PORSCHE 944/968

A PORSCHE WITH THE ENGINE IN THE FRONT AND WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION NEAR 50/50

The idea of a front-engined Porsche has failed to excite most people with an obsession for the brand. Of the various attempts made during the past 50 years to replace the 911 with a more conventional design, the 944 came closest to matching the rear-engined car's ability to promote driver involvement.

Following on from the compromised 924, the 2.5-litre 944 arrived in 1982 and brought not only added performance but a noticeable improvement to chassis balance. Weight distribution was very nearly 50/50, due in part to Porsche's use of a rear-mounted transaxle, the wheels were wider and tyres more attuned to performance driving. Brakes from the outset were all-disc, with ABS available from 1987.

These Porsches were still intended as entry level cars and built to a price ($33,290 at Australian launch) so frills were at a minimum. Early cars came with plain trim and self-winding windows but did have air-conditioning. By 1985 the glass was electrically opened, there was a sunroof, power steering and optional leather seat trim.

Performance with 120kW on tap was sufficient to deal with the V6-engined Alfa GTV and out-run the Series IV Mazda RX7. When it appeared in 1986 the updated RX7 took many of its styling cues from the Porsche and cost considerably less.

Early in 1986 and coinciding with availability of Premium (95 Octane) Unleaded fuel, Australia saw its first shipment of turbo-engined 944s. At $115,000 the cost was around double the price of a basic 944 but the 944T took driver satisfaction to levels only previously achieved in front-engined Porsche form by the 924 Carrera.

Anyone familiar with early turbocharged cars – including Porsche's own 911 – would have been stunned by the 944T's power delivery. Peak torque arrived at 4000rpm but there was still noticeable urge from around 2500.

For 1987 the non-turbo 944 received a make-over as well. Renamed the 944S it came with a minor restyle, 2.7-litre engine, bigger wheels, more equipment and a price surge to almost $100,000. At that point some buyers did question whether the 944 still offered value or whether digging $35K deeper to fund a 3.2-litre 911 Carrera was more sensible

That choice was made tougher in 1989 when a 155kW 944 S2 model was announced, accompanied by an elegant Cabriolet.

The S2's 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine was tweaked to produce 155kW (slightly more than the 3.2-litre flat-six) and performance figures showed that it finally could outgun a 911 without the assistance of a turbocharger.

In Cabrio form the S2 was heavier and not quite a match for the fixed roof S2 or 911 but performance was not pivotal to its appeal. Top down, parked or in motion, the Cabrio even today elicits the kind of drooling envy normally reserved for vastly more exotic models.

MARKET REVIEW

Finding a 944 isn't easy but they do survive in reasonable numbers, maybe owners aren't keen to sell. Prices are increasing, especially for later S2s, Turbos and the scarce Cabrio. It's possible to pay $50,000 or more for a high-quality car.