Top Gear USA, Corvette ZR1 v Ferrari 458

[anonymous-user]

Anyone else see the show which aired on BBC3 last Fri 13 Jan? Well worth a look.

I can't yet see it on BBC iPlayer but it will get there....

[GW65]

Yep. ZR1 obviously sounded better that the Fiat (er, Ferrari) Surprised by the drag race, not so much by the result but by the fact it looked like they hadn't bother to use launch control on the ZR1. Still, the presenters aren't exactly the sharpest tools in the box... Ironic that the ZR1 was better going round corners than going in a straight line!

[BLUETHUNDER]

Just watched through YouTube. It's in three parts. I was quite impressed by the Vette,s handling. It corners virtually flat.

[S10 GTA]

I saw it, and laughed when they compared the two. That's like comparing a race horse against a new forest pony. I know this is the Corvette section, and you are passionate about your cars, and rightly so, its an awesome bit of kit, but really...they are a different league..

[niall1717]

I agree that when it comes to fit/finish and technology (not to mention price and running costs ) there is no comparison. However, apparently in terms of performance and handling there is every comparison to be made. Don't see much there to laugh at - had a quiet smile though

[jas xjr]

It has been on iplayer for a few days. That is where I watched it.
The corvette may not be as sophisticated as the 458 but it's fast enough to make Ferrari blush.
Well done

[Gixer]

S10 GTA said:

I saw it, and laughed when they compared the two. That's like comparing a race horse against a new forest pony. I know this is the Corvette section, and you are passionate about your cars, and rightly so, its an awesome bit of kit, but really...they are a different league..

Really. I await the Fiats attempt at beating the ZR1's time around the ring. Idiot

[Gixer]

Just looked at your profile......says it all really.


Awaits carts spring, plastic interior, bla bla bla usual JC type uninformed comments.

Hows about the 60 years of winning races, showing fiats their arses at at Le Mans etc etc

Edited by Gixer on Sunday 15th January 18:37

[S10 GTA]

Do you want to re-read what I wrote you fking morons before you jump down my throat. I said the Corvette is a fantastic car in its own right, I was just questioning if its really a good comparison or if was blowing smoke up the Americans arses..seeing as its a program made for Americans

Edited by S10 GTA on Sunday 15th January 20:02

[Gixer]

Don't see any Fiats in the top 6 fastest road car laps of the ring....... See 2 Corvettes (5 and 6) and a Viper at the top though, and I thought that was in Germany.


http://bridgetogantry.com/2/index.php?option=com_c...


Mind you there is an Enzo 5 places back and 6 secs off the pace.....

Not bad for a million dollar car

Edited by Gixer on Sunday 15th January 20:42

[niall1717]

It's a fair point you make but obviously you're going to touch a nerve if you enter a Corvette forum that way.

ANYWAY...

It was a good episode and I may start to watch a little Top Gear USA. I had avoided it until now assuming it would be a poor parody of our version. In fact, it seems to be a good parody

[Gixer]

Yeah they have no racing heritage just look at their Le Mans record (factory cars only). Looks more like the fezzas are the pony's to me

2000 4th, 3rd
2001 1st,2nd
2002 1st,2nd
2003. 2nd,3rd
2004. 1st, 2nd
2005. 1st,2nd
2006. 1st,7th
2007. 2nd
2008. 2nd,3rd
2009. 1st,2nd
2010. DNF
2011. 1st,DNF

[mitch_]

Shame it doesn't feature the new 2012MY ZR-1 with PDE as that is largely what is responsible for te improvement in ring times. The guy in the ZR-1 screwed the launch. If traction is fully disabled rather than set to Competitive Driving then it doesn't engage. The car should sound like it is misfiring.....

[V8 YEA]

S10 GTA said:

Do you want to re-read what I wrote you fking morons before you jump down my throat. I said the Corvette is a fantastic car in its own right, I was just questioning if its really a good comparison or if was blowing smoke up the Americans arses..seeing as its a program made for Americans

Edited by S10 GTA on Sunday 15th January 20:02

*Sigh* Another wannabe Clarkson, who nearest experience of supercars is a pack of Top Trumps.............

[S10 GTA]

V8 YEA said:

*Sigh* Another wannabe Clarkson, who nearest experience of supercars is a pack of Top Trumps.............

*Sigh* another keyboard warrior intent on ruining pistonheads, who clearly doesn't understand the point of a discussion.

Once again, the Corvette is a brilliant car for the money, but is it really in the same league?

Edited by S10 GTA on Sunday 15th January 22:24

[Gixer]

S10 GTA said:

V8 YEA said:

*Sigh* Another wannabe Clarkson, who nearest experience of supercars is a pack of Top Trumps.............

*Sigh* another keyboard warrior intent on ruining pistonheads, who clearly doesn't understand the point of a discussion.

Once again, the Corvette is a brilliant car for the money, but is it really in the same league?

Edited by S10 GTA on Sunday 15th January 22:24

So says the newbie 20 month member..............


Looking at the vettes race success both here and in the US and the times at the ring I would say no, it's not in the same league at all. Looks like the Fezza has some catching up to do. But hey theyre finally getting magnetic ride (vette had it first, just like ABS). I hear they may also implement a composite cart spring next to replace that super modern heavy rusty metal coil spring

I'm into cars and bikes from any manufacturer, don't care too much about badges. What do you expect coming on here? Having done the factory tour at Bowling Green twice, I was nothing short of amazed when I see the Ferrari factory on TV the other week. I couldn't believe how mass produced and automated the line was. Hardly hand built works of art like they used to be. Don't get me wrong there are a couple of models I really like although the newer stuff dosent really do it for me. I was a little tempted for a 355 last year though.

[niall1717]

OP:

Depends what league you want to operate in. They are wildly different solutions to the same question which, it seems, happen to enjoy comparable performance. Do you like your steak bloody or spoilt?

Gixer:

Now I'm not into petty insults but an Alfa, 3 Citroens and an FTO? Go easy on this guy, he has his own problems.

Moving on?

Edited by niall1717 on Sunday 15th January 22:58

[V8 YEA]

Well the guy who drag raced it, couldn't get it off the line, which made all the difference at the finish, ( a cars length) and the race refined Ferrari was beaten in the twisties. The interior in the 'Vette is not in the same league as the hand stitched Ferrari, but it's half the price (in the States) and you can spend a little of the change having it improved. Also no £4k bills for belts changing etc every 5000 miles,

Oh and ruining Pistonheads ? Who was it who lowered the tone with "f***ing morons ? and what's a keyboard warrior? I'd say it to your face if we were having this discussion personally. no offence naturally.................

[Gixer]

Maybe he means ts in a different league when it comes to badge snobbery....

Or perhaps when it comes to price

Or perhaps when it comes to maintenance costs

Or perhaps when it comes to the 100,000 mile driveline warranty in the US

Theyre both designed as fast, drivers cars. I loved the 355 because it was a great drivers car that I really enjoyed driving likewise the 2 cars sitting in my garage.

[S10 GTA]

I'm not entirely sure what my cars have to do with this topic....but I would have thought the gta would pass the pistonheads test, even if the xsara vts didn't.

Anyway, I have not once been critical of the Corvette, its an animal and I'd happily own one, but I am not sure a comparison with a 458 is fair on either car. Both do very different things. However, I am clearly wrong, and a Corvette that costs half as much as the 458 etc is clearly in the same league, and has nothing to do with the fact it was filmed for an American car program.