I own a Porsche and love them for what they are.... But I will never bash or say anything negative about the new corvettes either. I'm a car guy and love all types of performance cars
People like to say "nobody cross-shops Porsches and Corvettes." Those people are also known as morons. Of course they're very different in a lot of ways, but they're also very similar in the most important way--they're both purpose-built for speed, with minimal attention to comfort, practicality, etc. Porsches are about precision and finesse, and that engine-in-the-rear thing should be absurd, but they make it sublime. Corvettes are sledgehammers--massive engines, massive tires, massive brakes, and lightness...and the newer ones are increasingly technologically advanced. I can totally see myself buying either one. If I paid extra for the Porsche it would be for the legendary German attention to detail and engineering, but I could save tons of money buying a Corvette with equal or better performance, and the enjoyment of manhandling the twisties vs. finessing them. Also, "murica!" No, they're both excellent vehicles in their own way, and the fanboys on both sides are always hilarious.
Frank Burns So people are hilarious because they like quality as apposed to harshness? Anyone who knows about engineering would choose the Porsche, but I agree about price vs performance. I'd rather have neither if I can't have the Porsche though, and that probably accounts for many many other people too.
+Frank Burns hilarious. drive an old Lotus elise or caterham then you know what has minimal comfort. A porsche 911 or a corvette is a real daily driver in comparision they have all the luxery equipment you need and real trunk. Corvette has a trunk with over 400l.
+MagicAyrtonforever The Corvette is cheaper and is is closer to a race car than a 911 Carrera. I have a Porsche GT3 that has been converted to a race/track car and I have realized that for half the money I could have a Corvette do the same thing. Me and my Brother In Law share the GT3 and we could have each had a Corvette fitted out for both of us. The thing about American cars is that they can be afforded by everyday people who work hard. I cannot say the same about Porsche, Ferrari or Audi and other European brands. The European equivalent of a Camaro would cost a fortune.
+bighands69 you get what you pay for. I suggest you read December car and driver that lisets all the problems with the c7. needed a new engine at 6000 miles, no big deal. lol
No wonder he wasn't overly impressed with the 'vette. A base model C7 with an automatic gearbox up against a nearly fully loaded Porsche Carrera. Please, that's not even close. Give him the C7 with the Z51 package and the 7 speed and I guarantee you it would be much more impressive (and still WAY cheaper than the Porsche).
Couldn't agree more. That was Chevy's fault. Braindead decision. That C7 was made for people who aren't enthusiasts, but like the looks and how it feels on them. That's fine, but you don't bring a peashooter to a gun fight. What were they thinking?!
Not sure how deviated stitching or yellow seat belts make the Porsche go faster. Porsche simply has a customisation programme where the Vette hasn't. You do not have to buy all that stuff to make the Porsche a complete car. All you need is the sport exhaust, and the PDK if you want it, done. What boggles my mind though is how anyone spending 60K on options did NOT option the Power Kit, which gives 30 more horses, among a few other things, e.g. sports exhaust... and then it hasn't even got a paintjob that costs extra :)
Loved it like all the rest, the thing with corvette has always been the sheer amount of fun you can have for so little in comparison. For normal human beings it's a very expensive toy, but it's attainable. I'm loving the fact that they are raising they're game! Not one complaint about the seat also, loved that!
@@dragospahontu Of all the reasons to prefer one over the other, that probably has to be the worst. Buy a car for you, not for the anonymous nobodies on the sidewalk.
Can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy these test drives and comparisons. Give one new appreciation about the different ways to appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of cars we may very we'll never have the opportunity to drive. However give us the insight into what defines a good driving everyday car for the educated viewer. Bravo keep up the good work!
Base Carrera s ~100,000 and Base corvette ~50K and in the video he says that the carrera has a corvette worth of options on it. So we are looking at about 150K for that carrera S. With that sort of money I would just get a Porsche 911 GT3. GT3 is simply amazing!
Who is the clown in charge of assigning these vehicles to the press? Why would anyone give Chris Harris an automatic to try? Fire that person. I'm not a fan of any american car but this Vette looks to be pretty awesome.
I feel like they assume every press can't drive like chris harris does. So give em a car that doesnt need a clutch replacement after some "reviewer" destroys it.
the only way to enjoy such a show which is repeated everywhere is to be honest in ur review and that's what we love in you and your team dear Chris... thx againa and again
Throughout my childhood and most of my adult life, I was enamored with every car Porsche was producing....I was a Porsche fan boy through and through. I've driven and ridden in plenty of 911's and 928's. Great cars with great build quality..On the flip side, other than a 1967 Stingray, I never cared for Corvettes -until a co-worker bought a new Stingray. I have to say, regardless of the money, it is a great car. The fit and finish is right up there with ANY Porsche I've been in. I've been in at least one 911 from every generation since the late 1980's. The quality of materials in the Corvette's interior isn't quite up to par with Porsche, but the Corvette is a fraction of the cost. After driving the Stingray I was hooked. I never thought I would ever in my lifetime say this, but I want a new Corvette and would buy the Stingray in a heartbeat. To each their own. Porsche / Corvette...people you can argue about the pros and cons of each and never come to an agreement. If everything goes as planned, I'll be purchasing one (used...why take the initial hit driving it new off the lot?) in the next two years.
It seems like the cinematography in this season/year of Drive is stepped up a notch, and the presenters are as on point as ever. Great work, Drive team!
Funny how Chris sprouts a beard like Matt Farah at 6:49... Superlative review as always by Chris Harris, thank you so much for the upload. Been subscribed for quite a few weeks now and I love the content.
thats some epic camera work guys, I hope we see more things on drive with this level of production quality. I don't think anyone else on youtube is putting out car videos that look this good. Keep it up JF!
