Old Top Gear 1992 - Porsche 968 & Jaguar XJS

Jeremy Clarkson looks at the new 968 from Porsche and the Jaguar XJS. Taken from season 15, episode 6.

[@ProtoMan0451]

"We can even say goodbye to the mobile phone." oh, 1992 Jeremy, if only you knew

[@RB747domme]

He meant as a style accessory.

[@petrolhead999]

How many mobile phone you see nowadays? In our days people uses smartphones a lot rather then just mobile phones

[@frog382]

@@petrolhead999 Do you know what a word "mobile" means? And do you know what a word "smart" means? (I had to ask).

[@bliglum]

5:54 Jeremy Clarkson "I am biased" Didn't have to tell us that! I knew he'd choose the jag even before I clicked on the vid.

[@admiralhorationelson1612]

" we can even say goodbye to the mobile phone " how'd that work out ?

[@RobertBardos]

Lol

[@iantownsend5480]

He said it felt like a big Audi TT & when the convertible version came out the looney was back

[@RRSYSinfo]

Good bye mobile phone buttons. Hello touch screens.

[@DrSteveBrule552]

As I watch this on my mobile phone

[@questionitall3053]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[@nigo1787]

25 years later, 968 is a classic and the XJS well... if one still runs... as for hesitating between a 968 and a 300ZX for the same price, the word that comes to mind is : "DOH !"

[@1SaG]

The 968 is horrible to look at. I'd rather have a no-frills, first series 924 than that abomination. That said: Typical Clarkson-review. If, for dinner, you offered him a choice between a steak and a turd, he'd choose the turd so long as it was a *British* turd.

[@FlyingWingless]

Exactly! I love the pride he shows for Britain. He will eat that turd and make you envy it.

[@nutsackmania]

+1SaG LOL. Have you actually _driven cars_ before? Go ahead, take that 924 shitbox, 40-horsepower rattly piece of trash that had a barely-functioning HVAC system from the factory, stamped fucking control arms and other associated VW trash--did I mention its like 40 horsepower?--horrible interior, looks like a rat took a shit at a VW plant in 1974 and they sized it up to make the junkobox that is the 924. YIKES.

[@nigo1787]

I actually have driven a 924. It's a very nice car for what it is. Cannot be compared to a 968, very different price tag (924 < 944 < 944 S2 < 968) it has 125, which was not bad in 1976 and goes over 120mph It can be compared with the RX7 N/A of the 80s

[@mosesberkowitz3298]

If I had a 968 I'd only drive it after dark. Fug Ugly !

[@TheAmbientUniverse]

I chuckled at "we can wave goodbye to Ray Ban sunglasses", but it took until Jeremy saying "We can even say goodbye to the mobile phone" for me to realize it was all just a bit of classic tongue in cheek British humor

[@jacobreed47]

I love 90's era cars.

[@frankburns8871]

Acuravigor47 I hate the fact that 90's era cars are now a thing of nostalgia or quaintness. But yeah, the 90's had great music and pretty nice cars all around.

[@jacobreed47]

Frank Burns Totally agree. Thumbs up. Class of "96" California. Previous cars, Mitsubishi Starion, Mitsubishi 3000GT, C4, Iroc Z. Thumbs up!

[@frankburns8871]

Acuravigor47 ha, you said thumbs up but didn't give me one. I don't care, just sayin. Good choices in cars, though. Fun fact: The Starion was supposed to be "Stallion," but got misspelled in classic "Engrish" fashion by the Japanese. Don't know if that's true or not, but it makes sense. WTF is a "starion?" I had a thing for the Chrysler versions of those Mitsus...Daytona, Laser, Shelby Charger. FWD and pretty lame by modern standards, but not too shabby at all by 80s standards. Pretty sure the Starion was a RWD version of the Daytona. Or the Daytona was a FWD version of the Starion, more accurately.

[@DJ_FLUX]

I just picked up a 1994 968 manual coupe, 56K original miles, 100% complete and completely original car (seems to even have the original tyres... okay, new battery), Guards Red over black/cashmere interior. My first water-cooled Porsche. Great driving car. I also have a Limited Edition 1974 914 2.0 LE Can Am and a 1988 911 3.2 G50 Carrera coupe.

