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Journal: Choose Your Weapon: '80s Autobahn Assault Coupes

Choose Your Weapon: ’80s Autobahn Assault Coupes

By Alan Franklin
March 4, 2013
39 comments

Imagine it’s the 80s and you’re a young, successful, patriotic German enthusiast living in proximity to the greatest highway system on earth, the Autobahn. Smooth, fast, and frequently very dangerous, its derestricted zones are steeped in both glory and infamy—perfect for testing your bravery and the accelerative limits of a shiny new domestic supercoupe.

In the days before speed limiters were frequently fitted to German cars, domestic market versions of each offered a top speed just north of 170 MPH, which is still impressive by today’s standards and downright supersonic back when the average European Supermini had perhaps 50 HP.

Which uber GT is for you? The Porsche 928, with its snarling V8 and spaceship cockpit, or the relatively restrained, but equally performance oriented E24 M6? Make your choice, watch those outside lanes, and don’t forget the Scorpions cassette.

1988 BMW M6

Click here for the BMW details.

1983 Porsche 928

Click here for the Porsche details.

Tags 928/ BMW/ Compare/ German/ M6/ Porsche/ Question
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Meliambro001
Meliambro001
4 years ago

Neither one for me, thank you.

0
Bastian Berndsen
Bastian Berndsen
6 years ago

I doubt that it would be likely to encounter a 1988 BMW M6 on the German Autobahn. For the E24 Generation the moniker “M6” was only used in the USA and Japan as a marketing gag(Porsche did the same with the RS America which is also not a true RS and by marketing the 914 as a Porsche instead of a VW like they’ve done in Europe) . On German roads you would call the car M635 CSi since it’s not a true “M” car. The M635 CSi and US M6 have BMW AG listed as manufacturer in the title, “true” M cars of the 80s like the M1, M3 and M5 have BMW Motorsport GmbH listed in the title. But with all that said…I’d take either. Maybe give a slight preference to the 928.

1
Dave Dolphin
Dave Dolphin
6 years ago

I’ve owned a 635 for 10 years and intend to keep it forever so I’ve already made my choice…. I’d love the 928 as well. They’d look great together in the garage.

1
Martins Mals
Martins Mals
6 years ago

Shark

2
Porsche928s4
Porsche928s4
6 years ago

I have a s4 and would love to add a 635i

1
Alexandre Goncalves
Alexandre Goncalves
7 years ago

For proper comparison, they should have gone for a S4!

Still, 928 all the way (tthough I love the M6!)

1
Horaţiu Lazăr
Horaţiu Lazăr
10 years ago

Between these two, the Bimmer, but from the period I would definitely go for the AMG Hammer

3
Brooks Wade
Brooks Wade
10 years ago

Seeing as I just bought an E28 M5 I think I’m going to choose……the Porsche 928

1
Shane Elliott
Shane Elliott
10 years ago

Give me that shark nose any day

0
Chief Gearhead
Chief Gearhead
10 years ago

As the current owner of of the european market variant, M635CSI, we choose the BMW. It’s got long legs, fantastic handling, iconic good looks, and one of the sweetest engines to ever power a performance car. The Porsche is interesting but when it comes to classic form and function the Bavarian autobomber is our choice.

Stay on the throttle!
ChiefGearhead

1
Josh Clason
Josh Clason
10 years ago
Reply to  Chief Gearhead

Beautiful car! We may be up in that area soon and would love to take some pictures. Contact us at info.com if you would be interested.

1
Ezra
Ezra
6 years ago
Reply to  Chief Gearhead

Have you ever been behind the wheel of a 928?

0
Adam DeVore
Adam DeVore
10 years ago

M6, i would even ride in that back seat.

1
Scott Ferrier
Scott Ferrier
10 years ago

As a 928 owner it has to be the Porsche, anyone that has ever driven one knows exactly why. The 310 bhp S2 version is just a dream to drive, yes they are automatic but when you have wrestled with the manual versions you understand why they were all autos, and why they were the choice of the factory drivers of the time – and not the 911.
They are fast, handle as though they are on rails, economical for a V8 and still look fresh today.
How many other pedigree sports cars can you find for the same money that deliver as much ?
That said the 6 series is a beautiful piece of design.

