Page 96 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

The 944 Cabriolet
To create another new option for the 1989 model year, Porsche introduced the 944S2 Cabriolet. Just 16 were made for US import that year, but 1,824 came in for 1990 and 562 in 1991. In 1991, Porsche also made a 944 Turbo Cabriolet, but none were exported to North America. If one can be found, it’s a gray market example.
THE DRIVE
Driving reviews of the 944 are essays in superlatives. The car is universally praised for its light curb weight, responsive steering, and rail-like cornering. After winning the best handling import award from Car and Driver in 1984, the 944 in all its guises became a favorite of drivers looking for an affordable track and racing car.
in Porsche’s popular Guards Red, and the car does indeed look fantastic in that shade, but Porsche also offered a black, white, blue, sometimes yellow, and sometimes alternate red shades that bring in more crimson or burgundy tones. There was also a long list of extra-cost colors in each model year. Any originally metallic paint on a 944 is one of those colors, including any root beer- brown ones you may find.
If you’re planning on hitting the race track with a 944, choose the 944S or 944S2. The updated suspension on those later cars addressed limitations that kept the original 944 from being competitive in amateur racing. However, 944s made in the first year of production did not have power steering as standard equipment, and so these are also often selected for track or competition use.
Beyond the purely mechanical, time has been kind to the 944’s
looks, and the car remains as attractive today as it was on
introduction – it still commands attention and draws compliments.
At times it seems as though most 944 production was painted longer function. Later interiors are generally nicer than earlier, but
In terms of luxury comforts, the 944 doesn’t have much to offer. Air conditioning was common, but after decades most such systems no
ABOVE: The rare 944 S2 Cabriolet looks as good as the hardtop, and offers comparable performance.
TOP LEFT: The 944 S2 carries an updated 3.0-liter engine that produces 208 horsepower and 207 lb ft of torque. TOP RIGHT: The 944 S2 offers 6.0-second 0-60 times and a top speed of 149 mph.
94Wayne CariniAffordable Classics