Corvette versus Porsche Boxster.

vchanpe · May 30, 2007, 12:21 AM

I owned a C5 Corvette hardtop which I love the acceleration and grip. Really fun to drive except for one single weakness: The steering feedback is less than my wife's BMW 525i at low speeds. This makes my C5 Corvette less tossable during normal street driving. I thought about a Porsche Boxster as my next car which is quite tossable with its quick turn-in and excellent steering feel but the acceleration and grip just isn't as good as a Vette. Also, the DIY maintenance work on a Porsche Boxster is a nightmare.

Based on this line of thinking, a C6 Corvette should be my next car but I will still miss the low speed steering characteristics of a BMW or a Porsche. My dream car is a car with Vette acceleration, Vette lateral acceleration, Vette DIY maintenance, Porsche handling and Porsche steering. Does anyone have an alternative to a C6 Corvette or a Porsche Boxster that are within the same price range which will meet these requirements?

Godzilla:PetroLHeaD · May 30, 2007, 12:37 AM

did you drive the C6? they could've fixed the steering issue you had with the C5. you can check out the Boxster like you said. it might be not as fast as the C6 but its still quick. did you give the BMW 335i a go?

Personally i'd go for the C6, go take it for a test drive if you haven't and see if it still has the steering feedback problem. welcome to SCF btw.

VTEC_Dreams · May 30, 2007, 12:48 AM

This is probably just me being a totally biased weenie...

...but a used NSX fits the bill pretty damn well. a '97-01 will run you about the same as either, and the chassis and engine only get better with time. Not a lot of folks know this, but the engineers designed the car to come alive and be at it's strongest and most pure at 100,000~ miles, so moderately high mileage, used models are the best, in fact. Plus, (here it comes) it's a Honda, so you know there won't be any technical issues, and if there are, Acura dealers are sweethearts to NSX owners. I figure it's a bit slower than the 'Vette, but a bit quicker than the Boxster, and it's got brilliant steering (Boxster), godlike grip (Corvette), a fantastic gearbox (better than either), and it's really lightweight. It gets decent gas mileage, too. It was touted as the "everyday exotic" in it's day, and though it's not considered an exotic anymore, it's a damn fine sportscar--one of the best ever--and as true an icon as anything with four wheels.

The only other car that I can think of that would be as driver-oriented would be a used (or even new) 911, though it's a bit pricey.

Welcome to the forums, by the way!

vchanpe · May 30, 2007, 12:56 AM

I drove my friend's C6 corvette and it handles about the same. The Vette's steering and handling are not really a "problem" since it is probably better than 90% of the cars. It is simply not as precise and satisfying as a Porsche or a BMW in my opinion. A BMW 335i will satisfy the steering and handling needs but a BMW 335i does not even come close to a Vette in terms of acceleration and grip. When I first got the Vette I knew the acceleration was there but I was delighted by the Vette's grip in dry weather. I have gone thru turns at 60 MPH where the speed signs are posted at 30 MPH without making my palms sweat. However, while I am doing that type of thing, my steering is tends to overcorrect any drift thru the curve. If I do the same thing with my wife's BMW, I would track well but I would be very concerned about losing the grip since the margin of safety is not there. A car's grip is important to me since once you lose traction in a curve, it is all over. Except for the steering, a Vette is really fun to drive since you can go really fast.

Godzilla:PetroLHeaD · May 30, 2007, 1:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTEC_Dreams

This is probably just me being a totally biased weenie...

...but a used NSX fits the bill pretty damn well. a '97-01 will run you about the same as either, and the chassis and engine only get better with time. Not a lot of folks know this, but the engineers designed the car to come alive and be at it's strongest and most pure at 100,000~ miles, so moderately high mileage, used models are the best, in fact. Plus, (here it comes) it's a Honda, so you know there won't be any technical issues, and if there are, Acura dealers are sweethearts to NSX owners. I figure it's a bit slower than the 'Vette, but a bit quicker than the Boxster, and it's got brilliant steering (Boxster), godlike grip (Corvette), a fantastic gearbox (better than either), and it's really lightweight. It gets decent gas mileage, too. It was touted as the "everyday exotic" in it's day, and though it's not considered an exotic anymore, it's a damn fine sportscar--one of the best ever--and as true an icon as anything with four wheels.

