Seller Submission: 1985.5 Porsche 944

This next car comes as a seller submission from DT regular Michael who writes: My son is selling his 1985.5 Porsche 944. This car has a sunroof, extra snow tires, original wheels, and of course the Fun Pedal. This is a wonderful driver’s car in reasonably good condition inside and out. Before we purchased the car last August the previous owner put about $5,000 into the car in maintenance items including all of the important stuff. We have those receipts in hand. That work was all done by a local Porsche-specific shop. My son and I also replaced the front control arm ball joints using the Pelican Parts kit. This car is way more fun to drive than it really has any business being. While we have enjoyed owning this car the boy can’t afford any more traffic tickets. Find this 1985.5 Porsche 944 offered for $6,500 in Mahtomedi, WI via craigslist.

Wassergekühlt: 1990 Porsche 944 S2 Convertible

The Porsche 944 was another chapter in the watercooled front engine Porsche sport coupe saga that started in the late 1970s with the 928...but the 944 is in essence a beefed up replacement for the 924.  The 944 is actually one of the better cars of the 924/944/968 extended family to pick up from a cost/drivability/fun perspective because they have been (mostly) shunned by the hipsters over at Lufthgek...Lufget...Looofgeekcult....Luftwafflehouse...Luftgekühlt...because of the lack of luft in the gekuhlt.  Find this 1990 Porsche 944 S2 Convertible offered for $16000 in Mercer Island, WA via craigslist. Tip from JB1025

Four Fuchs Given: 1985 Porsche 944

If you are going to get into a classic Porsche and don't want to pay an arm/leg for entry fee, you might need to look into the less loved front-engine water-cooled Porsche club.  Thankfully, you've got a number of options, but if you can't find one of the rare 924 Turbo models you probably can't go wrong with an inexpensive 944.  Like this 1985 Porsche 944 offered for $3000 in Sacramento, CA via craigslist.

Phone Dials: 1986 Porsche 944

I know, I know.  I hate to be a pessimist.  I hate to be yet another voice on the internet that laments how all the cheap fun cars have been purchased by stamp collectors who've inflated their values to the detriment of everyone but the wealthy elite who can afford them.  And the collector car market really is a zero sum game, because it wouldn't make a bit of difference if the bottom fell out of the Ferrari GTO market except that I would own/drive one...so I'm not going to say that you should buy a Porsche 944 while they are still affordable, because, by all accounts, they will likely be affordable until flying electric cars are given out with every Wild Stallions album, but in the meantime, you'll have to shell out a few bucks if you want a Porsche that only runs on starting fluid. Find this 1986 Porsche 944 here on eBay offered for $3000 buy-it-now located in Chico, CA with 5 days to go.

German Slate: 1985 Porsche 944

The Porsche 944 was built from 1982 through 1991 on a platform shared with the low level Porsche 924, and it featured an upgraded engine and upgraded styling...and this next example includes a slight upgrade to the factory fender flares and significant application in decorative interior carbon fiber stuff.  Anyway, find this 1985 Porsche 944 offered for $6,500 in Tampa Bay, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Fast And Furious 17; Berlin Door Ding: 1988 Porsche 944 2JZ

The number of vehicles with swapped small block Chevy V8s is comical, to the point that they aren't really even that "special" anymore, but it makes sense because Chevy build a billion of their small blocks in every manner of vehicle from the Corvette to airport tugs.  But what is even funnier is that Toyota's 2JZ seems to be finding its way into every manner of vehicle, and while they didn't really build that many of the hot 2JZ-GTE versions (only built for the Supra Turbo and Japan only Aristo), but they did print out the standard 2JZ-GE version by the bucket load. Anyway, find this 1988 Porsche 944 2JZ offered for $12,900 in Homestead, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Minty Clean: 1983 Porsche 944

This next car might not be as exciting as Miley Cyrus' magical jacket, but it does fill the need for speed if you are a Porsche lover on an extreme budget.  Find this 1983 Porsche 944 offered for $8990 near Austin, TX via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Chump Change: 1983 Porsche 944

You know what they always say: There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Porsche.  Hey.  Tell them to pound sand, you CAN and SHOULD drive the cheap Porsche life because for sixteen hundred smackers you won't get something better for Radwood. Find this 1983 Porsche 944 offered for $1600 in Cape Coral, FL via craigslist. Tip from Dascpcu.

