Who won the 80s?

"George Costanza" (Georgeoncars)
07/15/2014 at 18:05 • Filed to: Georgie is back, BMW, Audi

Basic question really. Which car defines the 80s for you?

Not best selling but rather embodies the spirit of the 80s or at least which stood out.

Why the 80s? Because I think it was a revolutionary period in cars for all major companies (90s for some).

My picks:

And everything in this picture

Predictable but what can I say.

DISCUSSION (33)

Manuél Ferrari > George Costanza
07/15/2014 at 18:06

Testarossa, hands down

George Costanza > Manuél Ferrari
07/15/2014 at 18:07

Why not F40

Textured Soy Protein > George Costanza
07/15/2014 at 18:08

As someone who grew up in the 80s, there's really only one answer.

Kinja'd!!!

(mic drop)

Garrett Davis > George Costanza
07/15/2014 at 18:12

If I'm honest, this "defines the 80s" for me:

Kinja'd!!!

More just because of family vacations than actual car lust.

RooWills > George Costanza
07/15/2014 at 18:13

Kinja'd!!!

Textured Soy Protein > George Costanza
07/15/2014 at 18:13

The F40 is great but it came around at the end of the decade. Also while it's certainly raw, it's made of carbon fiber, which is almost a little too high tech for the 80s.

The Testarossa on the other hand was around for the majority of the decade, was a pop culture icon (Miami Vice, Outrun arcade game, etc) and has those oh-so-80s strakes.

George Costanza > Garrett Davis
07/15/2014 at 18:14

We have a winner

Manuél Ferrari > George Costanza
07/15/2014 at 18:17

Because:

F40 too rare. You actually saw the TR on the streets. The TR is one of Ferrari's highest volume sellers of all time.

The TR was in a big TV show.

The TR had the excessive styling that matched the excess of the 80s perfectly. The TR was the perfect car for junk bond kings and cocaine traffickers!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > George Costanza
07/15/2014 at 18:18

My picks

Kinja'd!!!

Blondude > George Costanza
07/15/2014 at 18:21

Kinja'd!!!

Saracen > Textured Soy Protein
07/15/2014 at 18:25

(picks up mic )

As someone who also grew up in the 80's, there is another answer.

Kinja'd!!!

promoted by the color red > George Costanza
07/15/2014 at 18:26

Kinja'd!!!

AMG Hammer: A car for the discerning cocaine and Wayfarer enthusiast.

RallyWrench > George Costanza
07/15/2014 at 18:28

I've owned 2 of those, hard to pick between them. Had an '83 quattro and '88 M5, shouldn't have sold either. Either could be considered the best part of the 80's, where technology allowed performance cars to blossom again, after the dark days of the 70's.

My personal picks for a decade-defining 80's car are the Countach or, conversely, the VW Cabrio. Wretched excess and free spirited fun, in car form. Until the F40 came out, the Countach, in full winged & flared whiteness, had a permanent spot on my wall as a kid.

RallyWrench > Textured Soy Protein
07/15/2014 at 18:35

It's weird that the TR actually looks restrained compared to the Countach now. The TR is definitely a creature of the 80's, but I pick the Countach over it because the TR is actually regarded as a very good car to drive, whereas the Countach morphed into a difficult, gaudy pig with shiny lipstick. All image, no substance except power. How very 80's. :) The TR is better than that.

Textured Soy Protein > Saracen
07/15/2014 at 18:35

That's the only other answer. ;)

Brian, The Life of > Textured Soy Protein
07/15/2014 at 18:36

Sorry, no. If there is one winning Ferrari to represent the '80s, it's the 288 GTO.

Kinja'd!!!

Brian, The Life of > Garrett Davis
07/15/2014 at 18:38

"Holiday ro-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oad ... "

nrj > George Costanza
07/15/2014 at 18:39

Aside from the Testarossa, probably this:

Kinja'd!!!

Textured Soy Protein > Brian, The Life of
07/15/2014 at 18:40

The 288 GTO is by all accounts a better car than the Testarossa.

But in terms of which car was in the zeitgeist, that people really associate with exotic car , it's gotta be the Testarossa.

Brian, The Life of > Textured Soy Protein
07/15/2014 at 18:44

From the perspective of the '80s, it'd be the car the 288 is based on, the 308GTS/B. That is the car everyone immediately pictured in their heads when they heard "Ferrari." Because Magnum PI ... and let's face it, nothing is more '80s than Magnum PI.

Kinja'd!!!