the wet at Sears Point
raceway, Sonoma. And yes, the 4wd cars did wonderful things while they had the
wet to play in, but when the track went nice again at lunch time it was another story.
paisan: "Maybe on the west coast where it's sunny and dry all the time and the tracks are perfectly smooth with no gravel or imperfections, a vette would win but in the real world or in a place where there are environmental variables, a more balanced car would be my preference."
Are you a host or a guy looking to stir up comment? I doubt Sears Point does much
more than Watkins Glen to try and make the track nice for the two real races the
Stock Car boys put on each year. And if you want gravel, try Reno-Fernley and
Spring Mt. Raceway since both are set in Nevada. Most folks looking to run on
a road course aren't looking for a Rally circuit, you may enjoy something different.
As for balance, yesterday was a good view of wet and dry conditions at Sears Point.
In the third session, advanced, I went out late and pulled up to the starter for a
black flag to get a Miata off track. Got to pull out behind another Miata and we
were both taking it easy as about 2/3 of the track was still pretty wet. As we got
back to the starter there was another black flag. Yellows at each station up to
turn 7 where she was waving it lazily, we weren't going too fast. Did the sweep
and into the 8 esses and off the outside of 8a, 1/2 an esse before Jr. had his fire
there sits a silver 911 with the driver and safety crew surveying the scraped off rear
facia about 50 ft. off track where he had rear swiped the tire barrier. Think he might
have lifted?
The Vette C5 and C6's are about 50/50 or as close as you can get when corner
weighting. Can you say that about the Porsches? Balanced? I do agree that they
can be driven fast, but novices better take some time getting to that point or they
are going to find out about balance.
Randy
Oh BTW, if the little plastic card from NASA and my work with Thunderhill Street
School makes me certified, then I guess I could say the same. Mostly I think I
sit in the right seat trying to keep folks out of walls, which is amazingly easy if you
can teach them the line. Oh, and not to lift!
I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, (pun intended) but as you noted earlier, driver is the #1 thing that will determine a faster car.
You mentioned corner weighting, which would imply coilovers and a fairly modified car, I'm talking stock to stock.
I've been instructing Racers, HPDEers, etc for many years, I've taught the classroom as well and race here in the Northeast with several organizations.
Out West the instructional HPDEs are quite different than here on the East coast, that's fairly well known in the HPDE community. They are a lot more structured out here, similar to what you get in a Skip Barber School rather than an "open tracke session"
To summarize, any car, in the hands of the proper driver will be faster or slower than another car in the hands of a less experienced driver. But my preference would be a more balanced car than a high HP RWD car on track. Brakes, handling and cost are all a factor in what to drive on track.
-mike
Well we agree that it's the driver that counts. And I agree that cost, handling,
power and brakes are all factors, if in slightly different order. My '02 C5 coupe was
only $40k/$45k off the show floor depending on options in '01. That was comparable
to the Boxster at the time at the low end but they option up quite a bit higher, and
is comparable on track to base model 911s, which started at $75k at the time.
Then again S2000s were less and with mods, especially tires can go faster than
all of the above.
Enjoy your break from racing over the winter. Not that I'm going next week,
but there are two groups that have Laguna Seca on M/T and Th/F, gotta love good
weather. I would be interested in what you see as the greater structure in HPDE,
I've never done it any place but here. I do have several classes at Russell Racing
as well as several at what was then Bragg-Smith and is now Spring Mt. Motorsports
School. Not all HPDE groups out this way run the same kinds of programs and
there are many. NASA, Hooked on Driving, TrackMasters, Team Miata, Nor. Calif. Racing, Speed Ventures, Green Flag, Shelby Club, Checkered Flag, and Unlimited
Laps which I've run with and then Alfa Romeo Owners, Audi Club, Club Z, Driving
Concepts, Lapping Days, Pantera Owners, Touring Car Club and Volvo owners,
which I've not joined in with yet. I'd be hard put to say there is one approach out
this way. And by the way, the SCCA SF Region track at Thunderhill runs its own
THHPDE or Street School that involves more class time than track time.
Randy
The problem with the Porsche is that while the Corvette--especially the C3's--was modeledafter the Great White shark, the 911 was modeled after a bullfrog.
This:
Took its inspiration from this:
Well we agree that it's the driver that counts. And I agree that cost, handling,
power and brakes are all factors, if in slightly different order. My '02 C5 coupe was
only $40k/$45k off the show floor depending on options in '01. That was comparable
to the Boxster at the time at the low end but they option up quite a bit higher, and
is comparable on track to base model 911s, which started at $75k at the time.
Then again S2000s were less and with mods, especially tires can go faster than
all of the above.
