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Different people put emphasis on different driving dynamics. I also have a '16 GT4 and C7 Z06 and regularly get asked which I like better, and I tell them that on public roads I prefer the Z06. I do autocross, track and street drive both cars. For me the GT4 is a car which needs to be pushed hard to be fun, and it is GREAT when pushed. The GT4 has a high reving engine where the torque really doesn't come on until above 4500 rpm and most people don't drive at 5000-7500 rpm on the street. V8 Corvette torque comes on nice and low, which for me is enjoyable. Personally I really can't push a car hard enough on the street to say which suspension I like better on roads.
Different people put emphasis on different driving dynamics. I also have a '16 GT4 and C7 Z06 and regularly get asked which I like better, and I tell them that on public roads I prefer the Z06. I do autocross, track and street drive both cars. For me the GT4 is a car which needs to be pushed hard to be fun, and it is GREAT when pushed. The GT4 has a high reving engine where the torque really doesn't come on until above 4500 rpm and most people don't drive at 5000-7500 rpm on the street. V8 Corvette torque comes on nice and low, which for me is enjoyable. Personally I really can't push a car hard enough on the street to say which suspension I like better on roads.
I love big American mussel and the C8 has a lot of snap down low. The GT4 has to be rung out like you said 5-7.5k is the sweet spot. The thing is my M2C weighs the same as the C8 3650lb but feels more nimble because its smaller. As i stated the C8 is great car and value i just thought it wouldn't feel so big. Years ago i had a C5 Z06 that i tracked and it didn't feel that big. If you had to chose one for all around performance and practicality it would be the C8. Just wish it was smaller and lighter. I drove a C7 when they first came out and what turned me off was the same thing size and weight. All i had to go on was the reviews so i was hoping i wouldn't feel the same about the C8. These are my initial impressions going to keep it for a month or so to see if i change my opinion. carl
Love the c8 and also the GT4. C8 is an outstanding daily and the GT4 being the perfect Balanced sport car other than the gearing, engine and strut top crack issue.
As much as I like the c8, I’d say sell now since you will probably make money and put it toward the GT4RS. The GT4 will hold better value in the long haul.
Well, I been a CorvetteForum member for a long time. A few weeks ago I told Carl on Rennlist do not sell your GT4 till you get seat time in the C8. Everyone has different needs depending on what you will be using the C8 for, it all depends on what side of the coin you fall on. I was wanting an aggressive sports car that still had refinement, to me, the C8 is a very refined GT car but not aggressive enough for me. I am on the waitlist for over 2 plus years for the C8 Z06 & feel that will be the car for me & will be my keeper. I have owned many high-end sports cars and my corvette history is 80 L82, C5 Z06 with a hand-built 427 Lingenfelter motor, C6 Z06, C7 Z51 & C7 Z06 manual.
My C8 arrived at the end of June, I put a total of 1067 miles on her till I got a crazy crazy crazy offer that made me say I can always buy another till my Z06 arrives. The C8 is a fantastic car, but I felt like it was a little soulless compared to my 15 Z06 and my previous R8 and some other cars I have owned. Remember I was wanting an aggressive-mid engine sports car, I think GM did an incredible job but felt they focused on ride quality, storage space, and refinement which makes it a more rounded refined machine. The C7 Z06 engine felt more high strung & begged you to push her but you knew to be careful or she will bite you back. The C8 is more digital experience with incredible gearing that makes it super fast especially 0 to 60. I jumped in all the cars below after driving 45 minutes in my C8 Z51, I made sure it was on the same test drive roads. The GT’s felt a lot more aggressive and entertaining similar to the manual C7 Z06. The GT4 needs to be pushed to feel fast, the C8 is definitely faster but could feel large in comparison when you jump out of those cars.
‘’I did back to back comparison with all the cars below. In the end, the C8 Z51 is a bargain and the Z06 version is going to be a beast & I can’t wait. C8 is an incredible car but if you want something very aggressive and similar to your manual Z06, I say save the money and wait for the C8 Z06, just my two cents.
