Porsche vs. American muscle

[quaz]

When you are a car guy, there is nothing wrong with liking European, Japanese and American muscle. Why does it have to be one or the other. They are all fun and have their own unique attributes. I have owned Pcars and American V8s and if I ever get done with my 911 I will probably hang on to it for quite some time. However I do miss the rumble of a big v8. Mustangs are inexpensive and there is no reason I can't own one of those too.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Gregrrr

I want to start this out by saying I have always loved American muscle cars. Chevelles, Camaros, 442s, etc.... They are probably the reason I'm a motor head today. Once I met Ms. 911 though, all of those huge displacement cars didn't matter so much to me. What really gets me is that they were 3 thousand dollar cars to begin with. Now you want 35K. It ain't me babe. What do you have to say?

good thread to start. When I was in high school I bought a $450 73 240Z that had sat for years and years and got it back on the road after 2 months of working on it with my dad. Very "Porsche" in so many ways. We threw away the junk SUs and put on Webers and headers, redid the wheel bearings, new water pump, starter and exhaust.

Punk kid in school had a fully restored Dodge Demon 340 his dad bought for him. We'd "race" and it was awesome, one of my great memories from youth. First, the cars were incredibly different but in a straight line, almost a perfect even match. I'd get the jump off the line, he's catch up by 35, and then from 35 to 70 I walk him inch by inch, like in slow motion, after 70 he'd walk away from me.

If a corner came up, I'd go right through it, these cars were great for oversteering through corners, let up the gas, correct steering, punch it and go. He'd lock-up now and again trying to keep up.

Good days.

of all the cars I've ever bought or built, never had a high torque car. I imagine they could be tons of fun.

[Christien]

American muscle has never really done a thing for me. I can count on 2 fingers American cars that really get my heart going - 50s/60s vettes and late 60s Mustangs. And that's purely cosmetic - I've never driven either.

I fell in love with the 911 when I was 8 or 9, in the mid-80s. There weren't many driving around my small-ish city at that time, so when I saw one, it was a big deal. I also grew up loving the 928 as well, particularly the first generation with the square tail lights.

I remember an issue of Motor Trend, probably 1986 or so, that compared a Lotus Esprit Turbo, Testarossa, Countach and a 928S4. The 928 took them all for top-speed.

[VINMAN]

I love my 944 (its my 3rd). But American muscle is and will always be my first love.
I know the majority of guys on here look down on any American made vehicle.But I guess I have expect that kind of bias based on what this board is about. I'm a motor head plain and simple. I like anything that has an engine and moves. whether it be a car, truck, boat ,plane ,bike, heavy equipment etc etc. Dont matter its country of origin. I have an interest in all of it.

As far as the comparison of new or older 911's. If I had the choice of any I can hhave. It would be a mid 80s model. The newer ones do absolutley nothing for me. Asthectically i think they are ugly. The older modles just have way better lines I'm not into all the newer "refinements." electronics, driving aids. and all the other do-dads. I like vehicles in their simplest form.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

I like vehicles in their simplest form.

Amen Brother!

[VINMAN]

Shaun, that passenger seats a little too simple.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Passengers make you go slower.

[Racerbvd]

I know where there are a few for sale, American Muscle that is..

[audiman08]

Originally Posted by quaz

When you are a car guy, there is nothing wrong with liking European, Japanese and American muscle. Why does it have to be one or the other. They are all fun and have their own unique attributes. I have owned Pcars and American V8s and if I ever get done with my 911 I will probably hang on to it for quite some time. However I do miss the rumble of a big v8. Mustangs are inexpensive and there is no reason I can't own one of those too.

I agree, except I can't say there's ever been a Japanese car I've fallen for. As for American cars, I like the early 60s Ford/Mercury/Lincolns



Probably too big to be a muscle car I guess, but it has a 390ci and sounds great. I saw it in person, too bad I don't have the extra cash..

[equality72521]

Originally Posted by audiman08

I agree, except I can't say there's ever been a Japanese car I've fallen for.

Not even the 240z? Or even better, the Skyline R34 GT-R?

[MT930]

I love American muscle, had Camaros worked for a guy while I was in high school who restored mid and late 60's Corvettes. The 67 Corvette with a 427 was outrageous, by far my favorite American muscle car, that car was as much of a hand full as a turbo but with less control. E- ticket ride

I really loved the Olds 442 styling and power but these cars were only great in a strait line, they just could not apply power to the road like many of the European cars Porsche's in particular. The old muscle cars were pigs in the turns, heavy and awkward I still love them, and would take a Olds Indy pace car convertible in a nano second. It would be hard to pay $50 +K for a restored one now. It's no drivers car even with a modern suspension.

The newer American cars are better handling they just don't trip my trigger.
They are just more affordable, always will be.


Nothing beats a 911 for track or mountain roads. It's just going to come at a higher price.

I have let muscle car guys drive my 930 the two words that always follow are, the control & power is unbelievable. Yea the cars 23 years old.

A GT3 RS has got to be pretty dreamy! I will most likely never know!

[dd74]

How a 911 delivers its power - air and oil cooled with precise hand-built parts is enough to differentiate it from the Detroit muscle. I'm not sure any of the Detroit engines of the 60s through to the 80s were hand built.

Plus, the flat six could put out an incredible amount of power for its size. Detroit seemed to need a couple extra liters to reliably match the power of a 3 or 3.2. The 73.5-74 2.7 engines were also good as long as they hadn't thermal reactors on them.

[yel911]

As a kid in high school, I drove my brother's 71 vette with a 427 4 speed, 6 days a week. I was what every kid envied, back then. When I got a ride in a 1980 SC that a friends uncle owned, it was what I thought a car SHOULD be. Fast in the straights and it turned corners too!!! I always wanted one from that day on... 30 years later, my brother and I still play with HIS car.



And mine....

[vash]

i like apples..no oranges! hell, both are cool.

[Jim Bremner]

This pick above was a TRE hangover drive. It was wet and foggy. The Mustang ran pretty damn well and didn't go into the corners as quick as the 911's But it came off of the apex a bit quicker than most.




I had a fairlane GT like the one above, 335 hp, 2 tones of torque and some pretty decent suspention. I didn't get lost in the turns by to many drivers.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

...just that the "we're sooo cool because we 'discovered' 911's" attitude kind of ticked me off.

Werd.

[911boost]

I have both a 911 and a couple of 60's era American Cars. I am a fan of all cars, I don't get into the click mentality. I can appreciate everything for what it is. I like going to all different kinds of car shows.

My 911 is a heavily modified 964 turbo, and I have a 1966 Mustang with a pretty heavily modified 200 ci 6 cylinder in it, and a 1968 Buick Sportwagon with a big block 400 ci in it.

The Mustang has been mine since 1991, and has been a constant work in progress and the one car I won't ever sell. The 911 is a blast and I drive to work during the warmer months. The Buick I picked up on a whim, and its fun its own right.

I don't see anything wrong with enjoying more than one type of car.

I know you hate 911's Bill (sniper), but I think you'd agree my turbo is a good time, and quick.

Bill

[austin552]

I would trade the Pcar for this one.

[Roosterrusek]

Just cause...mine.

[pwd72s]

Ahhh, the "baby corvette"...beautiful lines by Opel... The modded engine lid suggests something special is underneath...