Thursday 30th January 2014

Chris Harris video: Corvette vs. 911

Corvette against Porsche - half price American hero or hopelessly outclassed? Harris adjudicates

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So it's Porsche versus Corvette, well, kind of.

It only took a few minutes driving to reach the conclusion that these cars really do not compete with each other in any area save the pages of specialist car magazines. And videos.

Double the money but is it double the fun?

I've already written about it extensively here, and Dans Prosser and Trent have now braved wet UK roads in one, but one thought sprang to mind after we'd shot this brief film. Of the pair, it's the American that has made the most impressive leap from its previous incarnation to this new version.

I thought the last 'vette was a bit, whisper it, underwhelming. This one most certainly isn't. With the current exchange rate, GM will sell you a 190mph sports car for a tickle over £36,000. All I can say is, bring on the M135i comparisons, because this is one test the BMW wouldn't win! US mags have been timing the base C7 manual (this one was an auto) at around nine seconds from 0-100mph. Has so much been available for so little at any other point in motoring history?

Anyways. Apologies in advance for the audio quality. This was a selection of shots grabbed because we just about had enough time on the back of another shoot, so it's not quite what we'd like to be outputting, but I just thought it was worth grabbing something quickly and showing it.

Hope you enjoy the vid.

 

[Mike981]

The video is proof that Matt Farah and Chris Harris are the same person (at 6:50) .

If the C7 competes against Porsche, then probably more the 981 than the 911.

[VantageV8]

If the 911 wasn't "twice" the car that the Corvette is, then there would be something wrong with the price, surely.

[loudlashadjuster]

Dollars?
Stick?
Value proposition?

Been spending a bit of time in the States at that point, Chris?

[Olf]

For years they got the back right and the front wrong... FFS.

[kambites]

Forty thousand pounds worth of extras on the Porsche?

[slippery]

So howuch can you buy a brand new, taxes paid, UK registered one for?

[kambites]

slippery said:

So howuch can you buy a brand new, taxes paid, UK registered one for?

£61k, according to a previous PH article.

[slippery]

kambites said:

£61k, according to a previous PH article.

I thought a tickle over 36k sounded a tax optimistic.

[squelchuk]

The more important question, having seen that video, is this:

Who do you reckon can oversteer round a corner, and hold it for longer: Monkey or Tiff? That slide round one of the corners was massive and forever!

[kambites]

slippery said:

kambites said:

£61k, according to a previous PH article.

I thought a tickle over 36k sounded a tax optimistic.

Still a fair chunk cheaper than the Porsche, mind.

[Fantuzzi]

slippery said:

kambites said:

£61k, according to a previous PH article.

I thought a tickle over 36k sounded a tax optimistic.

36k equivalent in the states? Sold I'll take one in black.

Where's my passport, they have corndogs and root beer as well.

If only they would allow me to take an S1 elise over...

[Dr G]

£61,495; I believe the Euro spec includes quite a few bits optional in the US too.

http://www.bauer-millett.com/imports/new-cars/corv...

I'll have the Vette over the Porsche, please.

[Troubleatmill]

slippery said:

So howuch can you buy a brand new, taxes paid, UK registered one for?

Have a look in the classifieds, or the Corvette forum on here, or just phone up Bauer & Millett in Manchester.
Problem is - import duties etc etc - knock the price up.

For kicks :
1/ Spec a nice Range Rover in the UK.
2/ Spec the same car on the US website

Which one is the cheapest?

[FRA53R]

I'll have one with a sportback conversion and two exhausts, (Four just looks wrong).

[Olf]

Troubleatmill said:

Have a look in the classifieds, or the Corvette forum on here, or just phone up Bauer & Millett in Manchester.
Problem is - import duties etc etc - knock the price up.

For kicks :
1/ Spec a nice Range Rover in the UK.
2/ Spec the same car on the US website

Which one is the cheapest?

Don't forget to add state tax...

[Olivera]

kambites said:

Forty thousand pounds worth of extras on the Porsche?

I see your comments are still banging the same tired old drum of 911 hating. How about reflecting on the Porsche being a profoundly good car?

[kambites]

Olivera said:

kambites said:

Forty thousand pounds worth of extras on the Porsche?

I see your comments are still banging the same tired old drum of 911 hating. How about reflecting on the Porsche being a profoundly good car?

I do not hate, and have never hated, any iteration of the 911. I think it's an extremely good car and I have said time and time again that I will almost certainly buy one at some point.

I do not, however, think it's perfect. In your mind that seems to be some sort of terrible crime.

[GS88]

Chris, I thought the audio wasn't too bad.

I tend to sway towards something left-field, so the 'vette would be my choice obviously. I'd certainly enjoy the exclusivity of owning one in the UK.

[moskvich427]

kambites said:

Forty thousand pounds worth of extras on the Porsche?

Yes, but the Porsche doesn't need all those extras to still be a stunning car (certainly in a different league from the Corvette).

And seeing as the Vette costs significantly more over here than in the States then surely, for a Brit at least, it's the Porsche that's the bargain???

[kambites]

moskvich427 said:

Yes, but the Porsche doesn't need all those extras.

Indeed, I'd be quite happy with one with no options at all. It's still daft that you can spend that much on options, though.

I certainly wouldn't call the 911 a bargain though, primarily for one simple reason - the Cayman/Boxster. You'd have to really need those back seats to make the 911 look worth the extra, to my mind.


I'd say the Cayman S would be a more sensible comparison with the Corvette really too, and much closer on price (I think the Cayman is cheaper?).

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 29th January 22:52