Research Paper Help

Hi Everyone, My name is Brian and I am doing a research paper for college. I’m writing a compare/contrast paper comparing a ’15 911 GTS, ’15 Corvette Z06 and a ’15 BMW M6, three $100k sports cars, to help customers pick the right sports car for them (rather than just buying a name). Honestly, I’m not a fan of including the BMW since it is more ‘luxury’ sports car rather than ‘balls to the wall’ sports car. I’m trying to stay at $100k, 2015 model year and something commonly seen on the road (no one-off uber-exotics). I’ve had trouble finding a third car that fits the criteria, Lambo and Ferrari are out since they’re ~$200k, I can’t really compare a Z06 monster to a NA V6 Lotus, A CTS-V is too close to a Corvette, the highest optioned Pony Car is only ~$50k. BMW isn’t really apples-to-apples. If anyone has a suggestion for a better third car I’m all ears. The main thing I need help on is my section about real world driving of these cars. If anyone has one of these cars I’d like to know how you like them after the ‘new car smell’ goes away (if you know what I mean). Some questions I have: How does it ride? Do you need a chiropractor after you go to the grocery? Ease of throttle with high horsepower (does .5% throttle = 100mph) Ease of amenity use (does it take an hour and a PHD to change a setting?) Transmission gearing in city (autos) (is it in the ‘right’ gear? Does it constantly change?) Vehicle height/ underside damage Parking lot maneuverability How often are you at the gas station? Anything else you would like to include would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sounds like an interesting assignment and please feel free to upload your finished paper to our files section for our members to read at a later date. With regard to finding another car if you are only doing 2015 cars then you cannot do a 2016 GT4 but most of those come in around 95-100K so it fits your price point, but of course is also another Porsche. I was not aware that you could get 2015 911 GTS for 100K, any of those I have seen have been well over 100K but of course options play a big part in that. Have you considered something like the Lotus Evora? Technically the 2015 model wasn't sold in the US (available in the UK) but they brought the Lotus Evora 400 to the US in December as a 2016 model for 89,900 before options. Certainly more sporty than a BMW but technically might not fit your model year. The Alfa Romeo 4C probably isn't expensive enough, not sure you can option one up to 100K, but it is a sports car and also of the lightweight less frills style so it or the Lotus would make an interesting comparison to the more luxurious Porsche or BMW models. Just some food for thought, welcome to the site!

Thanks for the response. I should have said ~$100k, maybe $90k-$110k, around $100k. I guess I also subliminally looked at the top speed of the vehicles and used that as a filter which eliminated cars that could have worked, but how often is anyone going 190+mph?. If there is a 2015 U.S. market Lotus (I haven't looked yet) then it probably could be included. I'll take a second look, I'll take a Lotus over a Bimmer for this report any day.

Nissan GT-R. $101,770.

GT-R was high on my initial list but it seems like that car is in a class all it's own. The biggest thing that kept it off the list was the AWD, I don't like comparing 2WD to AWD because then the is 0-60 times are drastically different.

guys, lets help this fellow by --- focus-focus. bfeeney... Your list of compare and contrast reads like the sort of thing that Motorweek does.. very factoid based and to a particular level, somewhat superficial. Of course all those particular points are good to enumerate, but I don't think that gets to the "contrast" aspect of your paper. To get to that essence, you need to look at the "emotion" of each car, the "demographics" that each car historically attracts (you should post the same question/challenge on a Corvette and BMW sight for "their" perspectives). It is the "emotion" for each car that moves us to shell out that @about 100 large... otherwise we would just buy something utilitarian. So, that's my suggestion, document the numbers and then get into the "why" people think each is different -- hint: the why may be colored by the numbers, but the why doesn't explain the "contrast". Good luck.. be inventive and... make sure you spell check with your eyes, don't just let the computer due it (get it??). Regards. D

If the object is to compare/contrast, then a Japanese car with AWD against the American and German old-school RWDs is fair game. Not sure why you think the GT-R is in a different class.

I think you need to do a lot more due diligence. A 2015 911 GTS stripped was $114,000, more likely $130,000 OTD. A Cabrio was $126,000 or likely $140,000. Your numbers are way off. You also might want to do some research on the definition of Pony Car, Muscle Car, Sports Sedan, Hot Hatch, and Sports Car. While its popular to think of all kind of cars as "sports cars", they are not. A BMW 1 or 3 or 5 or 7 series are NOT sports cars. Sports Sedans - yes. And a Camaro is not, nor ever has been a "sports car". It's classic definition is a Pony Car with the big blocks crossing into the Muscle Car category. But never a sports car. Pony Car and Muscle Car people tend to take the definitions very seriously. Good luck

Yup. The M6 is NOT a "sports car". And although we are not ALL in agreement on this, I am also willing to argue that the 911 GTS is not a "sports car" either. I see the M6 and the 911 GTS as being GT (Grand Touring) cars. I tend to hold to the definition of a sports car excluding vehicles with rear seats. To me, sports cars are two-seaters.

Besides, I would think that a better subject for your paper would be bikini competitions.