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.

[@TekMoliGy]

All of those 80s things he said we could say goodbye to are more popular than ever now days lmao.

[@CockatooDude]

Synthwave has had some effects lol.

[@kevincassidy1983]

I'll mark that in my filofax

[@kevincassidy1983]

No, nobody has an electronic organiser or a filofax

[@williamoneswhannell1060]

@@kevincassidy1983 they do they're in your mobile phone pmsl all on one handy device

[@ThatGuy-te9wh]

Striped shirts?

[@ryanpatterson9526]

Wow, even the Ray Bans are back in style again

[@markwhite7941]

Porsche 928

[@Lemma01]

Never went out 😊

[@llkjjjss]

It's crazy even the mobile phone is in style again!

[@drummerdoingstuff5020]

You can you can say hello and goodbye to the mobile phone

[@TEXAS2459]

w8!...wtf did u jus time travel?!

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 !

[@parapoliticos52]

Jaguar XJS , one of the most beautiful car ever built. Who wouldn't want a sky blue cabrio XJS with white leather seats.

[@noelnicholls1894]

Keep looking at the XJS-C. There are a few out there in decent shape for reasonable money (Texas no rust).

[@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.

[@willwonka1325]

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

[@mattbartholomew5707]

£30 for 63 litres of petrol I wish.

[@CSmithyPx]

I was thinking just the same.

[@bcubed72]

Wait...you Brits measure economy in "MPG," yet buy your fuel by liters? That's SO British!

[@m44kts]

With inflation, £30 back in 1992 works out around £63 today so it’s not vastly different sadly

[@sparky4878]

@@bcubed72 to confuse things even more a UK gallon is bigger than a US one. Don’t think by much, but does make our mpg sound a little better.

[@hififlipper]

@Victor Murat But you do need 10 times more of it to get somewhere, don´t you?

[@YesIAmThatCoolBitch]

A 3 speed? And a 6 litre v12!!! turning out 333 bhp? lol

[@hififlipper]

all into a 3 speed gearbox, rofl

[@bmw_fantopdrives5501]

a modern 2 litere Diesel is Probably faster lol, and uses like 7x less fuel

[@savagestingy1450]

That's why the rare manual gearbox is better lol

[@Lancia444]

3 speeds were tough and tested - less moving parts. Cars with low horsepower could have 4-5 speed autos but anything with V8+ amounts of torque would snap all the bits on a typical production build. FYI 4 speed autos had just started to come out in Beemers and a few more advanced V8/V12s. CAD/CAM and materials-engineering improved a great deal since then, hence why we even see 6-7 speed autos... if you've ever driven a 3speed V8, you'll enjoy the fact that first gear often took you to 120kph.....

[@Rover200Power]

Missing the whole point of the Jaguar V12. It isn't designed to be a traffic light racer with a fast 0-60. It is about smoothness and torque.

[@mohdzulhilmi7232]

That bomber jacket look dope as fuck....

[@FusionC6]

Its the exact image of 1991-92 America. :D

[@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.

[@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...

[@frontier_conflict]

That exact Porsche is still on the road today with an up to date MOT

[@uio890138]

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

[@Boemel]

Gotta love the jacket :D

[@coupelikeacaravan]

That moment where he pushes the 968 off a cliff.... Classic Clarkson

[@Robbieifyoucan]

"we can say goodbye to the mobile phone" lol

[@maxtroy8511]

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

[@weliveinazoo6597]

Jeremy is 'enunciating' very well!

[@CARLIN4737]

What?

[@Chunkyshoes]

Goodbye to Raybans? Never!

[@TucsonDude]

Goodbye to Bausch & Lomb Raybans. Now, they're made in China.

[@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

[@AdamAus85]

Lol, loveeee that long bonnet on the XJS.

[@SebWilkes]

XJS is an amazing car! Just gotta agree with you there Jeremy

[@herrfister1477]

Loved mine. Not flawless but full of charm and always a head turner.

[@bensmithkent22]

Going for ok money now. Uncle died and had a non running xjrs 6.0 in red g plate. The one from the 1989 or 1990 motor show he used to say. Somebody paid 14k for it and took it on a trailer. Should have got it running been 20 plus.

[@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.

[@TJSaw]

The XJS looked ancient even in the 90s.

[@OwnageProductions03]

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

[@bradleykurtz5536]

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

[@philipplamenov8649]

These old Top Gear videos are pure gold!

[@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!

[@PONKEYWAG]

Always fun watching Jeremy's old reviews back in the day before he went grey, he loves his Jags

[@TheRetroBiker]

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

[@Noiganush]

Wave goodbye to Ray ban, Electronic personal organisers and the mobile phone hahahaha

[@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

[@littlefatfriend]

buy a 6 litre V12 XJS now! it will make yr life better! ;)

[@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.

[@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...

[@jeremymtc]

...This week on Clarkson Island...

[@mtdmaker]

top gear just advertisement for the British auto industry.

[@stevechristie2569]

+James Stringer and the Italians, Austrians, Romanians

[@dparag14]

stringer 2295 you must've won the war, but you lost the future.

[@DankSi]

@@dparag14 at least British cars have some personality. German cars are as dull as actual Germans

[@luciustitius]

@@DankSi What glorious times those 90s where. When British cars weren’t in fact designed and manufactured by German, Indian or French companies like nowadays but nothing than 100% British thoroughbreds...

