J.P. Vettraino writes, "Imagine a 911 Carrera, or better, a C5 Corvette, with four doors and decent rear-seat legroom."<p>Did he just say that a Vette is better than a 911??? It's right in the beginning. I couldn't finish the article...<p>YO! Kevin Wilson, you can't print this stuff!!!

According to most of the mags, yes. They do post #'s that show the Vette is faster. They are not accurate!!! Porsche has been doing this for years, they post very conservative #'s. They want these #'s to show what the average driver can do.<p> As for the Vette, well, what's it's only selling feature? speed. Their #'s are exaggerated. In real life, it's rare that a Vette will do a sub 5 sec. run to 60. The only Vette that could consistently run in the 4's is a '95 ZR1. The so called new one is not any different.

Depending on your tastes, the Vette is probably the best bang for the buck. The Porche is almost double the price, but totally different car...Speed-wise, I feel the Porche could leave a NEW Vette in the Rear view!<br>

Actually, I think the editor is nuts! The M% is seriously outclassed by both of the other cars. Come on, if we are dreaming then I would much rather have the Ferrari 4 door (456?).<p>The C5 is outclassed by C4's in autocross so far due to the motor. Although I have to say that it is a much better design than I am accustomed to from GM. The P car is a different car altogether, more my preference. But then we all own great cars.

That's the problem I have with American cars, and a lot of car magazines. They all talk about "fast" in terms of 0-60, in a straight line, 50-90 or whatever two speed ranges that they happen to love. This is such BULLS#!T! Driving and weaving through traffic, taking FWY 1 PCH and stuff like that, that is the real test. I see what MB puts their car breaks through and it impresses me. I see what Germans demand on their cars, and that impresses me. You want bang for the buck you want to talk just pure Horses/$? Well buy yourself a Camaro, and turbo it. that's SUPER bang ofr your buck. But it's a deathtrap, has no class, handling is worse than one of those old red pull wagons I use to have, and depression is in the realm of the 1934's. <p>Japanese cars were designed to take you from point A to point B in a reliable ho-hum fashion. Characterized by floaty suspension, cheap sheet metal, and loud small engines. Brakes are usually optional on these things.<p>American cars have a live rear, nothing but a big engine on 4 wheels. They usually have poor structural rigidity, and can do will in a straight line but does not ooze confidence in their drivers. Deathtraps. The reason this is so is because they design a car for American driving conditions of 65-80 mph, and no more. Take a look at www.hwysafety.org, look at the Chevy crash tests, then look at the 5 series BMW and BELIEVE.<p>German cars, over engineered (usually overpriced), usually not as warm of an interior, and a little bit more harsh of a ride, it's man purpose is to allow a driver to be in touch with the road, and get him there in a fun yet low drama fashion. It instills confidence in a driver and was designed to go at speeds that normal people should drive at. It's this over engineering that requires it to be so sound structurally, and as a result, safety is increased above and beyond the norm as a positive byproduct. <p>It depends on what type of person you are. Do you opt for high reliability movement from point A to point B, do you just want an engine on 4 wheels, or do you want a car to drive and put a smile on your face?<p>Albert. <-- Lovin' his teutonic piece of machinery!<br>1.8TQM

...I wouldn't do to get my hands on that! :-)<p>Charles<p>PS: I fell in love with the Esprit in 1977 when "The Spy Who Loved Me" came out. It's been a 21 year love affair! :-)<br>

If you pay the shipping costs, I'll bring my 1972 Vette over to the Autobahn and we'll see what winds up as road kill :)<br>(Ok so maybe its modified a little bit...)<p>Rich<br>99 A4 1.8<br>72 Vette 6.3<br>

True, most American and Japanese cars would do poorly in the unlimited lane on the Autobahn. Japanese and American suspensions and brakes are too soft for this kind of driving. I was doing 145 in the #4 lane and had to move over for a Benz running about 160. I only saw a few American or Japanese cars in week on the autobahn and none of these where doing more than 85 mph. The last thing they need in Germany is a 72 vette trying to prove its stuff. I'm sure a nice Audi, BMW, or Mercedes would be more then happy to show up a 72 vette. You do know that the autobahn does have curves in it, don't you?