[MNBoxster]

Hi,

Here's what Sports Car International (Nov. 2005 ) had to say of the 944 Turbo in their Sports Car Buyer - 10 Best Sports Cars for $10,000 :

1986-89 Porsche 944 Turbo

The Porsche 944 has received plenty of criticism for not being a "real Porsche," but then again, everything watercooled and/or non-rear-engined has been subject to those barbs by the Porsche faithful. The 944, of course, is both front-engined and watercooled, plus it can trace its roots back to the Porsche/Volkswagen-developed 924.

All of this is bad news for the 944 owner's bragging rights at the next club dinner, but good news for anyone trying to get into a Porsche for a relatively small amount of dough. Missing the 911's historical appeal, the 944 has long languished beneath it older brother in the secondhand marketplace.. Torn-up standard 944s go for $5k and under, while our $10k budget can buy a very respectable 944 Turbo.

Introduced to the US market as a 1986 model, the 944 Turbo - known numerically as 951-immediately stood apart from the non-turbo version. Changes to the front and rear styling gave the Turbo a more purposeful look, while 16-inch rollers with upgraded brakes at each corner improved stance and stopping. The big news, of course, was in the go department, where Porsche's big 2.5-liter 4-cylinder was boosted to 217 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. Sport suspension helped contain the new-found power, and the 944's existing balance-aided by a rear mounted transaxle-made it much more forgiving than a 911.

For 1988, Porsche introduced the 944 Turbo S, which included a power increase to 247 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. A series of upgrades, including larger brakes with ABS, uprated springs, stiffer suspension bushings and available limited-slip differential, further separated the Turbo S from earlier turbocharged models. The Turbo S trim level became standard for all 944s in 1989, their final year in the US.

Though the 944 may or may not be considered a "real Porsche" by some, many 944 parts and repair expenses are shared with its supposedly more authentic siblings. So, if you have the choice, an immaculate standard Turbo is a much better choice than a ratty Turbo S-the latter is more willing to nickel-and-dime an owner to death. Indeed, most of the worthwhile $10k choices will be standard 944 Turbos-power-hungry buyers can slowly bring these cars up to Turbo S specs as budgets allow.

All 944s have timing belts and interference engines-in simple terms, if the belt breaks, expect severe metal-on-metal contact. Like most timing belt cars, most of the Labor involved in changing the 944 belt is the same as changing the water pump. But, since belt changes are much more frequent than water pump failures\ and since Porsche water pumps can cost a few pennies, plenty of owners change the belt and leave it at that. To decipher that sort of history, service records are a definite plus on any prospective purchase.

The 944 will never have the cachet of the 911, but a 944 Turbo provides reasonably comparable performance, more user friendly handling and easier to swallow entry fees than it's storied stablemate. If you can handle the hit to your reputation, the 944 Turbo is an excellent $10k pick.

Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99