Porsche builds emotional cars. You either love or hat them. The original “bathtubs” were ugly but quick and advanced for their time. The mid-engined 914s looked like picnic baskets and were shunned by purists, though the 6-cylinder versions gave a lot of bang for the buck. The front engined 924s were pretty and sweet handling but overpriced and less than “masculine” in image. Turbo charging made them faster but more overpriced.
On the plus side of the ledger were the rear engined 911s, the only real Porsche’s in the eyes of some, blessed with stunning performance and a racing heritage as think as the Los Angeles phone book, at least back then.
Oft forgotten in this endless debate was the 928, the V8 powered front engined Porsche, the state of the automotive art Porsche, the flagship Porsche, introduced in 1978 as eventual successor to the beloved but aged 911. The 928 came across as a little too round and fat. Its unlidded eyes gaze longingly at the heavens by day, then flip up to frog like proportions by night. Viewed from the rear, it looked as bottom heavy as a vacuum cleaner bag that should have been changed months ago. Its window shapes and roofline look like a slightly flattened AMC Pacer. For 1985, the 928s finally achieves true flagship status thanks to the marvelous new 4-cam, 3-valve version of the aluminum V8 engine. Displacement increased to 5.0 from 4.7, horsepower to 288 from 234, and torque to a healthy 302, from 24 lb-ft.
Like most Porsche’s, it was still emotional. People may love or hat its styling and puzzle over its image; but few will ever question its performance.
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