Original MSRP for the Porsche 944 is $36,990 or $43,350 for the Turbo S. corresponding to $92,457 and $108,354 in 2021, respectively. Despite having a high base price, there were approximately 163,000 944s in use between 1982 and 1991. Despite a recent increase in price, the 944 is still well within many automobile aficionados’ price range. Customers may purchase a clean 944 for well under $15,000, and those looking for a project car can locate specimens for far under $5,000. Overall, the Porsche 944 is a flawless fusion of luxury and performance from the 1980s that still dazzles today. The 944 is gradually turning into a recognized classic since it is now accessible to enthusiasts at affordable costs.
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Is the Porsche 944 a worthwhile purchase in 2021?
The Porsche 944 is unquestionably a worthwhile purchase in 2021, with average costs between $9,000 and $24,000.
Almost usually, the 904, 906, 908, and 917 are the first models mentioned when discussing vintage Porsches. The 914 is one of the Porsches that receives the least attention, though. a partnership between Porsche and Volkswagen. While many people disregard the 914 because it is rather unusual, among Porsche enthusiasts it is regarded as the company’s first genuine entry-level model.
Volkswagen-Porsche decided to create a prototype to replace the 914, and after a string of unfortunate events, the Porsche 924 was born. The 944, a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive Porsche, is the result of further development of their mid-level model. The 944 Turbo, 944 Turbo S, 944 S, and 944 S2 were among the several variations of the 944 that followed the 968.
Prior to the Boxster and 911 Carrera, the 944 was Porsche’s most popular model, yet it didn’t earn a place in automotive history as a classic. Whatever your opinion, the 944 is every bit a Porsche, and having one would be something a petrolhead would look forward to, especially given how affordable they are.
The Porsche 944 is unquestionably a worthwhile purchase in 2021, with average costs between $9,000 and $24,000. Prices are beginning to increase quite quickly as demand for the mid-level Porsche grows.
An inferior Porsche
Speaking of maintenance, the 944 may have been inexpensive to purchase for many years on the used market, but it has never been inexpensive to maintain, which has caught many owners on a tight budget off guard. The replacement of the crucial timing belt and water pump can cost well over a thousand dollars, and parts are typically hard to come by.
The state of a specific 944 might vary greatly because different owners treated their cars differently throughout the years. Some owners drove their 944s daily and mistreated them, while others took pride in their Porsche ownership and treated it like a 911. That explains in part why prices range so widely, from around $3000 for a basic but functional project to $50k to $60k for a collector-grade Turbo or Turbo S. The rising tide of 911 prices lifted all the other boats in the Porsche sea from roughly 2012 until the end of 2017, including previously underrated models like the 914, 912, and 944.
911 Porsche
From 1982 until 1991, the Porsche 944 was a sports car produced by the German automaker Porsche. The 944 was a mid-level front-engine, rear-wheel-drive car built on the 924 platform. It was offered in coupe or cabriolet body types with either naturally aspirated or turbocharged engines. Before the Boxster and 997 Carrera were introduced, the 944 was Porsche’s most popular sports car with over 163,000 vehicles built.
Porsche decided to abandon the 944 label and rebrand the car as the 968 for the 1992 model year after making significant design changes.
Prices for the Porsche 944 Turbo are out of control.
Years ago, the Porsche 911 used car market surpassed an outrageous level, and it has yet to decline. The majority of high-end Mercedes-Benz or BMW cars eventually lose value to the point that regular people can buy them, while the 911 appears to have an infinite shelf life, at least in terms of the pre-1997 air-cooled models that purists prize the most. Only the 996 generation, which was ridiculed for having explosive engines in the back and Boxsters up front, from 1999 to 2004 offered discounts.
Due to the 911 bubble’s durability, less wealthy Porsche lovers must purchase other models. The Porsche 944 from 1982 to 1991 has been a common option. The 944 was a solid performer with classic attractive looks, 50/50 weight distribution, excellent cornering, and more torque than the Audi-powered 924 from which it descended. On Car and Driver’s 10 Best lists, it frequently appeared. Although the original 944’s performance would place it below a contemporary Subaru, the Turbos’ sub-6.0 second 0-60 mph times were actually rather fast.
The 944 has remained very inexpensive due to a number of factors. Because it was front-engined and water-cooled, Porsche snobs turned their noses up at it. Four-cylinder engines typically don’t elicit the same level of emotion. Japanese competitors to the 944 provided superior performance, value, and tuning foundations. The 944 also requires expensive maintenance.
However, perceptions of the 944 may be shifting. Prices for turbocharged variants seem to be rising: Only four of the 85 944 Turbos listed on Bring a Trailer had sold for more than $30,000, and none had gone for more than $40,000. This year, however, four 944 Turbos have givenled for more than $58,000. (That is essentially the starting price for a new 718 Cayman.)
However, it’s not just happening on BaT. A 1989 944 Turbo was sold at auction by Gooding & Co. somewhere in 2018 for $72,600. Jerry Seinfeld, a well-known Porsche fanatic, also purchased a 944 Turbo this year.