[@EdWatts]

I have a 1994 XJ12, and it is equipped with the 4L80-E, a TH-400 with overdrive. If I take it easy, I can get over 22 MPG on a long trip. Oh, yeah... ...I also have two six-cylinder, 150-HP nitrous systems on the vehicle. A 650-HP V-12 in a luxury sedan is a thing of beauty. I never grew up.

[@frog382]

Thats gotta be one of the most ridiculous builds ive heard about.

[@emandalosvek4054]

Now that the 80's are over, "we can wave goodbye to .....the mobile phone". LOL Well, you can't get them all right and sometimes you are going to be very, very wrong.

[@crusherbmx]

+Emanda Losvek Ya, he totally called that one...

[@altair1983]

+Emanda Losvek well... perhaps he was right in a way.. basically all of those things returned in 2000's, well minus the filofax.

[@emandalosvek4054]

altair1983 Not really. Analogue Mobile phones were fairly commonplace by 1996.

[@Dafoodmaster]

Not to mention stripy shirts (with undertale and all)

[@supramanx1997]

+Emanda Losvek If he'd only had any idea...

[@willwonka1325]

That Jag still looks a beaut! Clearly had issues, but those lines are just classy as hell :)

[@uio890138]

I'm actually surprised the Jaguar even started in this video.

[@MilesBellas]

"I'm a hobgoblin" - Jeremy Clarkson

[@Peanutdenver]

It's funny because Porsche has accomplished this "cleaner air out than in" for many years. You can hear Clarkson quote this phrase again around 2012 or 2015(cant remember the exact year, but it was 2010ish)but, this time he admits it's true when driving a new 911 Turbo S.

[@Boemel]

Gotta love the jacket :D

[@weliveinazoo6597]

Jeremy is 'enunciating' very well!

[@CARLIN4737]

What?

[@Dufffaaa93]

Old Top Gear had less jokes and more information, I like it.

[@Dufffaaa93]

Also, this Jag sucks, fuckin fanboy.

[@FlyingWingless]

yeah!

[@makes528]

It's beautiful, but maybe i would swap the tech

[@rudydousset2271]

How about saying goodbye to that jacket? I thought that's where he was going with it

[@motanelustelistu]

+Rudy Dousset What are you on about man ? That's a very nice jacket,still worn today.Even if it wasn't,he was near or over 30 y.o. then,when fashion doesn't count,what you like and look good in do. I was always that way : Fuck the "fashion" and XXS size,i will get as tall (and musckly) i want and wore whatever i want :D (and,obviously,looks good).

[@julianmilnes9594]

Not really, it's about how you look when you do it. If you're happy with Blue Harbour then fine, but you really will look like a dad crisis...

[@TheRetroBiker]

63 liters for £30 quid!!!! Take me back to the early 90's :)

[@SuperStig23]

The 928 S4 with manual trans was the best Porsche ever made IMHO,a truly original beautiful body, the sound of that V8 is as distinctive as any Ferrari, the perfect 50-50% weight ratio super wide track, responsive steering and Unlike the over-powered (and over rated( rear engined 911 you could drive this car to the limit right out of the lot. Engine in front, trans axle and transmission in the rear, perfect weight distribution. Mostly Aluminum body. Porsche lost money on every 928 they sold but it's still one of the best handling high performance cars ever made.

[@TJSaw]

The XJS looked ancient even in the 90s.

[@a34rwl]

He inherited that flying jacket from Woolard. Before him Noel Edmunds had it.

[@kaplaarsk4163]

So out of the two he prefers a car which is almost 50% more expensive, has no space for anyone to sit in the back despite it's enormous size, uses the amount of fuel equivalent to an oil tanker, has a plethora of other problems. Yep makes perfect sense.

[@CockatooDude]

But that makes it have "character".

[@kaplaarsk4163]

CockatooDude lol

[@bradleykurtz5536]

Love how the Jag is driving away at 8:43 while he’s still hanging up the pump...

[@OwnageProductions03]

Say goodbye to the mobile phone..? LOL. JC. You dun fucked up.

[@Bassmaster3250]

Good ol VHS.. gotta love that nice horizontal static band popping up on the screen every 3 seconds... those were the days, when technology was special!

[@Robbieifyoucan]

"we can say goodbye to the mobile phone" lol

[@PaulCarr1]

The most powerful engine of its type..................... In the world.

[@davidwratten7728]

Paul Carr bollocks

[@bruceccorwin]

By "of its type" he means a naturally aspirated 4 cylinder engine.

