PORSCHE 959 vs FERRARI F40

[DMbaseball1604]

The Porsche was probably the most advanced car for its time ever made...including one of the best four-wheel drive systems available and its closing in on being 20 years old! While the Ferrari had more power it was not a "true" ferrari as it was turbo charged and not naturally aspirated. They are both great cars and both were very advanced for their time....which would you take?

My Choice: Porsche 959

[SFDMALEX]

I would take the F40 anyday.

Plus In every test I can remeber the F40 "rapped" the 959.

[corvette97]

i'll take both!! thanx, i love the front end of porsche's 959 and love everithing bout the f40

[DMbaseball1604]

Which tests, I mean the F40 has a higher top speed, but the 959 I think was as quick or quicker than the F40 wasnt it...

Oh yes I forgot to mention that Porsche offered an upgraded engine for the 959..in GT purely porsche magazine they test drove it..it had 550bhp

[yg60m]

I think you are wrong when you say it's not a true ferrari. Its engine is certainly one of the most fantastic engine they produced in Ferrari, I don't know a lot of engine with 160bhp/liter even with turbos. And even more impressive, despite this output, it is tractable and has compliance.
I like the F40 AND the 959 but the F40 is race car for the road, the 959 is a road car. :)

[DMbaseball1604]

Yeah you're right its still a great engine...and yeah they are two different cars..the F40 is a race car that is road legal and the 959 is more of a road car...I agree

The 959 was also really meant for rallying and the F40 wasnt it was meant for the track so I suppose they are two completely different cars.

[yg60m]

Yes that's why it's so difficult to choose one even more than between CGT and Enzo wich are from the same categorie. But as with women, the more difficult it is the better ... :wink: So good poll !!

[SFDMALEX]

Which tests, I mean the F40 has a higher top speed, but the 959 I think was as quick or quicker than the F40 wasnt it...


Nope, the F40 beat it in every category. I remember reading so many magazine articles were the 959 did not have anytning better then the f40 except the comfort factor.

On the track it was faster everywere, in the corners, on the straights....

If I rememberd the number of the Road&Track issue were they had F40 Vs. 959 Vs. Maca.....I look for it.

[SFDMALEX]

the 959 used to compete more with the Testarossa didn't it? i don't think it was in the same performance category as the F40...

Well porsche made the 959 to compete with the F40, but it failed to do that.

[Johns]

959 cus u cant drive an F40 in the snow :D

[DMbaseball1604]

oh man thats dissapointing, since I am a huge Porsche fan...the Carrera GT will be amazing though so that helps some

[TeflonTron]

How can a 959 be compared to a Testarossa? The 959 is a sub-4-second car. I'd take the F40 though, just so I could say that I own a Ferrari. :roll:

[Schwalbe]

I take the Porsche 959 anyday.

AWD + bi-turbos are the key to create an ultimate machine ! :D

[maalox]

The 959 is the more rare car if I'm not mistaken and engineering-wise had some huge leaps for the 80s. It would probably be the more interesting car to keep sitting in an air-conditioned garage. However, for the open road there is only one answer--and it doesn't start with a P.

[snacky]

The 959's a road car? The 959/961 competed @ lemans (won inclass) and won paris-dakar outright, I think the F40 only club raced. Go ahead and post up some links as I'm probably wrong on that last point.

And I dont get why a turbo car can't be a "real ferrrari." That's like some old fart saying ferrari's have to be front engined.

Anyways, I think I'd take the F40, rear drive's plain more fun to drive than awd.

[BADMIHAI]

F40 all the way. When it comes to Porsche Vs. Ferrari, I'd take a Ferrari anytime!
And please, the F40 is one of the best supercars ever built!

[levensnevel]

Another difficult choice :wink:
OK, if I have to make a choice it will be Ferrari's F40 :fadein:

[alondahan]

that's a very easy question - the F40 :wink:

btw:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=392&page_number=1

and:

http://www.911turbo.com/turboclub/history/959/959.php

in the second link has read the comparison below : The arch-rival: Ferrari F40.
there's an autocar comparison with Gerhard Berger (former F1 driver) the F40 killed the 959 :twisted:

also there's a gray box above this with another part of the autocar test

[Ivanhoe]

the 959 used to compete more with the Testarossa didn't it? i don't think it was in the same performance category as the F40...

thats what i was thinking...

[SFDMALEX]

the 959 used to compete more with the Testarossa didn't it? i don't think it was in the same performance category as the F40...

thats what i was thinking...

Now way. The TestaRossa does not stand a chance against the 959. Anyway the testarosa was never a fast car...

