Name your favorite ride from the 1980's

[Arthur Dent]

Since we have 60s, 70s I thought I'd add 80s. So what is it?

For me a it would be a MR2, supercharged and red. 

[Boxer2500]

1987-88 Porsche 944S 16V. Among all the cars that I've had a chance to drive, this is probably my favorite.

[Rich]

I spent a significant period of that decade:

A.  In college
B.  On stage
C.  Stoned
D.  All of the above

Did they have cars then too?

[Tifosi]

My '88 Pontiac Bonneville SE...sportiest car I ever owned.



Dan

[GTO48]

1984 turbo riviera.  That one is mine.  It has held 2 NHRA ET records and 2 NHRA speed records for it's stock class.

The '84-'87 Buick Grand National's would be a close second for me.  I've owned an '84 and an '87.  Both are excellent cars.

[Otto Puzzell]

Zimmer Quicksilver

[Arthur Dent]

Neat - never realized the Riviera had a factory turbo variant.

[Rich]

Zimmer Quicksilver

I really do believe this was Ric Flair's car.

[Otto Puzzell]

Whooooo!

[Boxer2500]

1984 turbo riviera.  That one is mine.  It has held 2 NHRA ET records and 2 NHRA speed records for it's stock class.

That's something you don't see every day. Not too many FWD GM drag cars out there.

[Stephen M]

1984 turbo riviera.  That one is mine.  It has held 2 NHRA ET records and 2 NHRA speed records for it's stock class.

That's something you don't see every day. Not too many FWD GM drag cars out there.

One fewer than you think, even, unless I read you wrong. 

My ride:

[Boxer2500]

The '80s Riv was FWD.

[Ultra]

The '80s Riv was FWD.

Try again, thanks for playing.

[Stephen M]

e-goblins gobbled my picture! Twas an RS200, like so:



(second row over, 5th from the back)

[Boxer2500]

The '80s Riv was FWD.

Try again, thanks for playing.

From Wikipedia...

Seventh generation (1979-1985)
The first front wheel drive Buick Riviera

1979 saw the debut of the first front wheel drive Riviera on a trimmer, 114 in (2,896 mm) wheelbase, now sharing its mechanical design and platform with the Cadillac Eldorado and Oldsmobile Toronado. The Olds 403 was droppped, but the 350 remained, as did a new turbocharged Buick V6 of 231 in³ (3.8 L) displacement with 185 SAE HP. The new Riviera became Motor Trend's Car of the Year. Sales more than doubled, to 52,181 for 1979 and 48,621 for the very similar 1980 models.

1981 saw the Turbo renamed T-Type and the demise of the 350 engine in favor of the Oldsmobile-built 307 in³ (5.0 L) with 140 SAE HP. A strange new option was a diesel engine with a mere 105 SAE HP. offered through 1985.
Rear view of the Riviera convertible
Rear view of the Riviera convertible

1982 also saw the first-ever Riviera convertible, although relatively few were built, owing to very high prices. A turbocharged Riviera convertible was chosen to be the pace car at the 1983 Indianapolis 500, although most convertible Rivieras had the V6 engine.

Overall sales made the 1980s Riviera a great success, reaching 65,305 for the 1985 model year.

Also note the much wider tires on the FRONT wheels in the above picture.

[Ultra]

Mea culpa. 

I was thinking the Regal. 

[Boxer2500]

Eh, they both start with 'R'.

[Ultra]

Eh, they both start with 'R'.

Most Buicks do.

[Stephen M]

My apologies as well. I stand corrected, and SMARTER, and for that I thank you. 

[Boxer2500]

And if Wikipedia is to be believed, the turbo Riv had as much power as the Corvette of the same era. 185 was a big flock of ponies for 1979.

[GTO48]

Neat - never realized the Riviera had a factory turbo variant.

I smell an upcoming autopuzzle!

Yes they had roughly 1100 in each of the years 1984 and 1985 with the fuel injected turbo V6.

[Tifosi]

Neat - never realized the Riviera had a factory turbo variant.

Yeah, in 1983, Duke Nalon drove the Riv pace car around the Indy Speedway faster than he did his Novi in '49 when he sat on the pole.




Dan

[GTO48]

And if Wikipedia is to be believed, the turbo Riv had as much power as the Corvette of the same era. 185 was a big flock of ponies for 1979.

I never believe everything in wikipedia.

However, I do believe timeslips...  The car has run a best of 13.61 @ 99.15 mph in the 1/4 mile corrected for altitude.  Uncorrected it has run a best of 13.63 @ 98.90.  Even with front wheel drive, it has run a best of 1.86 in the 60 foot.

People usually laugh and point when I do a burnout.  

[Otto Puzzell]

Motor Trends "car of the year" in 1979.

[Boxer2500]

BBBs (Bitchin' Buick Burnouts) are among my many automotive guilty pleasures. A later Riviera with the supercharged 3800 makes for one hell of a sleeper... AND one hell of a one-wheel, axle-hoppin' front drive burnout.