[@maxtroy8511]

Clarkson is by far the greatest ever auto journalist.... IN THE WORLD!

[@nickreay2766]

Jeremy: Every decade has its fashion accessories...I have never been one.

[@jeremymtc]

...This week on Clarkson Island...

[@paullovesey4863]

Isn’t this the Porsche that he had when his dad died? He was cooking a Chicken for dinner, had a phone call about his Dad - drove it at a comfortable 150mph from London to Sheffield and he got to see his Dad before he passed away. The chicken was still warm when he got there

[@gabrielcooper2044]

That was a 928, looks the same but a different chassis and a V8

[@willzer808]

I adore Porsche 944's. The 968 is nice too. I've loved the 944 since i was about 6. When I get the cash, I am going to buy one

[@Paul-mq5yn]

you got one yet?

[@sexy350Zowner]

How come Clarkson never did a video review on the 300zx? I would've loved to know what he thinks of this amazing car!

[@GoodOlPastaCake]

I’ve always loved the XJ12 so I’m really glad he did a video on it

[@DaytonCarCare]

Having driven both, currently driving a 94 968 with supercharger, I still like the XJS (I had the V12 version) because it's a much smoother and quieter ride.

[@NYJALB]

Does anyone else think Clarkson sounds EXACTLY like Partridge in this clip!!???

[@alianisz]

The Jaguar XJS has a sharper British design compared to the curvy German Porsche 968.

[@10072018]

+alianisz The XJS had been around since the 70's, so, that kinda makes sense.

[@alianisz]

[phone] no im talking about the two manufacturers in general (current and before)

[@motanelustelistu]

+alianisz Seriously ? 2003 X Type is sharp ? It isn't sferical,but still,very far from sharp.1960-70 "muscle" "cars" (to be read TITANICS on wheels) american are sharp,not this Jags. Beside,it's xjRs

[@alianisz]

motanelustelistu No

[@mmarocker]

"And speaking of windows, they're so slitty, you get the impression you're driving a postbox" oh if only 1992 Clarkson could've seen the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro...

[@hififlipper]

The difference is, the Camaro was always meant to be a postbox.

[@NYJALB]

"We can even say goodbye to the mobile phone".........if only we had!!

[@oddities-whatnot]

6.5 seconds to 60. Golf GTI will do it with a smaller engine, so it just goes to show how technology and motoring has advanced.

[@Gorilla_Jones]

Porsche 968 and 944 in clean co dition keeps appreciating while the Jaguar can be had for a few hundred dollars, if there are any still running. And 300z? LOL. The 968 is a classic, the 300z is just another ghetto cruiser now with 22 inch chrome rims sticking out and a hanging bumper.

[@aDIYCarGuy]

They need that engine / trans setup in today's cars...30mpg!

[@NYJALB]

+a DIY Car Guy 47p a litre would be nice too!!!

[@mistreku]

LOL, the "big boys" will boil the coolant within 250 yards of "spirited" driving, while the porka could go across continents and never miss a beat. Take now a 968 and a XJS for a drive. Drive test them back to back and see which one of them still feels like a car.

[@TheCarArchives96]

that Porsche 968 is still on the road and first registration was 12 03 1993

[@doca8792]

In a polluted city, the air coming out of the exhaust is cleaner than the air going in. He used that same quote for his 997 turbo review.

[@FoxStreamsLive]

5:32 Jeremy seamlessly morphs into Alan Partridge

[@roddydykes7053]

How could've anyone in their right mind think that a technology as useful as a mobile phone would go away and not be improved on? I wonder if he went home to his landline that evening and said "Ah yes, no need for being on the go when you need to reach someone."

[@lukepreston8362]

The original theme at the end cracked me up

[@Gius3pp3K]

Clarkson sounds normal on these earlier episodes 😂😂😂

[@servicarrider]

Oh the hair. 1). That he had any. 2). The jheri curls.

[@chriseon598]

I had a 968 this colour, marvellous car. Crying shame I sold it and got a 911 4S Cab! Even today you would look good getting out of a 968, whereas that XJS would make you park and walk last part when going to someone´s house....

[@Vypmusic]

i own a 968 Cab and is a very nice vehicle.

