Maverick Marktpreis: 944

by Peter Wen, Region Merchandise Chair

Nothing screams the 80s like sky-high hair-dos, big shoulder pads, and . . . pop-up headlights! Porsche continued the transaxle model parade and introduced the 944 in 1983. An evolution from the Volkswagen-influenced 924, the 944 carried over the distinctive headlights and sexy styling cues from the 924 Turbo. However, under the hood, the new 944 is all Porsche. No longer did it share an engine with VWAudi. It was equipped with the brand new 2.5L inline-four developed by Porsche. This engine was basically half of a 928’s five-liter V8.

With near 50-50 weight distribution, the 944 was praised for its incredible handling. It won Car and Driver’s Best Handling Production Car in America in ‘84 and 10Best Steering Car in ‘85. The 944 proved to be a huge hit for Porsche. The wait list for one was nearly two-and-a-half YEARS long upon introduction! At the end, over 163,000 944s were produced. It is one of the most successful sports cars in Porsche’s history.

Today, 944s are very reasonably priced. Its 0-60 time may not turn any heads, but it more than made up for it with its superb handling and period correct styling.

944 '20-'21($k) '21-'22 ($k) '22-'23 ($k) 1983-85 $4-8 $4-8 $4-10 1985.5-88 $5-10 $5-10 $5-12 1987-88 S $6-11 $6-11 $6-16 1989 $6.5-10.5 $6.5-10.5 $6.5-14 1989-91 S2 $8-16 $8-16 $8-21 1990-91 S2 Cabriolet $10-18 $10-20 $10-21 944 Turbo '20-'21 ($k) '21-'22 ($k) '22-'23 ($k) 1986-88 $9-17 $9-17 $9-25 1988 S $10.5-19.5 $10.5-19.5 $10.5-30 1989 $12-22 $12-22 $12-32

Source: Excellence magazine’s Porsche Buyer’s Guide FUN FACT: The 944 was featured in the movie Sixteen Candles. The license plate number was 21850, which was the director John Hughes’ birthday, Feb 18, 1950. Coincidentally, the star of the movie, Molly Ringwald, was also born on Feb 18!

1984 944

Sold for $17,944 + $897 buyer fee 67k miles shown, TMU Black / Ivory 2.5L Inline-Four 5-speed manual transaxle

1989 944 S2

Sold for $19,500 + $975 buyer fee 96k miles shown Guards Red / Linen 3.0L Inline-Four 5-speed manual transaxle

1983 944

Sold for $11,550 + $578 buyer fee 800 miles shown, TMU Alpine White / Linen 2.5L Inline-Four 5-speed manual transaxle 1991 944 S2 Cabriolet

Sold for $16,777 + $839 buyer fee 115k miles shown Black / Black / Black 3.0L Inline-Four 5-speed manual transaxle

1985.5 944

Sold for $15,750 + $788 buyer fee 51k miles shown Garnet Red / Gray Beige 2.5L Inline-Four 5-speed manual transaxle

1987 944 S

Sold for $10,944 + $547 buyer fee 78k miles shown Alpine White / Burgundy 2.5L Inline-Four 5-speed manual transaxle

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