ZR1 vs GT2 vs 599 vs GT-R

ZR1 vs GT2 vs 599 vs GT-R
Supercars are like castles: the best ones come from Europe. Right?

For sure, it's long seemed that way. The Euro stars have always played in a price and performance stratosphere that makers from other continents simply couldn't (or wouldn't) attempt to match. Sticker price, schmicker price: In the spirit of the old adage "speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?" the premier machines from rarified houses like Ferrari, Bugatti, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin cost hella big. But they also run unlike anything else on the road.

Uh, just a minute. Scratch that. For 2008, Nissan launched its ceiling-busting GT-R, a twin-turbo manga-robot on wheels with a price under $80K but an exhaust boom that rocked ears from the Nordschleife to Maranello. And now Uncle Sam is also strutting in the white-hot spotlight all oiled up and pumped: For 2009 comes the all-new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the most potent GM production automobile of all time, the best Vette ever, a star-spangled, supercharged sledgehammer in aluminum and carbon fiber with brakes lifted from the fastest road Ferraris ever built. Yes, it wears a base sticker that's difficult to utter in the same breath as "Chevrolet" -- more than $106,000 -- but the ZR1 also brandishes performance hardware straight from the parts shelves marked "No Compromises."

Clearly, the two new upstarts are begging to crack open a can of whup-ass in the hallowed halls of European-bred speed. Naturally, we're only too happy to help. We rounded up a GT-R and a ZR1 and headed off to the test track and five-mile high-speed oval of Chrysler's Arizona Proving Grounds with two of Europe's bona-fide superstars: the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano ("the finest all-around Ferrari ever," we said in July 2006) and the Porsche GT2 (which, in our May 2008 issue, we dubbed "one of the greatest sports cars the world has ever seen"). Along with us was former IndyCar driver and 24 Hours of Daytona winner Didier Theys (pictured below); he'd be our man at the wheel for a series of breathless, flat-to-the-floor top-speed runs, plus timed laps on the infield road course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
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222max222max - 10/27/2008 12:28:43 PM
+3 Boost
Epic battle. The ZR-1 Is emerging as the second wave of attack against the supercar establishment.


dlindlin - 10/27/2008 4:22:13 PM
+1 Boost
That doesn't sound right. In every test, including Best Motoring, GT-R owns everyone, especially GT-2 and GT-3 RS.

I didn't read the article yet, but the only explanation is if the track consists mostly straight line. In that case GT-R has disadvantage of horsepower.

We'll see.


ghosthunterghosthunter - 10/27/2008 4:47:47 PM
+3 Boost
the test is mainly aimed for top speed, quarter time and running in a big circle (Las Vegas Motor Speedway's road course, google it). so HP/LB wins.
note

ZR1: 639 HP and 3364 lb
GTB 612 HP and 3750 lb
GT-R 430 HP and 3868 LB
GT2 530 HP and 3270 LB.

needless to say, GT-R has the lowest HP, heavest mass, and is the only 4wd car. YET, was just 0.1 sec behond GTB, which has 45% more HP, 100 lbs lighter, and cost 4.2 times as much.





ThierryHenry14ThierryHenry14 - 10/27/2008 5:36:41 PM
+1 Boost
Only if the GT-R had 430 HP... try 480.


F1_DriverF1_Driver - 10/27/2008 7:17:15 PM
+1 Boost
^^^Poor TurdoSpyder still in denial:

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=F2IHcp10BRI


993Turbo993Turbo - 10/28/2008 6:40:05 AM
+1 Boost
What a shocker, Motor Trend was always a shill for the American cars.


PorschinatorPorschinator - 10/28/2008 5:14:47 PM
+1 Boost
Well most badge whores don't like it when their fav cars are not always #1 and that mag must be biased. Want bias talk to Top Gears Jeremy Clarkson!!!


inspirion7inspirion7 - 10/27/2008 1:28:25 PM
+3 Boost
How is the ZR1 overpriced? It has extreme tech (yes, question the interior sure) but not overpriced for one of the best overall performance vehicles ever to come from the states. This is a great car, carbon splitter, rocker sills, hood and roof. Massive ceramics brakes (a first at this price point) Magnetic Selective Ride Control, a transmission fluid and silky smooth, not to mention you can drive this beast daily.


bankheadbankhead - 10/27/2008 2:41:24 PM
+2 Boost
If the ZR1 is overpriced, exactly how much should the MSRP be for such a car? I'm curious? Exactly, the interior is inferior than a $200-300k car, what do you expect? The performance numbers are equivalent or superior! This seems like a solid mean if my calculations are correct.


inspirion7inspirion7 - 10/27/2008 1:33:33 PM
-3 Boost
Another point. I've seen a number of test like this, and the view from the bloggers is "oh bang for the buck, the Vette wins" not giving the same thought to the GTR. I believe that this challenges the "status que" and believe Chevy is on point. No backhanded compliment needed.


