Interesting view point GM vs Ferrari

ever seen what passes for a NAV in a vette? the HUD is the only thing it has going for it.

 

hello ... we are evaluating street cars. even if they are sports cars, they are not race cars. in a street car, and to most of the buying public, conveniences matter.

i recently sold my ford gt because, stellar performer and beautiful car that it is, it's a crappy street car.

 

I started this thread with absolutely no expectations. It is long and intresting, but generally without venom or irrationality.

To give you a feel for how I discussed the Corvette on that forum, I said the following regarding why anyone would spend $100,000 ($200,000+) on a Corvette (Ferrari)....



First, there are very very few people on this forum who will buy a ZR-1. Many "defend" it and many others criticize those who offer observations such as yours, but virtually no one indicating they are able and will buy a ZR-1 (I developed a thread seeking them out) finds it necessary to debate the issue. Regardless of speed, which those desperate for justification point to and something easily purchased off a shelf, those who buy a ZR-1 do so for reasons having little to do with speed per se or even comparisions with a Ferrari etc., they seem to want one just because.....

Any rationale person agrees that no one should be driving 620+ on the street and if a car is bought for tracking it would be on a trailer waiting for the weekends. No one can argue that a GM product per se, especially in light of the power of the Z-06, is "worth" a $100,000 standing next to a Porsche, Aston Martin, recent vintage Ferrari 360, and many others, but still some will buy it because...........

Maybe one way to explain it is a call I got this morning. A friend who bought a Z-06, and who lives in a state that had too much ice and snow until recently, took his Z-06 out. He owns a Porsche Turbo and has turned off the traction control on occassion. He left me the following voice message "Bob, you should have warned me about the power of the Z-06. The Porsche is fast, but this thing is unreal..Driving the Porsche is different, i.e. refined, technological, and sophisticated, while driving the Z-06 is crude and noisy, but man did it get my adrenaline going. Best

 

My camaro has it fair share of issues just like with any car on the road, That on the other hand sounds like the owner hasn't taken of his car so the car itself wouldn't be the one to blame. I have had time behind the wheel of an Audi, such an overated POS you pay Corvette pricing for what? something that drives like a VW?. Every Japanse make I have drive besides the Toyota Supra has been the worst thing i have gottn behind the wheel of, so unrealible, expensive very overpriced and the interior is god awfull.

 

F430/F1. C6 Z06. Nurburgring/Nordschleife. Both are fast, but they will be 12 seconds from touching after only 1 lap.

I believe that you are significantly underestimating the performance capabilities of the newer Vettes. Of course, the F430 is prettier.

 

+1, I think that the Corvette is the best sports car for the money, hands down!

But to compare it with any Ferrari is ridiculous. I think the new Vette would do a lot better if you compared it to a new Audi Lambo.

Ferrari heart and soul is eminent as soon as you get near the car.

I could pass a hundred Corvettes in my Ferrari, And they all want to be me!

 

Please keep well to the right while sipping your latte and texting your bff and also watching Madagascar.

In fact, pull over entirely; the rest of us are trying to drive.

 

I doubt that.

I'd bet more than just a few are just quite happy with what they can afford, nothing to be ashamed of in the newest Vettes, and admiring all the same without envy; many are no doubt reverse snobs in the Leno mold, if not wallet; as in the general population 50% are morons, and think the Vette is the same as a Ferrari as a Porch as a Viper as a Supra; and the Floridians don't even understand the question and voted for "cheeseburger".

 

This thread begins to remind me of the movie "Big Chill", when one of the actors said "a rationalization is more important than sex....ever go a full day without a rationalization"? I own a Ferrari and Corvette. Ferrari is a mystery to many, the same cannot be said of the Corvette. Clearly fewer owning a Ferrari want a vette then the other way around. On the other hand, an oil change for my Z-06 can be done at jiffy lube and I actually park my car next to shopping carts. Stretching my movie metaphors a bit, when the ZR-1 (with real leather, brembo brakes, and carbon fiber) drives up next to us, I am sure some of us will whisper under our breath "I think we are going to need a bigger boat" Best

 

You think that is bad, try BMW nav. Yike!

 

<shaking head>... no one would pick the Vette over the Ferrari for the same coin. NO ONE. But they are NOT the same coin. Let's face it, if you have to ask the price (like many people do) then Ferrari's are not a lot of bang for the buck. Granted, they are a LOT of bang, but they are a LOT of buck too. Now if you have the money, you are right, there is an experience there that is just more. But when a Bosch alternator is $2800 (328, new from Ferrari) you have to ask yourself... WTF?