C Harris does by far the best job of combining lighthearted humor in his reviews, insightful observations not obtainable in C&D or R&D reviews, and an audience of cars people care about. Kudos.
Anyone looking to buy a 911, isn't even considering a Corvette. Same goes for anyone looking to buy a Corvette, isn't considering a 911, worlds apart, both brilliant cars in their own right.
During the era of this review that was entirely true, but now with the new mid-engine C8 that makes more power than the 992 911 Carrera S and offers as much if not more road-presence, I think more and more people are in-fact cross-shopping the two.
@@tyler9703no people aren’t 😂. Porsche doesn’t focus on power like everyone else seems to do and a corvette just doesn’t and never will have the presence that a Porsche does. Not saying the vette isn’t a great car in its respective class, but it will never be on the same level as a Porsche.
Something worth noting is that next year the Vettes are getting a brand new 8 speed automatic gearbox that GM says shifts faster than Porsche's PDK. It just wasn't ready for the first year of Stingray production. And of course you can also get the new 7 speed Tremec TR-6070 manual gearbox. So yes unfortunately the 6-speed auto in the first year C7 is a carryover from the C6.
BerndDieBratwurst999 Well that's because you apparently don't know how to use google. www.motorauthority.com/news/1089778_gm-8-speed-in-corvette-z06-shifts-faster-than-porsche-pdk-heres-how I found that in 2 seconds, what's your excuse?
+Joe Blow and here we are 3 years later, I have a GT3 with a PDK, and 8spd is almost as bad... I was really hoping it would be good. But now they have the new 10spd maybe that will be good but in the end I will always go with a stick.
Too bad he tested an early very base Corvette. The Corvette now comes with a much faster shifting 8 speed automatic (even in the base form). And for $5K more he could have added the Z51 performance package. Which is a huge improvement and would have given the 911 a hard time. The Z51 adds better brakes, electronic limited slip differential, magnetic ride control and better tires amongst a bunch of other goodies. Well worth the money.
Chris is one of the best car journalists out there. Corvette is a good car, but if I am to spend that much money on a brand new Corvette, I would wait for two to three years and purchase the Porsche for the same price as it is in a different league.
True, but you enjoy it more. I recently bought a $70K car for $25K. Had to wait few years to depreciate, but it is very low mileage. I love every minute of driving it.
that's true but lets face it the unless you can really afford the Porsche, you would get the Corvette, because, remember the maintenance and parts costs on the Porsche will always be higher than on the vette.
***** What did you buy? I can't think of any car with an MSRP around $70M (LSA CTS-V, E92 M3, C63, C6 Z06) that is now priced around $25M unless it has 200M+ miles or has a salvage title that is worth owning. Please, point me to the fun, formerly-$70M cars that are now $25M.
I really love watching Chris Harris driving all this cars, I watch his other videos too and I love seeing him pushing these cars in and out of curves by fishtailing.
I think Chris needs another go in another Corvette: -This one isn't the Z51 package -this one has the (old) 6-speed auto. The Current ones have an 8-speed, or better yet, give him the 7-speed manual.
It seems this vette does have the Z51 package, judging by the larger wheels that it has. Probably base 1LT with Z51 package. The just base 1LT has smaller and different design wheels.
i think he didnt use the manual transmission because the 911 isnt equipped with one they wanted to keep this apples oranges comparison as close as possible...........sigh vs comparing an elephant to a giraffe. dont get me wrong two light cars lots of usable power but mr boosted.........vs fr na V8 is and always will be apples to oranges to me even compairing the boss 302 vs a ss is apples to oranges to me..... and by the 911 isnt equipped with one i mean it has flippy paddles and not an actual old fashioned hand shifter nob. bah re watched the vid "i dont know why they gave it to us in automatic" it was what they were given i forsee a rematch possibly with a manual vette
andola jackson Maybe test the base 911 to a fully loaded Corvette? Because the price is apples to oranges too like Chris mentioned many times. I think the Z06 crorvette will be around the price of a slightly loaded 911.
I guess everyone will choose the Porsche .. But it is painful when you remember how good the Chevy looks and sounds and feels.. Makes you feel like.. Damn i should bought it !
i have only driven 1 new gen porsche and it was by far the best car I ever drove. That includes the Lambo Gallardo and Z06 vette. they were not even close in terms of fun and driving feel IMHO
LOVE your reviews, Chris. You have great insights into the vehicles you drive, especially the way that you articulate them. And your British swagger certainly never hurts :) The 911 and the Corvette are an interesting comparison, for sure. I've never driven a 911, nor am I sure that I ever will, but at least I can live vicariously through those that do, on CZcams.
Did Chris go for the magnetic suspension on the Corvette? That makes a HUGE difference. And the only Corvette I would get with an auto gearbox is a convertible. Hell, I'd still get the manual no matter what. How and why did Chevy NOT give Chris a manual is beyond me. Ok rant mode disengaged. But he is right. Both cars perform awesomely for their price.
Looking forward to a proper head to head - C7 Z51 Manual vs. Porsche (Insert favorite model here.) Keep in mind the Vette is a bargin here in the US. Anywhere else and $$ differential probably won't be as drastic.
As always bloody awesome vid Chris and Drive. I've never been an American car fan but that Corvette is pretty bloody appealing. Love that it's not refined or perfect and just gives it's fans what they want. And the 991, brilliant. Again giving the fans exactly what they pay for. When taking value for money into mind, one isn't better than the other. Both great and it's awesome cars like this are being made.
Yeah you might have cocked up with the sound, but you still seem to deliver what us petrolheads have been wanting for so many years; quality car videos. - Great footage, the sound of the cars are brilliant, the videos is in 1080p, keep up the good work guys.