[Fleischmann]

Tough choice...the specs are more or less the same. but I'd pick the Ferrari coz that asXXXXX Bill Gates has got a 959 :(

[DMbaseball1604]

Really I did not know he has a 959, I would taka 959 because they are so much more rare like someone else said earlier I think they only built 280 959's and they built over 1100 F40s...its just more exclusive than the F40

[XyKo]

Beautiful both, powerful both...I don´t know!!!! I like 959 very much:

http://www.motormagazinesha.co.jp/medialog/car/supercar/porsche959/image/por.gif

but i´m in love with F40

http://www.mccarthy5.freeserve.co.uk/ferrari_2000.gif

My opinion is that tech is obviously better in Porsche but F40 has something in its desing, engine, way of driving...

My choose: F40

[kiato4]

No question that the 959 is FAR SUPERIOR... the 959 rocks.. and it's AWD made it unstoppable... I'd love to own one

[Ivanhoe]

the 959 used to compete more with the Testarossa didn't it? i don't think it was in the same performance category as the F40...

thats what i was thinking...

Now way. The TestaRossa does not stand a chance against the 959. Anyway the testarosa was never a fast car...

okok that was stupid of me... but f40 vs 959? its just not a fair comparison. wasnt the 959 a rallye car? the f40 is in the gt1 class.... :?

[adlinyusman]

The 959 was the first 200mph car. You gotta give it that. The F40 was a Le Mans car for the road. It had no power windows, no power steering, no abs, not radio, no carpets...damn and you thought the 360 CS was bad. But what you do get for 200,000 pounds in 1989, is a car which might be the last turbo charged ferrari for a very long time. And it still looks magnificent. Just look at it today. I would buy one if it had 'some' creature comforts thrown in. But it doesn't and, if push comes to shove, i'd take the F-50. I like the looks of the F-40, but at least the F-50 doesn't murder you in the wet. 959? 200mph? Pahh...the 911 turbo can do that in its sleep!

[Ivanhoe]

no it cant....

[SFDMALEX]

First of all the 959 is not a 200mph car.

Second of all it is a fair comparison since the 959 was Porsches straight answer to the F40.

And third of all a 911Turbo cant reach 200mph, it can manage 189.


And lastly were do you get your information lol?

[adlinyusman]

Firstly, I got the information that the 959 is a 200mph from either Evo or Car.
Secondly i do agree with you that the 959 was F40s direct competitor and lastly, you're right the 911turbo can't reach 200mph, but the GT2 can get mighty damn close.

[alondahan]

Firstly, I got the information that the 959 is a 200mph from either Evo or Car.
Secondly i do agree with you that the 959 was F40s direct competitor and lastly, you're right the 911turbo can't reach 200mph, but the GT2 can get mighty damn close.

according to evo, the 959's top speed is 197 mph, and 196 for the gt2.
197 is a lot, but it's still not 200.

[astonmartinandy]

F40 without a doubt. It was the last great machine that Enzo himself built, and it is the purest racing experience that Ferrari ever made. Yeh the Porsche is fast, but it has no charisma or personality. It will do the job and get you there quickly, but its the F40 that people will admire and will leave you with a smile on your face after you see it..

[stradale]

F40

A good drive in an F40 will probably be ten times more rewarding than in a 959. The engine of the F40 and the sounds it produces give me goosebumps. And I wasn't even talking about looks yet. The F40 looks like it'll bite your hand off if you come too close and its shape is so balanced. If cars can have a facial expression the 959 looks like you have to comfort it to prevent it from sobbing. The rear is outright hideous. I saw one carelessly parked at a harbor once and it did absolutely nothing to me. I took a quick look, but only because it was rare. An F40 has such presence, it's like it hits you in the stumach.

[gucom]

Second of all it is a fair comparison since the 959 was Porsches straight answer to the F40.

eeeeerrrrm correct me if im wrong but wasnt the 1st 959 produced in '85 or sumthing??? ive seen pics of a '82 prototype, so it was definately there earlier than the F40, which, if im not mistaken, is from '87. It'd b cool of porsche to have an answer to a car ferrari has yet to build...

[1zippo1]

Excellent topic. The amount of reactions and the furiosity of the oppinions say enough IMO :D

Let me say first, I would take the F40, why? Well first of all just because I like it more and I like the looks more. And another thing is that you allmost never see a 959 in a video or a race (except for the one that took part in paris-dakar). The fact that they use it a lot in the Best Motoring videos also helps without a doubt.

But one other thing, is RWD really faster round corners? I thought it was just the opposite... I'm no expert so it's just something I think but look at:
1. The BMW M3 vs Audi S4 top gear video. The S4 was heavier but you can clearly see that because of it's 4WD it's faster round the corners, set a better time down to even if the M3 was faster on the straights.
2. Look at the BM videos... I'm not that sure if some of them aren't set up but anyway, they can't all be fake, no? The F40 is very fast and is allways one of the first cars, unless another supercar like the F50 participates BUT look at the way it corners, the front end regularly looses traction shortly.

