'05 911 (997 manual) vs. '03 ///M5 vs. '05 'Vette (C6 manual). Bonus: K40 vs V1

04ImolaZHP · 18th July 2006, 18:48

I have been fortunate to have had the opportunities to drive a 2005 corvette six speed over the fourth of July Weekend. I was even more fortunate to be able to have a 2005 Porsche 911 “base” but with 10k worth of options two weekends ago where I was also able to put a few hundred miles on it.

The following is intended to share my overall opinions on these cars as compared to the ///M5.

2005 C6 Corvette Six Speed:

I have been a Corvette fan for a long time and was even looking at purchasing one for a while before I found the ///M5. I had driven a couple and they had left me longing for more but I sort of wrote it off as not having spent enough time in the car (we all know how test drives go) but this time I had my way. Now several days with no one telling me where to go and what not to do in this car is a different story. The end result: I no longer have any interest in owning a corvette, not even as a toy.

Don’t get me wrong, the car is great for what you pay for it but it lacks feel and it lacks soul. I don’t know how else to explain it. The clutch and the transmission dare I say seem a bit better than the ///M5 and overall shifting gears is quite pleasant, no notchiness. The clutch is relatively light, and the car has gobbles of torque on a noticeably lighter frame. Steering on the other hand is not very precise and to me did not inspire confidence. I drove the car in the triple digits several times and for some reason did not “feel” safe doing so. I felt like I really had to work to make sure the car was gonna stay on track. Something I have never experienced in the 330i nor in the ///M5 nor the 911.

Practicality is obviously zero as you can’t really fit anyone or anything for that matter in the back. And lastly, although the vette is not a big car, it feels like it is much larger than it is and also you feel like you are sitting in a bath tub (I personally did not feel the same way in the 911).

2005 997 Porsche 911 Six Speed:

The 911 – what can I say – I am in love! First the bad: this car must have one of the heaviest clutches I have ever driven. The only other car I can think of that was heavier was a 996 turbo I drove some years ago. Second bad is the car is obviously not as quiet as the ///M5 and it was obvious that the $80k spent on this vehicle mainly went into engineering the drive components and not the interior. Lastly, forget about using this car to go to Home Depot. You can carry a weekend’s worth of luggage between the front “trunk” and the back seats but that is about it. Still better space than the Corvette though. But again, I am still in love. Even as I write this I can still feel this car. Aaagh. Ok, I just wiped myself, sorry…

Now the good – I will make it simple: as far as driving goes, this car is quite perfect. Shifts are precise and easy (once the heavy clutch shock wears out). The weight of the vehicle is relatively low and makes the car easy to flick around in corners. The size of the vehicle is relatively small so it is easy to drive it around. The handling is excellent while the suspension is never harsh (although a lot harder suspension than the ///M5). However you do hear and feel every thud over bumps etc. The steering is great both in feel and weight, better than the ///M5. The breaks are great, better than the ///M5. I wish there was a little more grunt and a bit more torque at low rpm’s which both the vette and the ///M5 have plenty of and the 911 lacks. This is workable so long as you remember to press the gas further down than what I am used to before taking off.

I can only imagine what the turbo feels like. I can honestly say that as far as pure driving pleasure this is one of the best cars I have ever driven. I can only imagine how an F430 Challenge Stradale would feel.

Now the really bad news: I neither can afford a turbo nor can I really live with just this car. If I had one of the these it would most likely have to be a second car which of course means that I would be stuck having two cars… oh, well. [/font]

And the final lesson, I still love the ///M5. It is phenomenal overall car. Not the best driver’s car, and not the biggest car out there, but if practicality and sport are at the top of your list it is very hard if not impossible to beat. it may be one car that I would consider just keeping. Only time will tell.

K40 vs. Valentine 1

FOR ALL OF YOU THAT ARE PLANNING TO INSTALL A K40 – PLEASE DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY. I used both in the Porsche (which already had the k40) and even my girlfriend commented on how much more superior the v1 is and how much sooner it alerted.

* Do you get more false alarms with the v1 – yes.
* Do you get warned of real danger several seconds before the k40 – absolutely.
* Is it worth dealing with the falses to have extra time when you are doing triple digits – every single annoyance in my opinion.