[@joaopedrobittencourt9524]

this is so well made...

[@a34rwl]

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

[@jooky87]

I remember walking by this car parked on the street on the way to my school bus. Always amazed by it.

[@nickreay2766]

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

[@herrfister1477]

Thread summary so far to save time reading: - many comments on Jeremy’s prediction of the demise on mobile phones and raybans - many comments on the price of petrol - many comments on Jeremy’s jacket.

[@ericgeorge5483]

Give me the Jag any day of the week.

[@bruceccorwin]

I had a 968 with the sport suspension and the handling problems he describes just means the front end alignment wasn't set right. It was a fantastic car. I also owned a 968 Turbo RS that was truly amazing. Wish I still had it!

[@sebastianm.8383]

a 968 Turbo RS, are you sure ? There were only 3 cars built or was it a replica or a 968 Turbo S ?

[@bruceccorwin]

@@sebastianm.8383 There were actually 4 Turbo RS cars built. Mine was one one of the 4. I don't know how many replicas were built.

[@theodor12]

gotta love that number plate

[@TheSeventhSeal]

I've owned both, and for a short (sub 1 hour) drive down country roads the Porsche wins hands down. If I was going to spend hours driving then it would be the XJS every time. In fact I'm selling my 968 to buy another XJS as it's just not comfortable on long journeys, where the Jag is just sublime.

[@mikep608]

This Jaguar's styling holds up to the cars in 2023. Things that would improve it would be to find some way to get rid of the plastic bumpers and moldings.

[@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.

[@kkristof555]

"that even Beethoven starts to sound like MC Hammer" :D

[@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

[@NYJALB]

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

[@jacobreed47]

His reviews are simply the best.

[@JackBandicootsBunker]

Were. He isn't a good reviewer at all nowadays, just a spoiled showman.

[@jacobreed47]

sjc I still enjoy the UK version of top gear to any other country's version. Even though there is no true 22nd season. Just stupid specials. But I read that there is a 22nd season in the works!

[@lukepreston8362]

The original theme at the end cracked me up

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

The 968 looks still modern and the Jag looks like from the last century, wait - because it is from the last century! :)

[@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?

[@CarburetedKilos]

jeremy is a wordsmith, great review. i like the xjrs, fantastic looking car, even today. i would like to see the newest xkr-s with the 6.0 liter v12 of this car....supercharged and updated of course. that'd be awesome.

[@NYJALB]

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

[@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.

[@NYJALB]

A 968 turned up in the car park next to my office one day this week...and I recalled lusting after one back in the early 90s................was I ever really that young!!??...8-)

[@NYJALB]

+NYJALB Mind you I also saw a 928 a few weeks back, and whilst wild horses ridden by naked Balinese dancing girls couldn't drag me into a Porsche these days, I have to say the 928 is still a groovy looking car!

[@CockatooDude]

Just buy one, they aren't terribly expensive today, and they are more reliable than people think.

[@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.

[@mayamanign]

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.

[@willl5255]

The Porsche 944 is my favourite car but that 968 is amazing. I want both!

[@guillaumeromain6694]

I can never get bored watching Jeremy.... nowadays or back then he is the best of them all.

[@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.

[@jesus_built_my_hotrod]

"We can even say goodbye to the mobile phone" LOL

[@omegaprime8612]

Classic Clarkson

[@mattevans4377]

Funny thing is, I'm wearing a striped shirt while watching this.

[@motanelustelistu]

I love how he didn't forget to mention the ENORMOUS fuel prices. Beside :D I "love" Jeremy as a character and if he says a car is small,it's small for me too :D as (wikipedia says) he's 1.96 M tall and i'm 1.92 :D

[@CarsandtheirParts]

Fuel wasn't expensive back then...

[@redriver15262]

in the begining backdrop i expected Clams Casino to start playing LMAO

[@aDIYCarGuy]

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

[@NYJALB]

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

[@michaelstar4227]

I love the 968,but i admire the XJS too,they're both pretty cool in my book

[@12inchRules]

Filling up a Jaguar for 30 pounds!

[@edword7195]

Yes 30 packets of Bensons that would be like 330 quid today

[@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.

[@thorfinnmckenzie]

That's a dope jacket Jeremy... I've never ever seen you wear a dope jacket.

[@GoodOlPastaCake]

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

[@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."

[@coltsuperocean10]

LOL, an 90s Jag to cover a 1000 miles without breaking down? Nice one Clarkson!

[@stevechristie2569]

you mean driving up the Himalayas in one?

[@patrickmurray8304]

1.25 we can even say goodbye to the mobile phone

[@DS-om3pt]

The wipers look like pencils Classic Clarkson

[@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.

[@vanoscrap]

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

[@Vypmusic]

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

[@servicarrider]

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

[@bostavely204]

47p a fucking litre !

[@macditrik3786]

jaguar

[@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.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Good ol' TopGear...😁👍

[@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....

[@joelsmith9311]

So funny - the 968 is now an appreciating modern classic whilst the XJS is a small forgotten pile of wet rust in your local scrap yard.

[@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

[@miami999q6]

So many references that I’ll have to research

[@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!

[@TheCarArchives96]

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

[@justinanderson8758]

20% Clarkson 70% Hair 10% Porsche