I really like the car i guess i really didnt know what to expect. Not disappointed in the car but i was looking for a track that was more user friendly than the GT4. hard to have it both ways really good track cars are not great street cars and vise versa . I do think the C8 comes close but for me no cigar. carl
I have owned Corvettes for over 40 years. I enjoy them a lot and have usually owned a couple of them at the same time, a 67 and current generation model. A few years ago I bought my wife a base 718 Boxster convertible. She loves it and I thought it sounded like my friends 62 VW bug from high school, but she is happy. As time went on I found myself looking for excuses to drive her car. After a year of doing this, I found that I really just liked her car. It only has 300HP but it is a lot of fun to throw into curves and it just seems to want more. I sold my 67 Vette and bought a 718 GTS. The 67 and the GTS are almost the same length but the GTS is a little wider. Again it is just a really fun car to drive and with the PDK is as quick as our ZL1 Camaro.
I was thinking of buying the new GT4 with the 4.0 engine until the C8 broke cover. The $60,000 starting price really surprised me, my guess was $72,000. Over the last year it looks like the C8 has lived up to the hype. A pretty loaded 3LT is $85,000 and similar GT4 was $115,000. I could not justify the $30,000 difference and placed a deposit for a C8 2LT last month. I usually only track my cars 2-3 times per year and I believe that the C8 will be fine for what I need it to do. I do enjoy the GTS on the track because it is much smaller than our C7 and the ZL1. It cannot match the torque and sound of the big V8’s but it is much more nimble. I will be trading the C7 for the C8 but I will be keeping the GTS. The C8 has a shorter hood than the GTS so the sight lines should be much better than traditional long hood Corvettes. I know the GT4 is a more track oriented car but with only going to the track a few times a year, I cannot justify a GT4 type of car plus the additional money. I do believe that Porsche still makes a hell of a car but I’m looking forward to receiving our C8. It is too bad that you are not able to keep both cars, I do think that they represent the best of their breed.
I have owned Corvettes for over 40 years. I enjoy them a lot and have usually owned a couple of them at the same time, a 67 and current generation model. A few years ago I bought my wife a base 718 Boxster convertible. She loves it and I thought it sounded like my friends 62 VW bug from high school, but she is happy. As time went on I found myself looking for excuses to drive her car. After a year of doing this, I found that I really just liked her car. It only has 300HP but it is a lot of fun to throw into curves and it just seems to want more. I sold my 67 Vette and bought a 718 GTS. The 67 and the GTS are almost the same length but the GTS is a little wider. Again it is just a really fun car to drive and with the PDK is as quick as our ZL1 Camaro.
I was thinking of buying the new GT4 with the 4.0 engine until the C8 broke cover. The $60,000 starting price really surprised me, my guess was $72,000. Over the last year it looks like the C8 has lived up to the hype. A pretty loaded 3LT is $85,000 and similar GT4 was $115,000. I could not justify the $30,000 difference and placed a deposit for a C8 2LT last month. I usually only track my cars 2-3 times per year and I believe that the C8 will be fine for what I need it to do. I do enjoy the GTS on the track because it is much smaller than our C7 and the ZL1. It cannot match the torque and sound of the big V8’s but it is much more nimble. I will be trading the C7 for the C8 but I will be keeping the GTS. The C8 has a shorter hood than the GTS so the sight lines should be much better than traditional long hood Corvettes. I know the GT4 is a more track oriented car but with only going to the track a few times a year, I cannot justify a GT4 type of car plus the additional money. I do believe that Porsche still makes a hell of a car but I’m looking forward to receiving our C8. It is too bad that you are not able to keep both cars, I do think that they represent the best of their breed.
I had a deposit on a 20 GT4, my all-in price was 109k I gave it up after driving in the new 2020 GT4. The sound is awful, many on rennlist are complaining and looking for an aftermarket exhaust, I think it sounds like a 90's Honda with an aftermarket fart can exhaust. Carl's 2016 GT4 is the better sounding car and it may be a little slower than the 20 GT4 but it would be the one I would keep between those two.
Thought of that but running -3 of neg camber is not good on the street . My GT4 weighs 3080 vs 3650 big difference on track.. Bottom line is im not a great track driver so i have to leave a lot of room for error because i make a lot of mistakes.. Ive driven C7s on track, very fast but a handful my gut is the C8 also is. I am going to the 2 day C8 school @ SM in oct it will be fun. After driving their cars ill decide if i want to set mine up for track or say goodby to the C8. carl
Looking forward for your on-track impressions of the C8 at SM.