Name I'm only practicing on a virtual stock right now and I made over $1000 virtual money on Wednesday in a half our or so. If I play the whole day I could theoretically make $2000-$5000 a day if I play the right ones at the given time. My program finds em ;)
If you want aggression? Get the Corvette. If you want precision? Save up them pennies and get the Porsche. Different floats, to float different boats. I must also say. GM handed over the wrong Corvette. First of all it was the 6 speed auto. Which is old and outdated, in engineering terms. They should have supplied the 8 speed automatic that will be in all coming up 15' models. Or the 7 speed manual most people have been testing so far. Further more, this isn't the Z51. Just a fully opted 3LT base Sting Ray. Would have been a better experience with the Z51 package. Not saying Chris would change his mind. But he wouldn't have the problems he clearly was having in this video.
And what people don't know "That Aggression" works when trying to get a quick lap time as good as the Precision, It just depends on the skill level of the driver to tame and inspire confidence in controlling the throttle around the track.
I've been waiting for a review like this! Great review, Chris explain it perfectly to any haters there might be. Hopefully the Z06 will deal with those chassis issues.
You would have really liked a Z51 car with bigger brakes and a clever torque vectoring differential and a manual gearbox ALOT more then the base car...The suspension is more buttoned down.
I agree, the comparison is useless, and american cars were always in a price/performance bracket of their own, but the Porsche's extras are outrageous, I just can't believe anyone would spend 160.000$ on Carrera S, bloody hell, you can get a Turbo/S for that price, and a GT3 for 40.000$ less.Even though I'm a huge Porsche fan, and would probably pick a Porsche over a Corvette anyday, the Corvette is really an extraordinary vehicle for the money.
There are an infinite amount of unnecessary options that Porsche offers. I'm a huge Porsche fan too, but there are only around 10 options that I'd even consider, and about 2 of them that I'd actually get. Get your pretty rims, performance exhaust, and honestly, unless you want an auto, that's all you need, and there's not a thing you'll miss. I said there are 10 options worth considering because there's stuff like the ceramic breaks that are only worth it if you track heavily, and for that price, why wouldn't you get a GT3?
Carbon Ceramics alone take up $10k of that space. PDK is 10k more IIRC. But 60k in Porsche options? 20-30k is easy...60k?=LOL You clicked boxes until your finger got sore lol
I think commentators are missing the point of the Corvette. It's the car we all could buy. If you have a college degree and a decent job you can buy a Corvette. You CANNOT hope to own a new 911 unless you make well and above a 6 figure salary. Because of this at any track day, autocross, or any other motorsports event you will see new Corvettes and only a few 2nd hand 911s. The 911 is a car for the obscenely rich, old people retirees, etc. 50 or 60 year old men with a lifetime of savings buy that car. Active people in their 20s and 30s can buy the Corvette as well as those older people. It's for everyone, 911 is for 1 percenters
ah, no. the "obscenely rich" as you put it have whole car collections, yachts, chateaux etc Even here in Australia where cars cost more than twice as much as they do in the US and UK, track days are dominated by 911s, F430s, Astons and the like. Anyone who applies themselves can afford a 911. Not to blow my own trumpet but I had my first (a 996) at 29. My best mate who is an electrician had one too.
we have to remeber just as well that c7 is the Base Base BASE version. its not equiped with the z51 track package either. which garners upgraded suspersion, exhaust, brakes and tuning. this car is 53grand.
yes. of course, base meaning the lowest trim corvette. not the z51 package. And lets not forget he loves porsche for good reasons that said the porsche is a very different driving experience with the engine in the back oppose to the weight in the front. For chris the cars response would feel just as twitchy as a person driving the 911 for the first time. And indeed one can visually see the vette is not as slip libral as the porsche, its really the diff as he points out. That said, im glad he points out very clearly the porsche is Far more money to the vette but overall what you get from the vette makes arguments pretty pointless. for the money your getting far more car than any arguments can justify. Lastly lets not forget factory tune always leaves room for the buyers to tweak and further improve. which is why the higher grade vettes perform so vastly better.
The C7 without the Z51 package is a "Base Corvette". A C7 with the Z51 package is still called a "Base Corvette". The Z51 package is just a sporty package. It doesn't elevated the C7 to a higher model level.
Here in the states the cayman s starts at 63k which isn't much different than the vette, I'd like to see someone take them both back to back like this and see if the cayman is as good at beating the vette as the 911 was.
The corvette is a better car than the cayman in my opinion...these cars are for speed and racing put the vette against the 911 the cayman and it beats it on the track for half the price!!!
Chris chose the 911 on purpose, to give the Vette fanboys the emotional satisfaction of being the underdog. If he had chosen the Cayman and the Cayman still destroyed the Vette, how do you think they would feel? lol
and dont forget about top gear uk the most bias of them all i love top gear uk but clarkson jokes are getting old but i will watch because of hammond and may
***** and dont forget about top gear uk the most bias of them all i love top gear uk but clarkson jokes are getting old but i will watch because of hammond and may
i have a 991S and it is a car that absolutely makes you smile all the time your driving it. That said i am certain that many corvette owners also enjoy that sensation so my thoughts are simply to appreciate two awesome yet different cars.
To bad they didn't give Chris a manual C7 with a Z51 package and that e-diff. Would have made a big difference as far as the oversteer/twitchiness he was describing.
Spending a hundred grand on a 991 just doesn't feel right to me when a 997, just one generation prior, will set you back between forty and sixty depending on year and mileage. That car's got the better steering too.
Have you ever driven either? The 991 blows the 997 away dude, in every way except for feeling a bit more road through the wheel. I would never discount a 991 due to it's steering, it's really not noticeable.
sherman3211 I'm not discounting it for that reason. I said it's hard to justify when a 997 can be had for around 65% the price of a 991. The steering's just an added bonus in my opinion. You don't have to agree with me.