There are certain restrictions. The four were sold on Bring a Trailer were in excellent to near-perfect shape. Three of them were coveted Turbo S versions. The vehicle that sold for $74,000 had only 5,300 miles on it. Any Porsche kept in such pristine condition would command a hefty price; on BaT, models like the 912 and 914, which some might regard to be Volkswagens dressed up, have sold for comparable sums.
Why the sudden love of the 944 Turbo? Nothing is entirely clear. Hagerty observes that over the past ten years, 944 values have quadrupled or even tripled in some situations. 944 prices have generally been rising along with the 911 tidal. There may be a growing understanding that the 944 Turbo was a superb car overall but was underappreciated because of the 911.
Additionally, it might not take that many value-unconcerned aficionados to move a small historic car market. The same BaT customer who won the $74,000 944 Turbo placed an offer as high as $58,000 on another 944 a month later. Since December, this buyer has placed bids on five 944s.
Without a doubt, Porsche produces top-notch automobiles. But it seems harder and harder to find good deals on them, whether they are new or old. To put things in perspective, Mercedes also produces high-quality vehicles, but you could acquire a 2016 Mercedes-AMG E63 S wagon for the same amount as a newer, more potent, and lightly used R129 500SL or a top-end 944 Turbo. Which would we like to purchase at that price?
What caused Porsche to discontinue the 944?
Production has ended They discovered as the development process went along that so many components had been altered that they had created a vehicle that was nearly wholly new. As a result, Porsche switched its focus from the 944 S/S2 to the 968, a vehicle that would completely replace the 944.
How uncommon is the Porsche 944?
At the very end of the 944’s production run, only 528 specimens of the one-year-only 1991 Porsche 944 Turbo Cabriolet were ever produced, most of them by hand.
What horsepower is a 1984 Porsche 944 equipped with?
The 944’s base engine produced approximately 143 horsepower (later base models would produce up to 163 horsepower), and the top-of-the-line Turbo S produced 247 horsepower from its 2.5-liter inline-four turbocharger.
What kind of horsepower can a 1986 Porsche 944 produce?
The 944 underwent rapid change, and soon there were numerous versions. In the middle of the 1985 model year, Porsche gave the interior of the 944 a significantly more modern makeover, including an oval-shaped instrument panel. The Porsche 944 Turbo, a world-class performance vehicle with a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter engine producing 217 horsepower, was the major news for 1986. Large multi-piston Brembo brakes from the 911 Turbo, a body modification with a better integrated front bumper and rear underbody spoiler, stiffer suspension, and a more powerful five-speed gearbox were all added along with the bigger engine.
The new 944 S model was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 16 valves in 1987, increasing power from 147 horsepower to 187 hp. The 944 S2 replaced the 944 S (now available in coupe and convertible form), and it featured a new 3.0-liter, 16-valve naturally aspirated engine producing 208 hp in addition to all the advantages of the Turbo-style body and chassis. In 1989, a new 2.7-liter, eight-valve engine with 163 hp was introduced for the base 944. The Turbo model had increased to 247 horsepower by this point, and the Turbo S model, introduced the year before, featured an even more specifically designed suspension with height-adjustable coil-over shocks, various chassis stiffeners, and larger anti-roll bars, as well as even larger Brembo brakes, bigger wheels and tires, and a standard limited-slip differential. Prior to the introduction of the 968, Porsche 944 production came to an end in 1991.
Is a Porsche 944 from 1984 quick?
This Porsche can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, 0 to 160 km/h (100 mph) in 20.5 seconds, 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 48.8 seconds, and the quarter mile drag time is 15.7 seconds, according to ProfessCarsTM estimates.
Is a Porsche 944 considered vintage?
The Porsche 944 is a vehicle that, in terms of classic Porsches, was formerly regarded as a bit of a “underdog.” Over the past several years, it has had a significant recovery in popularity and is now one of the most sought-after vintage Porsches that is still available at an affordable price. Having said that, there are many things I’ve discovered about owning a 944 over the past few years that I wish I had known before making the purchase. In light of that, here are five things I wish I had known before purchasing a Porsche 944.
What is the MPG of a Porsche 944?
Porsche has been producing the 944 model for six years. The most recent 1989 944 gets less than the usual 18.2 combined miles per gallon, on average.
Government regulators calculate that the 1989 944’s gasoline costs are $2,700 annually. This estimate is based on 15,000 miles of driving, with 55% in cities and 45% on the highway, using premium gas.
Over the course of five years, you spend $6,250 more than you would on an ordinary vehicle.
A typical calculation of 15,000 miles travelled per year reveals that the 944 uses roughly 18 barrels of oil. The majority of the world’s petroleum is produced in nations like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States.
What are some Porsche 944 common issues?
- Bearings in the driveshaft could get noisy.
- Erratic Interior Temperature Caused by a Servo Motor Link Break.
- oil leaks have caused timing belt damage.
- Failed resistor pack is the only source of high speed on the interior fan.
- Check cooling system often to avoid reservoir leaks of any size.