Porsche Guy vs. Corvette Guy

[ej_glutton]

True story. I live in a middle-class suburban subdivision of about 60 homes...the collective automobile inventory of the subdivision consists mostly of pick-ups, SUVs, mini-vans, and entry-level luxury cars. There are also 6 Corvettes and a lone Porsche (my 1987 Targa..purchased 5 weeks ago).

Maybe it's my imagination, but my 'hood cred has sky-rocketed since adding the Porsche. I'm getting a lot of "Oooh cool" & "Whoa" from my kid's grade school aged friends (nice). Some of my fellow working stiffs are extending warm congratulatory remarks (a little uncomfortable, but cool). Even the middle-aged-Expedition-driving-soccer-moms seem to be chatting me up a little more at the bus-stop these days (not cool..I already have a MAEDSM and she costs more to maintain than a mid-80s Porsche). Even one of the more out-spoken women has publically stated that my Porsche is way cooler than any Corvette (whatever).

Perhaps the most interesting reaction is that of Corvette Guy...he seems to be a little more friendly and accepting with his waves from the driveway as I drive past. The difference is noticeable.

Given the foregoing, the question begs to be asked. Are Porsches cooler than Corvettes? If it's possible within this forum, please offer an unbiased opinion & provide a defense of same.

Fondly,

[nostatic]

*burrrrpppp*

what?

[pwd72s]

Ohhh...I REALLY care about what others, folks in my neighborhood, think about what I drive. But then, I live in a neighborhood of "horsey people". Their status machine is a diesel pickemup pulling a horse trailer. That's why I drive a '99 Ford Ranger for just to and fro... If I had to choose today? Performance cars? 'Vette vs. Porsche?...I'd probably be all over the latest Z-06. Faster than the latest GT3, and since both are water cooled, why not go with the brand that has always been so? People buy new Porsches these days for the same reason they buy Rolex or Patike Phillipe (sp?) watches...strictly for status. Your neighbors are fools. They don't know the difference between a 911SC, your '87 Targa, and a new GT3...

Enjoy the ride...

[Danny_Ocean]

Yes, Corvettes are cooler than Porsches...and Porsches are cooler than Corvettes...just depends which car I'm driving when you ask:





Oh...Pantera's are pretty cool too:



And T/A's...

[htron435]

As a past owner of many classic and latemodel Corvettes and a past and current owner of a few Porsche 911's, I'll attempt to give an unbiased opinion. I think that in our country you can see a hundred corvettes being driven on any given day of the week. However, it is rare that you see a clean, sharp Porsche on the road. Because of that, I think that people tend to notice them more because they are less common. Add to that the perceived value of your car -- most people seem to think that our Porsche SC and Carreras cost mega bucks, even though they in fact cost less than our neighbors' new Civic. For these reasons I believe that the average person in your neighborhood will be much more impressed by your '87 than by an '03 Z06 for example. I don't think that answers which car is "cooler", but I believe it to be the cause for the reactions that you've seen. To me, cool is in the eye of the beholder (and can be created/enhanced by marketing). I'm sure that if you cruised through a middle class town in Germany in a spotless '88 Corvette convertible, you'd be treated the same way. Cruise through the streets of Maranello in a mid sixties big block corvette with side exhaust and you be looked at in the same manner that we'd look at a guy in a Ferrari GTO. My opinion for what it's worth. And to me, they're all fun to drive -- each has it's own appeal.

[legion]

Each is cooler within its own circles.

Are Ferraris cooler than Porsches?

Are Lotuses cooler than Lamborghinis?

Are leprechauns cooler than unicorns?

[JuiceMan]

Danny, thats a great looking Porsche!

[htron435]

Originally posted by legion

Are leprechauns cooler than unicorns?

Why yes they are.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally posted by 69-912
Danny, thats a great looking Porsche!

Thank you. Someday I'll have the $$$ to make it go as fast as it looks...

I'm bringing the Pantera and the Porsche to a show this weekend. They'll be competing against each other for "people's choice".

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by ej_glutton
I'm getting a lot of "Oooh cool" & "Whoa" from my kid's grade school aged friends (nice).

Really When I brought my '86 Carrera home the neighbor kid (6th grade) sat in it and said "Wow this is so retro...I'll bet it's not as fast as my brothers Civic though..." That was the last time he sat in my car!

[azasadny]

My neighborhood is a blue collar, American muscle car, mullet wearing, hockey fan kind of place where people put plastic testicles on the rear of their Dodge Ram trucks, so I really, really, really don't care what any of them think about what I drive, or anything else for that matter...

[azasadny]

It is fun to drive the 911 past a school bus full of elementary school kids and see the boys all crane their necks to see the car and wave like crazy! This happened two days this week and it made me smile!

[Aerkuld]

Originally posted by dmoolenaar
Really When I brought my '86 Carrera home the neighbor kid (6th grade) sat in it and said "Wow this is so retro...I'll bet it's not as fast as my brothers Civic though..." That was the last time he sat in my car!

Kids don't know nuffin.
My son's friends, and he's 8th Grade, think my 944 is cool. What they don't know is that it's actually the cheapest car I have ever bought - that's cool.

[M.D. Holloway]

I bet you would get the same attention if you had a Spitfire. Older Euro-sportcars are cooler than American muscle IMO.

[Tobra]

Always liked Panteras.

Depends on the person you ask and the car you are asking about. Just helped my buddy put boxed lower control arms, a big sway bar and new springs and shocks on his '70 Cutlass convertible. Incredible how clean the underside of that thing is. He had pretty much everything replaced in the front by a guy who does the alignments at this tire store, steering links, ball joints and bushings, the whole schlemiel. Followed him home and every single guy that went by him turned and pointed, kinda funny really.

Brand new suspension made that thing into a very sweet driving car, and that is pretty cool.

[djmcmath]

Kids today don't understand cars. I was out washing my 911 one day, and theh neighbor kid wandered by.

"Wow, that's a sweet car, dude," he commented.
"Thanks!" I smiled.
"But you know what it needs?" I'm thinking, wider tires, turbo ... ? "Spinners!" he said, all excited.

Aargh.

[HardDrive]

I think Corvettes are given their due in the car enthusiast crowed, Porsche owners included. They are very capable cars, and a bargain at that. But I don't think they have the 'exclusive' factor that Porsches have. And the Corvette interiors.....yikes. I feel like I am sitting in a 1988 Cavalier.

[Tobra]

I had a 12 year old kid in Texas ask me if my VW convertible was a Porsche, so at least some kids are clueless.

[Porsche virgin]

Uh, what's a MAEDSM?

[GothingNC]

I get all sorts of questions when I drive the VW Thing.

Some don't believe the name of the car until I show then the registration ID.

I did have some neighborhood kids check out the Porsche and VW and they have never seen a car with a engine in the rear that is also air-cooled.

Danny,
I love your Pantera