BoostAddict Comparison - 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera (991.2) vs. 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

[Sticky]

My father is responsible for my love of cars. I just alway remember him having a German car of some sort in the garage. Whether it was an old air-cooled 911, a Mercedes S-Class, a Mercedes SL, whatever, he would always choose a German car over an American car.

Well, not always. Just since I was born. When he came to this country in the 70's American cars were on a downward swing. His first car was a Nova SS. It quickly became his second car after numerous problems. An Oldsmobile he can't or more accurately doesn't want to remember followed. A Cadillac Eldorado quickly replaced it and he liked the Cadillac but my mother drove it through the front of a store and that was the end of that.

An unbroken string of German cars to this day followed. My first car was a German vehicle, a BMW E46 330i. My father would not even entertain the idea of an American car. If I wanted a car, it was a BMW 3-Series or nothing else. Rough, I know. He showed up with a brand new E46 330i one day after school and that was the end of that.

My love for BMW started with that car and continued for quite a while. The BMW M car was in my opinion the absolute best all around vehicle in the world. I confirmed this assertion when I traded the E46 330i in on a BMW E46 M3. You remember your first love? The E46 M3 was mine. You never quite fall in love like that again.

The 2017 911 Carrera gets close though. I considered a Z06 and a Viper over the 911 but the 911 is best for business. That business aspect is why I'm currently driving the C7 Z06 that belongs to BMS (Burger Tuning). Hey, $100k+ cars don't exactly pay for themselves. I admit the Z06 was in the back of my mind when buying the Porsche and considering the price range yes, you can cross shop them.

It goes without saying the Z06 has more power. The LT4 6.2 liter supercharged V8 offers 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. The 9A2B6 3.0 liter flat-6 the 991.2 Carrera uses is less than half the size. It has 'only' 370 horses (underrated horses) but the turbo punch is substantial and the car runs 11's stock. It still trails the Z06 by over a second in the 1/4 mile though and 14+ miles per hour of trap speed.

That is a big difference. Especially considering the example I sampled has a tune, pulley, and intake. It makes 585 rear wheel horsepower or about 200 more than my Carrera. Not to mention, a lot more torque that comes on like a light switch being flipped.

That may sound great but it is actually part of the problem with the Z06. It constantly wants to remind you of its motor. It is dominated by it. It gets to the point where it can become tiring as well as scary when traction is easily lost.

When I picked up the car on the first first turn when I applied the throttle the traction control light came on and I got wheelspin. I was just trying to make a left turn out of a neighborhood, not light the tires up. That is the kind of power the Z06 has. You have to respect it but what is the point if you can't use it?

Want to mash the throttle in the Z06? Make sure you are in second gear, point it straight, and hang on. If you are at a high enough speed it will hook and go. If you aren't, you'll spin the tires even in second. If you add even more torque to it just change the point straight in second gear recipe to point it straight in third gear before mashing the gas.

The acceleration is amazing though. Oh boy, it's fast. Definitely faster than the Porsche. The Porsche can use its first gear though. It can even use it from a stop. It can go full throttle from a stop. As a matter of fact, if these two lined up at a light the Porsche would be in a different zip code by the time the Z06 got traction. The Porsche makes complete use of every horse at any time. The Z06 doesn't. It can't.

What it can do is remind you there is a ton of torque available in any gear. In the 911 you need to be above 3000 rpm to feel that rush of torque. It really does not matter all that much in the Z06. 2nd? 3rd? 4th? 5th? 6th? There's power available at any rpm. Obviously 8th gear at 1500 rpm isn't the fastest way to get the Z06 moving but it will still move.

Which brings us to the 8-Speed automatic transmission which Chevrolet touts as shifting as faster than the Porsche PDK. Maybe it does but it is not a PDK replacement. Shift speed alone does not determine the quality of the transmission. The automatic is inferior for numerous reasons.

One, who is the genius at GM who thought not allowing you to use the shift lever to change gears manually was a good idea? You might be saying, wait, there are paddles. Sure, there are. How am I supposed to hit the paddle in a low speed turn when they turn with the wheel? Especially if I want to do it as quickly as possible? I can't reach the paddle as I'm turning the wheel around and I want to keep the car in a higher gear so I don't wrap it around a tree as I go WOT out of the turn. If you leave it in D, the car will drop down a gear and kill you.

Speaking of those paddles they do not work as well as advertised. They feel like a gimmick. In the 911, when you pull a paddle it is like a trigger pull. Boom, instant. You are connected to the trans with the paddles or the shift lever. Mechanical, cold, precise, and very German. The Z06 paddles feel like there is a degree of slush between you and the gear shift. That may be because there is.

