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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
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.
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
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.
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…
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!