One of the greatest Porsches of all time, but how would it compare to the current Carrera 4S?
Compare? In terms of what?
Certaily the 959 in terms of performance is still King.
0-60: 3.6 s.
0-100: 8.3 s.
0-125: 12.7 s.
0-140: 19.0 s.
0-1/4 mile: 11.8 s. @ 119 mph (standing)
Top Speed: 198+ mph
If I remember the 959 was designed as a rally car. So from that standpoint I think the current Carrera 4 would be better in the following ways:
1) More comfortable day-to-day "street" handling. i.e. more comfortable suspension in the same way the 911 turbo is more comfortable then the new gt2 coming out.
2) Cup holders
3) Modern radio.
(of course with no ipod
)
4) Some variation of Pasm.
P.S. racking my brain here
The 959 was the test bed, so to speak, of much of the technology used today, from AWD to the use of twin turbos as used on the 993, 996, and 997 turbos, and watercooled heads as found on 996 and 997 turbos, GT2s and GT3s. The twin turbos were sequential, whereas the newer turbo cars (993, 996, 997) use one turbo dedicated to each bank of three cylinders. The motor, like all the old-style v-bottomed motors uses a true dry-sump oiling system.
The AWD system is different in the 996 and 997 AWD drive cars, more of an evolution of what was used in the 959. The 959 used a 2.85 L twin turbo motor that put out 444 hp. So it's got about 90 HP more than the current C4s. It's much smaller, and weighs about 250 lbs less. the 959 is faster, too. Top speed was 198-202 mph depending on what your source is... 0-60 mph was 3.6 sec. the car was a homologation for the Gruppe B racing series, which as it turned out was never initiated. Only 268 were built, none for use on the road in the US.
The 997 C4S uses the new-style fully watercooled motor and puts out 355 hp. Like the Cayman and CS, it also uses the wet-sump oiling system - Porsche calls it an "integrated dry sump."
The other difference I can tell you is the torque value on our wheel lug bolts is 96 ft. lbs, where the torque value on the single-nut wheel system on the 959 is 460 ft. lbs.
The newer AWD turbo cars - 993, 996, and 997, are much closer cousins to the 959 than the 997 C4s.
brad
The AWD systems for 959 and 997 C4S are totally different. The 959's AWD system use complex muti clutch design that can vary torque split between front wheels and rear wheels under normal and slippery condition. While C4S AWD system use a simple viscous-coupling that can transfer up to 40% of torque to the front wheels when the road surface gets slippery.
What's really impressive about the 959's technology is that all this came out
in the mid-1980's.
I was in high school back then and I still remember reading the article about this car in Road & Track, and being amazed.
I'm not much into "Porsches of old" but the moniker "thinking man's supercar" and the technology placed into the 959 make it a pretty interesting vehicle. I would like to drive this one. Here's a link to a new story about this car:
Car Lust: Porsche 959
My few cents from an owner of a '73 and also a '95 993. The 959 will be more of a driver's car than a current C4S. Less electronic intrusions for sure given earlier/crude electronic assist programming, and much more seat of the pants feel. I love my 07 CS, but it's surely different than the earlier cars. I can't decide which is better so I've decided to keep the old and new school toys ! (my wife still doesn't understand)
Well, the other big difference between them:
Rumor has it that Porsche lost money on every 959 they sold. This was apparently justified as the car was a technology/marketing testbed and was going to be the homologation for a stillborn racing series.
On the other hand, rumor (again) has it that Porsche currently makes more money on the sale of each car (including the 997 C4S) than any other car manufacturer in the world.
:taunt:
Just start checking off options and you'll understand why!:hilarious:
Not well. The 959 is quick, but in EVERY other respect it is a very old car.
BTDT.