[@bouss1]

When Porsche was moving forward Jaguar was insisting in making dinosaurs. While some people love dinosaurs it is no wonder why Porsche is now a successful big company while Jaguar is only a small segment of a big company. On a side note it was a shock to see Clarkson young. I always thought that he was born an old man.

[@halleffect1]

the 968 is such a better car than that jag

[@MrAwesomemonster]

I would take the jag anyday

[@Wolfenkuni]

halleffect1 But it is not a JAAAG

[@oddities-whatnot]

MrAwesomemonster Where to? The garage to be repaired again LOL

[@MrAwesomemonster]

Simon George ya probably

[@dparag14]

I still love the way he pushes it off. 😂😂😂

[@austineswann1]

I have a 84 944 and my friend has a 92 300z. 99% of my car is all original and has had very little issues over the years( AC compressor and timing belt changes of course plugs and wires...normal stuff) He on the other hand has had 99% replaced bc it has just broken in half or fell off. I love my 944. Its a expensive car to maintain still and still gets 30+mpg. I mean its 28 years old!

[@Carlos-bp1vp]

Price of gasoline back then in the UK is what it is today in the US.

[@camwat5193]

Hi, fuel duty here is levied at 57.95 pence per LITRE, plus, vat at 20% is charged on top of that, so you can see when you buy fuel here, nearly 80% of what you hand over at the til goes straight to the government in tax. I can remember when fuel hit £1 per gallon and there was a public outcry. We have since converted to the metric measurement of litres, and petrol is currently approximately £1.20 per LITRE. There are 4.54 litres in a gallon, meaning fuel here is approximately £5.45 per gallon, meaning approximately £4.35 of that gallon disappears in tax!! To covert that to US dollars, imagine having to pay $7.30 per gallon, knowing that $5.84 of that was going straight to your government in tax! The motorist has always been an easy revenue-raising cash-cow for our government irrespective of the political party, but with increasing environmental concerns and support from a younger, greener thinking population, the opportunity to tax and punish the motorist has gained even more momentum. As vehicles get greener our government is looking towards smart systems and road charging - pence per mile journeys - to ensure revenue from motorists remains sky-high despite anticipated plunging tax revenues from reduced petrol and diesel sales. Not a great outlook for us I’m afraid, I hope you fare better. Best wishes from the U.K.

[@DS-om3pt]

The wipers look like pencils Classic Clarkson

[@owensteele1645]

I saw a recent video on the Clarkson's Farm channel. He really has put on the pounds.

[@shadyninja1]

52 pence a litre of petrol

[@paianis]

You mean 47p.

[@noelnicholls1894]

2020. That what it cost in Texas today.

[@antonplatt8880]

Jesus Clarkson is Partridge in every way!!! :)

[@j.dmetalhead7517]

Jeremy you were so wrong about the Raybans and the Mobile phone

[@bostavely204]

47p a fucking litre !

[@justinanderson8758]

20% Clarkson 70% Hair 10% Porsche

[@Swissair171]

8:41-8:43 Note the label that reads `Warning. Your car may not be suited to Unleaded Petrol. If in doubt, please contact your motor manufacturer.`

[@seniorelzappo9919]

Jeremy Still owns that flying jacket, wears it every Sunday to church..

[@fg87fgd]

BTW: Elgar: Variations On An Original Theme, Op. 36, "Enigma" - 10. Nimrod

[@yakacm]

How times have changed, now Jag is a small niche car maker and Porsche are the big boys.

[@bigmoncrief6071]

Those weird turquoise shade bands at the top of the windscreen were very '80s. My Dad's Vauxhall Carlton GL had one.

[@JOCKATEO]

if you look at 3:50 the 968 looks as if it has a Hitler moustache

[@Porsche924S]

Its the music too

[@sebastianm.8383]

i had the luck to own 944 and 968 and yes, the interior of the cars was pretty identical but this was already it, i had the 968 CS and it was the best driving machine at the time, lightweight, fast and just fun, If Jeremy says, he prefers a 300 ZX because it is better made, he might have smoked sth before the shooting......

[@huss1205]

One time Clarkson talked about Porsche 968 that he drove fast to see his dad before he passed away and he made it 30 minutes before his old man died, he was able to say goodbye to his father thanks to the car, it was early 90's, seems that this is the car he talked about...