V8 Swapped Machine: 1987 Porsche 944

The Porsche 944 is one of the few affordable Porsches available on the open market that offers a decent amount of performance...but even the turbocharged later versions are still down on horsepower compared to a new Honda minivan.  In fact, a 2018 Honda Odyssey Elite hits 60mph in 6.9 seconds, while an '87 Porsche 944S takes 7.5 seconds to get to the same speed...nope..that won't due at all.  What you need is an injection of pushrod Corvette V8 horsepower to make the German coupe a properly quick.  Find this 1987 Porsche 944 offered for $13,500 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

2200 Miles Per Year: 1984 Porsche 944

As the prices for classic 911s, 912s, and 914s appreciate into the stratosphere of wealth that is ruled trust funders and dot-com boomers, I can't but help search for affordable cars with the famed Porsche cock & sausage crest.  Boxsters and Caymans are still plunging into the depths of affordability...but there is a Porsche that starts with a 9 that you shouldn't say nein to. Find this 1984 Porsche 944 offered for $9000 in Houston, TX via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

Uggo but Quicko: 1983 Porsche 944 V8

Was the Volvo with a V6 swap we posted earlier today a bit slow for your liking?  Okay...I get it. How about a Porsche 944 with a small block Chevy, is that fast enough for your inner Dale Earnhardt Jr? Find this 1983 Porsche 944 V8 offered for $6000 in Baltimore, MD via craigslist. From Cory.

Not On The Rug Man- 1993 Porsche 968

About two months ago, I was chatting with a friend who works in the same industry as myself at a regional trade show.  His house was under contract for sale and in addition to moving the contents of the house, he only had two weeks to get rid of his Porsche 968 before the closing date.  He had owned the 968 since 1996, but it had sat under a car cover for an undetermined amount of years by the side of the house.  After a couple phone calls to some enabler friends of mine, one offered me up the use his 2wd Chevy truck and car trailer and another (who is a ASE certified tech) volunteered to make the three hour one way trip with me from CT to Wilmington, DE to pick up the car.  The 968 was the final evolution of the 944 and were sold in very limited numbers.  The auto press loved neutral handling, overall balance, and it's giant 3.0 four cylinder engine.  The frog eye pop up headlights are decidedly retro cool in 2018.  This particular car is in rough shape and would be much better served by someone intimately familiar with these water cooled Porsche models.  The values on these have recently been on the rise so it is possible someone with some ambition may want a project or a PCA club racer.  Find this 1993 Porsche 968 for sale in Norwalk, CT for $5,000 via eBay.

Whale Tail: 1984 Porsche 944

The Porsche 944 was built from 1982 through 1991 on a platform shared with the low level Porsche 924, and it featured an upgraded engine and upgraded styling...but today's example is even MORE upgraded.  Find this 1984 Porsche 944 offered for $9800 in Henderson, NV via craigslist.  Tip from Zach Z.

Complete Sentences: 1983 Porsche 944

This next car looks almost too good to be true -- a low mile Porsche offered for less than 5-large with what looks like perfect paint.  And then I found the reason for the low price "Please email me with full and complete sentences to set up a time to view the car."  With my experience with buyers on craigslist, this car could be offered for a LONG time...but I completely agree with the seller's request.  Find this 1983 Porsche 944 offered for $4,500 in Santa Cruz, CA via craigslist.

Mid Week Match-Up: A Rag Top for Jerry

Today's Mid Week Match-Up comes as a request from Jerry who is looking for a convertible: So, my bought when new, 1993 Nissan 240sx convertible (in red, no less) which I've only driven in the winter 3 years since I bought it, and put 289,000 kms on in those years, was recently hit in the rear while I was stopped behind a truck, and of course we were hit hard enough to put lots of tension in the seatbelts, so are slightly the worst for wear, and the car was pushed into/under the rear bumper of the truck in front, so damage front and rear.

Keeping It In The Family Swap: 1983 Porsche 944 (968 engine)

At the moment, early 944's are probably the biggest bargain of the Porsche brand.  You have a sweet looking car with a only a 143 hp 2.5 4 cylinder engine to haul around about 2600 lbs and are stuck with the less attractive pre-85.5 dash layout.  It is fairly common to find Chevy LS swapped 944's, but today's example kept things in the P-car family with a 1993 968 engine swapped instead.  The 968 was the final iteration of the 944 model and came with a 236 hp Variocam (German V-tech) 3.0 4 cylinder engine.  Find this 1983 Porsche 944 for sale in Stoughton, MA for $6,500 via craigslist.

Impressive For Price: 1987 Porsche 944

The old adage of "you get what you pay for" couldn't be less true when it comes to vintage Porsche products.  Asking prices for 356 coupes have been high for decades, and recently the prices of 911s have skyrocketed into oblivion, but you can still find a deal on a watercooled front-engine Porsche if you pay attention.  Find this 1987 Porsche 944 offered for $6,200 in Pleasant Grove, UT via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.