Corvette's Direct Competition?

[Rob]

Now that Ford has announced that it will end Ford GT production by the end of this year, what do you consider Corvette's direct competition to be?

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Are there any other car makers? Are there any other cars? :L

Maybe some high end Porsches or Austin Martins. Vipers maybe, if they can get them to handle & stop.

[Erik S. Klein]

Which Corvette? The base coupe or the Z06?

The Z06 competes with virtually every world-class sports car out there but the base car is a bit lower-end and shouldn't be compared to the likes of a Lambo or Ferrari - especially considering the price difference.

I don't think the base Vette competes with the GT although the Z06 does. . .

;)

[kingman]

Right now that's all that we have. By the end of the year from Jeeps to Ricers will be putting out over 400 plus hp and keeping with the C6 if not surpassing it.

Stopping and looking good is another story.

Alan

[Bill T...]

With 1.3 million successful units for the value, Corvette never ever had any competition thats why I bought one. Corvette never had any competition, the rest of the world isn't smart enough!!!! I think the USA should put a Corvette on the moon for display ( grin )

[GerryLP]

As far as Sports Cars are concerned, The Dodge Viper has had and will still have the biggest impact on the Corvette. Can anyone tell me that their subtle similarities are a coincidence (specially the C6 ZO6)?

GerryLP:cool

[kingman]

But the new Z06 is supernatural!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bill T...]

I saw my first Corvette on the road in about 1956, every year since then I've seen more Corvettes than I can count....Funny thing to date I never saw a Viper on the road, I wonder why?? Oh well I'll go on the internet and find a Viper picture.....

[bossvette]

I saw my first Corvette on the road in about 1956, every year since then I've seen more Corvettes than I can count....Funny thing to date I never saw a Viper on the road, I wonder why?? Oh well I'll go on the internet and find a Viper picture.....

I did see a Porshe on the back of a flatbed one day ;LOL

[soggytaco]

I dont't think the GT40 was ever real copmpitition due to the $150,000 price point so I would say the viper. Mustang Cobra just cant perform at that level, maybe Porsche 911 turbo but again you are talking about a $100,000 plus car.

[kingman]

That's the problem no matter what l have or drive l see the exotics every day where l live.

But on nice days l see the minto C1's and C2's tooling around and then my heart pings.

99% of the local Ferrari's are garage queens while the C6's are the daily drivers, mostly leased.

I have four vettes within a block radius but only one is driven. The rest are garage queens. I sometimes see an old vette buried in a garage but those l don't count.

Funny as many Vipers and Porsches around town l haven seen one Ford GT. There probably as many Ferrari's as there are C6's

Alan

[warren s]

There is no real competition for the Corvette. For the price it can’t be beat. Second is its relative toughness.

Lets say you just got home in your new C6, and took all of your friends for "Rides", all you would be out is some gas and some tire and clutch material.

Now try that in your new Ferrari….. (even at 3 times the price)

[kingman]

And after hearing all of the stories about a major service on these exotics makes my wallet cry.

Alan

[GerryLP]

So far, 1983 was the only missed year (from the public's point of view) for the Corvette. If Dodge ever gets in trouble again like it did back in 1979, then we can all expect the Viper be the first victim of production cutbacks.

The Viper has a following, but the Corvette is so ingrained in the American Pop Culture, that the Viper has a long drought before it can bask next to the Corvette in its well earned spotlight. The one trick that Dodge could do to really help its case is add a Hemi V10 to it, and perhaps we'll see the public run to the nearest dealership.

In the movie "Field of Dreams" there is a line about baseball that goes as follows: "[Baseball]...It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again". Likewise, the Corvette has been re-designed, rebuilt, and re-designed again. It is thy one constant in Sports Cars.

GerryLP :cool

[DRTH VTR]

I saw my first Corvette on the road in about 1956, every year since then I've seen more Corvettes than I can count....Funny thing to date I never saw a Viper on the road, I wonder why?? Oh well I'll go on the internet and find a Viper picture.....

They only make about 1500 Vipers per year, don't they? There are more like 30,000 Corvettes made per year. The 2006 Z06's also greatly outnumber the Vipers.

[ajla]

I think the SLK55 and Cayman S can go up against the non-Z06 Corvettes.

But, as far as the Z06 goes, maybe a 2001 or 2002 911 Turbo? Nothing you can get new that matches the Z's preformance/price ratio IMO.

[The Drakester]

I did see a Porshe on the back of a flatbed one day ;LOLI nearly ran over a Porsche TT leaving a stop light :rotfl

[Evolution1980]

(Talking about the base C6, not the Z06)
If we're talking direct competition, I think the Viper and any exotic is excluded based on pricing. That leaves the Ford GT500. It's supposedly going to have supercharged iron 5.4-liter V8 that will produce 475 lb-ft of torque and 475 hp. And it's expected to come in around mid $40s. That's squarely in base vette territory. Among other things, there's the power : weight ratio favoring the vette, but money talks. And saving more than a couple bucks for a simliarly performing car talks loud. That's why the Vette and Viper aren't direct competitors in my example. Same performance (more or less), but significantly different price brackets.

For the Z06? Sheeeeit...again, going on the "bang for the buck"? There is no competitor, unless Ford/Shelby step up with something a bit better than the 'base' GT500. ...Well, OK..I guess I'd have to say the Viper is the closest/only competitor.