The Porsche PDK makes you not wish for a manual. The Z06 automatic reminds you it is an automatic. If you want the car to do what you want it to do, get the manual. You do not have to make this compromise in the 911. There were a couple instances where the automatic would not shift when I told it to and gave me an error. WTF? I tell you when to shift Z06, not the other way around.

The logic of the GM automatic just is not as good and neither is the shift quality. Are the shifts quick? Hell yes! Are they smooth? Hell no! They can be jarring and you do not exactly know when they will be jarring. When WOT if you shift earlier in the powerband they are smoother but if you shift later they can be harsh. Sometimes D mode can make some shift mistakes which jar you. The Porsche PDK on the other hand is buttery smooth unless you set it on the highest mode (conveniently located right on the wheel) where it still never gets as harsh as the Z06 automatic. The PDK is better, period.

Ok, what about the handling and braking? Both cars have very high limits and the Z06 amazes with how flatly it corners. It is very comfortable up until going past 8/10's. Where is 10/10's? I don't want to try to find out as the car is not mine for one and secondly 10.1 tenths will kill you. The 911 on the other hand does a better job communicating. It also feels more forgiving. It probably also makes you think you are a better driver than you are.

That may be because the Porsche handles road imperfections better. The ride is great for either car but the Porsche deals with the harsh stuff far more gently. The Z06 can be jarring. On the 405 freeway over some portions I was surprised just how harsh the ride could get. The Z06 needs a smoother road to instill confidence than the Carrera.

The 911's steering is heavier and more communicative. The Z06 has quicker turn in and you can steer it with one finger. That isn't bad but it is just a bit more numb. The difference from 9 out of 10 steering to 10 out of 10 steering is what warrants 911's costing what they do.

The brakes are a bit of an issue as the Z06 did not feel right. The car needs to be checked for a possible warranty claim as it vibrates badly under light braking. It is puzzling as it does not always do this. When it doesn't, the brakes feel perfect. Probably better pedal feel than the Porsche. I really don't understand the shimmying and wobbling when getting on the brakes and this needs to be checked. When applying full force, the brakes work great in either car.

What about the interior comfort? I was surprised I could not move the Z06 seat back further or move it lower. I'm not even tall but I wanted a few more inches of legroom. You sit higher in the Corvette. You also feel like you are in a cockpit with everything aimed at you. It is tighter and less roomy. The 911 is more comfortable without a doubt and a better choice for taller drivers.

I could go on and on endlessly about these cars but I think that is enough and I'll attempt to the summarize all the aspects numerically below.

Car (out of 10): Z06 | 911

Interior:

Comfort: 8 | 9
Interior Quality: 9 | 9.5
Space: 7.5 | 9.5
Gear shifter placement: 10 | 9
Armrest placement: 10 | 8.5

Styling: 10 | 9.5

Drivetrain:

Acceleration: 10 | 9
Torque: 10 | 9
Top end pull: 9.5 | 8
Engine sound: 10 | 8.5
Transmission: 8 | 10
Flexibility: 10 | 8.5

Handling:

Steering feel: 9 | 10
Braking: 7 | 9
Pedal feel: 9.5 | 9
Ride quality: 8.5 | 9.5
Confidence: 8.5 | 9.5

Subjective:

Fun to drive: 9 | 9.5

Total:

Z06: 163.5
911: 164.5

Summary:

Both of these cars are absolutely fantastic. The Z06 is a brute though. It is a muscle car disguised as a sports car. Despite being tighter inside it feels much larger to drive. The proportions feel big from the driver's seat. It constantly wants to pull forward. It just does not feel quite complete or refined. The best Corvette may just be a Grand Sport with a manual transmission and a heads/cam upgrade.

The 911 is far more composed. You can have fun in first gear or fifth gear. The car feels more nimble, more tossable, and more forgiving. It isn't as fast but isn't that why BMS has it? Another 100 lb-ft at the wheels and I'll forget about the Z06's engine.

I thought the Z06 would fill me with buyer's remorse. Instead, it reminded me just how good the 2017 911 Carrera truly is. The Z06 is the faster car but the 911 is the better sports car.

[richpike]

Good compare and article. I'm impressed the interior quality was so close - Chevy has come a long way. And I'm bummed about the auto - I had high hopes for it. Maybe the 10sp is better.

-Rich

[Sticky2]

Good compare and article. I'm impressed the interior quality was so close - Chevy has come a long way. And I'm bummed about the auto - I had high hopes for it. Maybe the 10sp is better.

-Rich

The comfort and fit and finish of the Porsche is better. It 'feels' better too. Using a button to open the door rather than a handle in the Z06 is weird.

