Can the Mighty C8 Corvette Z06 Beat the Track-Focused Porsche Cayman GT4 RS?

The C8 Z06 and GT4 RS are both incredible sports cars, but the Z06 has more speed and versatility which gives it an edge.

Perspective can be everything. The truth is that there is really not much in it between the C8 Corvette Z06 and the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS. Over here at Corvette Forum we have knowledgeable and passionate Corvette fans that by default will rank a Corvette ahead of any competition. Head over to our sister site Rennlist and that crowd will prefer the Cayman by default. But both fanbases are generally wise in the way of sports cars. So, if the Porsche was just worlds better than the Corvette, then even the staunchest Corvette fan would concede the victory. The Porsche fan would do the same if the Corvette was clearly superior. But what is amazing in this case is just how close these two are. Despite some major differences. No one could blame fans of either marque if they crossed party lines when buying their next sports car.

The folks at Motor Trend recently compared these two mid-engine marvels and they essentially came to the same conclusion. They are evenly matched. And while calling either of these cars a loser would be outright stupid. The Porsche is the non-winner in this particular battle. When you consider each car holistically and weigh what each one brings to the table the C8 Z06 has just enough to hand the mighty Porsche a knockout blow. And that is quite a feat considering what a terrific sports car the GT4 RS is. It will likely go down in history as one of the best of all-time. And the Corvette is better.

Similar but Different

The Z06 and the GT4 RS both have an engine in the middle. They are both the track-focused mid-engine models offered by their respective maker. They both are offered with only a dual-clutch automatic transmission. The engines used in each car are naturally aspirated and they scream. The Z06 redlines at 8,500 rpm and the Porsche spins on to 9,000 rpm. But the V8 in the Corvette makes 177 more horsepower and 130 more pound-feet of torque. But the power advantage doesn’t make the Corvette all that much faster as it has about 450 extra pounds to lug around. The Z06 is just a bigger car. It is ten inches longer and eight inches wider than the Porsche. Each rear tire on the Corvette is nearly TWO INCHES wider than the rears on the Porsche.

Performance

The Porsche is 0.1 second slower to 60 mph and it takes 1 foot longer to stop from that speed. In terms of grip the Porsche lags behind the Corvette by just .01 g’s. The ‘loser’ in this battle does 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, stops from 60 mph in 96 feet and posts 1.15 g’s on the skidpad. Not exactly slow. And the truth is the numbers are so close that from the seat of your pants it would be unlikely you could even tell the difference. However, the advantage for the Z06 does grow at higher speeds. The Corvette hits 100 mph a half second sooner. It also trips the quarter mile in 10.8 seconds versus 11 for the GT4 RS. It might be close but there is no arguing that the Corvette is quicker.

Livability

Both of these cars feel alive. They each make terrific noises. The type of noises you will want to record and play for future generations that will grow up in EVs. These cars are what performance sounds like. The problem with the Porsche is this can be too much of a good thing. The noise is fantastic, until it makes your ears hurt. The Porsche also feels more like a track toy. Which is great when you are on a track but can grow tiresome if you just want to go for an early morning drive to Starbucks. The GT4 RS can be your daily driver if you are a teenage YouTuber. But owners that are rewarding themselves with a sports car now that they are empty nesters will find it too extreme for daily use. Somehow the Z06 is both faster and more compliant in everyday driving situations.

Saving the best for last. The Corvette is faster, more livable, and cheaper. But the major caveat here is that we are comparing MSRP to MSRP. Both of these cars are subject to massive dealer markups. If you land a GT4 RS at MSRP but have to pay $100K over MSRP for the Z06 the decision becomes tougher. But assume you live in a magical land devoid of dealer greed. A Z06 with the Z07 Package will sticker at about $130K. A GT4 RS with the Weissach Package will be around $180K. And that is before you dive into the world of absurd Porsche option pricing. Magnesium wheels and carbon ceramic brakes will tack on more than $23K to that price. The Corvette is simply less expensive.

Decision

At the end of the day, if you are playing in this pool, you are having a good time. Either car will make you happy. But when you consider that with the Corvette you get more speed, and more comfort for less money it is hard to pick anything else. Even if that something else is a terrific car in its own right.

Images: Chevrolet; Porsche

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