The only other car that I can think of that would be as driver-oriented would be a used (or even new) 911, though it's a bit pricey.

Welcome to the forums, by the way!

i thought about a used NSX too. but then i figured out he might want a new car. but still i agree with you, the NSX is one great car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vchanpe

I drove my friend's C6 corvette and it handles about the same. The Vette's steering and handling are not really a "problem" since it is probably better than 90% of the cars. It is simply not as precise and satisfying as a Porsche or a BMW in my opinion. A BMW 335i will satisfy the steering and handling needs but a BMW 335i does not even come close to a Vette in terms of acceleration and grip. When I first got the Vette I knew the acceleration was there but I was delighted by the Vette's grip in dry weather. I have gone thru turns at 60 MPH where the speed signs are posted at 30 MPH without making my palms sweat. However, while I am doing that type of thing, my steering is tends to overcorrect any drift thru the curve. If I do the same thing with my wife's BMW, I would track well but I would be very concerned about losing the grip since the margin of safety is not there. A car's grip is important to me since once you lose traction in a curve, it is all over. Except for the steering, a Vette is really fun to drive since you can go really fast.

i see. so what have you got in mind other than the Boxster and the Vette? i don't think you can get a Faster new BMW with that price range, but u always have the M5. what about a used E46 M3? its a lot of fun to drive and a great all rounder.

wanna koenigsegg · May 30, 2007, 1:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTEC_Dreams

This is probably just me being a totally biased weenie...

Haha, You called yourself a Weenie....

I agree with him that the NSX is probably the happy medium between the Corvette and the Porsche, It may not be as fast as the Vette but certainly isnt slow by any means. It supposedly has incredible handling and definitely has quite a nice engine note...

I honestly dont know of any other vehicles in the same price range that would fit the listed criteria, Maybe a small kit car of some sort would be appropriate but not as a daily driver.

Welcome to the Forums and good luck with what you choose....

vchanpe · May 30, 2007, 1:25 AM

Yes, the NSX, M3 and M5 are good choices. I never drove them so I may want to try it out. My C6 friend told me that if my Vette steering were like a Porsche, I would be tempted to drive 70 or 80 MPH in a 30 MPH curve and get into trouble. He knew a co-worker who had a new Porsche 911 and wreaked it in the first 6 months because it had all three: acceleration, steering and grip. He lost it in a curve since the 911 does not warn a driver when it reaches its limit. I would have to investigate the weaknesses of the NSX, M3 and M5 at its limits before I get serious. Thanks for the advice.

GT King · May 30, 2007, 2:02 AM

Hmm, so you want a car that has the speed and power of a Corvette but has handling characteristics of a Porsche. Already some other members pointed out some great choices such as the NSX, M3, M5 and the 911 turbo. They're really good cars, you should give them a test drive.

But if your planning on getting an NSX then it should be hard because it has stopped production so you will have to get a used one. But other than that, those four choices are good.

Ferrari Underground · May 30, 2007, 2:20 AM

Corvettes I think are good with acceleration, and top speeds. but the Porsche is also quite good at turns and all that, with the handling abilities and all. For this one I'm taking the Corvette. It does look a lot better in my opinion and performance also makes it a good car to drive.

teXas · May 30, 2007, 3:03 AM

How 'bout a Cayman S with the optional 19" wheels. That has more grip than a 911.

Or the NSX is also good, especially with the addition of a Comptech Supercharger (doesn't affect warranty).

The Z4 M Coupe is fast with a lot of grip.

Doesn't really matter what you buy, just matters what your riding on.

