Car and Driver Picks Slower, More Expensive Porsche 911 GT3 Over the Corvette Z06

By
Alex Sommers
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Car and Driver Picks Slower, More Expensive Porsche 911 GT3 RS Over the Corvette Z06

Photo Credit: Porsche USA


The fine folks at Car and Driver recently published their first big comparison test of the Summer, and it’s a doozy! That’s right, the publication that doesn’t quite know which way the Ukrainian flag goes recently wrangled the two most enthusiast-centric cars of this generation – the C8 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the 992-Generation Porsche 911 GT3. Once in possession of these final torch-bearers of high-revving naturally aspirated goodness, they embarked on a road (and track) trip to their favorite southern Ohio roads and back to Michigan for some hot laps at the 2.1-mile GingerMan Raceway.

Here’s the CliffsNotes version of the test: GingerMan lap results weren’t provided, but C&D’s annual Lightning Lap super test on VIR’s 4.1-mile Grand Course was the first metric quoted. At the most recent running, the highly-anticipated 2023 Z06 registered the fifth-fastest time they had ever recorded. It did this for less than half the cost of any of the four cars ahead of it while also putting two full seconds between itself and its rival in this test, a car that also happens to cost $40,000 more than it does. On top of that, the Z hits every straight-line milestone faster, offers a better ride, more equipment, and greater practicality, making it a clear-cut winner, right?

Porsche 911 GT3


Well, not exactly. When the dust settled, it was the comparatively glacial and jaw-droppingly costly Porsche wearing the championship belt by a margin of two points. A breakdown of the official scorecard and performance statistics tells us that the ‘Vette ceded three points in the “fuel economy” category where it registered 14 mpg vs. the also terrible 17 achieved by the 911. Four more points were also lost in the completely subjective “interior and exterior styling” categories. The Z was dinged an additional pair of merits in the “performance” section, even though it wiped the floor with the German like it was 1945 everywhere except for road-holding, where the Z07 and 345-R-Compound-equipped Corvette fell suspiciously short of the lateral g’s that we’ve seen it pull in other tests, not to mention its factory g-rating. Then there’s the matter of value which, while mentioned, is greatly understated in the article. When discussing the 911, C&D states that “Porsche has quietly raised the GT3’s price by nearly $24,000 to $185,850 since its 2022 launch, as that’s what dealers were doing anyway.” That might be the case for customers that got in good with the dealership by purchasing a laundry list of less-desirable P-cars, but we aren’t talking about a car that you or I could just go in and order today if we had the right mix of motivation and funds. No, the GT3 marketplace is a used-only affair and a quick look around any Autotrader-like site reveals the truth; on average, dealers want $275,000 for the right to park your khakis in a GT3’s driver seat, and that’s a vast improvement! Until just recently, you couldn’t sniff one for under $300k! The Z06 has its own difficulties with markups, but there are some out there being offered at MSRP, in new condition! The GT3 can’t even come close to making that claim!

2023 Corvette Z06 Photo Credit: Chevrolet


With all of our only semi-facetious gripes out of the way, we have to admit that our favorite car’s foe in this test has a lot going for it. The following excerpt highlights the most commendable thing about the GT3 and one of the Z’s biggest letdowns, “Porsche has done a remarkable job of keeping the 911 GT3’s weight in check. Compared with the first 996-generation car, the latest GT3 has a footprint (track width times wheelbase) that’s 10 percent larger, yet the car has gained a mere 27 pounds, a weight increase of less than 1 percent. The Z06 started larger and hasn’t grown quite as much, with a 9 percent increase in footprint, yet its weight has ballooned 565 pounds, or 18 percent.” That statistic is absolutely mind-blowing! The difference in build and paint quality is to be expected and was totally forgivable when the Z cost $80 grand, but now that it is pushing $200,000, when spec’d properly, it is getting difficult to defend. Finally, the GT3 wins points with this particular Corvette guy for still serving up its buyers a third pedal option, even though Porsche sent C&D an example with the industry-standard PDK automatic (which the Z’s transmission surprisingly tied on the scoresheet).

As stated in our opening, we believe these to be the two best cars that you can buy in 2023, but it’s no secret which one we would call “the best of the best,” and with the data presented, we are frankly shocked that C&D ruled differently!


Source:
Car and Driver

Related:
[VIDEO] SavageGeese Explores the Limits of the Corvette Z06 and Porsche’s 911 GT3
[VIDEO] The C8 Corvette Z06 Finally Meets the 911 GT3 in This Three Way Drag Race
[VIDEO] Scouting Report: 2022 Porsche 911 GT3

 



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26 COMMENTS

  1. It might be a little bit about the third pedal, and I have no argument there.
    But I think it’s mostly about the money: Gotta help those who are entranced by the Teutonic mystique feel good about its price tag!

  3. C & D: by printing this B.S., they just confirmed that they put their thumb on the scale regarding cornering G’s….we now KNOW they are a total joke….just like the rest of the so-called journalists of today.

  5. Chuck, and I would 100% respect it if they just came out and said “we drove both cars; this is the one we wanted to keep driving.” But when using an “unbiased” points system, it shouldn’t be possible for a more practical, usable, comfortable, not to mention faster AND cheaper car to lose a comparison test.

