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1981 supercar performance - not so super anymore
I stumbled across this over at VWVortex. It is from a Popular Mechanics supercar test back in 1981.
We've come a long way. There are probably a dozen SUVs that are faster (and get better gas mileage) in the quarter mile than the fastest car on this list. 
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'08 RX350 (Hers) '84 911 Carrera '83 911SC Cabrio '06 Miata |
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06-25-2008, 12:31 PM
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Dog-faced pony soldier
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It's all factors - not just 1/4 mile.
Put most SUVs on the slalom and they'll finish in about a week and a half - if they don't roll. Nice to see the 931 getting some love on that list. 
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A car, a 911, a motorbike and a few surfboards Black Cars Matter |
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06-25-2008, 12:33 PM
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durn for'ner
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I can´t see the SC there. It would have beaten them all.
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Markus Resident Fluffer Carrera '85 |
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06-25-2008, 12:39 PM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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06-25-2008, 12:42 PM
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Bandwidth AbUser
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Jim R. |
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06-25-2008, 12:42 PM
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durn for'ner
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Markus Resident Fluffer Carrera '85 |
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06-25-2008, 12:47 PM
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the late 70s and early 80s were dark days for performance cars.
the 911SC was really a very rare exception. It was a performance standout for US legal cars. |
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06-25-2008, 12:57 PM
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Pretty capricious list. They include a M1, Countach, F512, and a Volante, but the representative Porsches were a 928 and 931??
I think a ROW 930 from 1980 would have smoked every car on that list.
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"Rust never sleeps" |
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06-25-2008, 01:03 PM
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GRM had a cool article a few years ago comparing a few classics, including a 356, to a Honda minivan. IIRC the Honda was faster, handled/stopped better ....
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06-25-2008, 01:10 PM
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Gon fix it with me hammer
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and if they didn't do road testing on the 930 in 1980, or they didn't do a quarter mile , it's not in the list still, that 931 did pretty good, only lost .4 of a second on a lap despite the 44 horses handicap and with 50% better milage, so in endurance terms, that Ferrari would not have beaten it...it would simply not have been able to out run the 931 enough to not loose it's lead in the pits
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Stijn Vandamme EX911STARGA73EX92477EX94484EX944S8890MPHPINBALLMACHINEAKAEX987C2007 BIMDIESELBMW116D2019 |
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06-25-2008, 01:22 PM
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Gon fix it with me hammer
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220 hp is not double of 170
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Stijn Vandamme EX911STARGA73EX92477EX94484EX944S8890MPHPINBALLMACHINEAKAEX987C2007 BIMDIESELBMW116D2019 |
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06-25-2008, 01:24 PM
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It is funny that my daily driver truck can smoke every car on the list (I have done quite a bit to it). Truth be told it is a little disapointing to read that list and see that my dream car, The Countach, really doesn't stack up to new cars. I know 1/4 mile time isn't everything but 14.994? I guess it would be like driving my Wife's Accord with a few more blind spots
Last edited by Shawn 357; 06-25-2008 at 02:54 PM.. Reason: Typo |
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06-25-2008, 02:53 PM
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That's "super car" performance, the performance of "regular" cars was much worse!
I remember my new '81 BMW 320i, was considered a pretty hot performance sedan back in the day. It did 0-60 in 11.1 seconds! (12.1 with an automatic). Everyone pretty much thought that smog and safety had killed high performance cars forever. If you would have told someone in 1981 that in 2008 your average family sedan (i.e., a Honda Accord) or minivan would have 265+ hp, that there would be dozens of cars and trucks available for sale in the US with 400-500 hp, and that average cars would be doing 60 in the 6 second range, they would have said you were absolutely nuts. |
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06-25-2008, 03:00 PM
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All of those cars top 140 MPH. Some by a considerable margin.
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06-25-2008, 03:12 PM
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Quote:
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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06-25-2008, 03:18 PM
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Jeff '72 911T 3.0 MFI '93 Ducati 900 Super Sport "God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world" |
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06-25-2008, 03:19 PM
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Hmmm, my 83 928S has run a 13.6 at the local drag strip. An 81 5 speed ROW 928 is much faster than a high 15 second car. Those times are suspect at best.
Last edited by m21sniper; 06-25-2008 at 03:26 PM.. |
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06-25-2008, 03:24 PM
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I'm not sure you can compare an 83S or an 81ROW 928 with an 80 or 81 US 928.
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06-25-2008, 03:46 PM
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11 mpg with the 928. Ouch!!
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06-25-2008, 04:05 PM
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Registered abUser
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06-25-2008, 04:11 PM
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BimForce the Third, Esquire
1981 Porsche 911SC 3.0L
