Purchasing & PricingAs with any car, buy the best 944 your pocket book can handle. Unless you have a desire to sit in the cockpit and reminisce about a 924, the mid-year 1985 model, or "oval dash" cars, are the better choice.
Follow the common sense rule of investing the time and money required to have a reputable mechanic inspect your potential purchase for both structural and mechanical integrity. But beware that not all Porsche technicians are familiar with Stuttgart's watercooled models.
A possible buy should have a good portion of its maintenance records available for review. Remember, this is a Porsche and while the initial cost for a 944 may seem low, parts and labor costs won't be. Critical components of which to be especially wary are the engine timing belt, the quality of the water pump, half-shafts condition, clutch, exhaust manifold, turbo charger and external oil cooler, to name a few.
The current prices for all 944s are a bargain if you can find the right car in the right condition. Whether you are looking for a normally aspirated or a turbocharged model, the 944 is an exceptional automobile built by an exceptional manufacturer.
| Year | Model | Price Range |
| 1983 | 944 | $1,500-4,000 |
| 1984 | 944 | $1,500-4,500 |
| 1985 | 944 | $1,500-4,500 |
| 1985 1/2 | 944 | $2,500-5,500 |
| 1986 | 944 | $3,000-7,000 |
| 944 T | $5,000-12,000 |
| 1987 | 944 | $4,500-8,000 |
| 944 S | $5,000-10,000 |
| 944 T | $5,500-12,000 |
| 1988 | 944 | $5,000-8,000 |
| 944 S | $5,500-9,000 |
| 944 T | $5,500-13,000 |
| 944 T S | $13,000-20,000 |
| 1989 | 944 S2 | $6,000-9000 |
| 944 T | $9,000-15,000 |
| 1990 | 944 S2 | $8,000-12,000 |
| 944 S2 C | $10,000-18,000 |
| 944 T | $10,000-17,000 |
| 1991 | 944 S2 | $9,000-14,000 |
| 944 S2 C | $12,000-20,000 |
| 944 T | $11,000-18,000 |
| T = Turbo; C = Cabriolet; TS = Turbo S |
T = Turbo; C = Cabriolet; TS = Turbo
The prices were estimated from an unscientific search through various Web sites, newspapers and magazine classifications. The price range is from poor to great daily drivers and does not include show-condition cars, special- or limited-production cars or ones with significant enhancements.
Special note: Resources for production numbers collected from various sources, including Porsche Cars NA, research books and club Web sites, varied so dramatically that it was deemed useless to the potential 944 buyer.
Racing the 944: From Spec to SpectacularExcept for the special 924 GTP that captured seventh place in the 1981 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Weissach has never officially backed a 944 team racing effort. The GTP was a privateer endeavor and the car's only 944 connection was its turbocharged 2.5-liter motor, the predecessor to the civilian powerplant.
In 1986, with the introduction of the 944 Turbo, Porsche realized the marketing importance of placing the new car on the track. Thus it supported the Turbo's entry into the SCCA's showroom stock sports car series. The hugely successful, six-race 944 Turbo Cup in Europe was also launched later that year. This single-marque competition gave wealthy enthusiasts a taste of true wheel-to-wheel racing as Porsche scrutineers constantly inspected the cars.
Beyond these private endeavors, however, Porsche turned a blind eye on this well-balanced contender. Now, 23 years after its forebear charged down the Mulsanne Straight, the 944 is regaining respect on the racing circuit.
With purchase prices ebbing lower and lower and the list of aftermarket parts suppliers steadily increasing, the 944 is becoming the perfect weapon for weekend enthusiast who wants to enter the competition fray with something more unique and far more powerful than a spec Miata.