Need4SpeedNeed4Speed - 10/27/2008 1:34:26 PM
+2 Boost
I'm really starting to wonder about the validity of Porsche's claim regarding the GT-R around the ring. I'm suprised of his claim (Theys) regarding the understeering of the GT-R ("...in general he was critical of the Nissan. "Lack of power is a reasonable excuse," he said, "but lack of handling is not."). I fully expected this car to beat everyone. Here is a supposedly unbias driver who has the credentials to critique each car and note their strength and weakenesses. This is what I've been looking for! An unbiased review using a real world production GT-R. The GT-R is a good car for the money...but too many people were making it look too good to be true. I guess the disguise is coming off slowly.


Need4SpeedNeed4Speed - 10/27/2008 1:38:24 PM
-4 Boost
PS...Porsche really needs to come correct on the 911. It seems at the top end the Porshce begins to loose stability. I don't think They was too impressed with that. I've always felt that Porsche sacrifices some handling for form...maybe they need to rethink that philosophy.


JUGNUJUGNU - 10/27/2008 2:04:13 PM
+4 Boost
TurboSpyder

plz make a chart about each car's price and power too.

That's not GT-R's competitors but GT-R still did great. 50BHP/75LB-ft less and 600 pound heavier than track focused GT2 but still outaccelerated it and only a tenth slower around the track. Stunning.

JUGNU


F1_DriverF1_Driver - 10/27/2008 2:12:56 PM
+4 Boost
Ignore TurdoSpyder, he/she has been trying to discredit the GT-R right from the start. He/she has only accomplished making a fool out of his/her self.


Need4SpeedNeed4Speed - 10/27/2008 3:26:16 PM
+1 Boost
JUNGU...why is your comment not a suprise! "...a chart about each car's price and power too." What is that supposed to prove??? Need we forget that it was the same GT-R that posted an all out *best* lap time of 7:29...9 seconds faster than its previous record time of 7:38 on a wet track!

Your argument of price/power holds no water considering it bested cars like the Murcielago, Merc SLR, Porsche GT2, Koenigsegg. Apparently The Stig got one to post a lap time better than a Ferrari Enzo. So my question is...how is it that this is the same car that stole the show at the ring is now considered 4th among cars that is should have easily bested considering the performance at the ring and at other events. Some of us may be gullible to fall for the GT-R's hype...but the rest of us actually think!



PlanBPlanB - 10/27/2008 4:25:40 PM
+2 Boost
This was basically a top speed test around a 5 mile ring. That's why it came in 4th. Once you throw some twists and turns into the equation (along with the GT-R's superior AWD) that's where the GT-R would've won.


JCH335iJCH335i - 10/27/2008 2:08:05 PM
+2 Boost
i think that the ZR-1 doesn't get enough street cred, while the GT-R perhaps receives too much. Either way, i need me a Fiorano, that is sex on wheels.


veyron1001veyron1001 - 10/27/2008 2:34:21 PM
+1 Boost
Well yea because its just a modified Corvette Z06. Aftermarkets are going to have ZR1 parts for the Z06 so there are going to be a lot of imitations soon. GTR you cant copy as its an all new design.


GTR35GTR35 - 10/27/2008 2:29:12 PM
+1 Boost
Nice test and great numbers for the base GTR against cars that are just a bit quicker than it. So when the V-Spec comes out next year, I wonder if there are gonna be any cars in existence to do a Comparo with it?


222max222max - 10/27/2008 2:39:00 PM
+4 Boost
Bottom line is that the GT-R is outclassed among this field. The Spec V should be another story.

Nevertheless the numbers generated by the car were still staggering... it's just that it's competitors were more staggering.

I know people around here are going to see every GT-R result as either glass-half-empty or glass-half-full, but the summary is on point.

Taken directly from the article.

Fourth Place: Nissan GT-R

That a machine this incredible finishes fourth shows you how spectacular the other three really are. At the price, nothing comes close. And if you think Nissan is resting on its 480-horsepower laurels, stay tuned for Act II: GT-R V-Spec.



PlanBPlanB - 10/27/2008 4:17:36 PM
0 Boost
The ZR-1 is awesome but I'm starting to believe these auto journalists are giving the GT-R just a little too much credit. Why? Because once again it isn't a fair fight. You've got a highly modified Corvette(which is awesome did I mention?). A highly modified $190k Porsche 911. And a $265k Ferrari. And a $80k non-modified Nissan GT-R. Although my personal pick would be the ZR-1, I'm not gonna look down at the GT-R just because it came in last. The fact that it even stayed so close to these juggernauts with no mods whatsoever, in my opinion, was an even bigger compliment to its performance. And it really makes me wonder how a V-Spec would've done here.