I love big American mussel and the C8 has a lot of snap down low. The GT4 has to be rung out like you said 5-7.5k is the sweet spot. The thing is my M2C weighs the same as the C8 3650lb but feels more nimble because its smaller. As i stated the C8 is great car and value i just thought it wouldn't feel so big. Years ago i had a C5 Z06 that i tracked and it didn't feel that big. If you had to chose one for all around performance and practicality it would be the C8. Just wish it was smaller and lighter. I drove a C7 when they first came out and what turned me off was the same thing size and weight. All i had to go on was the reviews so i was hoping i wouldn't feel the same about the C8. These are my initial impressions going to keep it for a month or so to see if i change my opinion. carl
I think everyone has a certain size car that they feel comfortable in. I test drove a 718 Cayman, and it felt a bit small to me. The interior felt a little cramped, and I didn't feel like I had any protection if someone hit me. Comfort was OK, but the ride was not nearly as good as a base C7. I do daily drive my cars, so how it feels on the road matters most to me. I did love the 718 human machine interface. Even the shifter felt very precise. So we are similar in many respects. I could probably live with the size of the 718 but prefer the C8, and you could probably live with the size of the C8 but prefer the 718.
There is a lot to like about the sports cars out there, but most I would never consider buying, because I feel they are too small for a daily driver on public roads with inattentive drivers.
In closing, given that you own both cars, I would give both more miles that 400 miles before making your decision. It is good to try out the cars in a lot of different driving conditions.
I sold my C7 z51 m7 in anticipation of ordering a C8. When I found out it would have no manual I decided to hold off for a year or so. I picked up a new Miata Club for 27k and had a blast with it.
Fast forward to today. I sold the Miata for basically what I paid for it. Debating going back to a C7 and just drove a base 2018 718. Love the handling and ride of the thing. I never saw myself in a Porsche but that thing is fun. Going to try a Boxster S next. One thing and I know this seems shallow as hell but I could not get used to the engine and exhaust sound of the 718. I swear it sounds like a Subaru to me.
Any opinions on the new 718 GTS with the 6 cylinder ?
I have a 2008 Cayman S little brother to the GT4. I believe the the looks of the 718 GT4 compared to the C8, the C8 wins. C8 has a very aggressive stance that appeals to me. Couple it with the performance numbers C8 is a clear winner. I would not even trade in the Cayman S for the GT4. Yes I understand the GT4 would out track the Cayman S but I do not live on the track. My opinion the GT4 lost some of its styling in the big curvy hips of the 987.1 Cayman S. Though I could afford to buy the GT4, my Cayman S has been very reliable there is not a reason for me to buy a GT4. Though I can understand that if someone wants the newest mid engine Porsche, GT4 is a great car.
Update,
I have revived several offers from the forum to buy the car. As i stated earlier i want to keep it till i attend the C8 school in oct. After i track their cars that have to full track set up ill decide if ill set it up or sell it . So if it is available i wont part with it till oct. I paid msrp 77k+tax=84k.
thanks for all the interest. carl
Having my GTS for two years now I found that I got used to the sound of the turbo four. It is not as smooth sounding as the NA flat six engine but at cruise it is very quiet. I have only heard the 4.0 NA engine on YouTube videos and it sounds good because it does not have the particulate filters that the European cars have. But .... In my opinion not as good as American V8’s. But cars are always much more than their sounds.
Carl, you will not have any problem selling your car for more than what you paid for it as stated many times above. I’m glad that you are waiting until after Spring Mountain. It still might be that a C8 Z06 or Grand Sport might be a better car for your needs. Best of luck with your decision and let us know what you decide.
My neighbor just got a 2020 GT4 and he says it’s better than my C8 that I don’t have yet! He’s a Porsche guy and he will never like a corvette.
The fact that your neighbor has the need to tell you his GT4 is "better" than your C8 demonstrates and is a classic example of the insecurity which seems to be propagating through the ranks of the Porsche faithful in regard to the C8. He is likely thinking about the 100 large he got bent over for and feeling like a real Shlemiel when he looks at your C8. Ask him what kind gas his new go cart runs on.
08-21-2020, 08:59 PM
