RE: Spotted: Porsche 959 prototype

[Gridl0k]

Devil2575 said:

I read that Ferrari's claims over the top speed were more willy waving that fact, but that the 959 did what it said on the tin.

Controversial

[LotusOmega375D]

I think the passing of time has also forgotten that the 959 pre-dated the F40 by a couple of years and was originally a rival to the 288 GTO. I am sure that the more powerful 959 was faster than the GTO.

Production of the original 959 was all done by the end of 1988, whereas deliveries of the F40 were really only getting into their stride by then and continued until 1992, at which point about 1000 more had been built than Porsche managed.

[markmullen]

LotusOmega375D said:

I think the passing of time has also forgotten that the 959 pre-dated the F40 by a couple of years and was originally a rival to the 288 GTO. I am sure that the more powerful 959 was faster than the GTO.

I drove the 959 and 288GTO back to back and the 959 has aged much better.

[rastapasta]

was this the car they developed for Group B?? That one that Henri Toivonen and Billy Coleman drove??

[jrampton]

The 959 is one of my all time favourites, here are some shots i took as part of my Porsche photography project at the tail end of last year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnrampton/sets/7215...

[r129sl]

jrampton said:

The 959 is one of my all time favourites, here are some shots i took as part of my Porsche photography project at the tail end of last year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnrampton/sets/7215...

Great colours on that one.

[flat6buster]

The gunmetal grey and burgundy examples show, I think, how well these cars respond to a good solid colour rather than silver or white.

[LongLiveTazio]

markmullen said:

I drove the 959 and 288GTO back to back and the 959 has aged much better.

Not that you'd be biased at all?!

They're very different cars, clearly.

[markmullen]

LongLiveTazio said:

markmullen said:

I drove the 959 and 288GTO back to back and the 959 has aged much better.

Not that you'd be biased at all?!

They're very different cars, clearly.

Not really, I'd be honest enough to say if the 288GTO was better, it was certainly a little more exciting to drive, especially in less than perfect conditions, but the interior, switchgear etc, looked dated compared to the 959

[Podie]

markmullen said:

Not really, I'd be honest enough to say if the 288GTO was better, it was certainly a little more exciting to drive, especially in less than perfect conditions, but the interior, switchgear etc, looked dated compared to the 959

Has Porsche switchgear actually changed?

[markmullen]

Podie said:

Has Porsche switchgear actually changed?

Lol, it has now, didn't for many years though.

[LongLiveTazio]

Can't say I agree, it has fantastic seats, the unusual flocked dash with archetypal Italian vents poking out, thin-rim wheel, beautiful open gate and those gorgeous orange dials. Yes the switchgear is, being generous, 'of period', but it does it all in an honest manner. It's a very, very special car IMO.

[Twincam16]

markmullen said:

Podie said:

Has Porsche switchgear actually changed?

Lol, it has now, didn't for many years though.

Funny you should say that - I realised having driven them all back-to-back that all generations of Toyota MR2 from 1984 to 2007 have the exact same remote fuel filler flap release lever.

[Grovsie26]

stradman said:

Not sure why fugly.
This is one of my babies in action....and I love her! [url]
And another pic
|http://thumbsnap.com/EaAjb3QT[/url]
and her with one of her stablemates!

Is there much difference in pace between the 2? Power to weight would suggest the F40 is a good chunk faster once grip isn't a factor?

[Blukoo]

anniesdad said:

Lunchie said:

What an edition!

Edited by Lunchie on Thursday 17th January 10:27

I've got this in my mum's loft!...25 years ago.

I have both these in my living room right now

[stradman]

Grovsie26 said:

Is there much difference in pace between the 2? Power to weight would suggest the F40 is a good chunk faster once grip isn't a factor?

Delivery is totally different between them and of course they are totally different cars. In day to day driving there's probably not much in them in terms of outright performance. The F40 probably FEELS a bit quicker overall, however once the 959's second turbo kicks in then the slap in the back is quite impressive.

Although the F40 may feel quicker, I'm not actually sure if it truly is though(gearbox is more belligerent so slows you down a bit). You see the difference is the F40 impresses immediately I guess. Although it still needs time to assimilate it, it shows its cards(and its teeth!) straight away whereas the 959 truly gets under your skin more slowly the more you live with it and drive it.

Although easy to drive, with the 959 you uncover its abilities,and very high limits day by day the more you push it. Its very much like the difference between a really smokin' hot woman who you really want to get to bed with straight away with, no discussion necessary(F40), vs a simply attractive woman who you start talking with and then realise/uncover slowly that she is actually very intelligent, funny,fun, and sexy all combined(959)!

I don't think I could part with either as they fill different voids in my motoring psyche! However on a regular basis I easily use the 959 as it is very easy and civilised to drive and potter around in traffic, yet push it and it truly does feel(and sound) special. When you first drive it it feels somewhat soft, yet its limits are huge. Its astounding how Porsche have managed to make such a car so compliant yet maintain towering performance when necessary. Initially, because everything is not as twitchy and buzzy as say, the F40, people get the impression that the 959 is more boring. In fact many times I hear or read people telling/saying that. Most of these people however have never really truly driven a 959 long enough or as it should be driven and may be re-hashing other peoples view points too. The 959 is every bit as special/exciting as any ferrari but with a different delivery. Throw in some rain into the equation of course and you can then kiss all the other contemporary supercars of the time bye-bye as the 959 completely leaves then in a spray of water, but that's another matter!! Amazing car really...

You know I've read some people also say how the problem with the 959 is that everything it trail blazed in the 80's has now become common place and so it has lost any specialness it had. Well that is total rubbish imo. I think its incredible that 25 years later, although all other Porsches now have improved versions of the innovations the 959 pioneered, the 959 still feels reasonably modern and special and can still hold its own in this day and age. I don't know of many cars that can boast of such a legacy.