But I do agree with them that the ZR-1 is the winner. For half the price of this competition very, very, very few cars can catch you and I like that. A lot.


ThierryHenry14ThierryHenry14 - 10/27/2008 5:40:53 PM
0 Boost
Great test, i think perhaps one of the few unbiased test. the only thing I would like to say to the GT-R defenders (which I will admit, is a hell of a car) is that if you try these test once a week for the next 2 months, the GT-R transmission would not last, whereas the others would.

But I guess the ZR1 did what it set out to do, which is be a brute force, using HP and raw power to achieve speed, which I applaud them.

Personally, coming from a Porsche owner, must say that I am a bit disappointed that the GT2 is no longer that car to beat. But we will wait to see what Porsche has in store.


F1_DriverF1_Driver - 10/27/2008 7:20:01 PM
-2 Boost
^^^Can you give me the winning numbers to next week's lottery? GT-R's transmission will not last? Not if you use launch control at every single traffic light it won't.


222max222max - 10/27/2008 5:55:57 PM
+3 Boost
OK, I think some of you are taking the whole transmission that and running with it. A few GT-R transmissions have been toasted and that has been due to abuse. Anyway, there have been no reports of trannys just blowing up while driving fast. The damage is done on repeated launches using the Launch Control.

Driven fast around an oval would not kill the transmission.


F1_DriverF1_Driver - 10/27/2008 7:23:46 PM
-2 Boost
There have been NO reports of transmission failure due to regular driving. But there have been a handful of transmission failures due to launch control abuses. Good luck trying to convince the GT-R bashers about that.


ThierryHenry14ThierryHenry14 - 10/27/2008 7:58:13 PM
0 Boost
yes, but it also consists of using the launch control to initiate 0-60 and 1/4 mile.


shiftlessshiftless - 10/27/2008 7:22:37 PM
0 Boost
If a bias magazine co. like Motor trend can give the GTR a little kudos then I cant wait for them to test the GTR V spec, since we are getting numbers from the best of the best from each manufacturer.


GennissenGennissen - 10/28/2008 2:18:37 AM
+1 Boost
VIVA GTR!!!!


PorschinatorPorschinator - 10/28/2008 5:12:13 PM
+1 Boost
What worried me in the article is the tire issues. Nascar is having the same issue and was wondering if the tire industry is cutting corners or made a new formula that is not working. Scary to think of tracking your car and a tire goes out which can cause serious body damage. Wish they looked into the tire thing a little more.

All great cars and for the GT-R being basically an entry level Supercar and always in comparos with cars casting much more says volumes. ZR1 is simply amazing!!! I expected more out of Porsche and the Ferrari never disappoints.


Designer1Designer1 - 10/29/2008 6:39:55 AM
+1 Boost
Definitely great job for the GT-R, being the heaviest and with the least power, but yet still catching up to the others, and even faster than 2 from 0-60. As for the Ferrari, well there's no need to say anything about the queen of race cars.


bankheadbankhead - 10/29/2008 7:28:56 PM
+1 Boost
If you will double-check, the GT-R isn't the heaviest car on that list. Actually it's the "queen of race cars".


Agent63Agent63 - 10/29/2008 7:18:46 AM
+4 Boost
Kraut_god - 10/27/2008 1:51:25 PM
----------------------------------
bottom of the line gtr vs top of the line cars from other brands. and it still almost beat the ferrari lol. gtr owns you.


**********
I thought the argument for the GT-R is that it's the cheapest and does comparable numbers to cars double or three times their price? and now you say "Oh well it lost to the top of the line cars".

The GT-R is still a Nissan. Just because it's compared doesn't mean it's in the same league of cars. The GT-R is for the playstation generation (Like myself) but if you were to ask me if I want a Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini or Nissan obviously I wouldn't choose the Nissan first. You know you would too. Don't tell me it's a badgewhore thing either because it's not always the case. Curb appeal, sound, performance, exotics, all play a role in deciding which car to buy. The GT-R is a spectacular car and very bang for buck value. The ZR1 is too. I think the ZR1 and the GT-R have more in common since their both made by economy brands Chevy and Nissan. In numbers it's comparable but in quality, class, prestige, sound, the things that really matter, it's not the same. You'll never find a GT-R in front of the top notch hotels in Monaco or Dubai. Not that it matters but just using it as an example.
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