S-Tune_S1 · May 30, 2007, 5:40 AM

used M3 or as mentioned , NSX ..

frewin1987 · May 30, 2007, 7:36 AM

old-school DB7 V6 or even the V12

. probably not your fancy, but i'd kill for one of those; and it's right within your price bracket.

well, realistically, i'd suggest a Lotus Europa S. 200bhp 2.0-litre turbo, 0-60mph in 5.4 seconds, 155mph top speed. and, best of all, awesome Lotus chassis, meaning wicked handling.

i also like the sound of an NSX, as mentioned by VTEC Dreams. great-looking cars, as pure as you can get, low weight, wicked handling...

special_R · May 30, 2007, 7:58 AM

NSX is nice...hopefully you get a latest year of production. I also recommend you to try out the Porsche Cayman S before thinking about a Porsche Boxster. But mainly...I'll linger to the C6...IDK y...especially the ZO6.

Bravodor · May 30, 2007, 9:12 AM

A vette with porsche steering and brakes would be the ultimate car, wish they sold it.

Ghalos · May 30, 2007, 9:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vchanpe

My dream car is a car with Vette acceleration, Vette lateral acceleration, Vette DIY maintenance, Porsche handling and Porsche steering.

Here's your car, literally; 928 GTS. With your cash, you can afford to take your time, find a mint one, take it to any high-end Porsche tuning firm, RUF, Gemballa, etc..., and have a V8 engine that is virtually brand-new and more powerful than a C6, brand-new brakes, suspension components, etc.

The only downside is the time and patience involved. But, maybe, just maybe a change from the norm would do a world of good. =)

May 30, 2007, 12:21 AM	#1
vchanpe Starting Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vallejo CA Posts: 10	Corvette versus Porsche Boxster. I owned a C5 Corvette hardtop which I love the acceleration and grip. Really fun to drive except for one single weakness: The steering feedback is less than my wife's BMW 525i at low speeds. This makes my C5 Corvette less tossable during normal street driving. I thought about a Porsche Boxster as my next car which is quite tossable with its quick turn-in and excellent steering feel but the acceleration and grip just isn't as good as a Vette. Also, the DIY maintenance work on a Porsche Boxster is a nightmare. Based on this line of thinking, a C6 Corvette should be my next car but I will still miss the low speed steering characteristics of a BMW or a Porsche. My dream car is a car with Vette acceleration, Vette lateral acceleration, Vette DIY maintenance, Porsche handling and Porsche steering. Does anyone have an alternative to a C6 Corvette or a Porsche Boxster that are within the same price range which will meet these requirements?

May 30, 2007, 12:37 AM	#2
Godzilla:PetroLHeaD Petrosexual Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bahrain & Canada Posts: 1,907	did you drive the C6? they could've fixed the steering issue you had with the C5. you can check out the Boxster like you said. it might be not as fast as the C6 but its still quick. did you give the BMW 335i a go? Personally i'd go for the C6, go take it for a test drive if you haven't and see if it still has the steering feedback problem. welcome to SCF btw. __________________ Rest in Peace Randy.

May 30, 2007, 12:48 AM	#3
VTEC_Dreams Slow car enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 12,778	This is probably just me being a totally biased weenie... ...but a used NSX fits the bill pretty damn well. a '97-01 will run you about the same as either, and the chassis and engine only get better with time. Not a lot of folks know this, but the engineers designed the car to come alive and be at it's strongest and most pure at 100,000~ miles, so moderately high mileage, used models are the best, in fact. Plus, (here it comes) it's a Honda, so you know there won't be any technical issues, and if there are, Acura dealers are sweethearts to NSX owners. I figure it's a bit slower than the 'Vette, but a bit quicker than the Boxster, and it's got brilliant steering (Boxster), godlike grip (Corvette), a fantastic gearbox (better than either), and it's really lightweight. It gets decent gas mileage, too. It was touted as the "everyday exotic" in it's day, and though it's not considered an exotic anymore, it's a damn fine sportscar--one of the best ever--and as true an icon as anything with four wheels. The only other car that I can think of that would be as driver-oriented would be a used (or even new) 911, though it's a bit pricey. Welcome to the forums, by the way! __________________ Anyhow...

