I’ve toyed with the idea of buying a Porsche 944 on more than one occasion. The first time was in 1982 when Porsche introduced the car; the problem was that at the age of 15 I didn’t have a driving licence. By the time I did, it was obvious that group 20 insurance was going to exclude me from ownership until I was over 25. When I was of age and could finally afford one, the 944 had built itself an unfortunate reputation and was known as “the poor man’s Porsche”.

But now, more than 23 years after I first saw the Porsche 944, I have started to get excited about it again. The reasons are simple. Aesthetically the car has aged well. The flared arches, large rear screen and pop-up headlights place it firmly in the 1980s but endow it with a coolness sadly lacking from many sports cars of that era. Also, the Porsche 944 is now as cheap as it will ever be; it’s on the brink of true collectability — a tidy example will cost you no more than £3,000 while a mint example can be yours for £6,000.

Originally the car was powered by a 2.5 litre four-cylinder engine with just 165bhp, hardly enough to get the pulse racing. But the car’s superb 50/50 weight distribution meant it cornered well and by keeping up momentum the 944 could still cover ground at a fair old lick. In addition to a very pleasant five-speed manual version Porsche offered a not-so-pleasant three-speed auto that is best avoided.

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.

• Air-conditioning: A highly desirable option
• Interior: Hard-wearing interior good for over 150,000 miles although optional leather will need occasional feeding
• Dashboard: From mid-1995 Porsche introduced the oval dashboard design with a more modern look and improved ventilation
• Engine: Fundamentally very strong but check for oil leaks around the front main seal and oil pan gasket
• Bodywork: Fully galvanised body should eliminate any rust problems unless the car has been poorly repaired after an accident
• Service history: Insist on original invoices to authenticate the service stamps
• Tailgate: Large glass screen can be prone to leaks so check the boot carpet for damp
• Power steering: Standard on all models since September 1984
• Handbrake: Should hold the car on two or three clicks. If not, adjustment/replacement of rear brake shoes is needed
• Wheels: Alloys standard although several designs were used during the car's life
• Locking wheel nuts: Check the car comes with a key to release the wheel nuts
• Keys: Expensive and time-consuming to replace, one key should open and start the car, but spares are advisable

• Porsche 944 S2 Coupe manual
  1991 H-reg
  60,000 miles
  Pay £5,995 from a specialist dealer, or £4,995 privately
  

 © Jason Dawe Productions Limited October 2004