RE: Turbocharged '80s legends | Six of the Best
Discussion
ballans said:
Ahh, I miss 80’s and 90’s turbo lag. Wait for it, wait for it……..whoosh!
Lovely cars on the list but I would prefer something more Everyman. Saab, Escort RS turbo, R5, Uno turbo and yes even the Metro.
Yes I agree do another list of cars people could actually afford, kick it off with the Sierra cosworth. Lovely cars on the list but I would prefer something more Everyman. Saab, Escort RS turbo, R5, Uno turbo and yes even the Metro.
As others have said, perhaps most notable absentees are Mulsanne and Sierra Cosworth.
I'd happily take any of them, but I wonder what the Ruf 911 value would be once I'd added another 50k miles...
...methinks its destined never to be driven for fear of devaluing it, which is a shame. Not least for the buyer.
I'd happily take any of them, but I wonder what the Ruf 911 value would be once I'd added another 50k miles...
...methinks its destined never to be driven for fear of devaluing it, which is a shame. Not least for the buyer.
Bencolem said:
When I think of Turbocharged '80s legends I think of Group B or Rallycross cars like the 6R4, RS200 or R5 Turbo. What I don’t think of is 90’s Japanese GTR’s. But it’s a good list with the Ruf included presumably as a nod to the Yellowbird (the true turbocharged 80’s legend). Sadly missing the twin turbocharged Alpina B10 biturbo (but understandable given non are for sale on Pistonheads) but you could have included a Mulsanne Turbo.
I'm nitpicking, but the 6R4 was naturally aspirated.AmyRichardson said:
Looking back from the turbo-everything post-c.2010 world it's odd how the technology waxed and waned from the 1980s.
Certain manufacturers kept the faith all the way through but so many, having toyed with forced induction in its infancy, dropped it through the 90s and early-2000s, especially amongst that generation of supercars (F1, F50, CGT) but also in the mass market, such as the replacement of turbo hatches with larger, 16v units.
Presumably a combination of the character of turbocharged engines in that era and the perception - especially for middle market manufacturers - that turbos were a "dirty fix" for manufacturers building a performance model without developing a "proper" performance powertrain - or (even worse!) modders.
Turbos came from F1. After they got banned I guess development stopped with them. Also the 1990s killed of hot hatches so higher performance hit hatch turbid like Cosworths also go killed off. It was at the time a crude method. I would say Porsche with their twin turbos and developing the system paved the way along with emissions to seek their implementation again.Certain manufacturers kept the faith all the way through but so many, having toyed with forced induction in its infancy, dropped it through the 90s and early-2000s, especially amongst that generation of supercars (F1, F50, CGT) but also in the mass market, such as the replacement of turbo hatches with larger, 16v units.
Presumably a combination of the character of turbocharged engines in that era and the perception - especially for middle market manufacturers - that turbos were a "dirty fix" for manufacturers building a performance model without developing a "proper" performance powertrain - or (even worse!) modders.
stuart100 said:
Turbos came from F1. After they got banned I guess development stopped with them. Also the 1990s killed of hot hatches so higher performance hit hatch turbid like Cosworths also go killed off. It was at the time a crude method. I would say Porsche with their twin turbos and developing the system paved the way along with emissions to seek their implementation again.
The early turbos could be very thirsty on boost.It was only later that they started to get similar economy to na engines of equivalent power.
Great list this time but shame nothing genuinely affordable, like an R5 GTT, Uno Turbo, or even actual 80’s and unaffordable like a Sierra Cosworth.
I love Rufs but that’s surely a 90’s 964, even though the model change was ‘89. Missed some real 80’s options to squeeze in 90’s cars- more about what’s for sale in the PH classifieds?
Some great additional suggestions in the comments- Bentley Turbo R and B10 Biturbo included.
I love Rufs but that’s surely a 90’s 964, even though the model change was ‘89. Missed some real 80’s options to squeeze in 90’s cars- more about what’s for sale in the PH classifieds?
Some great additional suggestions in the comments- Bentley Turbo R and B10 Biturbo included.
Neil1323bolts said:
ballans said:
Ahh, I miss 80’s and 90’s turbo lag. Wait for it, wait for it……..whoosh!
Lovely cars on the list but I would prefer something more Everyman. Saab, Escort RS turbo, R5, Uno turbo and yes even the Metro.
Yes I agree do another list of cars people could actually afford, kick it off with the Sierra cosworth. Lovely cars on the list but I would prefer something more Everyman. Saab, Escort RS turbo, R5, Uno turbo and yes even the Metro.
cerb4.5lee said:
Neil1323bolts said:
ballans said:
Ahh, I miss 80’s and 90’s turbo lag. Wait for it, wait for it……..whoosh!
Lovely cars on the list but I would prefer something more Everyman. Saab, Escort RS turbo, R5, Uno turbo and yes even the Metro.
Yes I agree do another list of cars people could actually afford, kick it off with the Sierra cosworth. Lovely cars on the list but I would prefer something more Everyman. Saab, Escort RS turbo, R5, Uno turbo and yes even the Metro.
I did have a string of Saab Turbos throughout the late 90s and early 2000s though. I loved the mid range boost (Saabists call it thrunge) and whooshy noises. I didn’t even mind the crazy torque steer and wheel spin.
I’ve also just remembered some of the Japanese turbo hot hatches of the time. Daihatsu Charade (indecently fast for what it was), Mitsubishi Colt, Mazda 323 and my friend had a Nissan Cherry. I remember the turbo would glow red hot after a spirited run.
Was indeed good times.
While there were a whole heap of turbocharged cars (and hoovers!) in the 80s, for me the manufacturers that I think of from the early days are BMW, Porsche and Saab. While the former had given up on the format by the 80s, obviously leaving aside Alpina, and Porsche are covered here in a couple of instances, this list really does need a Saab as others have already mentioned
For my it would be a flat-front 900 T16S
For my it would be a flat-front 900 T16S
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