Here Are My 12 Favorite 1980s Performance Cars

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Here are Doug DeMuro's favorite 1980s performance cars! The 1980s weren't a great generation of performance cars, but some were really special -- and today I'm going through my favorite 1980s performance cars!

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[jimmy]

Gotta love Doug. Makes a video about achieving his lifetime dream and then it’s back to business as usual. One of the few successful YouTubers to always remain humble.

[joshimitsu]

The Renault 5 Turbo 2 is a awesome 80's car. The Lancia is iconic, great list Doug.

[carculture]

I always like the Ford Cosworth RS Sierra. Its a super cool 80s performance car that everyone has forgotten about for some reason which is surprising considering that if you wanted to win a touring car championship anywhere in the mid to late 80s, it was the car you had to have.

[m-a-l-]

I get that the 959 is not on the list, but the 911 Turbo of the 80s (930 series with the iconic 3.3l Turbo flat-six) is THE ultimate and most iconic Porsche of the 80s and definetly would deserve a spot on this list (and probably a very high ranking spot).

[krawfish]

2:05 BMW Z1
3:00 Peugeot 205 GTI
4:27 Audi Quattro
5:34 Nissan Skyline GTR
6:48 E30 BMW M3
8:05 Dodge Omni GLHS
9:40 Buick Grand National
11:07 Lancia Delta Integrale
12:59 Vector W8
14:03 Ferrari 288 GTO
15:35 Lamborghini Countach
16:45 Ferrari F40

[MatejNovakCreative]

For some reason when I was growing up, the Testarosa captured my imagination way more than the F40 did.

[hachiroku]

Honorable mention to the 1989 Honda Civic CRX SiR, with the legendary B16A engine. That thing produced 100 hp for each liter displaced, an impressive figure for naturally aspirated engines even by today's standards.

[Ryan-fgpe]

The Lancia 037 is the best 80s designed car imo, such an iconic 80s design. The RS200, Renault 5 Turbo, 944 Turbo are great too.

[InterstateRaziTV]

Love the Miami Vice reference on the thumbnail. The 80's ROCK! Great Video Doug!

[MovedbyTruth]

I liked my '87 Toyota Supra Turbo.

Also always liked the '87 Toyota Trueno AE86, which was out in the 80's and way cooler than half the cars on this list.

[pony]

Thank you so much for calling out the foxbody Mustang as a favorite car of that era. I'm the original owner of my '91 5.0 and I've taken care of it, it's nice. To this day, every time I get in it and fire it up, I half giggle to myself knowing how much fun I'm about to have. The Cobra was a 1993 model year only. I want one.

[johnvender]

Glad you included the 205GTi, I rented the 1.9 version for a weekend in the late 80s and it was the most fun I've ever had driving a car.

[StarJoker]

I’d say the 80’s Toyota MR2 is a great sports car too. Had one for a few years, so underrated and it’s a blast to drive. Lightweight, mid-engine RWD manual (same engine as the original AE86), revs to 7500 rpm, with optional open T-top roof and optional supercharger, tons of fun 😊

The Lancia Delta Integrale is a nice choice on the list too

[keenanfitzpatrick]

Glad to see the 5.0 make it on the list. For me, 1986 was a milestone year that signaled the resurgence of performance for Mustangs, Camaros and Corvettes which meant performance was back for the masses and I’m glad to see the Mustang got a spot on the list.

[zikarifid]

Love those random videos where Doug lectures us on other topics beside the cars reviews.
BTW, you better park that Carrera GT behind you in your next videos :D

[srh]

Not exactly in 80s but few of my favorites are VW Corrado VR6, GMC Syclone and Nissan 300ZX. Anway, I love that Lancia and have always loved that design.

[Orzo-thtp]

Loved the video. All the childhood dreams in one clip :)
Honorable mention of some British cars from the era: Lotus Esprit Turbo and Aston Martin Virage / V8 Vantage Zagato

[KaiPonte]

Glad you put the Buick GN on the list. I honestly thought of that first. I'm shocked the Dodge Omni is on this list, as a good friend had one and it was a HORRIBLE beater. I still want a z31 300ZX. I very much was in fear of any black and white Fox Body Mustang, knowing full well they could be behind me with the red lights flashing at any second.

[superturtle]

Surprised the 959 didn't make this list. I don't think it's obscure to car people, especially when you know about its link to the Show and Display rule.

[borninpragueprivatewalksbi]

It's great to see the name of my beloved hometown PRAHA (Prague) on Doug's T-shirt ❤️ I've thought he wears just T-shirts with cars 😀 I wish one day Doug will come to Czechia and make a review of Skoda or the supercar Praga.