944 (1982-1991)

Following in the footsteps of the much maligned 924 and as a more straightforward sibling of the futuristic V8-powered 928 ‘land shark’, the 944 was viewed by many motoring journalists as Porsche’s attempt to merge the best of both models. If you’ve flicked to this page, chances are you’re thinking about buying a 944 to call your own. Echoing sentiment expressed elsewhere in this magazine, fast-appreciating prices make this a good time to seek out a modern classic Porsche. After all, how long will a spotless 944 Turbo remain cheaper to buy than a tatty 911 SC in need of a rebuild?

If you’re not bothered about forced induction, the 944 becomes even more of a bargain. At the time of writing, little more than six grand gets you any one of a number of tidy pre or post-facelift coupes or cabriolets, with a choice of Porsche engines ranging from 2.5-litre eight-valvers to three-litre sixteen-valve units.

Launched in 1982 as a purely Porsche project following the joint Volkswagen-Porsche parentage of the 924, the wide-quartered 944 not only inherited its basic shape and styling from the older car, but also much of its interior trim. Indeed, anybody stepping into the new Porsche’s cabin space would have noted the 924’s decidedly dated ‘square’ dashboard and dials. Porsche would get around to updating the 944’s cockpit and exterior styling for the launch of 1986’s 944 Turbo, when forced induction was joined by a redesigned front end and a beautifully presented ‘oval’ dash.

Drivers of naturally aspirated 944s would have to wait a further three years for these age-defying features to be rolled out across the range, at which point, engines free of forced induction were boosted to three-litres of displacement. It should be noted, the launch model’s 2.5-litre inline-four was briefly