85fortheDrive

In my brief time as an owner of an 84 928S 5-spd (US version), I have been asked and wondered how this car compares to Vettes and Mustangs. Here's my sense, but the purpose of this post is to invite suggested amendments...

1. The US version of the car doesn't have nearly the horsepower of the Euro version. Those of you with Euro models can comment on the difference. I think the US versions have under 250 hp.

2. I have heard it said that the 84 928s was the "fastest production car in North America." Mythological pomp or verifiable boast?

3. I have never "burned rubber" in the 928. My sense is that it will not beat a Corvette off the blocks. The handling of the car at high speeds and through turns suggests that the 928 might compete well over longer, winding courses. Thus, the length of the run seems important.

4. I'll bet my 928S doesn't stand a chance against an S4 or GT. How might those fare vs American muscle cars?

I realize that you all drive at or below posted speed limits , but just in case you've pushed your car at some point, I'd like to know who you think wins the race.

Peace,
Tim

m21sniper

Those mid 80s vettes were really dogs.

I can only speak for my 83US model, but i have crushed a couple circa 84ish vettes in drag races. By crushed i mean at least 10 lengths to 100mph. So my feeling is that a stock 928S should be able to run very competitively with a Vette of the same year(and i would say that was true of any 928 model from 78-95).

Really short of a lambo, nothing made in 83 is faster than a 928, US or Euro.

Road & Track did an article at the time(cover pic):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...e/944page1.jpg

The two Porsches came out on top.

Here's the article:http://www.network54.com/Forum/42613...ri%2C+Corvette

Bill Ball

1. True.
2. True in terms of top speed.
3. True.
4. True. To what American muscle car of the mid-80s do you want to compare it?

You must have read that article Snipe referenced. It covers these issues well.

SharkSkin

I looked over the numbers at one point, and I believe that every US 928 beat the same year vette in the 1/4. IIRC there was one exception, I believe it was the ZR-1 that was a hair faster one year.

Daniel Dudley

When asked about my 80 928, I usuall say, ''Oh it's not that fast,it will only do one hundred and fourtyfive miles an hour.''

Fabio421

Yaeh. What they said. LOL. As lomg as you are comparing apples to apples you can bet on the 928. The problem is, nowadays you will most likely be tangling with a car that is at least 15 years newer. Thats where your car will show its age. But like you said, it will still prevail t higher speeds and through the twisties in the road. This is the reason so many people are boosting their 928's these days. It will basicly update the HP so you are still competitive with the newer cars. My advice, don't get baited into races you can't win. And if you want to put your car on a diet there is a great weight reduction thread thats pretty active right now. Have fun

H2

Didn't Porsche go out of its way to build the 928 in those years to always beat out the 'vettes? Obviously, the 928 can't be compared to the new vettes...unless you install forced induction. Then you'd better improve your brakes too.

Harvey

m21sniper

The only one that could take a 928S in the mid 80s was a Grand National(84 was the first year of the SFI cars), and then only in a straight line to about 110mph or so(talking stock vs stock cars). I think an early 928(pre S) would beat one of the older carburated T-Type turbo buicks even in straight line acceleration.

In 86 the GNs got their intercoolers, and were definitely the better accelerating car, but as an all around performance machine the 928 is light years ahead. Once you hit (i think) 89 there are the GM Syclone/Typhoon which are both VERY fast trucks, but again....only in a straight line, and neither will run top end with a 928 32V.

The Vette could not run with any of those vehicles back then. The GNs and Syclones completely owned them at the strip.

What year did the Turbo Supra come out? That's the first jap car that would've had a prayer to keep up with a 928.

SteveG

Re Question 3. burning rubber. It indicates (on that car) that you have more torque than traction, great: sound over fury. If that is your goal (and it isn't happening), just put narrower tires on the bitch. It is wasted energy if the tires are spinning. I will admit to the rubber-necking factor. When the decibel level goes up and the smoke appears I turn my head to see, but if your tires are spinning and the other guy's aren't, he's moving and you aren't. I would sacrifice the flash for a silent take off with an LSD and put more HP/torque to the pavement. I confess I have LSD envy.
Warning -- Viper flame: Buy a Viper if you want to wipe vettes, great on the straight, notoriously bad brakes, no cornering at speed, shall we compare the ride? I don't think so. Vettes and Vipers don't bother me, they are great cars, I like them both. I love my shark.

Imo000

The first gen. Supra Turbo started in '87 and I beleive it went till '91. They are fairly fast stock and with just a bost controler they can be very fast for next to nothing. They are also heavy like the 928.

FBIII

Years ago I had an on road experience with an early Supra Turbo with my 84 5 sp. I was experiencing a slight miss at the time that proved to be a tracking distributor cap. We were heading uphill from 60 - 100 and he was just slightly quicker. Probably would have been even w/o the miss.

Bill Ball

Yeah, Snipe, I know you know GNs. That's about it for the 80s. If we went back into the 60's, then we could talk about all kinds of quick straight-line REAL muscle cars, like the 67-9 L88.

m21sniper

My dad had a worked '66 427 L72 Big Block vette 4 speed that was absolutely terrifying wrt straight line performance.

Didn't turn or stop for crap though(compared to a 928, though in it's day it was probably considered to be pretty good at both)...especially with the welded spider gears.

I remember when he first got it(and i was but a boy at the time, this is probably around 1976 or 77) and my uncle came over to check it out. At the time my uncle had a 1970 Plymouth GTX 440, which were nasty beasts in their own right.

Anyway, my old man tosses him the keys to take the vette for a ride, my uncle hops in, puts down the street, makes a slow right to get onto the 2 lane 'main' road, and nails it. We could hear the motor from the next block(headers and glasspack exhaust) TEAR down the block, then suddenly all went quiet.

About 5 minutes goes by and my uncle comes walking back around the block, keys held up high in front of him. He walks right up to my dad and says, "I left it parked around the corner. That car has no business even being on the street".

My dad took it to ATCO like 2 weeks later and it ran a 10.50et with slicks.

Imo000

Welded spider gears?!?!?!?! Was he able to turn with that at all? I bet the outside tires were screaming every time he made a sharp turn. That's a dangerous "ghetto mod" !

kshipp

I think it was 1987 when the first Turbo came out - 230 hp. It was labeled as the "Corvette-killer".

I had an '84 Supra (Performance model) and LOVED it (see attached photo).Beautiful car. It was fun to drive - heavy but fast. Of course, no comparison to the 928.

Another irony of 928 comparison was that there were no Supra's produced in 1992.