  6. Go live with a GT3 for a few months and see why it’s clearly the better car.
    The Corvette is an ugly pos inside and out. Just cheap. No doubt a good sports car, but not a great one. It’s made for old guys. The previous gen looked so much better and a good car for the price, but still not among the best in the world.

  9. I owe a GT3 and trust me there is no comparison or “substitute” as it is said. I have owned a new C8 Vette and while a nice car it is not designed like a Porsche.

  10. I like Porsche but how on earth can the 911 of any model be considered innovative? They have looked the same since inception. Personally, I think they’re ugly- a VW bug with a respectable engine.

    Is the ZO6 perfect, no. In fact they should soften the C8 styling a touch.

    Appreciate the article here mentioning that no Joe Public off the street can buy a GT3 new.

  11. I think that when people who can afford either of these cars take them for a drive, they expect a very high level of fit, finish, solidity, and Swiss watch-like engineering feel. The Vette has all the power and performance anyone could ask for, but that’s not necessarily the biggest driver of desirability for the money-is-no-object group. Also Porsche has the cachet of having won Lemans so many times, while Corvette still has to overcome a lingering memory that it was always the favorite of the gol-chain set.
    I have a good friend who has had a string of. Vettes over 20 years. He would have bought the Z over the Porsche if it had the third pedal, but he got a 911 S instead. Now he says there is simply no doubt that the Porsche is better engineered car with higher quality fit and finish. Not as fast on the track? Not a big enough deal to overcome its advantage in quality feel.

  12. I have always ruled design as the first reason for buying any vehicle being a lifelong Corvette owner, including a C8. I always said I could never own a Porsche because I feared opening my garage door and seeing a giant frog sitting there.

  13. Well, I recently sold my C8 Z06 after driving 2200 miles with it and moved to a 992 GT3 with PDK. Imo, it’s a MUCH better car and feels more special. The brake feel, steering, even the free revving engine and just overall build quality is a massive upgrade to me. I know it’s easy to get upset about this, but a Corvette, no matter where the engine is placed, is just not a Porsche as I have found out. Both are great, but totally different levels. It’s not just about performance numbers here guys.

  14. Ooooooo, looks like we’ve caught the ire of the PCA! Keep sending traffic this way, guys! While we’re talking, I’d also love to meet Jerry Seinfeld.

    In all seriousness, my beef wasn’t with the GT3. I think I gave it its due – and I’d be more than happy to review one for the ‘Vette people here if any of you have a 992 in Colorado, you can even keep a watchful eye while you follow in my 1LE.

    Its the scoring system that “doesn’t add up.” My comment above hopefully cleared that up a bit.

  15. I have driven both, the z06 is a crazy good car! But, and its a big butt hehe. The gt3 is something that feels like it was made by a super advance civilization, it connects to you in a away the z06 does not, also the fit and finish are on very different levels. I get you vette owners are fanatics but sorry to say porsche has you beat by a long stretch.

  17. The specs don’t really matter to me. If I cared so much about speed, I’d just get something electric instead (which I’d like to avoid for as long as possible). At the end of the day, one is a Chevy and one is a Porsche. And that’s enough for me to make my decision.

  18. … my favorite laughable element is when they state that the 911’s engine “…buzzes the seat at its 800-rpm idle…” & that “At 1300 rpm , the powerplant resonates through the entire structure like a wet dog shaking…” & view it as an admirable advantage…🤣

  19. Quality, craftsmanship, and engineering. The appeal to go fast and get there quickly is one thing…but then there’s the reality of what went on the vehicle and other things being meaningful than just going straight. Call the 911 a frog, knock it for a few other things but simply sit in both of them without prejudice. Porsche is still the target.

  20. Porsche carries some of the fastest lap times around the Nurbugring for production vehicles. That is one metric that I use for comparing this type of vehicle. I haven’t seen any official times posted for a new Z06 yet, but I haven’t looked recently. The GT3 may come in even more special trims, idk, but this was an enticing read nonetheless.

  21. Between the two, I would do the same. Factoring in money, I would prefer C7 base or GS in manual.

  22. I own a racetrack where we put hundreds of thousands of miles per year on these cars. We have dozens of different models from manufacturers. We are not (biased) journalists, we are racers. Our instructors (and myself) will ALWAYS pick the GT3 or the GT3 RS over anything else. That doesn’t mean the Z06, or any other C8 for that matter, isn’t a great car… But when it comes to driving, nothing beats the GT3.

  23. Kind of a BS article higher price??? The Z06 is riddled with markups, realistically people buying one are paying Porsche 911 money the question is ,is the Z06 worth it plus 50k to 70k in markup some dealers are charging and some desperate idiots are paying and that’s a giant NO.

  25. No one is getting a GT3 RS without a markup as well. C&D happened to like the looks of the Porsche better…that gave it the very few points that pushed it past the Z06. I happen to think the interior of the Porsches are plain. The exterior? Well that again is opinion. If you like angular Lamborghinis…do you lean to the Porsche or Corvette? It subjective…not objective fact.

  26. Oh weird a Corvette blogger is upset when people don’t like corvettes. No matter how much you love them, they will never be a Porsche.

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