[urquattro]

959 is/was a fascinating car, it still sparkles and glad a real owner/driver has put the record straight, I will make do with the other often criticised porsche variant, the RS2, until you have owned and driven one for a reasonable period dont knock the car, nearly 20 years on it can still hold its corner despite 5 cylinder lump being well up the front end.

[r129sl]

stradman said:

Grovsie26 said:

Is there much difference in pace between the 2? Power to weight would suggest the F40 is a good chunk faster once grip isn't a factor?

Delivery is totally different between them and of course they are totally different cars. In day to day driving there's probably not much in them in terms of outright performance. The F40 probably FEELS a bit quicker overall, however once the 959's second turbo kicks in then the slap in the back is quite impressive.

Although the F40 may feel quicker, I'm not actually sure if it truly is though(gearbox is more belligerent so slows you down a bit). You see the difference is the F40 impresses immediately I guess. Although it still needs time to assimilate it, it shows its cards(and its teeth!) straight away whereas the 959 truly gets under your skin more slowly the more you live with it and drive it.

Although easy to drive, with the 959 you uncover its abilities,and very high limits day by day the more you push it. Its very much like the difference between a really smokin' hot woman who you really want to get to bed with straight away with, no discussion necessary(F40), vs a simply attractive woman who you start talking with and then realise/uncover slowly that she is actually very intelligent, funny,fun, and sexy all combined(959)!

I don't think I could part with either as they fill different voids in my motoring psyche! However on a regular basis I easily use the 959 as it is very easy and civilised to drive and potter around in traffic, yet push it and it truly does feel(and sound) special. When you first drive it it feels somewhat soft, yet its limits are huge. Its astounding how Porsche have managed to make such a car so compliant yet maintain towering performance when necessary. Initially, because everything is not as twitchy and buzzy as say, the F40, people get the impression that the 959 is more boring. In fact many times I hear or read people telling/saying that. Most of these people however have never really truly driven a 959 long enough or as it should be driven and may be re-hashing other peoples view points too. The 959 is every bit as special/exciting as any ferrari but with a different delivery. Throw in some rain into the equation of course and you can then kiss all the other contemporary supercars of the time bye-bye as the 959 completely leaves then in a spray of water, but that's another matter!! Amazing car really...

You know I've read some people also say how the problem with the 959 is that everything it trail blazed in the 80's has now become common place and so it has lost any specialness it had. Well that is total rubbish imo. I think its incredible that 25 years later, although all other Porsches now have improved versions of the innovations the 959 pioneered, the 959 still feels reasonably modern and special and can still hold its own in this day and age. I don't know of many cars that can boast of such a legacy.

I can do without this! You know, when I was a kid, I was going to have a 959. I'm a 36 year old man and, very nice though things are for me these days, I'm big enough to know that a 959 is not going to come my way anytime soon. Then I read this lovely little review and I start dreaming like a child again. For what it's worth, I've always found that those unassuming girls rock hardest as well. Although my experience of smokin' hot cars is greater than my experience of smokin' hot women.

Anyway, thanks for the insight. I'd love to hear of any epic trips you've done in that car. Meanwhile, I'm off to read my own September '87 edition of Car magazine.

[Gridl0k]

stradman said:

Its very much like the difference between a really smokin' hot woman who you really want to get to bed with straight away with, no discussion necessary(F40)

Metaphor, or method?

[Grovsie26]

stradman said:

Delivery is totally different between them and of course they are totally different cars. In day to day driving there's probably not much in them in terms of outright performance. The F40 probably FEELS a bit quicker overall, however once the 959's second turbo kicks in then the slap in the back is quite impressive.

Although the F40 may feel quicker, I'm not actually sure if it truly is though(gearbox is more belligerent so slows you down a bit). You see the difference is the F40 impresses immediately I guess. Although it still needs time to assimilate it, it shows its cards(and its teeth!) straight away whereas the 959 truly gets under your skin more slowly the more you live with it and drive it.

Although easy to drive, with the 959 you uncover its abilities,and very high limits day by day the more you push it. Its very much like the difference between a really smokin' hot woman who you really want to get to bed with straight away with, no discussion necessary(F40), vs a simply attractive woman who you start talking with and then realise/uncover slowly that she is actually very intelligent, funny,fun, and sexy all combined(959)!

I don't think I could part with either as they fill different voids in my motoring psyche! However on a regular basis I easily use the 959 as it is very easy and civilised to drive and potter around in traffic, yet push it and it truly does feel(and sound) special. When you first drive it it feels somewhat soft, yet its limits are huge. Its astounding how Porsche have managed to make such a car so compliant yet maintain towering performance when necessary. Initially, because everything is not as twitchy and buzzy as say, the F40, people get the impression that the 959 is more boring. In fact many times I hear or read people telling/saying that. Most of these people however have never really truly driven a 959 long enough or as it should be driven and may be re-hashing other peoples view points too. The 959 is every bit as special/exciting as any ferrari but with a different delivery. Throw in some rain into the equation of course and you can then kiss all the other contemporary supercars of the time bye-bye as the 959 completely leaves then in a spray of water, but that's another matter!! Amazing car really...

You know I've read some people also say how the problem with the 959 is that everything it trail blazed in the 80's has now become common place and so it has lost any specialness it had. Well that is total rubbish imo. I think its incredible that 25 years later, although all other Porsches now have improved versions of the innovations the 959 pioneered, the 959 still feels reasonably modern and special and can still hold its own in this day and age. I don't know of many cars that can boast of such a legacy.

heheh interesting. Methinks you need to bring them both down to a runway somewhere and drag the pair of em.