Alec D. I didn't say I didn't agree with you. But the performance is noticeably better on the 991. I'd personally just seek out a used 2012 991 S for maybe 90 or mid 80s. The extra money is worth it to me. That being said, we sold a 997S (2005 w/PASM) for like 36k (45k miles) back in june of 2013. I replaced the rear main seal and clutch before it sold also. That would be an easy choice. But I see late model 997.2S going for near 70k, I'd just pony up the extra for the 991 if I were looking for a 9A1 car. But if I were just looking to get into a newer 911 for cheap the early 997.1 is hard to look past.
sherman3211 Lovely. But notice I never compared a used 997 to a used 991. That was you're doing. So who you're addressing there I'm not sure. I also said I'd go with the 997 because it was far cheaper and you decide it's worth double used-997 money. Well sure. I'd do that if you had the money too. But that sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it?
Dust on the sensor rather than the lens. Shooting at small apertures to keep a deep depth of field on a DSLR. Always a bit of a pain to notice after shooting. UV filters, sun hoods, polarizer and a touch more post production - good ideas, but still a fantastic production given the time & budget limits.
"Chris is an idiot.." LOL! At least for now, there is no better video auto journalist than Chris. You get a real sense of how these cars actually /DRIVE as he powerdrifts, corrects and nails an apex.. all while glibly nattering on... Great stuff. Finally, a Corvette that is worth way more than half a 911..
Whoever at GM that gave Chris an automatic Corvette should have been fired.
You mean a 6 spd automatic. Because the A8 is great!
*****
I wasn't suggesting it was an 8 spd automatic.
I own a Porsche and love them for what they are.... But I will never bash or say anything negative about the new corvettes either. I'm a car guy and love all types of performance cars
vdubjetta02 exactly
You are a car guy indeed! 👍🏼
My 14 c7 z51 blew at 26k miles, still waiting 3 weeks out to get fixed under warranty. Never again will I buy this garbage. Tesla 100% from now on.
I'm a Porsche owner also. But I've said it more than once. The corvette is the best performance value on the market.
Thank you
People like to say "nobody cross-shops Porsches and Corvettes." Those people are also known as morons. Of course they're very different in a lot of ways, but they're also very similar in the most important way--they're both purpose-built for speed, with minimal attention to comfort, practicality, etc. Porsches are about precision and finesse, and that engine-in-the-rear thing should be absurd, but they make it sublime. Corvettes are sledgehammers--massive engines, massive tires, massive brakes, and lightness...and the newer ones are increasingly technologically advanced. I can totally see myself buying either one. If I paid extra for the Porsche it would be for the legendary German attention to detail and engineering, but I could save tons of money buying a Corvette with equal or better performance, and the enjoyment of manhandling the twisties vs. finessing them. Also, "murica!" No, they're both excellent vehicles in their own way, and the fanboys on both sides are always hilarious.
Frank Burns "minimal attention to comfort" I laughed at this statement because it is so untrue.
Frank Burns So people are hilarious because they like quality as apposed to harshness? Anyone who knows about engineering would choose the Porsche, but I agree about price vs performance. I'd rather have neither if I can't have the Porsche though, and that probably accounts for many many other people too.
+Frank Burns hilarious. drive an old Lotus elise or caterham then you know what has minimal comfort. A porsche 911 or a corvette is a real daily driver in comparision they have all the luxery equipment you need and real trunk. Corvette has a trunk with over 400l.
+MagicAyrtonforever
The Corvette is cheaper and is is closer to a race car than a 911 Carrera.
I have a Porsche GT3 that has been converted to a race/track car and I have realized that for half the money I could have a Corvette do the same thing. Me and my Brother In Law share the GT3 and we could have each had a Corvette fitted out for both of us.
The thing about American cars is that they can be afforded by everyday people who work hard. I cannot say the same about Porsche, Ferrari or Audi and other European brands.
The European equivalent of a Camaro would cost a fortune.
+bighands69 you get what you pay for. I suggest you read December car and driver that lisets all the problems with the c7. needed a new engine at 6000 miles, no big deal. lol
No wonder he wasn't overly impressed with the 'vette. A base model C7 with an automatic gearbox up against a nearly fully loaded Porsche Carrera. Please, that's not even close. Give him the C7 with the Z51 package and the 7 speed and I guarantee you it would be much more impressive (and still WAY cheaper than the Porsche).
Couldn't agree more. That was Chevy's fault. Braindead decision. That C7 was made for people who aren't enthusiasts, but like the looks and how it feels on them. That's fine, but you don't bring a peashooter to a gun fight. What were they thinking?!
No Kidding.....
Funny how he is saying "porsche has sooo many added on good'ys"
At the tune of 60 Grand added on!........LOL...
koch
Yeah, the options alone on the Porsche cost more than the entire C7 lol. I think GM really struck gold with this new 'vette.
Not sure how deviated stitching or yellow seat belts make the Porsche go faster. Porsche simply has a customisation programme where the Vette hasn't. You do not have to buy all that stuff to make the Porsche a complete car. All you need is the sport exhaust, and the PDK if you want it, done.
What boggles my mind though is how anyone spending 60K on options did NOT option the Power Kit, which gives 30 more horses, among a few other things, e.g. sports exhaust... and then it hasn't even got a paintjob that costs extra :)
Baerchenization it doesn't. It just magically shrinks the size of the owner's sausage lol.
Loved it like all the rest, the thing with corvette has always been the sheer amount of fun you can have for so little in comparison. For normal human beings it's a very expensive toy, but it's attainable. I'm loving the fact that they are raising they're game! Not one complaint about the seat also, loved that!
The 991 looks so composed and flat in the drifts as if it is floating.
