Its also why Japan had the Gentleman's Agreement; to halt the horsepower wars and focus on other things that really matter. I think that is what is still wrong with the current Viper and Corvette. Yea, they are cheaper than the F430 and 911s and probably do the same in terms of performance, but they will never look as good or gain the prestige those cars have.

 

 

Unfortunately tire/rubber technology is not evolving as fast as motor technology. If you look at cars like the Porsche Carrera GT, Ferrari Enzo, etc when you have 600+ hp unless you are a fairly skilled driver you can not control the car with regularity. As if 505/510 hp was not enough. Pretty soon they will just need a lare steam roller of a tire in the back to control the hp.

 

And the result of this agreement in Japan resulted in which car with the "prestige" of a Ferrari or a Porsche?

I am STILL amused that in a conversation about performance, people keep mentioning the interior.

BTW -- The price on a 911 Carerra Turbo-- $124,000
The price for an F430 -- $175,000
The price for a Z06 -- $66,000

So, great the Porsche has a nicer interior, is it worth the price of a second Z06? Just so your friends will be impressed by you?

 

nice

 

$70k. Still a bargain.

 

Prices quoted from the C&D article comparing the three.

BTW -- The Z06 lost that comparo, but even if I had Bill Gates money, I still wouldn't pay six figures for new car.

 

Actually, it WON the performance portion of the comparo thank you very much. It was the touchy feely interior, prestige, and refinement that allowed the F430 and Turbo to beat it in the final standings.

 

Or, more succintly:

Porsche: You may find better, but you'll never pay more. :-)

 

I think the Corvette still suffers from all the '80s guidos wearing wife beaters that drove C4 Vettes, for some reason.

This C6 generation was developed on the Nurburgring. From what I have read, this is what all the German makes do as well, so GM started doing it. They also test their V-Series there as well, and I believe the new 2008 CTS was also tested and developed there, too. GM is learning slowly but surely.

I think once they make better designs interior wise, they will be caught up with the Japanese. And if they could ever crack the UAW, then they could really do some better things in R&D and design. UAW worker benefits cost GM something like 3k per car....that is insane!! Unions were good at the turn of the century when business took advantage of workers and there were no labor laws. In my opinion, you don't need a union...they just suck up your money. What you need is a good lawyer when something goes wrong as an employee.