Ford GT vs Porsche Carrera GT

The last decade produced some incredible supercars… the Saleen S7, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and the Audi R8, to name but three that we’ve talked about before. This time however, I wanted to cover two supercars, one of which we’ve mentioned before, but one which has sadly gone unrecognized by this blog until now, the Ford GT and the Porsche Carrera GT, respectively. These cars, although both products of similar times, and capable of reaching similar speeds, came from two companies with very different ethos, and I decided to compare the two, in a transatlantic battle, to see which one is more deserving of our adoration.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Both of these cars come from companies with a long, proud history in motorsport, with Porsche having the most consecutive wins of any company in the Le Mans 24 hour race. Not to be outdone however, Ford’s GT40, the GT’s ancestor and forefather, won the race four times in a row, from 1966-69, being the first American constructor to win the storied race. It makes sense then, that these cars are both incredibly fast and beautifully designed, with the Ford GT boasting a 5.4L V8, and the Carrera an even larger 5.7L V10.

Ford GT

With engines like these, it’s no surprise that both cars are staggeringly fast. The Ford GT goes from stationary to 60 in just three and a half seconds, while the Carrera leaps to 60 in just 3.1. Top speeds are a similar story, with the Ford maxing out at 205 mph, a speed matched by the Porsche.

Now, there is one area where the cars are very different, and that’s on the design front. The Ford takes a huge amount of cues from the historic Ford GT40, to such an extent that the cars are, while not identical, are clearly father and son. This is no bad thing however, with the looks calling back to a golden age of cars and motorsport, with strong lines displaying muscle like an athlete, giving a visual impression of the power the V8 is capable of generating.

Porsche Carrera GT

The Porsche Carrera GT on the other hand looks every inch the modern racer, all smooth lines and aerodynamically-focused bodywork. The body also contains one of the Carrera’s technological delights, an automatically-deploying rear wing, generating downforce to keep the car stable at high speeds. Comparing the two cars feels like comparing one age of racing to another, but don’t forget that despite its older looks, the Ford and Porsche are extremely evenly matched when it comes to performance. Looks and technology aren’t everything.

The Carrera is a joy to drive, taking difficult maneuvers on the chin without phasing the driver, with the silky smooth steering giving great feedback. Coming to a stop is just as easy, with the incredible brakes letting the car come to a stop quicker than an Enzo. The car meshes controllability and speed beautifully, with Porsche demonstrating the engineering skills that let them be so successful at Le Mans. The Ford GT also steers wonderfully, with communicative steering keeping the car and driver a single unit, but the brakes aren’t up to the standard of the exceptional Porsche, and rear visibility is a big bugbear. While the GT is a very good car to drive, it can’t match the Porsche’s precision.

Ford GT

Ultimately, the Ford and the Porsche are pretty closely matched, but we have to give the victory in this comparison to the Carrera. Its mix of meticulous engineering and brutal speed make it a superb road-legal racer. So, you’ve read the comparison, and you probably want to buy one of these two cars now, right?

Well, if you’re lucky enough to be able to afford to, take a look at our listings, and see if you can pick one up. You’ll have a harder time buying the Carrera, as only 1,270 were made, compared to the GT, of which there are over 4,000. You can expect to pick up a Ford GT for around $280,000, whereas the Porsche is likely to cost you $500-800K.