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Its 1984 ->Porsche 928 vs New corvette at Limerock
So the year is 1984, I'm still playing with Lego's and my favorite Magazine to this day just tested the new Corvette for 1984, the Porsche 928 and a few others at Limerock. Our beloved topped the list despite some shortfalls and it's price at the time.
I find this particularly interesting becasue I raced at Limerock earlier this year, I had an early C4 and still have an XJS... and I'm prepping my 1986 Porsche 928 for a track day at Limerock later this year in the Fall.
It would have been really interesting to see this test done again in 1985 when the Porsche 928 got more serious and the Corvette got much more power but also a much softer suspension.
Also seems lime GM is looking to take on the world again...with the new mid engine Corvette.
The US '84 Porsche 928 ranks #1 on their list. "A great car. Very close to perfect". I rest my case, your honor.
It's to the facade of closeness to which I was eluding.. Critics have to kick it for something, so it's performance per dollar in this case. Do the comparisons with the Euro S or S2 and let's see how the cookie really crumbles.
Not a-lot of 928 history at Limerock. Mark Anderson ran once or twice and I found 1 youtube video of what appears to be a well prepped early 80's 928 that did a respectible time. I'm hoping to do 1:05 late this year on good street tires.
I have an XJS and 1986 Porsche 928...and I have experience at Limerock. No way would the 85' 928 be just 2 seconds faster than an XJS. The XJS has no rear sway bar, tall 15" wheels/tires, weighs 500 LBS more and the brakes go away after 2 laps even at Limerock which is not a brake intensive track. I never had a 1984 Porsche 928 so I dont know what they are like so that's why the test in 1985 and my track day later this year are so intriguing....to me at least.
It's to the facade of closeness to which I was eluding.. Critics have to kick it for something, so it's performance per dollar in this case. Do the comparisons with the Euro S or S2 and let's see how the cookie really crumbles.
It's an American magazine testing cars sold in America in 1984. What could an American walk into a dealership and purchase? It wasn't a EuroS or S2.
It's an ever moving target, hell by the time the S4 rolled along you could buy a 390hp twin turbo Callaway Corvette at the dealerships. Option code RPO B2K complete with a warranty. MSRP was similar to an S4.
This is just a fun article from a bygone era worth revisiting.
This is just a fun article from a bygone era worth revisiting.
No doubt and I appreciate it for its entertainment value. Just wish some more explanation to cost disparity could've been noted. Porsche really had a hard time trying to make the 928 'work' for its multiple market interests. The first US 928S is really a very underappreciated car. Those MSRPs got stretched on account of Porsche devoting to 3 different platforms over 4 MYs. It's no wonder to me that they were "twice the cost" of a Corvette in '84. Porsche was financially committed to the US S, S2, and S3 production in '84
I would hesitate to say the distinctions between Euro S, S2, and US '84 versus Callaway's version of a Vette are remotely comparable. In respect to cost analysis, Chevrolet doesn't incur more cost as a result of the Callaway offering.
It's an American magazine testing cars sold in America in 1984. What could an American walk into a dealership and purchase? It wasn't a EuroS or S2.
This is just a fun article from a bygone era worth revisiting.
Well said...
Tomorrow Corvette takes on the world again with the reveal of the mid engine C8. It will most likely cost 3/4's of a Cayman with a sport package and be just as capable, probably more so. Ford, Porsche, BMW and most others will have to respond as did Porsche in 1985 with its refreshed 928 motivated by a newish 4 valve engine and improved transmission. It's an exciting time for sports cars.
Perhaps if there was no C4 in 1984 there wouldn't be a Porsche 928 S3. Is it possible the 84/85 Corvette forces Porsche hand? Maybe the 4 valve was slated for the S4 and bumped forward to compete.
It's to the facade of closeness to which I was eluding.. Critics have to kick it for something, so it's performance per dollar in this case. Do the comparisons with the Euro S or S2 and let's see how the cookie really crumbles.
Oh I wasn't replying to your earlier post. I was just reiterating my long standing trope on RL that the US 1984 MY is the best of the breed and using the article to confirm my bias.
Perhaps if there was no C4 in 1984 there wouldn't be a Porsche 928 S3. Is it possible the 84/85 Corvette forces Porsche hand? Maybe the 4 valve was slated for the S4 and bumped forward to compete.
I really don't know anymore than anyone else here, but I would think that this worked in the opposite order. It seems obvious that the C4 was inspired by the 928 to me. The '83 US 928 was a game changer. The Corvette was sidelined. It was a difficult era for these car makers with all of the changes imposed on them by emissions rules. I say the 928 pioneered a lot of the engineering that brought performance cars back to relevancy.
Originally Posted by GT6ixer
Oh I wasn't replying to your earlier post. I was just reiterating my long standing trope on RL that the US 1984 MY is the best of the breed and using the article to confirm my bias.
No doubt and I appreciate it for its entertainment value. Just wish some more explanation to cost disparity could've been noted. Porsche really had a hard time trying to make the 928 'work' for its multiple market interests. The first US 928S is really a very underappreciated car. Those MSRPs got stretched on account of Porsche devoting to 3 different platforms over 4 MYs. It's no wonder to me that they were "twice the cost" of a Corvette in '84. Porsche was financially committed to the US S, S2, and S3 production in '84
I would hesitate to say the distinctions between Euro S, S2, and US '84 versus Callaway's version of a Vette are remotely comparable. In respect to cost analysis, Chevrolet doesn't incur more cost as a result of the Callaway offering.
The exchange rates at the time also worked against German imports to the US.
NADA original sticker price MY84 928: $ 44,000k, MY84 Vette Base Coupe $21,800. I don't know what kind of discount Porsche was offering back then if any. I ordered an 87 Vette with lots of options and MSRP was approx $32,800 and I paid $ 26,600...a $6,200 discount. T
I would think that this worked in the opposite order. It seems obvious that the C4 was inspired by the 928 to me.
The C5 with it's rear mounted transaxle and cushy ride seems more likely to have been inspired by the 928. The C4 was an evolution of the C3 which dated back to 1968...Front engine, rear drive, 2 passenger, fiberglass body on frame with a removable roof. 928 has none of those features beside the front engine. And for a year the C3 has the same engine as the C4.
07-17-2019 | 01:56 PM
Its 1984 ->Porsche 928 vs New corvette at Limerock