[yg60m]

You're true, the F40 and F50 are conceived almost as race cars, that's why they dominate the races ... until it rains of course (see the Superbattle 97 under the rain).
But to compare similar cars : F355 and Mitsu EVo for example, the EVO is less powerful but the 355 can't really distance it except on a straight line.

[racer_f50]

i'd definitely take the F40. it's fast as f*ck and has killer styling.

compared to the Porsche 959, which actually managed to be uglier than the 911, that's quite an accomplishment :lol: i could case less about the 4 wheel drive crap, too, the F40 would be fun as hell to get the tail out on (given there are no barriers around) :P

[SFDMALEX]

Second of all it is a fair comparison since the 959 was Porsches straight answer to the F40.

eeeeerrrrm correct me if im wrong but wasnt the 1st 959 produced in '85 or sumthing??? ive seen pics of a '82 prototype, so it was definately there earlier than the F40, which, if im not mistaken, is from '87. It'd b cool of porsche to have an answer to a car ferrari has yet to build...

Both the F40 and the 959 were released in 87.

[SFDMALEX]

Excellent topic. The amount of reactions and the furiosity of the oppinions say enough IMO :D

Let me say first, I would take the F40, why? Well first of all just because I like it more and I like the looks more. And another thing is that you allmost never see a 959 in a video or a race (except for the one that took part in paris-dakar). The fact that they use it a lot in the Best Motoring videos also helps without a doubt.

But one other thing, is RWD really faster round corners? I thought it was just the opposite... I'm no expert so it's just something I think but look at:
1. The BMW M3 vs Audi S4 top gear video. The S4 was heavier but you can clearly see that because of it's 4WD it's faster round the corners, set a better time down to even if the M3 was faster on the straights.
2. Look at the BM videos... I'm not that sure if some of them aren't set up but anyway, they can't all be fake, no? The F40 is very fast and is allways one of the first cars, unless another supercar like the F50 participates BUT look at the way it corners, the front end regularly looses traction shortly.

Its the other way around mate. Rwd is faster in the corners, and 4WD is faster in straights.

And the reason that the F40 loses traction shortly in BM vids is simply because of the shity driving style of the BM drivers. The cant seem to stop jerking the wheel. I never seen any of the BM guys work the steering wheel smoothly, the always yank it back and forth.

[1zippo1]

Its the other way around mate. Rwd is faster in the corners, and 4WD is faster in straights.

And the reason that the F40 loses traction shortly in BM vids is simply because of the shity driving style of the BM drivers. The cant seem to stop jerking the wheel. I never seen any of the BM guys work the steering wheel smoothly, the always yank it back and forth.

Aha, ok thx for the info, didn't really know how it was with 4WD & 2WD.

But I doubt they are all that shitty drivers. Otherwise they would probably have crashed so many cars by now that they couldn't make those vids any more. I mean those cars are really different, it's not like an F1 race where the cars all accelerate and brake more or less in the same way. And that one guy, gan san, allways drives the F40. I doubt he's that bad because I believe he has quite a racing history if I'm not mistaken and he posted a very very good time round the Nurenburgring in an NSX-R

[SFDMALEX]

Its the other way around mate. Rwd is faster in the corners, and 4WD is faster in straights.

And the reason that the F40 loses traction shortly in BM vids is simply because of the shity driving style of the BM drivers. The cant seem to stop jerking the wheel. I never seen any of the BM guys work the steering wheel smoothly, the always yank it back and forth.

Aha, ok thx for the info, didn't really know how it was with 4WD & 2WD.

But I doubt they are all that shitty drivers. Otherwise they would probably have crashed so many cars by now that they couldn't make those vids any more. I mean those cars are really different, it's not like an F1 race where the cars all accelerate and brake more or less in the same way. And that one guy, gan san, allways drives the F40. I doubt he's that bad because I believe he has quite a racing history if I'm not mistaken and he posted a very very good time round the Nurenburgring in an NSX-R

Oh there are good drivers. Especialy that old guy. They are good drivers but they fuck around to much. They are not smooth, they put to much lock on etc etc....Most of the cars in BM vids can be much faster when driven smootly. But I think they do it to put a bit more excitment in the videos.

[Jabba]

compared to the Porsche 959, which actually managed to be uglier than the 911, that's quite an accomplishment :lol:

Excellent Humor 8) 8) 8)

[SFDMALEX]

compared to the Porsche 959, which actually managed to be uglier than the 911, that's quite an accomplishment :lol: i could case less about the 4 wheel drive crap, too, the F40 would be fun as hell to get the tail out on (given there are no barriers around) :P

It's really not the type of car you want to go sideways in lol. Race cars dont like going sideways because if they do, your going into the barriers...but you did say with no barriers around :D

[Ivanhoe]

^ :| porsche haters!!

can someone please find a link where they say clearly that they competed against each other. a reliable source. not like thos mags who compared the turbo and gallardo. :lol:

[Jabba]

I like the new title under your name. I see you are starting to see sense at last.