The auto just is not on the PDK's level.

[DavidV]

Just to summarize the Z06 as by your review : the auto gearbox is crap, the brakes are crap, traction is crap, the power delivery of the engine is crap, the seat configuration is crap, ergonomics inside the car is crap, 20%chance it will kill you. But it is fast.
Sounds like an American muscle car alright. Not much ever changes.

The Z06 is the faster car

Only from a roll then?

[Sticky2]

Just to summarize the Z06 as by your review : the auto gearbox is crap, the brakes are crap, traction is crap, the power delivery of the engine is crap, the seat configuration is crap, ergonomics inside the car is crap, 20%chance it will kill you. But it is fast.
Sounds like an American muscle car alright. Not much ever changes.
Only from a roll then?[/COLOR]

You didn't read it.

[DavidV]

You didn't read it.

You are right off course. I summarized it out of thin air

[DavidV]

Are they smooth? Hell no! They can be jarring and you do not exactly know when they will be jarring. When WOT if you shift earlier in the powerband they are smoother but if you shift later they can be harsh. Sometimes D mode can make some shift mistakes which jar you.

So: crap

The Porsche PDK makes you not wish for a manual. The Z06 automatic reminds you it is an automatic. If you want the car to do what you want it to do, get the manual.

So : crap

The brakes are a bit of an issue as the Z06 did not feel right. The car needs to be checked for a possible warranty claim as it vibrates badly under light braking. It is puzzling as it does not always do this. When it doesn't, the brakes feel perfect. Probably better pedal feel than the Porsche. I really don't understand the shimmying and wobbling when getting on the brakes and this needs to be checked

So : crap

Not to mention, a lot more torque that comes on like a light switch being flipped.
That may sound great but it is actually part of the problem with the Z06. It constantly wants to remind you of its motor. It is dominated by it. It gets to the point where it can become tiring as well as scary when traction is easily lost.
When I picked up the car on the first first turn when I applied the throttle the traction control light came on and I got wheelspin. I was just trying to make a left turn out of a neighborhood, not light the tires up

So : crap

One, who is the genius at GM who thought not allowing you to use the shift lever to change gears manually was a good idea? You might be saying, wait, there are paddles. Sure, there are. How am I supposed to hit the paddle in a low speed turn when they turn with the wheel? Especially if I want to do it as quickly as possible? I can't reach the paddle as I'm turning the wheel around and I want to keep the car in a higher gear so I don't wrap it around a tree as I go WOT out of the turn. If you leave it in D, the car will drop down a gear and kill you.

So : crap

I was surprised I could not move the Z06 seat back further or move it lower. I'm not even tall but I wanted a few more inches of legroom. You sit higher in the Corvette. You also feel like you are in a cockpit with everything aimed at you. It is tighter and less roomy.

So : crap

Did I miss anything?

[Sticky2]

Yeah you missed badly but I'll set this straight in the morning.

[quattr0]

Thanks for the review!!! I'm surprised the steering feel on Z06 is worse than C2. You really need to drive the GT3.....

[Sticky]

Just to summarize the Z06 as by your review

Ok let's try to help David.

the auto gearbox is crap

No, I wrote the logic isn't as good as the PDK and that you can't shift it manually using the gear lever. Other than that, it's a fine auto box. It's just the PDK is perfect.

Did you miss this?

Transmission: 8 | 10

How is 8 out of 10 crap?

the brakes are crap

No, I wrote the brake pedal feel is better and it brakes very well. I think something might be loose as it vibrates under light braking. A firm pedal push and there is no issue.

"When applying full force, the brakes work great in either car." Did you read?

traction is crap

Traction isn't crap it's that there is over 600 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. I don't think you have ever driven that kind of power. When I first hit the gas I didn't realize just how immediate the torque was. I got used to it and now can manage it without issue.

That doesn't mean you can just hammer it in first gear. Why you think that means it is crap I have no clue.

the power delivery of the engine is crap

I not only used words but numbers:

Acceleration: 10 | 9
Torque: 10 | 9
Top end pull: 9.5 | 8
Engine sound: 10 | 8.5
Transmission: 8 | 10
Flexibility: 10 | 8.5

The acceleration and torque get a 10 and the top end pull gets a higher score than the Porsche as well. It beats the Porsche soundly here. Do I need to draw diagrams for you too?

the seat configuration is crap, ergonomics inside the car is crap

Um, no, I gave it a higher ergonomics score:

Gear shifter placement: 10 | 9
Armrest placement: 10 | 8.5

Did you read this? Perfect armrest and gear shifter placement.