Once again Chris, you nailed it. So precise, so detailed, so car loving. MORE MORE MORE!
The camera work is just brilliant, especially at 2:42 . SO glad to see you guys improving upon an already amazing series.
Your editor was unable to get rid of Matt Farah's beard at 6:50. Nice try though lol
***** Thanks haha
I'd still have the Porsche because of the stigma you get from a Corvette
@@dragospahontu Of all the reasons to prefer one over the other, that probably has to be the worst. Buy a car for you, not for the anonymous nobodies on the sidewalk.
@@JETZcorp the Lexus LC500😍
CAN CHRIS DO EVERY SHOW???? THE GUY IS BRILLIANT. Wonderful journalist!
Can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy these test drives and comparisons. Give one new appreciation about the different ways to appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of cars we may very we'll never have the opportunity to drive. However give us the insight into what defines a good driving everyday car for the educated viewer. Bravo keep up the good work!
Base Carrera s ~100,000 and Base corvette ~50K and in the video he says that the carrera has a corvette worth of options on it. So we are looking at about 150K for that carrera S. With that sort of money I would just get a Porsche 911 GT3. GT3 is simply amazing!
On a side note, you should take a look at the spy shots of the New 991 GT3 RS, the wing on that thing is FUCKING MASSIVE.
***** the whole car is massive in comparison to older 911's
Anyone else spot Matt Farah at 6:50 ?
lol his beard revealed him ^^
I did...
and at 8:04 he appears again :D O:)
How the hell could ANYONE miss Matt Farah?
Who is the clown in charge of assigning these vehicles to the press? Why would anyone give Chris Harris an automatic to try? Fire that person.
I'm not a fan of any american car but this Vette looks to be pretty awesome.
LSG Drizzt Well, Vette's automatic is worse than the 7-speed manual. So the guy was right.
I feel like they assume every press can't drive like chris harris does. So give em a car that doesnt need a clutch replacement after some "reviewer" destroys it.
We don't even know if this vette has the Z51 package or not
frankth3frizz A lot of reviewers get manual version. That's what press cars are for.
Mohamad Al Yousuf Probably not. Since he kept mentioning it's a stock Vette.
the only way to enjoy such a show which is repeated everywhere is to be honest in ur review and that's what we love in you and your team dear Chris... thx againa and again
Throughout my childhood and most of my adult life, I was enamored with every car Porsche was producing....I was a Porsche fan boy through and through. I've driven and ridden in plenty of 911's and 928's. Great cars with great build quality..On the flip side, other than a 1967 Stingray, I never cared for Corvettes -until a co-worker bought a new Stingray. I have to say, regardless of the money, it is a great car. The fit and finish is right up there with ANY Porsche I've been in. I've been in at least one 911 from every generation since the late 1980's. The quality of materials in the Corvette's interior isn't quite up to par with Porsche, but the Corvette is a fraction of the cost. After driving the Stingray I was hooked. I never thought I would ever in my lifetime say this, but I want a new Corvette and would buy the Stingray in a heartbeat. To each their own. Porsche / Corvette...people you can argue about the pros and cons of each and never come to an agreement. If everything goes as planned, I'll be purchasing one (used...why take the initial hit driving it new off the lot?) in the next two years.
Did you ever get one
Chris... please shed some light on us mere mortals as to how to get started with a career similar to yours.
It's too bad GM short changed you guys and sent an automatic Corvette
"Dammit Bud and Bob. Dammit."- James May
It seems like the cinematography in this season/year of Drive is stepped up a notch, and the presenters are as on point as ever. Great work, Drive team!
Funny how Chris sprouts a beard like Matt Farah at 6:49...
Superlative review as always by Chris Harris, thank you so much for the upload. Been subscribed for quite a few weeks now and I love the content.
Shame about the automatic and base car. Wonder what he would have thought of the 7-spd and Z51 package equipped car
Motorsport Magazine's acceleration test proved the manual to be really slow.
Maad Dan It's only "really slow" if the driver sucks lol
*****
Considering it's an actual slush box, I will agree. A dual clutch setup would be my preference.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can only get those wheels from the factory on a car that has the Z51 Package.
I'd still have the Porsche because of the stigma you get from a Corvette
The base C7 has soft suspension and a soft shifting 6L80e.
The Z51 package is the track C7.
thats some epic camera work guys, I hope we see more things on drive with this level of production quality. I don't think anyone else on youtube is putting out car videos that look this good. Keep it up JF!
C Harris does by far the best job of combining lighthearted humor in his reviews, insightful observations not obtainable in C&D or R&D reviews, and an audience of cars people care about. Kudos.
Anyone looking to buy a 911, isn't even considering a Corvette. Same goes for anyone looking to buy a Corvette, isn't considering a 911, worlds apart, both brilliant cars in their own right.
Agreed, it would start to make sense if they were comparing a Z06 to a Cayman
During the era of this review that was entirely true, but now with the new mid-engine C8 that makes more power than the 992 911 Carrera S and offers as much if not more road-presence, I think more and more people are in-fact cross-shopping the two.
@@tyler9703no people aren’t 😂. Porsche doesn’t focus on power like everyone else seems to do and a corvette just doesn’t and never will have the presence that a Porsche does. Not saying the vette isn’t a great car in its respective class, but it will never be on the same level as a Porsche.
the Corvette exterior looks so good! these Lights **O**
Something worth noting is that next year the Vettes are getting a brand new 8 speed automatic gearbox that GM says shifts faster than Porsche's PDK. It just wasn't ready for the first year of Stingray production. And of course you can also get the new 7 speed Tremec TR-6070 manual gearbox. So yes unfortunately the 6-speed auto in the first year C7 is a carryover from the C6.
