944S2 Cabriolet 1992J Last Of The 944S2.
View Of Interior.
Brief History Of The 944
On the road a Porsche 944 feels surprisingly modern in terms of its driving dynamics. As in any sports car you sit low in the cabin and rearward visibility is not the best, but the seats are generous and the dashboard is clear and well laid out. Boot space is also pretty reasonable and on late models a split folding rear seat gives more luggage room.
Late in 1985 Porsche introduced the 944 Turbo. Using the same 2.5 litre engine, the addition of a turbocharger pushed power to 220bhp. In October 1988 the 2.5 litre unit was replaced with a 2.7 litre motor, giving the 944 Turbo 250bhp and a 0-60mph time of around 6sec. In the following January the non-turbo 944 received a new 3 litre engine with 211bhp. Although in outright terms these 3 litre cars are not as quick as the turbo models, they are considered by many to be the most practical to own, the most reliable and cheaper to run than the Turbo models.
For many buyers the 944’s attraction is not its reasonable price and negligible depreciation, but its practicality as an everyday car. With regular maintenance used 944s will happily clock up 200,000 miles without major incident.
However, neglect will cost you dear. Failure to replace timing belts every 30,000 miles can mean the need for a new engine, which can be as costly as replacing the whole car. Turbochargers also have a shorter life expectancy than the rest of the car and any 944 that has covered more than 100,000 miles may need a new one sooner rather than later. Fortunately Britain is dotted with non-franchised Porsche servicing specialists who can maintain your car inexpensively, and many will provide a pre-purchase inspection.
The key to buying a good 944 is to do your homework — view as many as you can, and buy on the car’s condition and service history rather than age or mileage.
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