I don't like the higher seating position and it feels tighter like a cockpit with everything aimed at you as I wrote. That doesn't mean it is crap. It means it feels like you are sitting in a race car.

Sounds like an American muscle car alright. Not much ever changes.

You immediately discounted it as crap because it is American without even reading. The cars are very different from one another. The final tally as well as summary should tell you they are both fantastic.

[Sticky]

Thanks for the review!!! I'm surprised the steering feel on Z06 is worse than C2. You really need to drive the GT3.....

It's not much worse it is just lighter and slightly more numb in my view. Some people might prefer that feel but I don't.

[subaru335i]

So: crap

So : crap

So : crap

So : crap

So : crap

So : crap

Did I miss anything?

No, No, No, No, No, No
It seems like you missed literally everything.

None of the Z06 is "crap" he just prefers the 911 for the street in the way he tested it and initial impressions.
And absolutely positively you are an idiot for saying the Z06 is only faster in a straight line lolol. You HAVE to be purposely being dense.
If you think nothing has changed from the days when American cars were just big fat boats that couldn't handle and only go fast straight you must have your head in the ground or you like to choose your own "alternative facts" like a certain president.

You sound like a butthurt European who thinks ze Germans are still the best in every way.

With more practice, a better driver, or just on a track where he wouldn't be afraid to push it the Z06 is faster in every single way than a base 911...hell its actually faster around a lot of tracks than a 991 GT3 you dolt.

I want some of whatever your dutch ass is smoking.

[Sticky2]

For those wondering, my dad also prefers the 911. My mom actually liked the Z06.

[DavidV]

You HAVE to be purposely being dense.

I was.

But I do not appreciate the immediate name calling you americans do nowadays, though. What is wrong with you people?
And, yes, this was all about a certain president . Not. Can we pleas leave that person out of all the discussions? We are never going to agree on that.

[Sticky2]

I was.

But I do not appreciate the immediate name calling you americans do nowadays, though. What is wrong with you people?
And, yes, this was all about a certain president . Not. Can we pleas leave that person out of all the discussions? We are never going to agree on that.

What immediate name calling?

[DavidV]

you are an idiot

butthurt European

What immediate name calling?

So you are wordblind?

[Sticky2]

So you are wordblind?

I thought you were referring to me as you said all Americans...

However, you decided to go negative and then now are hiding behind perceived insults rather than owning up to your own commentary. You're even throwing in politics.

[DavidV]

I thought you were referring to me as you said all Americans...

However, you decided to go negative and then now are hiding behind perceived insults rather than owning up to your own commentary. You're even throwing in politics.

Nope, was not talking to you at all.
I am insulting nobody here. Please explain who I am insulting?
I am NOT throwing insults. I was responding to a comment. Again, not your comment, so was not responding to you.

[Sticky2]

Nope, was not talking to you at all.
I am insulting nobody here. Please explain who I am insulting?
I am NOT throwing insults. I was responding to a comment. Again, not your comment, so was not responding to you.

So when you label all Americans as being quick to insult you it excludes this American? I'm touched.

Anyway, maybe best to get back on topic.

Oh, and David, if you ever get a chance to drive a Z06, take it. You may suddenly find yourself with hair on your chest, a glass of bourbon in one hand, and a shotgun in the other. It's that good.

[DavidV]

Oh, and David, if you ever get a chance to drive a Z06, take it. You may suddenly find yourself with hair on your chest, a glass of bourbon in one hand, and a shotgun in the other. It's that good.

I've been driving my 2-stroke 125cc go-kart for years. I'm sure I'm used to some acceleration and cornering speeds this car can not touch.
And me drinking bourbon? Nah
But if I'm offered a drive I will surely take it.

[Sticky]

I've been driving my 2-stroke 125cc go-kart for years. I'm sure I'm used to some acceleration and cornering speeds this car can not touch.

While karts are fast and corner well they are not the same thing. You will not understand the power delivery until you drive one.

[subaru335i]

While karts are fast and corner well they are not the same thing. You will not understand the power delivery until you drive one.

Karts can be fast but are more momentum cars, Im pretty sure he was joking comparing the acceleration of a 125cc kart to a Z06 is laughable

[DavidV]

Karts can be fast but are more momentum cars, Im pretty sure he was joking comparing the acceleration of a 125cc kart to a Z06 is laughable

Up to 100km/h my kart was way ahead of almost any car, as that took <3 seconds. After that, nah. On a go-kart circuit you never have such long straights to max out your rpm.
But 38hp on a 50kg kart is no joke. and 2.5lateral G with sticky tires provide lots of fun.

[Sticky]

Karts aren't Z06's.

But yes, they're fun.