Anyone see this? 'Vette Z06 bests BMW M3 and Porsche Boxter in Motor Trend's "Speed Wars"

[MrBond]

Just got my copy of Motor Trend, the August issue had the Z06, M3, and he Boxter S on the cover, announcing the "Speed Wars." I almost expected the BMW to toast the 'vette, but as I turned to the article, the 'vette came in first place in every test, with the exception of the salom, which it tied the M3 with. In the end, they reccomended the BMW, because it offered "...the look, fit, finish, feel, and hardware of a preformance vehicle..." and that it offered the ability to be a daily driver.

Discuss

 

[flot]

This doesn't really seem to be a good lineup. The boxter is a dog, and not even that great a car. The Z06 is ungodly fast, but still a corvette, still mostly plastic and put together poorly. I haven't been in a new m3 but from everything I've heard it should be superior to either in most ways. (although I would think the vette is a lot faster)

 

[prontospyder]

In August 2001's Car and Driver, the Corvette beat the BMW M Roadster, Mercedes AMG SLK, and Porsche Boxter S.

 

[Dually]

Yes and your point is? A Corvette is in the muscle car category and the others in luxory pony car. Put the Corvette up against a 911 Turbo and see what happens.

 

[RaoulDuke]

you can't even listen to motor trend. Isn't this an older one btw? I remember seeing this same thing a while ago.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Don't forget, they knocked the 'vette because it only had 2 seats ( laughed as I watched this one on TV)

 

[CromNogger]

Wow!

Old corvettes (maybe 62-72??) are the best! But, I'm sorry, I think the recent ones are just fugly! Same thing with the Camaros. What have they done?

ANyway, good for the fugly car that it's fast. I'd take either one of those over the 'vette! And the Porsche 911 Turbo is way better, hehe. BMW well that's just a BMW. =)

 

[MrBond]

My point is, we hear a lot of trashing of american muscle cars, saying it won't stand up to eurpoean style. What better exemplifies european style then a BMW...

I didn't run the test, I just posted about it. It was in the August issue of motor trend, which is basiclly the April issue, so they may have had it on Speedvision a while back.

 

[jimmygates]

I just saw this comparision on Speedvision Video Motortrend. I was also pretty shocked that the Corvette bested the two European cars. It's good to see American car makers are stepping up quality to rid the stereo type of American built cars.



-jimbo

 

[blueghost75]

take a look at this car. it would probably beat ALL of those cars, and it seats 4 people + luggage.

 

[NFS4]

<< The boxter is a dog, and not even that great a car. >>


Says who? Hell, you can't even SPELL it right The Boxster is the best of the European roadsters (SLK, Boxster, Z3, TT Roadster). The Boxster S has excellent power delivery, 252HP, 6-speed, 50/50 balancing, and handling that would give the Vette a smack across the face. Not to mention its automatic top that stows away without user intervention in 12 seconds (i.e., not toneau cover to deal with). The Boxster S also rips 0-60 in about 5.2 - 5.3 seconds. It is NO slouch. The &quot;standard&quot; Boxster got got a displacement bump from 2.5 to 2.7 liters bringing its HP to 217. That's good for 0-60 in about 5.9 - 6.0 seconds. Not as fast as the &quot;S&quot; but still quite quick by roadster standards.

The Boxster was named Automobile Magazine's Automobile of the year the first year it came out, and has been on Car and Drivers 10 best list every year since it's introduction. So again I ask, what make the Boxster a bad car? The Boxster S is almost TOO good b/c it steals sales away from the 911 and 911 Cabriolet. It's only marginally slower than the Cabriolet for about $25,000 less. And IMHO, is looks much better than the Cabriolet anyway


I'll be waiting

 

[Dark4ng3l]

Hmmmmm I like ferrari's better.

 

[lupin]

You shouldn't be surprised.

The Z06 will eat the M3, the M5, Carreras, NSXs, F355, what have you.

The only sports car on the market today that can hold their own against Z06 is probably the 911 Turbo and Modena.

If only GM would upgrade its cavalier like interior and finish. I saw a couple of brand new Z06s, paint quality is a shame. Almost like a paint job from Maaco.

NFS4,
50/50 balancing, and handling that would give the Vette a smack across the face.

U sure?? a convertible that can outhandle a car that outhandles bavarian's best??

 

[NFS4]

<< 50/50 balancing, and handling that would give the Vette a smack across the face.

U sure?? a convertible that can outhandle a car that outhandles bavarian's best?? >>


It's not about at the limits handling. It's about tossibility and being fun to drive. A Vette doesn't have the sharp turn in of a Boxster which can pivot like a spinning top. A Miata is no Vette, but you can toss the hell out of that car. It too is 50/50.

 

[Noriaki]

The Boxster is the low-end porche.

The M3 is good, but you have to consider how much it outweighs the Vette buy because of all it's luxury features. The Vette is a no frills go fast car

 

[Jumpem]

One word....Diablo

 

[NFS4]

<< The Boxster is the low-end porche.

The M3 is good, but you have to consider how much it outweighs the Vette buy because of all it's luxury features. The Vette is a no frills go fast car >>


Just b/c it is the cheapest Porsche doesn't mean that it is &quot;low-end.&quot; The Boxster S is only .3 seconds off the 0-60 times of the 911 Carrera. It may not have the top-speed of a 911, but who goes 180MPH anyway? The two have the SAME interior, and the same basic platform. The engines are basically the same (except the 911 gets a larger variant). The 911 is basically a Boxster in disguise. From the front doors forward, they ARE the same.

So if anything, the 911 is just an uplevel Boxster

 

[lupin]

<< It's about tossibility and being fun to drive. >>



Just be careful. I wouldn't call a mid-engine RWD car &quot;tossable&quot;.

 

[Noriaki]

Yeah but compare a boxter to a 911 turbo or GT2

 

[LAUST]

POOR comparison AGAIN!!


BOOOOOOOO

 

[NFS4]

<<

<< It's about tossibility and being fun to drive. >>



Just be careful. I wouldn't call a mid-engine RWD car &quot;tossable&quot;. >>


Tossable is the definition of mid-engine RWD If you try too hard to fling a Boxster you'll be greeted with a nice spin (just like the 355, 360, NSX, and other mid-engine cars). But if you don't drive like a jacka$$, there's nothing better.

But in practice, mid-engine cars are far better handling.

 

[RanDum72]

Speed doesn't mean quality. Its the cheapest way to market a vehicle as being &quot;better&quot;. Quality means reliability, quality of components (the &quot;feel&quot, how long it will last. I bet after a year, the Corvette will have more squeaks and rattles than the other two.

 

[blueghost75]

come on people, i think that braubus (re-badged mercedes benz) that I linked to above beats ALL of these cars. it goes fast and could take being tossed around.

 

[geno]

NFS, I know you love the Boxster, but it's the poor man's Porsche (except for the S, but too bad it costs like 50k). For the money it's nothing too fast, an S2000 can be had for close to 10 grand less, and it's got 23 more horses (with close to the same curbweight). I know people who run all over base model Boxsters all the time, it's actually fun to say you kicked the crap out of a shiny new Porsche

 

[geno]

<< come on people, i think that braubus (re-badged mercedes benz) that I linked to above beats ALL of these cars. it goes fast and could take being tossed around. >>


And it costs HOW much?? For that kind of money it had best be faster than anything under $150k