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A Sports Car That Is 911 Turbo S Fast For Half The Price

Do you really need to shell out big money for a 992 Turbo S, when you can buy something just as fast, for half as much?

by Dimitar Angelov on October 2, 2024, 16:00

The Porsche 911 Turbo S is at the top of the food chain when it comes to fast Porsche sports cars, suited for daily use. The 992 Turbo S is mind-bendingly fast and able to embarrass plenty of more expensive models. The rear-engine sports car has always had a reputation for being relatively lightweight, refined, and usable as far as sports cars go. While the company continues to adhere to the same philosophy (for the most part), there is one dreaded aspect of the Porsche experience – the Porsche tax.

The 911 was never an affordable car, not to mention the price Porsche will charge you for even the smallest optional equipment. For a Porsche person, there is only one option if you want to go fast, but if you don’t belong to this camp and want to spend less money on something that’s just as fast, there is another alternative. Surprisingly, it comes from an American company and can match the top speed of the 992 Turbo S, while boasting vast aftermarket support for even more performance.

The "Blue Devil” Offers 911 Turbo S Speed and More Drama

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If you are into American sports cars, you probably remember that the code name "Blue Devil” belongs to the Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR-1. Just like the Porsche 911 is the German go-to sports car, the Corvette is America’s definitive sports car. But that’s where the similarities end. Porsche enthusiasts will be quick to point out that any variant of the C6 Corvette fails miserably to get even close to the 911’s levels of refinement. Be that as it may, the C6 ZR-1 offers a bang for the buck that is near-impossible to beat.

Much of that comes from its powerplant – a supercharged, LS9 pushrod V-8 that develops almost as much power as the current 992 Turbo S, and slightly more torque. Keep in mind, this a car that came out back in ’09, when the equivalent Porsche 911 Turbo S – the 997 – only made 523 horsepower. In many ways, Chevy’s LS V-8 engine is just as iconic as Porsche’s flat-six, even though some Porsche 911s, ironically, get LS V-8 engine swaps, and for a good reason. The Chevy Corvette C6 ZR-1’s numbers are impressive even when compared to the 992 Turbo S, but they only tell half the story.

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Performance specifications Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR-1 Porsche 911 (992) Turbo S
Engine 6.2-liter, supercharged, OHV, V-8 3.8-liter, twin-turbo, DOHC, flat-6
Power 638 horsepower at 6,500 RPM 640 horsepower at 6,750 RPM
Torque 604 pound-feet at 3,800 RPM 590 pound-feet at 2,500-4,000 RPM
Transmission 6-speed manual 8-speed PDK automatic
Drivetrain Front engine, RWD Rear engine, AWD
Curb weight 3,353 pounds 3,615 pounds
0-60 mph 3.3-3.1 seconds 2.5 seconds
Top speed 205 mph (limited) 205 mph

The C6 ZR-1 Is Capable Enough To Embarrass Many Exotics

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You’ve probably already seen videos of a Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR-1 embarrassing the likes of the Porsche Carrera GT or accelerating from a standstill to 60 mph in little over 3.0 seconds. Part of the reason for such feats is the six-speed, Tremec TR6060 manual, which is geared in a way that gives the mighty C6 ZR-1 very long legs, but without the obscene drop of RPMs upon upshifts. The LS9 V-8’s massive torque band does a great job of sustaining the acceleration even at very high speeds.

First gear in the C6 ZR-1 is good for 67 mph while second gear is good for 95 mph. That’s actually with the shorter gear ratio that comes with the Performance Package. That’s one of the reasons why some owners claim that fifth gear is good for just over 186 mph while others claim 210 mph is possible, before shifting to sixth. The C6 Corvette ZR-1’s final drive ratio is identical to the C6 Z06, at 3.42:1. The C6 ZR-1 is also the first Chevrolet Corvette to have carbon-ceramic brakes.

A True Bargain Supercar Slayer

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Similar to the Nissan GT-R, the Chevy Corvette C6 ZR-1 packs insane bang for the buck. This was a car that had an MSRP of $120,000 when it came out. For a while, it was possible to get a great example for around $65,000. Sadly for you and me, that’s no longer the case. According to Classic.com, the current average price of a Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR-1 is just under $89,000.

Many examples can be had in the low $80,000 range, but those with under 10,000 miles on the odometer are starting to close in on the original prices, at around $110,000 to $115,000. Pristine examples with just a few miles on the clock, (and I really mean few) are already closing in on $200,000. For the sake of argument, let’s say that a near-perfect example of the C6 ZR1, with no traces of use, can be had for around $100,000.

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The 2025 Porsche 911 Turbo starts at $199,195, while the 992 Turbo S will set you back $232,395. These prices are before options and you know Porsche will gladly take extra skin off your back for every extra you tick off the configurator. The 50th Anniversary edition starts at $263,095.

So, there you have it. The C6 ZR-1 may not have the refinement and finesse of a 911, but it packs a reliable V-8 mill, a lot of attitude, and vast aftermarket support if you want to go even faster. That said, tuners like TECHART have their special programs for the Porsche 911 Turbo, and ES Motors recently schooled everyone on how to turn the Porsche 992 Turbo into a proper hypercar slayer. For this to happen, however, you need to have pockets way deeper than what a C6 ZR-1 would set you back.

Dimitar Angelov

Dimitar Angelov

Dim has been an automotive journalist since 2014. Although he is interested in all things automotive, his main interests revolve around, Asian, classic, and sports cars. He is particularly fond of Porsche sports cars as well as JDM classics from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and others. Dim operates mainly from Bulgaria, but can, occasionally, be seen attending Europe's most reputable Auto shows, and events. Read full bio