Enjoy your break from racing over the winter.
Oh I didn't list them in the order. But one of the things we always teach to students in our programs is if you can't afford to walk away from the car you are bringing to the track, you shouldn't be bringing it to the track because in general there is no insurance for your car (some policy's do cover but in recent years they've been backing away from that). It's cool to take your street car for the first few events, til you realize you want to drive 9/10ths, at that point getting something in the sub-$10k range is advisable in the event you ball it up.
As mentioned, tires, suspension, driver all play key factors in what car will be faster on track.
Yup we are into the winter blues now. All the tracks here are closed now til we go down to VIR for a 3hr Enduro in Feb, that's our winter break race and then we won't start again til late march/early april.
-mike
Opinions are like....... oh ya, ...in my humble opinion: I spent $99,949.85 out the door (cash sale, I am truely fortunate! )in Oct 2005 on my ordered 2006 C2S coupe. The VAST majority of Porsche owners never will experience the true potential of their cars, the VAST majority of Vet owners are likely in the same boat. I checked out the 2006 Corvettes and did not like the quality or fit of the interior. I own 2 Chevy products.. so I really do like Chevy. I was looking for a number of things in a sports car besides the fit and finish that Porsche offers. I have seen and driven Boxsters; they are built like a bank vault and a fine watch in one package.
Almost every auto critic places the 997 S in a world class arena with the best, but the issue, besides the superior build quality of my 997 S , that really strikes me, is the history, the legend, the heritage that surrounds Porsche. IMO Porsche defines a " sportscar ".; the 997 is a daily use sportscar. I will never drop my clutch at 5000rpm to do a 3.9 sec. 0-60 mph, but someone has and he did. There have been chronic Vet/ 911 comparisons which fall on my deaf ears. If you enjoy your Vet , more power to you..enjoy. I love my 997 S for many reasons.. it was a dream of mine for years......
Chromedome
The ad said, "When we started racing at 24-Hours of Lemans, we knew that every second counted. Our race car was vastly underpowered and did not have the power of the other cars, so realising how iportant time was, we put the ignition switch on the left side of the steering wheel, where it would be more accessible to the driver, freeing up his right hand for steering and engaging first gear. This is the level of attention and detail we give our cars, because in racing, every second counts."
Now my question is this: Wouldn't Porsche actually win at LeMans if they stopped wasting their money and time on ignition switches and actually do something unprecidented and unthought of, like add horsepower to their cars?
They did! Read the whole thing. It says their cars were under powered when they started racing. Once they started seriously making purpose built endurance racers in the late 60s and early 70s the HP count went up dramatically and they won at LeMans using the mighty 917 and kept winning for many years afterward. Porsche has more wins at LeMans than any other marque.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Porsche may have more wins at LeMans, but Porsche has also been racing that circuit since like around WWII, so it only stands to reason that they will have the most wins--they've been around the longest.
Since the Corvette engaged in this prestigious endurance racing event, it won more podium finishes than anything else, regardless of class!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Audi's LMP car may be the only exception.
"Once they started seriously making purpose built endurance racers in the late 60s."
You mean to tell me that "every second counts" in a race car that wasn't "purpose built" to begin with?
Here is my advise/opinion. If you want to pick nits go check out some little preschoolers neck. You will never go past 100mph in your Corvette nor I in my Porsche. Too many comparisons are made between a rear engined 355 hp Porsche Carrera with a front engine 500hp Corvette. They are 2 different cars made for 2 different reasons. American muscle vs. European grace Subaru is made for off road racing, thus most models are 4 wheel drive. Porsche has raced in so many rally style races and has produced victory after victory. I would love to see a Corvette sliding aound some wet , curvey , pot hole filed , dirt road in the Black Forest. A lot of mud would be slung but no forward movement would be detectable. Different cars for different reasons and seasons. A corvette at the Tagra Floria...come on... by the way don't forget to grab your gold neck chain and the fake chest hair, your silk shirt opened to the navel,a pack of Camels and...oh ya grab Barbie too..because that is the perception of Corvette
Chromedome
Why would you buy either of them then? I routinely take my 1994 Subaru Legacy with stock drivetrain and 150k miles on it up over 100mph, heck over 120mph at the track, as do other Porsche and Corvette drivers that I race/HPDE with.
-mike
Paisan.. the vastly hugh majority of Porsche owners don't track them.. Here in California anyone caught speeding even 1 mph over 100mph are given the" go directly to jail card ". I do not have the skill nor the intention to track my 997 but I do enjoy the hell out of driving the car , detailing it and just sitting in it
Chao
Chromedome