A NAV has no place in a sportscar, PERIOD. A radio is questionable... and allowable only for long highway drives to a distant track. Which brings me to...

Got tired of trying to figure out how to pay for what I consider the ultimate sports car, so I decided I'd have one built. GT40 replica from RCR (www.race-car-replicas.com). Mine is in body prep now (I don't do body work or paint) but this is another '40 with an LS7 and Kinsler intake, very similar setup to mine:
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LOL, I am a chevy guy thru and thru, I have owned more than most, more vette's and camaro's than probably anyone here, but its true............................... all corvette people dream about escalating to a Ferrari.

 

Oh, one other thing: If you don't like Corvettes or Hondas or Kias or whatever, there's nothing wrong with that. But if you put down another because the don't make the money you do and drive a less expensive car, that's really shi##y. Then you are just a pompous bastard.

 

LOL, I do not think you understand what I meant. For 65k or whatever the price is today, you can not get a better sports car. I personally think that for more money you can, but not for 65k.

 

I would not put anyone down for driving anything! I love all cars for what they are, but I am honest and realistic.

 

I wouldn't trade my weathered '66 Stingray convertible even up for any of the modern era Ferraris OR Corvettes with their emission plumbing nightmares and computer wiring nightmares and overpriced parts, etc, etc, etc.

 

J. Salmon, that is a very nice GT40 replica. Good choice of powerplant and even better with the Kinsler induction. I'm sure you will have a blast with it when it is done.

 

I have owned 4 Corvettes including a 2001 C5 and a 2003 Z06. The build quality of the Corvette is poor compared to Ferrari. There is no comparison.Horsepower is not everything and I chose my black CS any day of the week. Anyone can make a car with a huge motor and fat tires. For me you cannot put a price on the feeling you get when you fire up a F-1 derived Ferrari engine.
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What I find funny is how people rationalize car purchase decision that are based almost entirely in emotion. I also think it's funny that people think it's wrong to like their Ferrari because of the status it bestows on them.

Ferrari's are the result of one man's unwavering passion for racing. Some people really dig that: a car made by someone who prioritized racing. Ferrari's are expensive so they are out of reach for most people. People think they are really special because they don't see them too often. Ferraris are also built to be nimble, responsive, and thrilling but, truth be told, you could probably have faster lap times if the car was less thrilling like most other cars.

But when you combine the thrilling with all the "irrational" stuff (what others think, heritage, rarity), you get a car that is more emotionally rewarding than a Vette. That's the bottom line. There's no need to debate it. The proof is in the price people are willing to pay for the cars.

We're not rational creatures.

 

I agree, but should you really be using your CS to tow a boat

 

Hard to argue with that. I think you either get into the emotional rush -- looks, sound, legend -- of Ferrari, or you crunch the numbers and the Corvette wins for you. From a marketing perspective, the cars really don't compete with one another. I could see how you could have both in the garage and not really have any overlap. Also, I love my Ferrari, but the service costs are ridiculous in comparison to "normal" cars -- you either feel it's worth it, or you don't: the difference is always in the intangibles. Really, every drive in the Ferrari feels like a special event, and the car starts conversations left and right. Not sure how you put a price on that.

Every "Japanse" car "has been the worst thing" you've ever driven? I find that hard to believe. The Japanese make some fine sports cars. IMO, they've never figured out the styling aspect, but Honda's done some neat cars -- S2000 and NSX being the most recent. For the money, I think the S2000 is the best in its class.

Audi is producing some incredible cars right now. The R8 is brilliant, and the TT (in redesigned 2008 guise) has the best DSG gearbox going, an impressive aluminum body, more grip than anyone could use on a public road and head-turning style. Both are proper enthusiast cars. Not quite the bargain pricing you get with GM, because the dollar is weak, but worth the price of entry.

You should be more demanding of GM. The Camaro was widely damned for its build quality before GM pulled the plug on it. Hopefully you've had better luck.

 

it looks like you are towing the boat with your 360

 

Nice choice! Are you going for the Ford GT Ricardo gearbox too?

 

Just to be sure - I wasn't aiming this at anyone in particular, just had a bee in my bonnet

Cheers!

-J.

A while back, a good buddy was teaching me all about beer. Some time later we were at a party and someone offered us a generic canned beer. I sorta looked down my nose at it and he immediately chewed me out: "hey man, just because you appreciate good beer doesn't mean you stop enjoying the stuff you liked before... you have to love all beer, or you are not worthy!" Food for thought...


(I don't ever drink canned beer unless I have too)

 

Yeah, that's just wrong.