V1 wins another one.

dave_gt · 18th July 2006, 19:14

Good write up

.

I've had an absolute pig of a day today so it was nice to escape for five minutes

Ag Surfer · 18th July 2006, 19:57

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the 997. I am considering picking up a 997 (see my other thread) and found your comments very helpful.

04ImolaZHP · 19th July 2006, 17:38

i posed the following in another thread but it is relevent to my review so i will combine it in this thread...

"i have to agree with the majority of people here: letting go of the beast will be rather difficult.

also agree with another person who said: "I have never liked the rear end of the 911's without the turbo style/gt3 style wings just looks like a beatle to me."

my sentiments were exactly as someone else: if ur gonna do a 911 u gotta do the TURBO. no ifs or buts about it. i priced out a couple of comparable to my ///M5 years 996 turbos and they are still ridiculously out of my (comfortable) price range so no go for me.

also, i agree with another comment, if u just borrow the 997 for a weekend u will most likely love it and want to buy it but you will not get the whole picture. what i did not mention in my thread is that i have had the 997 for a couple of weekends and a total of about 7 days. in those times i realized that the front spare tire HAD to go in order to have space for anything other than a box of condoms. as a matter of fact the first time i had the car the spare tire was there and the second tim i had it the owner had removed it. the front trunk barely fit a thing of laundry (dont ask) w/o the spare.

Another time i needed to bring a box to work to return a leather motorcycle suit along with some racing boots and that box almost did not fit in the back seats of the porsche. zero chance of stuffing it in the front though.

However, i had a bunch of people compliment me on the car. i had a few people point and nod my way. i also had one guy in an eclipse convertible rubber neck and point out the car to his gf while he was making a left hand turn at an intersection. as someone said, if u want putang - this car may fit the bill. if u want stealth (which i am fairly attracted to myself the ///M5 cant be beat).

basically, the 911 is a awesome toy and a great driver's car. but it is almost completely impractical and is best suited in my opinion as either a second car in a family that only really needs a single car or as a second car to someone who can truly afford it. or for someone who really does not NEED a car but WANTS a car."

dmccrary90025 · 31st August 2006, 01:19

get a turbo, you'll regret. unless the suspension has been upgraded or you get the even pricier Turbo S, is just mush, something M5 drivers will not appreciate, so I respectfully disagree with the above suggestion get the turbo. The GT3 is about as fast and handles much better, a true driver's car. Now on the matter of these as second cars, agreed, the GT3 is harsh, but my feeling is we have softened over time to these rides. If you need to go to Home Depot or places like that, then a truck is better suited. If you do not have kids, like me, then I find the 911 is spot on as a daily driver. Of course everyone is different so it is very subjective, though I did buy a GT3 (2005) and so far find it's just about the best I've driven for my needs so far.

Thanks on the K40 vs V1 note above.

wilsodh · 31st August 2006, 04:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04ImolaZHP

The following is intended to share my overall opinions on these cars as compared to the ///M5.

Excellent post. You covered some important points in your impressions. I enjoyed the comments about the corvette. As a former vette owner, I have to agree. And I especially hated that 'bathtub' feeling. There is much to be said for having some storage space if you have anything resembling an active lifestyle, with gym bags, overnight bags, sports equipment, computer bags.. that stuff adds up fast. I doubt I would ever seriously consider a vette again, even if it IS a great performance value. I found the vette joy wore off quickly and then I couldn't wait to get rid of it. Not the case with the beast.

Dave

Beamer_usa · 31st August 2006, 06:56

Great write up

Laidback · 31st August 2006, 10:16

Silverstreak · 31st August 2006, 16:31

With my M5 going on 6-1/2 years, I went through the same process.

First I borrowed somone's C6. I had a Vette back in the 80's and not much has changed. It has no finesse. Its loud and in your face.

Next I had a 996 for a day. The brakes and steering are spot on. Problem is that this car demands 100% of your attention 100% of the time. At least with the M5 if you want to cruise, it is comfortable and more relaxed.

End result - I;m keeping the M5 for the foreseeable future.

Habu · 31st August 2006, 17:17

04ImolaZHP,

Thanks for the writeup. I think about the M5 and it's performance attributes and come to a similar conclusion. While not the all out performance of the Porsche, it does a lot of things well.

Bob