1998 McLaren F1 vs. 1988 Porsche 944
To start off, 1998 McLaren F1 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Porsche 944. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Porsche 944 would be higher. At 6,063 cc (12 cylinders), 1998 McLaren F1 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 McLaren F1 (618 HP @ 7400 RPM) has 458 more horse power than 1988 Porsche 944. (160 HP @ 6200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 McLaren F1 should accelerate faster than 1988 Porsche 944. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Porsche 944 weights approximately 90 kg more than 1998 McLaren F1.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1998 McLaren F1 (649 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 444 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Porsche 944. (205 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1998 McLaren F1 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Porsche 944.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 McLaren F1 | 1988 Porsche 944 | |
| Make | McLaren | Porsche |
| Model | F1 | 944 |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 6063 cc | 2479 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 618 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7400 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 649 Nm | 205 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 86.1 mm | 100 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 87.1 mm | 78.9 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 3 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1176 kg | 1266 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1830 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1280 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2720 mm | 2410 mm |