If it's a normal automatic gearbox, I highly doubt that it can perform gear changes faster than a double-clutch
BerndDieBratwurst999 Well that's because you apparently don't know how to use google.
www.motorauthority.com/news/1089778_gm-8-speed-in-corvette-z06-shifts-faster-than-porsche-pdk-heres-how
I found that in 2 seconds, what's your excuse?
That's a pretty incredible claim by GM; but if they say it, I believe it.
Joe Blow i second that! sticking with my 981.
+Joe Blow and here we are 3 years later, I have a GT3 with a PDK, and 8spd is almost as bad... I was really hoping it would be good. But now they have the new 10spd maybe that will be good but in the end I will always go with a stick.
Too bad he tested an early very base Corvette. The Corvette now comes with a much faster shifting 8 speed automatic (even in the base form). And for $5K more he could have added the Z51 performance package. Which is a huge improvement and would have given the 911 a hard time. The Z51 adds better brakes, electronic limited slip differential, magnetic ride control and better tires amongst a bunch of other goodies. Well worth the money.
As far as I'm concerned, the Z51 package is a must when ordering a C7. There's no reason someone shouldn't get it.
I just bought a new z51 anxious to try it out, taking delivery in 4 days 😄
Z51 brakes are pictured .
Nice comparison. 2 iconic cars with so different philosophy in building.
Chris is one of the best car journalists out there. Corvette is a good car, but if I am to spend that much money on a brand new Corvette, I would wait for two to three years and purchase the Porsche for the same price as it is in a different league.
It's hard to be that patient.
True, but you enjoy it more. I recently bought a $70K car for $25K. Had to wait few years to depreciate, but it is very low mileage. I love every minute of driving it.
Patience is very rewarding, so I give you props. I just meant that man people don't have it.
that's true but lets face it the unless you can really afford the Porsche, you would get the Corvette, because, remember the maintenance and parts costs on the Porsche will always be higher than on the vette.
*****
What did you buy? I can't think of any car with an MSRP around $70M (LSA CTS-V, E92 M3, C63, C6 Z06) that is now priced around $25M unless it has 200M+ miles or has a salvage title that is worth owning.
Please, point me to the fun, formerly-$70M cars that are now $25M.
Beautiful video done by a man with true passion for the art.
I really love watching Chris Harris driving all this cars, I watch his other videos too and I love seeing him pushing these cars in and out of curves by fishtailing.
Those quadrotor shots are phenomenal.
I think Chris needs another go in another Corvette:
-This one isn't the Z51 package
-this one has the (old) 6-speed auto. The Current ones have an 8-speed, or better yet, give him the 7-speed manual.
It seems this vette does have the Z51 package, judging by the larger wheels that it has. Probably base 1LT with Z51 package. The just base 1LT has smaller and different design wheels.
***** Maybe. The Z51 3LT starts around 61800$.
i think he didnt use the manual transmission because the 911 isnt equipped with one they wanted to keep this apples oranges comparison as close as possible...........sigh vs comparing an elephant to a giraffe. dont get me wrong two light cars lots of usable power but mr boosted.........vs fr na V8 is and always will be apples to oranges to me even compairing the boss 302 vs a ss is apples to oranges to me.....
and by the 911 isnt equipped with one i mean it has flippy paddles and not an actual old fashioned hand shifter nob.
bah re watched the vid "i dont know why they gave it to us in automatic" it was what they were given i forsee a rematch possibly with a manual vette
andola jackson
andola jackson Maybe test the base 911 to a fully loaded Corvette? Because the price is apples to oranges too like Chris mentioned many times. I think the Z06 crorvette will be around the price of a slightly loaded 911.
THANK YOU. I needed this because these are the two exact cars I am stuck in which one to get!
Fantastic review... Hit the nail on the head with what I was expecting
I guess everyone will choose the Porsche .. But it is painful when you remember how good the Chevy looks and sounds and feels.. Makes you feel like.. Damn i should bought it !
I love the c7 Corvette and c6 also ❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
i have only driven 1 new gen porsche and it was by far the best car I ever drove. That includes the Lambo Gallardo and Z06 vette. they were not even close in terms of fun and driving feel IMHO
Love that porsche and love those camera angles. Definately one of the best produced car shows on youtube.
always a joy looking videos with chris
Chris Harris is why im subcribed to Drive, but please Chris review more affordable cars, hot hatches, fast saloons, maybe a scooby or two, thanks!!!
GM should be ashamed for giving him a base automatic...
Corvettes should not even have automatic gearbox as an option
@@64fairlane305 Careful... you might hurt a C8 owners feelings. 😢
camerawork ist AWESOME. so is the review. thanks what a joy to watch.
The Corvette, Its FU**IN Brilliant Fun!! Dude Chris Harris you are the man, love the vids. Cheers from USA!
"It's fucking brilliant fun."
I had to get up for a moment, so I paused the video. It was on a frame of the C7.
When I got back, my first thought was "Why did they bring a Viper?"
Chris, no one reviews cars quite like you. Your the best!
Enjoyed the comparison very much. Thank you Drive and Chris.
Great review Chris and great videography to the Drive team!
Cheers!
The videography is excellent, i wonder how the achieve it.
WHO THE FUCK AT CHEVROLET GAVE CHRIS HARRIS AN AUTOMATIC CAR!!!!!!!! and why the FUCK should they not be fired STAT
LOVE your reviews, Chris. You have great insights into the vehicles you drive, especially the way that you articulate them. And your British swagger certainly never hurts :) The 911 and the Corvette are an interesting comparison, for sure. I've never driven a 911, nor am I sure that I ever will, but at least I can live vicariously through those that do, on CZcams.
Brilliant review Chris,the video footage and editing was simply awesome.
Hats off to the cameraman at 9:04 to 9:16. Purely cinematic.