May 30, 2007, 12:56 AM	#4
vchanpe Starting Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vallejo CA Posts: 10	Steering feedback I drove my friend's C6 corvette and it handles about the same. The Vette's steering and handling are not really a "problem" since it is probably better than 90% of the cars. It is simply not as precise and satisfying as a Porsche or a BMW in my opinion. A BMW 335i will satisfy the steering and handling needs but a BMW 335i does not even come close to a Vette in terms of acceleration and grip. When I first got the Vette I knew the acceleration was there but I was delighted by the Vette's grip in dry weather. I have gone thru turns at 60 MPH where the speed signs are posted at 30 MPH without making my palms sweat. However, while I am doing that type of thing, my steering is tends to overcorrect any drift thru the curve. If I do the same thing with my wife's BMW, I would track well but I would be very concerned about losing the grip since the margin of safety is not there. A car's grip is important to me since once you lose traction in a curve, it is all over. Except for the steering, a Vette is really fun to drive since you can go really fast.

May 30, 2007, 1:25 AM	#7
vchanpe Starting Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vallejo CA Posts: 10	Nsx, M3, M5 Yes, the NSX, M3 and M5 are good choices. I never drove them so I may want to try it out. My C6 friend told me that if my Vette steering were like a Porsche, I would be tempted to drive 70 or 80 MPH in a 30 MPH curve and get into trouble. He knew a co-worker who had a new Porsche 911 and wreaked it in the first 6 months because it had all three: acceleration, steering and grip. He lost it in a curve since the 911 does not warn a driver when it reaches its limit. I would have to investigate the weaknesses of the NSX, M3 and M5 at its limits before I get serious. Thanks for the advice.

May 30, 2007, 2:02 AM	#8
GT King Forum Guru Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia. Posts: 2,877	Hmm, so you want a car that has the speed and power of a Corvette but has handling characteristics of a Porsche. Already some other members pointed out some great choices such as the NSX, M3, M5 and the 911 turbo. They're really good cars, you should give them a test drive. But if your planning on getting an NSX then it should be hard because it has stopped production so you will have to get a used one. But other than that, those four choices are good. __________________ I honestly feel like opening my xbox dvd tray and violently throwing up into it ~ fluffyhead

May 30, 2007, 2:20 AM	#9
Ferrari Underground F50 Luva Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 2,353	Corvettes I think are good with acceleration, and top speeds. but the Porsche is also quite good at turns and all that, with the handling abilities and all. For this one I'm taking the Corvette. It does look a lot better in my opinion and performance also makes it a good car to drive. __________________ "Does NSW stand for Non-Sivilised World?" ~ Ty

May 30, 2007, 3:03 AM	#10
teXas Is not a hipster >:( Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SEATTLE, WA Posts: 19,291	How 'bout a Cayman S with the optional 19" wheels. That has more grip than a 911. Or the NSX is also good, especially with the addition of a Comptech Supercharger (doesn't affect warranty). The Z4 M Coupe is fast with a lot of grip. Doesn't really matter what you buy, just matters what your riding on.

May 30, 2007, 5:40 AM	#11
S-Tune_S1 P O R S C H E Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11,525	used M3 or as mentioned , NSX ..

May 30, 2007, 7:36 AM	#12
frewin1987 Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Coventry, England, UK - the home of Jaguar & the London taxi! Posts: 7,760	old-school DB7 V6 or even the V12 . probably not your fancy, but i'd kill for one of those; and it's right within your price bracket. well, realistically, i'd suggest a Lotus Europa S. 200bhp 2.0-litre turbo, 0-60mph in 5.4 seconds, 155mph top speed. and, best of all, awesome Lotus chassis, meaning wicked handling. i also like the sound of an NSX, as mentioned by VTEC Dreams. great-looking cars, as pure as you can get, low weight, wicked handling...

May 30, 2007, 7:58 AM	#13
special_R Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 177	NSX is nice...hopefully you get a latest year of production. I also recommend you to try out the Porsche Cayman S before thinking about a Porsche Boxster. But mainly...I'll linger to the C6...IDK y...especially the ZO6.

May 30, 2007, 9:12 AM	#14
Bravodor Mr. Fast Twitch Join Date: May 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,868	A vette with porsche steering and brakes would be the ultimate car, wish they sold it. __________________ "The Greatest Sophistication is Simplicity."

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