Comparing the Porsche With the Ferrari
Comparisons between Porsche and Ferrari cars abound. As with any area where there are a number of variations on theme e.g. martial arts, guitars, fashion designers, comparisons are always inevitable.
Both types of cars were designed by authoritative figures in the auto industry, both types are backed by strong styling and engineering integrity, both have been around for over fifty years, and they both a strong presence on the racing circuit. As a result, both the Porsche and the Ferrari have been closely compared in a variety of places as they both have a reputation for great performance as well as style. Let us make a specific comparison between the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S and the Ferrari F430 since they both give outstanding performance as sports cars whilst also being suitable for the public roads.
There are a number of features that should be found in a sports car, such as: road-holding [stick to the road like glue], it should manoeuvre well around town, it should be responsive and pick up speed when you put your foot down, and it should be safe on the road.
The use of performance figures is the easiest method of comparing these two cars any other comparison would be subjective and then dependant on human opinion. The Ferrari goes from a standing start to 100 km/h within 4 seconds, with a very satisfying tone of the exhaust. The 4.3 litre V8 engine delivers 368 kilowatts while the passengers are held safely in their seats.
The Porsche also has a very good acceleration, being slower by 0.8 seconds from a standing start to 100 km/h. Having such accelerations, it also follows that these cars should have very good braking systems, and they both use optional ceramic discs in order to achieve great performance.
When it comes to fuel consumption, the Porsche emerges the better performer, taking just 11.8 litres for every 100 km, while its rival takes 18.3 litres for the same distance. Now think about that for a second. The Porsche is almost twice as economical as the Ferrari. Now while it may be true that if you can afford a Ferrari, you're not really ever going to be concerned by the price of fuel, as the world becomes more environmentally aware, it may be a factor in your consideration. Both cars use 6-speed gearboxes with high handling performance.
Both cars have somewhat limited space but they are quite comfortable. The Ferrari employs a combination of carbon fibre, aluminium, and suede, although the Porsche still has a finer finish. When it comes to appearance, the Porsche performs well, but it does lag behind the looks of a Ferrari. Although the Porsche has remained distinctly traditional in style, maintaining its roots, the Ferrari's look arrests the attention of many people. That is the Ferrari looks more like a sports car than the Porsche.
A sports car needs to have a good balance of both silence and speed. So while it is true that the Ferrari has striking looks, the Porsche still leads as the all-rounded sports car.
