Pop. Mechanics Comparo: Z06 vs. R8 vs. Viper vs. 997 TT
#1
Speaks French in Russian
![](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/ranks/rank-smod2.gif)
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Video at the link
http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...81.html?page=1
Lap times
Viper - 1:15.59
Audi R8 - 1:15.69
Corvette Z06 - 1:15.74
997 Turbo - 1:17.17
1/4 mile
977TT - 11.63 @ 119 mph
Z06 - 12.00 @ 120.90 mph
Viper - 12.19@121.2 mph
R8 - 12.93 @ 109.4 mph
Slalom
Z06 - 47.9 mph
Viper - 48.7 mph
997TT - 50.1 mph
R8 - 50.2 mph
Supercars are speed machines engineered with advanced hardware and blistering performance that leave just about anything else with four wheels (or two) in a thick haze of tire smoke. These cars are so seductively styled and exude so much blacktop bravado, the mere sight of them makes hearts race and palms sweat. Yet many of these high-strung stallions are tame enough for everyday use, and luxuriously trimmed to make even the longest trips pleasurable. The number of models occupying the rarefied air in this $100,000 neighborhood has risen from only a few at the beginning of the decade to more than a dozen today. And many manufacturers have seen record sales while the rest of the industry struggles to achieve single-digit growth. At about 10,000 cars a year, this is one very small but very strong segment. So we picked three longtime favorites and one very promising newcomer. The goal? Determine which ones provide the best all-out speed and handling as well as daily comfort. Our quartet of speed maestros consists of the Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe, Porsche 911 Turbo, Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the new Audi R8. We ran them all through our usual battery of tests at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif. Then we spent a day hot-lapping each one on the 1.8-mile Streets of Willow road course. To find out which ones rose to the top of our score card, read on.
How We Test
With its combined 30 years of car-testing experience, the PM automotive staff has refined its procedures into a science. To measure acceleration and braking, we use a Stalker ATS radar gun — a device designed specifically for automotive testing. Unipro Racing Systems 4001 timers handle data acquisition for our 525-ft. slalom, 250-ft. lane change and 200-ft. skidpad, as well as our lap times at the Streets of Willow road course. For sound levels, we rely on an Extech Instruments sound-level meter.
How We Test
With its combined 30 years of car-testing experience, the PM automotive staff has refined its procedures into a science. To measure acceleration and braking, we use a Stalker ATS radar gun — a device designed specifically for automotive testing. Unipro Racing Systems 4001 timers handle data acquisition for our 525-ft. slalom, 250-ft. lane change and 200-ft. skidpad, as well as our lap times at the Streets of Willow road course. For sound levels, we rely on an Extech Instruments sound-level meter.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...81.html?page=1
#3
Speaks French in Russian
![](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/ranks/rank-smod2.gif)
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Yea, the 997 and the R8 were the only automatics in this test (well the R8's is really a Lambo E-gear automated manual tranny). They said the 997 tranny was slow to downshift which caused it slower time.
SO basically judging by these times, all cars are pretty much even around this course.
SO basically judging by these times, all cars are pretty much even around this course.
![Thumb Up](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
#5
Super Moderator
![](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/ranks/rank-smod2.gif)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
XeroK00L
Car Chat
1
06-01-07 05:58 PM