Originally Posted by
OnURleft
Let me start by saying I am not being biased and I am trying to make a clear point with these examples based on my own experience....
The C5 vette is probably the best bang for the buck track car, excluding a Miata or an E36/E30, the problem is you will have a hard time learning how to drive in them, same with a 911 but for completely different reasons. I have a car with <300whp and I have done in between 4000-5000 flat out track miles and I have NEVER been passed by a student in any Vette with any mod while driving at speed, this includes modified C6Z's. I actually sent a C5Z into the wall on turn 12 at Road A when he tried to stay with me after not letting me come around for 3 lapa..Het tried to match my turn in speed and went sideways and straight into the wall(mind you my car has 235's, not 345 Hoosiers) and you'd of been suprised no one was hurt, it was terrible. My point is the general consenscious is they typically have lots of mods and they get tossed by cars with 1/3rd as much. The first thing I heard from his friend was "yeah I was trying to stay with that supercharged M3." My car is 251whp N/A
Now the reason....
My point is, for a performance car a Vette is nice and an incredible value but i'd say 9/10 Vette drivers driving with people with the same experience as them with less than 15 track weekends go out there with 345 Hoosiers, bolt on's and what not and get their shit tossed by little 160hp Miata's, shit ugly old BMW's, Caymans with 295hp and cars of that sort. The reason being, the chassis just does not communicate like other sports cars, such as a 911. Some will learn how to adapt to it and other drivers will always be slow for what they have...Keep in mind i'm speaking in terms of a relatively inexperienced track driver, not someone like an instructor/pro who has pent extensive time in the car learning their "different" behavior.. Anyhow in somewhat straightforward terms that Vette owners won't like, you are apart of a 911, M3, NSX, properly built Miata, but a Vette is still a brute and not exactly the best car for a driver/car relationship on a track, especially for a newb. They are a challenging car to start off in, which is why if and when you go to track day you will see Vette's getting torn up by little cars with not near the tire or power, but you'll also see experienced drivers (instructors and club racers) tearing it up as they are drivers who can adapt to their shortcomings, or what they lack that inexperienced racers have a hard time with (chassis communication)....
Now to be biased...this is my perspective
A ZR1 has 638hp, monster tires, monster brakes (good lord are they huge), and ran 7:22.6 on a track with 170+ turns with the best Corvette driver in the world, 7:26 with a professional driver
A 998 GT3 has the same weight, 415hp, 285's (IIRC), and much smaller brakes. It was driven sub 7:40 with the Porsche test driver claiming there was "room left", not the best Carrera driver in the world and in an N/A car. Mind you this was a 6 speed, not a PDK, which Porsche said would cut 4-10 seconds.
In my opinion the Corvette is still offering what it always has, brute force, a great price and more but while doing LESS, but the price makes up for it in some respects and they are great cars...
This is what I love, stereotypical GM owners talking about how fast they can go. LOL Billy i'm not trying to rag you I have just been hearing this talking since I was 15. My Vette, your Carrera or whatever...
Stop looking at it from a cockswinging perspective that you read from a magazine and just look at what's obvious, a Camaro has Brembo's, 285's (IIRC) all the way around, 436HP, LSD and still runs 9 seconds slower then a car with less than 300hp and an open diff, and less hp per lb
Two words, chassis development. You are getting what you pay for, less that does more..errr at a cost though.