Poler777 Thank you!
Did Chris go for the magnetic suspension on the Corvette? That makes a HUGE difference. And the only Corvette I would get with an auto gearbox is a convertible. Hell, I'd still get the manual no matter what. How and why did Chevy NOT give Chris a manual is beyond me. Ok rant mode disengaged.
But he is right. Both cars perform awesomely for their price.
Great shots of the carrera...just beautiful.
Oh, how I've been waiting for this all week.
The 911, yes its expensive, but what a maschine!
Looking forward to a proper head to head - C7 Z51 Manual vs. Porsche (Insert favorite model here.)
Keep in mind the Vette is a bargin here in the US. Anywhere else and $$ differential probably won't be as drastic.
As always bloody awesome vid Chris and Drive. I've never been an American car fan but that Corvette is pretty bloody appealing. Love that it's not refined or perfect and just gives it's fans what they want. And the 991, brilliant. Again giving the fans exactly what they pay for. When taking value for money into mind, one isn't better than the other. Both great and it's awesome cars like this are being made.
I love your reviews Chris!
Brilliant review as usual Chris. Any chance we might see a 991 GT3 vs 458 Speciale comparison?
Please get the sensors cleaned on the cameras you use
Another fantastic review Chris! You're THE best ever! Cheers.
Yeah you might have cocked up with the sound, but you still seem to deliver what us petrolheads have been wanting for so many years; quality car videos.
- Great footage, the sound of the cars are brilliant, the videos is in 1080p, keep up the good work guys.
I never use to be a Porsche fan until the the new GT3 came out, that thing is incredible.
yeah until it got recalled. I really want one when i have the money. Should take about a year or two playing the stock market.
ravenwda007
Good luck, have you had any success on the stock market before?
Name
I'm only practicing on a virtual stock right now and I made over $1000 virtual money on Wednesday in a half our or so. If I play the whole day I could theoretically make $2000-$5000 a day if I play the right ones at the given time. My program finds em ;)
Nice.
chad haire your comments show how dumb you are, lol
If you want aggression? Get the Corvette.
If you want precision? Save up them pennies and get the Porsche.
Different floats, to float different boats.
I must also say. GM handed over the wrong Corvette. First of all it was the 6 speed auto. Which is old and outdated, in engineering terms. They should have supplied the 8 speed automatic that will be in all coming up 15' models. Or the 7 speed manual most people have been testing so far. Further more, this isn't the Z51. Just a fully opted 3LT base Sting Ray. Would have been a better experience with the Z51 package. Not saying Chris would change his mind. But he wouldn't have the problems he clearly was having in this video.
And what people don't know "That Aggression" works when trying to get a quick lap time as good as the Precision, It just depends on the skill level of the driver to tame and inspire confidence in controlling the throttle around the track.
Why does this base vette have the larger Z51 wheels?
*****
You can specially order a base Sting Ray with Z51 style rims.
A brilliant start of the video by Chris.
I've been waiting for a review like this! Great review, Chris explain it perfectly to any haters there might be. Hopefully the Z06 will deal with those chassis issues.
YES YES YES great review Chris :D
You would have really liked a Z51 car with bigger brakes and a clever torque vectoring differential and a manual gearbox ALOT more then the base car...The suspension is more buttoned down.
YES! I've been waiting for this since last year!
Watching the Porsche floating sideways around the track gave me goosebumps, thank you.
As stated by other: Z51 + 7 speed stick needs testing, sideways while laughing
I believe you can only get those wheels in the video with the Z51 Package.
I agree, the comparison is useless, and american cars were always in a price/performance bracket of their own, but the Porsche's extras are outrageous, I just can't believe anyone would spend 160.000$ on Carrera S, bloody hell, you can get a Turbo/S for that price, and a GT3 for 40.000$ less.Even though I'm a huge Porsche fan, and would probably pick a Porsche over a Corvette anyday, the Corvette is really an extraordinary vehicle for the money.
There are an infinite amount of unnecessary options that Porsche offers. I'm a huge Porsche fan too, but there are only around 10 options that I'd even consider, and about 2 of them that I'd actually get. Get your pretty rims, performance exhaust, and honestly, unless you want an auto, that's all you need, and there's not a thing you'll miss. I said there are 10 options worth considering because there's stuff like the ceramic breaks that are only worth it if you track heavily, and for that price, why wouldn't you get a GT3?
Carbon Ceramics alone take up $10k of that space.
PDK is 10k more IIRC. But 60k in Porsche options? 20-30k is easy...60k?=LOL You clicked boxes until your finger got sore lol
Another great review, thanks
The bad audio is a real pity, especially beacuse it clashes with the particularly stunning video quality! Still another great video from Drive.
I think commentators are missing the point of the Corvette. It's the car we all could buy. If you have a college degree and a decent job you can buy a Corvette. You CANNOT hope to own a new 911 unless you make well and above a 6 figure salary. Because of this at any track day, autocross, or any other motorsports event you will see new Corvettes and only a few 2nd hand 911s. The 911 is a car for the obscenely rich, old people retirees, etc. 50 or 60 year old men with a lifetime of savings buy that car. Active people in their 20s and 30s can buy the Corvette as well as those older people. It's for everyone, 911 is for 1 percenters
Young Professionals with a bit of cash who can't afford a 911 will go for a Cayman or a used 911. No one is going to substitute one for a Corvette.
Odd, the trackdays that I go seem to have many more 911's than corvettes.
ah, no. the "obscenely rich" as you put it have whole car collections, yachts, chateaux etc
Even here in Australia where cars cost more than twice as much as they do in the US and UK, track days are dominated by 911s, F430s, Astons and the like.