[@N54B30BMW]

I am pretty sure he talked about the 928. I still like the story though 😉

[@huss1205]

@@N54B30BMW sorry, my mistake, actually it was 928. I will try to look for the episode, probably it was the one on Top Gear's episodes when he turned the 928 into an ambulance, he told the story there, maybe on another episode, but not 100% sure...

[@littleinkling4604]

How many golden retrievers did it take to trim his leather jacket?

[@boilmaint]

🤣😅😆😂

[@TheRosemontag]

5:24 Someone at the bottom of the hill would say: "Hey a Porsche!"

[@motanelustelistu]

+The Readers Corner And throw himself in front of it,to stop it crashing :)

[@radinsyah1574]

What classical musc is on that review?

[@daverunner3397]

The 928 remains my favorite car shape... coulda used more power, to match the looks

[@halleffect1]

the headlights spoil it for me.

[@richsackett3423]

We can say goodbye to the mobile phone?! CLARKSON!!!

[@neilrafferty2097]

Cars with character .

[@willgods]

Nice paintwork on the Jag? The drivers door is a different colour!

[@944CoyoteV8]

I drive an '84 944, have on a striped shirt and have carbon Raybans:-/

[@kristian5821]

is this actually the same person who is on the grand tour lmao

[@Firehawk0469]

I drove a 968 a couple times at an autocross event held by the local Porsche club when a friend invited me to try the course in his car. I was impressed with the handling and the brakes, but as a corvette owner I was not impressed with the power. The car felt like a slug off the line and even when I kept the revs up, felt barely adequate for a racy looking Porsche when winding through the course’s longer parts.

[@marioskoutras6583]

Beethoven is starting to sound like MC Hammer! I cried!

[@herrfister1477]

Did you.

[@Lemont321989]

Bigger or better than this big Brit bruiser. Quintuple alliteration, gj Clarkson.

[@stupossibleify]

First time that ".... in the world" was ever uttered

[@vanoscrap]

everything Clarkson said goodbye to is now freaking BACK. In 2013. - Rayban sunglasses? check - personal organizers? check - stupid shirts? check - mobile phone? check

[@_B.M_]

Used 968 prices have gone through the roof now!

[@palebeachbum]

3-speed automatic in the Jag! Talk about archaic. Even cheap American cars had 4-speeds in 1992.

[@dunhillsupramk3]

men don't change we just get old

[@darkbassi5911]

One of my favourite Porsche’s ever. Even Tony Montana had one.

[@michaelstar4227]

Tony Montana had a 928

[@michaelstar4227]

The car in the roadtest is a 968

[@AaronSmith-kr5yf]

Man that 1990 Nissan 300ZX was such a shot in the dark that hit the mark. 300hp, two turbos, who heard of that in late 1989 when this car was launched. Revolutionary styling, gone are the pop up head lights, gone is the straight edge, the boxy look. Made that 968 Porsche seem rather quaint and overpriced.

[@m4kwadrat360]

Nice to see Port Isaac aka Portwenn back in th day.

[@dchawk81]

Is that fishing village Port Isaac? Felt like I was watching Clarkson cruise through the set of Doc Martin.

[@Bodhi247]

dchawk81 Yes it is Port Isaac

[@appleman1324]

heh I did not figure that out. The thing though that made me question if this car is equal to the panamera is this: The panamera is also called the "970". And it also appeals tot he same sort of population, the modern yuppies. and Wow props to Porsche for having that sort of technology, especially this and the 959 at the time

[@Tigerfire75]

Most of those things he said we could say good bye to are still around and better then ever

[@Dysusfusion]

"say goodbye to ray ban sunglasses" sorry clarkson ray bans are always cool

[@seinsmeld13]

No full serve gas/petrol/fuel in the UK?

[@tscooter22]

That Jag looks like a nightmare. Screw that!

[@patrickmurray8304]

1.25 we can even say goodbye to the mobile phone

[@Portofinosorrento]

That's most likely because both the Jag and Porsche are considered to be more exclusive and desirable, making people spend more money on fixing them up (since they're worth more second hand) and most likely drive them less aswell. And I can say I've seen far more 300zx than 968s, and last time I saw a jaguar at all was months ago. Then again I don't live in the uk.

[@brianheiden6623]

Zx for the win, jeremy nice coat dude lol

[@ryanbarrows8071]

parts filmed around port Isaac and port gaverne in Cornwall!

[@ianthomson9363]

The intro is Trebarwith, near Tintagel.