[initiala4]

Mmm tough choice...both cars have twin turbo except one car is made purely from race car while the other is a car made for sports car catergory. Another thought is awd and rwd, v8 and flat 6. I prefer awd, feels more safer than rwd.

959 wins my vote!

[stradale]

I like the new title under your name. I see you are starting to see sense at last.

LMAO! I guess that's all he wanted for Christmas! :D

[amenasce]

F40 . No AWD Bs ...Just raw power ..

[Gustaf996Turbo]

Hi guys!

This might be off topic but i really need help. I might be a bit thick but I can't figure out how to download from the video forum. There used to be a great big download button, even I could figure that one out. But now its gone (since the server change...). Please give me a much needed tip to this humiliating problem!

[DMbaseball1604]

well now we have a new model from Porsche to rival the latest and greatest Ferrari, the enzo.

Regardless of the performance..even though CGT is neck and neck with the enzo in everything except top speed figures...I would choose a CGT hands down. Why? simply because of the looks and the technology and the usability...if I wanted a racecar such as an enzo I would prob buy a radical or something like that.

[SFDMALEX]

[quote="DMbaseball1604"]well now we have a new model from Porsche to rival the latest and greatest Ferrari, the enzo.

Regardless of the performance..even though CGT is neck and neck with the enzo in everything except top speed figures...quote]

No they are not :wink:
Enzo 0-60 in 3.4(Proven by many magazines icluding EVO) CGT 0-60 in 3.9(factory Claim)

Enzo max power 650+ CGT max power 604.

Enzo Weight 1365kg CGT 1380kg

Enzo max speed 347+Km(Claimed) CGT 328KM (claimed)

Enzo brake are carbo-ceramic CGT are just ceramic composite


As far as performance figures go the CGT does not win anywere.

[smicah]

Tough call, :) . I'd take the F40, have my fun in it, :D , Sell it, buy the the 959 and go on a vacation for a while with the extra $$$.

[dylan99]

I'll take the the F40 everytime.

[ahmedgiyab]

F40...its even better than the F50!!! By the way the 959 has the same performance as the GT2....so both are supercars!

[Chingachgook]

I've seen the F40 being tested and raced by Best Motoring and I'm impressed,that car is so brutal and fast,in straight line and in the corners, the F50 is not that faster compared to the older F40. So, how the 959 can beat the mighty Ferrari? Even the great Michele Alboreto, who owned an F40,said that you have to respect it,even if you're an experienced driver,like he was

[yg60m]

Of course the 959 is beaten everytime by the F40 on a track (if it's dry) but it's maybe not the case on the road even more if it's wet.

[yg60m]

F40...its even better than the F50!!! By the way the 959 has the same performance as the GT2....so both are supercars!

The F50 was faster than the F40 on the Fiorano test track (by 3 seconds if i remember) and that's the same on most tracks (but not all, on Bardini's circuit at the "Mas du Clos", the F40 is apparently faster). They have about the same performances but the F50 is easier to drive (according to testers) as it had a N/A engine.

[Chingachgook]

According to what I've seen in BM 2000 superbattle the F50 is faster (not so much) but a lot easyer to drive, and the sound is FANTASTIC! The F40 is difficult,but it pulls like a rocketship,and because of the 2 turbos is even more impressive.
In the wet are both difficult, more the F40 because of the Turbos.

[ahmedgiyab]

F40's top speed is above 200mph, but if I remember well the 959's is not...
So the 959 is still a supercar, but not a member of the 200mph club...
Maybe I'm wrong...

[Fleischmann]

The 'ofificial' top speed of the 959 is 197mph.

[dropot2]

I agree with yg60m. The F40's engine is a true Ferrari one. I only have to say that the engine of the F40 provides from one of the most popular cars in the Ferrari's history, the 288 GTO. It's practically the same engine but a little bit developed, so I think this is a true Ferrari engine.
________
DODGE D SERIES HISTORY (http://www.dodge-wiki.com/wiki/Dodge_D_Series)

[Chingachgook]

I prefere the F50 engine, but only because it's a true F1 engine adapted for road use. The F40 unit is incredibly powerful and the turbo lag is not so big (i've read so...). I like the brutality of the F40, but the sound and the N/A engine of the F40. Indeed, the F40 is the only turbo engine I like

[Biscuitz]

I'd take the 959, although they are both outstanding cars (It's so close between them).

The reason I would choose the 959 is because of its looks (Similar to Porshce 993 in many ways) and its engineering. It's limited production run is also appealing to me.