Gwaredd wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:03 am
I remember them both, as I was at school at the time & there were two camps. The F40 or the Diablo. I was in the Diablo camp because it could do 202mph over the F40's 201, so it was naturally one better. But I secretly loved the F40 because it looked so awesome (and still does). When you're that age, you don't realise it's OK to like both!
For me it was F40 v 959, mainly due to Test Drive II : The Duel, on the Amiga.
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:07 am
by Rich B
Ascender wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:56 am
Well that generated more discussion than I expected.
I genuinely thought the F40 was remembered for more than just its top speed, maybe not then.
It will/is.
- 3 pipes out the back
- weave visible through the paint
- a handful in the handling dept.
But at the time it was defined by being the fastest car available. And back in the 80s, that was all about top speed.
Diablo was a few years later.
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:08 am
by Rich B
Gwaredd wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:03 amyou don't realise it's OK to like both!
see “the internet”.
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:15 am
by V8Granite
It was all about either the Testarossa or Countach for me.
All my Testarossa pictures were of nice moody backgrounds and wide hipped car. The Diablo was sexy police women, firewomen, soldiers draped over countach back ends.
I’d have a Diablo over an F40 but a 512TR over all of them if value wasn’t taken into account.
After Harry’s Diablo video it would be a struggle not to pick that though.
Dave!
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:43 am
by mik
Unfortunately the CountachQV had my heart - Testarossa was less powerful, slower as a result, allegedly softer and offered less visual drama. Didn’t get a look in.
I’d still have had a Pantera GT5S over either though....
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 12:26 pm
by ShockDiamonds
I remember the excitement at picking up (with some hard-earned pocket money) a copy of Fast Lane in '89 I think it was, Countach, 959, Vantage and Lister IIRC(?). The issue with that casette tape. And seeing pics of the 959 for the first time, and colour pics of the interior for some reason was a really big deal to me aged 15
I've always lusted after the Aston from that group, although the Lister's 7 litre V12 sounded like something truly special too.
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 12:57 pm
by dinny_g
I was in the F40 camp and remember the stats (201mph etc) but also remember that they were always based on what it "could" do on a straight track, rather than what it actually did in a straight line.
I wonder if SSO (or Dino / Ingineer - if they are, in fact, different people. ) could verify...
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 1:00 pm
by mik
ShockDiamonds wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 12:26 pm
I remember the excitement at picking up (with some hard-earned pocket money) a copy of Fast Lane in '89 I think it was, Countach, 959, Vantage and Lister IIRC(?). The issue with that casette tape. And seeing pics of the 959 for the first time, and colour pics of the interior for some reason was a really big deal to me aged 15
I've always lusted after the Aston from that group, although the Lister's 7 litre V12 sounded like something truly special too.
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 1:01 pm
by dinny_g
If this thread doesn't drag JL - "I've been in a 959 don't you know" - out of the woodwork, nothing will...
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 1:29 pm
by Gavin
Ferrari are, apocryphally at least, well known to tweak cars for tests so not sure why Mito is getting bashed for suggesting there might have been some minor jiggery pokery afoot to get over the magic 200mph figure?
I know I had a poster with the 959 and two other supercars on it, I think it was a black Countach and a red Testarossa though?
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 1:41 pm
by Carlos
V8Granite wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:15 am
It was all about either the Testarossa or Countach for me.
All my Testarossa pictures were of nice moody backgrounds and wide hipped car. The Diablo was sexy police women, firewomen, soldiers draped over countach back ends.
I’d have a Diablo over an F40 but a 512TR over all of them if value wasn’t taken into account.
After Harry’s Diablo video it would be a struggle not to pick that though.
Dave!
I'd take a 512M over them all. The pop up headlight cars all look wrong with the light on. Diablos included.
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 3:54 pm
by integrale_evo
The 512m was the exact point that Ferrari styling went tits up
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 4:27 pm
by DaveE
ShockDiamonds wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 12:26 pm
I remember the excitement at picking up (with some hard-earned pocket money) a copy of Fast Lane in '89 I think it was, Countach, 959, Vantage and Lister IIRC(?). The issue with that casette tape. And seeing pics of the 959 for the first time, and colour pics of the interior for some reason was a really big deal to me aged 15
I've always lusted after the Aston from that group, although the Lister's 7 litre V12 sounded like something truly special too.
I remember that issue too - I've still got that cassette somewhere.
If one were minded, it can be "obtained" from certain web sites.
The 959 was a car I appreciated/admired, but it left me a bit cold next to the F40/Diablo wedges.
But what do I know? (I used to hanker after a Vector W8 when they first came out)
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 12:10 pm
by ShockDiamonds
mik wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 1:00 pm
#nostalgialink - Ah yes, that's the one - cheers
Love the sound of that Aston starting up.
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 1:04 pm
by mik
I used to play that Aston startup though my Peavey Bass amp with a single 15” speaker....there was much like.
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 1:47 pm
by duncs500
Diablo > F40 > 959
Back on topic, thought that episode was ok without being stellar. That colour does the Aston no favours, saw one in the metal in dark blue and thought it was lovely.
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 1:48 pm
by Swervin_Mervin
mik wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:43 am
I’d still have had a Pantera GT5S over either though....
Oh yes.
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 2:02 pm
by NotoriousREV
Original Hennessey Velociraptor as the practical family car
F40
Mike Finnegan's Blasphemi
Re: New Top Gear
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 2:10 pm
by Rich B
NotoriousREV wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 2:02 pm
Original Hennessey Velociraptor as the practical family car
F40
Mike Finnegan's Blasphemi
NotoriousREV wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 2:02 pm
Original Hennessey Velociraptor as the practical family car
F40
Mike Finnegan's Blasphemi
Holy thread mix up Batman!
Dave is just petitioning for a 3 car garage feature on top gear. Each car has to be accidentally driven into the back of the other though. Fur a laugh like.
) could verify...