Anyone who applies themselves can afford a 911. Not to blow my own trumpet but I had my first (a 996) at 29. My best mate who is an electrician had one too.
we have to remeber just as well that c7 is the Base Base BASE version. its not equiped with the z51 track package either. which garners upgraded suspersion, exhaust, brakes and tuning. this car is 53grand.
Judging by the larger wheel this is the base 1LT with Z51. Prove me wrong.
By "Base Corvette", he meant the Corvette that is the lowest trim level. In other words, not a Grand Sport, Z06, etc.
yes. of course, base meaning the lowest trim corvette. not the z51 package. And lets not forget he loves porsche for good reasons that said the porsche is a very different driving experience with the engine in the back oppose to the weight in the front. For chris the cars response would feel just as twitchy as a person driving the 911 for the first time. And indeed one can visually see the vette is not as slip libral as the porsche, its really the diff as he points out. That said, im glad he points out very clearly the porsche is Far more money to the vette but overall what you get from the vette makes arguments pretty pointless. for the money your getting far more car than any arguments can justify. Lastly lets not forget factory tune always leaves room for the buyers to tweak and further improve. which is why the higher grade vettes perform so vastly better.
The C7 without the Z51 package is a "Base Corvette". A C7 with the Z51 package is still called a "Base Corvette". The Z51 package is just a sporty package. It doesn't elevated the C7 to a higher model level.
nice review, have to say the camera team are awsome doing a very impressive job
I love watching Chris Harris' reviews. Makes Wednesday a bit more bearable.
Here in the states the cayman s starts at 63k which isn't much different than the vette, I'd like to see someone take them both back to back like this and see if the cayman is as good at beating the vette as the 911 was.
The corvette is a better car than the cayman in my opinion...these cars are for speed and racing put the vette against the 911 the cayman and it beats it on the track for half the price!!!
Chris chose the 911 on purpose, to give the Vette fanboys the emotional satisfaction of being the underdog. If he had chosen the Cayman and the Cayman still destroyed the Vette, how do you think they would feel? lol
@@ErebosGR yes sure a 981 cayman s is slow af. Even the m2 is faster than the 2014 cayman s😂
I would have liked to see some track time comparisons.
this is why i like chris harris he is mostly my favor journalist from the uk why because he is unbiased ty chris for the awesome review
I agree with you. Mr harris isnt as unbiased as those knobs from autocar. He gives every vehicle a chance to shine.
and dont forget about top gear uk the most bias of them all i love top gear uk but clarkson jokes are getting old but i will watch because of hammond and may
***** and dont forget about top gear uk the most bias of them all i love top gear uk but clarkson jokes are getting old but i will watch because of hammond and may
The engine from that 991 is glorious!
Chris laughed and smiled more while driving the corvette ;) In terms ot smiles per dollar, the corvette seems to bring more value :)
Loved the shot starting at 9:05...
i klicked the like button as i saw Chris Harris does the review
Great review!
Imagine what the new Z06 will do
Munch anything and everything easily!
Nononomnomnomnom
What song was that in the intro?
The way how Chris drifted that vette is both hilarious yet amazing.
i have a 991S and it is a car that absolutely makes you smile all the time your driving it. That said i am certain that many corvette owners also enjoy that sensation so my thoughts are simply to appreciate two awesome yet different cars.
To bad they didn't give Chris a manual C7 with a Z51 package and that e-diff. Would have made a big difference as far as the oversteer/twitchiness he was describing.
True, but that would have no longer been a base Vette..
I wanna see him compare the 911 gt3 against the new C7 Z06
I mean it's a no brainer GT3, but the Vette is value for money
I love every single video of "Chris Harris on cars"....
Spending a hundred grand on a 991 just doesn't feel right to me when a 997, just one generation prior, will set you back between forty and sixty depending on year and mileage. That car's got the better steering too.
Have you ever driven either? The 991 blows the 997 away dude, in every way except for feeling a bit more road through the wheel. I would never discount a 991 due to it's steering, it's really not noticeable.
sherman3211 I'm not discounting it for that reason. I said it's hard to justify when a 997 can be had for around 65% the price of a 991. The steering's just an added bonus in my opinion. You don't have to agree with me.
Alec D.
I didn't say I didn't agree with you. But the performance is noticeably better on the 991. I'd personally just seek out a used 2012 991 S for maybe 90 or mid 80s. The extra money is worth it to me. That being said, we sold a 997S (2005 w/PASM) for like 36k (45k miles) back in june of 2013. I replaced the rear main seal and clutch before it sold also. That would be an easy choice. But I see late model 997.2S going for near 70k, I'd just pony up the extra for the 991 if I were looking for a 9A1 car. But if I were just looking to get into a newer 911 for cheap the early 997.1 is hard to look past.
sherman3211 Lovely. But notice I never compared a used 997 to a used 991. That was you're doing. So who you're addressing there I'm not sure. I also said I'd go with the 997 because it was far cheaper and you decide it's worth double used-997 money. Well sure. I'd do that if you had the money too. But that sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it?
Any used car will cost less. Duhhhh! In fact depends on the car, some depreciate far faster than others.
Protip: Get some UV filters and keep your lenses clean.
Dust on the sensor rather than the lens. Shooting at small apertures to keep a deep depth of field on a DSLR. Always a bit of a pain to notice after shooting. UV filters, sun hoods, polarizer and a touch more post production - good ideas, but still a fantastic production given the time & budget limits.
Great cinematography!
"Chris is an idiot.." LOL!
At least for now, there is no better video auto journalist than Chris.
You get a real sense of how these cars actually /DRIVE as he powerdrifts, corrects and nails an apex.. all while glibly nattering on... Great stuff.
Finally, a Corvette that is worth way more than half a 911..
You know why he likes the Porsche better? Yellow seat belts. Take note GM.
You can get red seatbelts in the vette