EDIT: OK, I just went back and reread the poll. It does say specifically the Z06. So if I can change my vote, I'll say the Viper. Personally, I'd like to see this hashed back out on the race circuit. If I recall, the only reason the vettes started taking top honors was because Dodge dropped out, thus allowing the vette's to fill the void left from the dominating Vipers.

[Kid_Again]

Yup, like the argument about pricing. It's all perceptions.

The world just will not accept the corvette as a world class car. It's left up to the americans to do the grandstanding.

BTW, interesting point about the Hemi and marketing...they really brought an old technology to the forefront and sold a bunch of iron.

Maybe the corvette needs a new marketing theme to enhance the image. Unless you're talking to a bunch of true believers like us, who in the hell knows what a Z06 is? Maybe a theme built on "big block". Unfortunately, the european tree huggers will probably just call it typical american overkill.


Sorry guys, either it's overkill or you're a loser. Yeah, I could buy a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S (in black or silver, of course). But then I'd never be able to find my vehicle in the Princeton Toys R Us parking lot.

[Pseudomind]

Just what current version of the Ford’s on the poll can be purchased new from Ford?

Mustang Cobra
Shelby Mustang

The only auto I have been able to locate which is even anywhere close to the 2006 Z06 is the Viper, and it is still a good bit higher.

Viper (Base Price: 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe - $83,145)
The Ford GT 500 (Base Price: 2006 Ford GT Tungsten - $149,995)

I do not see anything price point wise near what the Corvette offers


2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 vs. Ford GT vs. Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe (http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/coupes/0511_z06_gt_viper/)

[rwpeders]

I think it has to be a Mustang something (Cobra, GT, etc.) whether it makes sense or not. The long history of rivalry demans it. It will be all about straight line speed, 1/4 mile, zero to 60, etc.

[JoeMackin]

With thier multi billions of dollars put towards marketing and researching the latest technology and look....Ford Motor Company. It may not be the Mustang, but you foolin yourself if you think Ford is not wanting to bring something to the table. My thought is one of thier latest super cars will have to be sacraficed to the Z06 banner price. Just so you know who I am though I dont think Ford stands much chance of success.

[JimVette]

Like I mentioned in an earlier thread, if they don't put the mustang on a diet it will not be able to compete with the Vettes. 3600# plus is very heavy in comparison.

[onyx c4]

I'm amazed at all the Viper votes -- I just don't get it. The Viper is a very rare, but bargain exotic. It is usually a toy for someone who has that sort of money to set aside. Most C6's will be driven frequently if not daily -- it is a livable high-performance sports/GT. The Vette's competitors in the market place are equivalently priced 2 seaters -- pretty much that means the Boxster for the regular C6 and the Cayman/Carrera for the ZO6. Speed and pretty sophisticated versus very high perceived quality of materials and driving experience (although if you've owned a Porsche you have to concede they break as much or more than Vettes do -- and are even more pricy to fix!)

[kingman]

This Porsche is a joke, my neighbor has one and he is sorry that he bought it and not leased it. He would love to get rid of it but his wife thinks that it's a status symbol and that's why she let him buy it.

He has to leave his golf clubs at his club and if he wants to take his clubs to another club he has to go alone and place his bag next to him in the passenger seat.

The Boxster is not quick, has no storage space and he calls it a "toon car".

One more thing his wife leased a Navigator and she is short and heavy and it's a riot to see her climb ito it. She can barely make it, but as she says "it's my truck". Large SUV'S seem to attract the short and heavy or the short and skinny period. And the funny thing is the most they carry in them is two bags of food and as far as going off road they consider going over the grass as going off road.

Now if you have a reason to own one, great enjoy.

alan

[Evolution1980]

I'm amazed at all the Viper votes -- I just don't get it. The Viper is a very rare, but bargain exotic. Bargain exotic??? Maybe when the GTS or the ACR first came out, but not now. It looks too much like...I dunno... a vette! (or vice-versa)

Most C6's will be driven frequently if not daily -- it is a livable high-performance sports/GT. The Vette's competitors in the market place are equivalently priced 2 seaters -- pretty much that means the Boxster for the regular C6The Boxter S, yeah I could see that.

...and the Cayman/Carrera for the ZO6.Yeah, somewhere between the Cayman S and the Carrera

However, since the question didn't specify "performance only comparison", your suggestions are fair. As a performance nut, it's difficult to rationalize why you'd want less performance for equivalent or more money.
If it's just for status, then yes...any GM is going to lag behind the persona of an import.

I guess if you are going to go with a Porsche, then we'd also have to include any of the Bimmer M-series and very possibly the Mercedes AMG lineup. And lest we forget a newcomer here, the Chrysler 300C SRT8.
$45K, 0-60 in 4.7s, 173mph top speed. 4 door! (This by the way is also faster than the CTS-V and for quite a few bucks cheaper...)

But back on topic about specifically Z06 competition.

[Pseudomind]

My point for this poll was of the autos listed, there does not appear to be any within about the same price range. The closet thing I was able to find was the Viper if compared to the new 2006 Z06.

So that being stated I guess the Corvette both the standard and Z06 do not have basically any direct completion for both price and performance