Alfa Romeo 4C vs Corvette Stingray Z51

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by PPX

So you plan on going for the Elise/Exige? Are they any better in terms of reliability and maintenance cost? What model year to watch out for?

Nah, I like the Elise and Exige but I want something I can throw my kid into if I absolutely had to, and since he'll be in a car seat and then a booster for a while, there's no kill switch for the passenger air bag, nix that idea. I entertained the idea for a month or so figuring "Elise DD? Challenge accepted!" before writing it off as batshit crazy for my situation.

I don't know a whole lot about the reliability and maintenance cost of them, to be honest. I know it's not as high as the Evora. It's still not exactly cheap, but it's not 8 grand or more for the clutch. Biggest downside would probably be if you damage a clam, pretty much write that Exige/Elise off as totaled.

Realistically I have a lot of options of great cars with plenty of time, and who knows what will come out in the next five or six years. I just got my Abarth and am having a blast with it, but I still dream about a C7 Z06, a 4C, a F-Type, etc..

[Boxer486]

Originally Posted by PPX

Overpriced and diluted. Glad I got ft86 over a 981 cayman s and saved a good chunk of change. Not even going to think about any porsches unless gt3 rs returns with a stick which is unlikely and engine is in the wrong place for the amount of money.

Had no idea you had driven the GTS already. Some would argue the 4C is a diluted Lotus. To be honest I'd keep the 86 and just wait a few more years.

[PPX]

Originally Posted by Boxer486

Had no idea you had driven the GTS already. Some would argue the 4C is a diluted Lotus. To be honest I'd keep the 86 and just wait a few more years.

Not sure if I can get a car with a manual in a few more years without going used or end up downgrading to a econo box.

[Boxer486]

Originally Posted by PPX

Not sure if I can get a car with a manual in a few more years without going used or end up downgrading to a econo box.

Since when does the 4C come with a manual?

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by PPX

C6Z had a fixed roof, unique aluminum chasis to it self at the time, and a completely different LS7 engine as oppose to just a bolt on blower. Even then it rang up at 25k over base model which is reasonable. C7Z is all bolt on and people want to hype it over 100k because 6xx? Even M or AMG gets you better value with new engine architect. Some customers and dealers are in over their heads for the C7, for that I will pass.

why get a new engine when its not needed? they dont go bigger displacement when they are going forced induction (probably because of the walls being too thin). the zr1 had less displacement than the z06 but i still dont know why things need to be radically different. the only thing i look for in performance car is performance and its sounding like the z06 delivers on that front.

[serialk11r]

I recall that the Evora clutch cost was only that bad if you took it to the Lotus dealer, who rips you off. That said, the reliability issues are a concern. If I weren't planning on going to graduate school (aka making not much money) I would probably have saved up for an Evora and gotten one a few years out of college. The crazy depreciation plus Toyota drivetrain makes it a pretty good value proposition, IMO. The 2GR is cheap to replace and mod, and so the car should at least drive, even if there are problems everywhere else.

Brand new, the Porsche 911 is pretty compelling but they depreciate almost as fast and are more luxury car than sports car. Getting an older 911 is pretty good value if you want a sporty car that can haul a good amount of groceries and small passengers, but it's not as special of a car.

I know what you mean about the Porsche Cayman S though, it's not a hardcore car at all. I think in a few years maybe they'll have a Cayman R or something again and that could be worth looking at, but being a Porsche you have to really like it because it's hard to modify those cars. I think the C7 Z06 is better than the C6 Z06, because a blower costs them a lot more money than slightly bigger displacement. They say it has titanium valves and stuff too, which is great. However if the price tag ends up too high that would suck.

When I said you can't find Lotii in Canada, I was referring to the Elise/Exige, do they not have those?

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

I recall that the Evora clutch cost was only that bad if you took it to the Lotus dealer, who rips you off. That said, the reliability issues are a concern. If I weren't planning on going to graduate school (aka making not much money) I would probably have saved up for an Evora and gotten one a few years out of college. The crazy depreciation plus Toyota drivetrain makes it a pretty good value proposition, IMO. The 2GR is cheap to replace and mod, and so the car should at least drive, even if there are problems everywhere else.

You're most likely right. 125/hr and the job sits at 50-60 hours because they have to remove the rear clam, drop the engine and transmission, and then they can get to work. I don't know any independent Lotus mechanics I'd trust to do that to my car around here, though. I have read that the S models were given a new clutch and they aren't quite as bad reliability-wise.

[deadwolfbones]

4C drove by me the other day and that sound... my god.

[Dark]

Vette. Either 8spd or 7spd should be better than competitions. Though, I buy car based on value and reliability. *a reliable 460hp V8*

[Deep Six]

Originally Posted by PPX

C6Z had a fixed roof, unique aluminum chasis to it self at the time, and a completely different LS7 engine as oppose to just a bolt on blower. Even then it rang up at 25k over base model which is reasonable. C7Z is all bolt on and people want to hype it over 100k because 6xx? Even M or AMG gets you better value with new engine architect. Some customers and dealers are in over their heads for the C7, for that I will pass.

GM has stated consistently that the C7Z06 will be priced to the same target audience as the C6 version. Bear in mind that a maxed out 2013 Z06 MSRP already went north of 100K although nobody paid near MSRP the final year. The C7 aluminum chassis is far superior to the C6 Z06 / ZR1 and the fact that it is shared across the entire product line does not diminish that fact. Because of he chassis rigidity a fixed roof is no longer required or desired. Lastly you seem to imply that an LS7 would have more inherent value than an LS9 based upon the "bolt on" comment. However I have never met a ZR1 owner who wanted to do a swap??
My guess is that a fully loaded Z06 will be close to 110K but offers far superior performance and refinement than the outgoing C6.

[PPX]

Not too crazy about the vette or 4c anymore, no manual sucks too much. Not too long ago there was a bunch of great driving machines that fit the bill perfectly, 1M, Cayman R, Boxster Spyder, even the C63 black series was something I'd consider. All we have now is the mx5 and 86 and I dont see those cars coming back. The elise/exige is scraped here. To get that extra bit of power without modding the options are mostly limited to upgrading to a boosted or overpowered car that is more concerned with the numbers or luxury crowd. The Z28 is great, but I'm not feeling it and its tad bit heavy. Maybe its great time to be a biker.

[PPX]

The thing with the Cayman is who ever blows 70k+ on it has to feel bad knowing that they paid a premium and porsche didnt even bother making it as good as it can be because there is somthing called a 911, which they should really just call it a gt cruiser from this gen on, albeit a fine one.

[Ec1990]

Originally Posted by PPX

Not too crazy about the vette or 4c anymore, no manual sucks too much. Not too long ago there was a bunch of great driving machines that fit the bill perfectly, 1M, Cayman R, Boxster Spyder, even the C63 black series was something I'd consider. All we have now is the mx5 and 86 and I dont see those cars coming back. The elise/exige is scraped here. To get that extra bit of power without modding the options are mostly limited to upgrading to a boosted or overpowered car that is more concerned with the numbers or luxury crowd. The Z28 is great, but I'm not feeling it and its tad bit heavy. Maybe its great time to be a biker.

The Vette still has a manual.

[PPX]

Originally Posted by Ec1990

The Vette still has a manual.

I think it always will, no need to rush it.