1
Ezra
Ezra
6 years ago
Reply to  Scott Ferrier

Scott I couldn’t agree with you more! I have an automatic 928 as well as a manual euro 920 8S. I love the manual . Anyone who picks the E24 M6 for over 928 has never spent any time behind the wheel of a 928. I can’t believed that they stated in the article that both cars have comparable performance??? That can’t be right…

0
Billy Artigas
Billy Artigas
10 years ago

I fulfilled a lifelong dream last May, I bought a 1989 928 S4.
It is the last year without airbag. It is also the year of my high school graduation.
Bizarrely, I learned of the death of the chief designer of the project, Tony Lapine, just a couple of days after I bought it.
Significantly, The 928 project was given the green light by the Porsche board on my birthday! (Nov. 8, 1971)
I was super lucky as a kid in that I grew up in a car mad family, and I got to ride in a 928 when I was about 10 years old.
It was black and tan, a 5 speed manual car, and that is the color and transmission combo I have in my car today!
I could go on and on…. But I do want to state for the record I am a big fan of the M6, but preferably a grey market or Euro car with normal bumpers as opposed to park benches!

2
Ezra
Ezra
6 years ago
Reply to  Billy Artigas

Did you know that Tony Lapine also designed the fast back Corvette of the early 60’s???

0
John Abrishamkar
John Abrishamkar
10 years ago

M6 for sure…

0
Brett Evans
Brett Evans
10 years ago

Tough call. If the 928 were an S4 or something a little more special, it might win my heart, but as the fight sits, I’d take the Shark. I don’t even really like the 6er, but something about a straight-six spinning at full bore is so, so sexy.

0
Harps Sahota
Harps Sahota
10 years ago

I am Porsche man through and through but I have to go with the M6!

0
Chester Drawers
Chester Drawers
10 years ago

In an 80’s mindset, I’d drive the M6, all the while wishing for a Ferrari 400i or Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

1
Karl Freese
Karl Freese
10 years ago

Tough call. Both are great designs, and still look great after all these years. The M6 would look much better without the diving board bumpers, though. I’m a BMW owner, but I’m going to go with the 928 is this case.

0
Leucea Alexandru
Leucea Alexandru
10 years ago

I would definitely go for the M6. It’s timeless shape combined with this powerful engine makes it one of the most desirable cars of all time. And i will take some Depeche Mode with me and a pair of aviators, for the appropriate 80’s feel.

0
Inigo Loy Colmenar
Inigo Loy Colmenar
10 years ago
Reply to  Leucea Alexandru

Ray-Ban Wayfarers! Think Risky Business….:)

0
Alan Franklin
Author
Alan Franklin
10 years ago

I have personal experience with the S38 in the shape of an E28 M5, and it’s an epic, epic motor – and IMO the E24’s even better looking than the 5er too boot, but I’d still take the 928. The Porsche’s shape is just so out of this world, but subtly so.

1
Inigo Loy Colmenar
Inigo Loy Colmenar
10 years ago

928! But, speaking of tunes, it will have to be a Blaupunkt Berlin with the gooseneck controller with matching gooseneck equalizer matched to a Canton Pullman speaker system mounted in the back.

1
Bob R Kenyon
Bob R Kenyon
10 years ago

M6 all the way…

0
Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
10 years ago

Tough one as I love both cars. Would probably just about have to go for a 928, but only if it was a manual one. The manuals are pretty rare which is a shame as self shifting really suits the car.

1
Chet Parsons
Chet Parsons
10 years ago

Kraftwerk seems more appropriate for the cassette deck, but choosing between these two is like choosing between Charlize Theron and Olivia Wilde. Can’t go wrong either way.

Put an automatic in the 928, though, and it’s an easy win for the M6.

0
Adam Spooner
Adam Spooner
10 years ago

The Shark. All day. Every day.

0
rob latanville
rob latanville
10 years ago

I’ll take ’em both please.:)

1
john tolle
john tolle
10 years ago

M6 gets my vote

0
Peter van Hulsen
Peter van Hulsen
10 years ago

Porsche 928 any time!

0
William Wagner
William Wagner
10 years ago

I’d definitely have to go with the Porsche.

1
Afshin Behnia
Afshin Behnia
10 years ago

I actually love the shape of the 928, but I have to go with the M6 as well. Love that inline 6.

0
matthew wiseman
matthew wiseman
10 years ago

M6 because its one of the best cars ever made, the 928 ehh not so much

0
Josh Clason
Josh Clason
10 years ago

I could never get into the looks of the 928. M6 for me.

0
Alex Beatty
Alex Beatty
10 years ago

Id have to go with the 928, I just love the shape of the car, plus a V8…cant go wrong

1
Terrence Dorsey
Terrence Dorsey
10 years ago
Reply to  Alex Beatty

I agree, and the earlier the better, with fewer bumps, wings and doohickies. Pasha interior. 5-speed. One of the great car designs.

1