17th November 2006.

Last week I was singing the praises of my winter ride, a 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity.
Acquired at a very low price to carry me through winter.

Some people have asked me from time to time if this is really an economical idea, considering registration and insurance costs and
for many, the possibility of unscheduled and expensive repairs.

The point is that anywhere in the Great White North that a car is driven through winter salt, the life of the car is shortened considerably,
rust treatment or no rust treatment.

So long as the body and chassis are in good condition, engines, transmissions, suspensions and brakes are not that expensive to
replace, when compared with the cost of a new car.

And in my case, my 944 is also irreplaceable. When I look at what I might find to drive as an alternative, there isn't a sports car out
there that turns my crank.

The Honda S2000 revs to an incredible 9000, but if I wanted to be forever shifting gears, I'd buy a V-Max or
some other such sport bike.

The Z series BMWs are just so"Bangle-ised" as to be unattractive to me.

The Miata is too small: it has nowhere near the amount of hip room and elbow room as the 944, but it comes closer to the cornering
power of the Porsche than any of the other candidates. 

The latest "sports" cars from GM have not yet proven themselves. 

So I'm preserving my car, even though its market value is not (yet) that great, because I cannot find anything else that gives me as
much driving pleasure in the summer. The 944 is definitely not a winter car.

The economics of buying a car you really like and keeping it forever are quite compelling.

It's very unfortunate that the 944 had built itself a reputation and was known as “the poor mans Porsche”.

Join the PCA and you'll see what I mean. Noses in the air and comments that that's not a REAL Porsche.
This in spite of the fact that in club racing, this Porsche dominates its class due to its magnificent weight distribution, rear wheel
drive and big brakes.

Aesthetically this car has aged well. The flared arches, large rear screen and pop-up headlights place it firmly in the 1980s but
endow it with a coolness sadly lacking from many sports cars of that era. Also, the Porsche 944 is now as cheap as it will ever be;
it’s on the brink of true collectability — a tidy example will cost you no more than C$6,000 while a mint example can be yours for
C$12,000.

Originally the car was powered by a 2.5 litre four-cylinder engine with just 165 bhp, hardly enough to get the pulse racing.
But the cars superb 50/50 weight distribution meant it cornered well and by keeping up momentum the 944 could still cover ground
at a fair old lick. In addition to a very pleasant five-speed manual version Porsche offered a not-so-pleasant three-speed auto that is best avoided.

On the road a Porsche 944 feels surprisingly modern in terms of its driving dynamics. As in any sports car you sit low in the cabin and
rearward visibility is not the best, but the seats are generous and the dashboard is clear and well laid out.

Trunk space is also pretty reasonable and on late models a split folding rear seat gives more luggage room.

Late in 1985 Porsche introduced the 944 Turbo. Using the same 2.5 litre engine, the addition of a turbocharger pushed power to
220 bhp.  This car ranks 32nd on Jeremy Clarksons' "Best 100 cars of the last 100 years", right along side the Datsun 240Z.

In October 1988 the 2.5 litre unit was replaced with a 2.7 litre motor, giving the 944 Turbo 250 bhp and a 0-60mph time of around 6 sec.
In the following January the non-turbo 944 became the 968 and received a new 3 litre engine with 211 bhp.
Although in outright terms these 3 litre cars are not as quick as the turbo models, they are considered by many to be the most
practical to own, the most reliable and cheaper to run than the Turbo models.

For many buyers the 944s' attraction is not its reasonable price and negligible depreciation, but its practicality as an everyday car.
With regular maintenance used 944s will happily clock up 200,000 miles without major incident.

However, neglect will cost you dear. Failure to replace timing belts every 60,000 miles can mean the need for a rebuilt engine,
which can be as costly as replacing the whole car (about $6000). Turbochargers also have a shorter life expectancy than the rest of
the car and any 944 that has covered more than 100,000 miles may need a new one sooner rather than later.

Fortunately Canada and the USA are dotted with non-franchised Porsche servicing specialists who can maintain your car inexpensively,
and many will provide a pre-purchase inspection.

Used parts are very affordable and a good supply is available.

The key to buying a good 944 is to do your homework — view as many as you can, and buy on the cars condition and service history
rather than age or mileage.

Air-conditioning: A highly desirable option

Interior: Hard-wearing interior good for over 150,000 miles although optional leather will need occasional feeding

Dashboard: From mid-1995 Porsche introduced the oval dashboard design with a more modern look and improved ventilation

Engine: Fundamentally very strong but check for oil leaks around the front main seal and oil pan gasket

Bodywork: Fully galvanized body should eliminate any rust problems unless the car has been poorly repaired after an accident

Tailgate: Large glass screen can be prone to leaks so check the trunk carpet for dampness.

Power steering: Standard on all models since September 1984

Hand brake: Should hold the car on two or three clicks. If not, adjustment/replacement of rear brake shoes is needed

Wheels: Mags were standard although several designs were used during the car's life

Locking wheel nuts: Check the car comes with a key to release the wheel nuts

Keys: Expensive and time-consuming to replace, one key should open and start the car, but spares are advisable

Vital statistics

Model Porsche 944 S2 Coupe
Engine Four-cylinder, 2.5 litre
Power 170 bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel  consumption (observed): 27 mpg
Acceleration 0-60mph: 7.7 sec
Top speed (observed) 132 mph