The Chevrolet Corvette is an unbelievable value, with a price-to-performance ratio that puts some exotic European brands to shame. The Corvette ZR1, the ultimate iteration of the eighth-generation model, isn’t cheap, but it is cheaper than the Ferrari 296 GTB—and it’s faster in a quarter-mile drag race, too.
The Corvette ZR1 produces 244 more horsepower than the 296 GTB for about $175,000 less to start, while being about four-tenths of a second quicker down the track. The Chevy has the twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter LT7 V-8 engine making 1,064 horsepower and 828 pound-feet of torque, with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox sending power to the rear wheels.
The Ferrari has the brand’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter hybrid V-6. It produces 820 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque, with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission powering the rear wheels. It’s lighter than the Corvette, too, but that didn’t matter at all in the drag races.
The Corvette won both, clocking a 9.291-second quarter-mile time at 153.20 miles per hour in the first race, posted to the DragTimes YouTube channel. That’s incredibly close to dipping into the eight-second range, which is a test for the 1,250-hp Corvette ZR1X. It’s electrified, has all-wheel drive, and can achieve a sub-9.0-second time, according to the automaker.
The 296 GTB wasn’t that far behind, delivering an impressive 9.737-second time at 146.08 mph for its first race.
Both the Corvette and the Ferrari were slightly slower in the second run, with the Chevy taking 9.315 seconds to cross the finish line at 151.70 mph. The Ferrari was slower, running a 9.745-second race at 145.66 mph.
The Corvette ZR1 starts at $185,000 and can easily reach the low $200,000 range with options. That’s a ton of money, but it’s better than the Ferrari that starts at $350,000. The Corvette is a steal by comparison, which is easy to do when you’re selling a sports car instead of a lifestyle.
