1987 Porsche 944

This particular 1987 944 is the personal property of Rob Murray, who runs Mobile Porsche Specialist, a Cookham-based mobile workshop offering Porsche levels of service at un-Porschelike costs.

‘Particular’ is the right word here because Rob is very particular about the cars that take up space in his home garage. When he found this 944 in Cheshire, it was a non-runner sidelined by the ignition flaw that blights most 944s at some point in their lives. Seeing the car’s potential, Rob bought it and brought it back down to Berkshire where he treated it to a top to bottom go-through, identifying and tackling the mechanical issues. New engine mounts have been fitted to maximise the 2.5’s mechanical smoothness, and the brakes have been replaced, along with all four tyres (now Goodyears).

The factory ignition system was weak from day one, leading to poor starting and/or cutting out on a warm engine. Rob’s first thought that it might be a faulty DME relay – many owners carry a spare – turned out to be incorrect. After a lot of investigation, the engine’s refusal to fire was traced back to a blown ECU.

New ECUs aren't available for the 944. Rob’s solution was to replace the entire ignition system, having the existing ECU rebuilt at a cost of £855 (the remanufacturer provide a lifetime guarantee).

The mileage of 124,000 means that you’d have few qualms about using it as a daily driver. There are 944s out there still going strong with 400,000 plus miles on them. Correctly maintained, the oily bits are ultra-durable.

Nicely understated in Diamond Ice Blue – a metallic grey with a subtle blue tint –with its iconic teledial alloys in fine fettle, this car looks like something you’d be more than happy to find on a Porsche showroom floor if you were looking for an approved used 944 and 31-year old cars were included in the scheme. Sadly, they aren’t, but then again if they were you’d be paying an awful lot more than what’s being asked here.

The last thing you want to see on a 944 is uneven shut lines as they’re a dead giveaway of accident damage. Here they appear to be straight and tight. The doors close with the convincing solidity for which German cars of this era were rightly famed. Rob tells us that one of the sills has been repaired well at some point, but the other one is original and needs no attention.

The paintwork has had a machine polish. The bonnet isn’t quite as bright as the other panels, and there’s a gentle wave on the nearside lower front wing , a flaw that Rob believes could be addressed by a smart repair. Whether you choose to take on these jobs or just enjoy the car as it is would be down to your personal levels of perfectionism and how strongly you feel the pull of show circuit trophies. If you are not sure, please use the Contact Seller button arrange a viewing in Berkshire.

The interior has stood up remarkably well for a late-1980s car. Even for premium marques like Porsche, leather wasn’t a given in cars of this vintage, but in the best Germanic tradition this 944’s pinstripe velour/vinyl is both functional and sanitary and the side bolsters have retained their shape.

You certainly know you’re in a premium car when you operate a Porsche control for the first time. The weighting is deeply satisfying, and a reminder of a time when quality was built in rather than stuck on.

Early 944s had a rectangular dash that had something of a reputation for cracking. This one has the more desirable oval dash, and it appears to be unmarked. All the VDO instruments work, and as you can see from the picture the oil pressure shows the correct 4-5 bar at idle from cold.

Modifications and 944s go together like bacon and trifle, so it’s pleasing to note that this one is exactly as it was when it rolled off the Neckarsulm production line, with one very useful addition: a double charger + USB unit just ahead of the gearstick. This is no £3.99 garage special but a quality item that, like the Kenwood CD head unit, sits very comfortably in the cabin.

Adding to the 944’s modern-day practicality is the huge luggage area behind the semi-folding rear seats. We know from our own experience that a mountain bike with the front wheel removed will fit in there, as will at least two sets of golf clubs (though not at the same time – even a 944 has its limits). The roller cover isn’t perfect, but it continues to fulfil its purpose of concealing your valuables.

As discussed, and as detailed in an invoice, the 944 has just been gone through mechanically and a whole load of stuff done. The seller states it drives very well now.

We’re told that the 944 is very solid underneath, which would be par for the course as Porsche has long been up with the best in the field of rust-proofing.

The only advisory note on the current MOT certificate (which runs until the end of December) was corrosion on the exhaust system. The car’s inspector told Rob that it was one of those things that the law required him to mention, but that there was plenty of life in the system yet.

If you like reading, you’ll enjoy setting an evening aside to take in this 944’s bulging history file. The vendor believes that every MOT certificate is present. It’s a pity that not every single service stamp is backed up by an invoice, but the most important one – a fully itemised bill for £4600 from Mobile Porsche Specialist to confirm the most recent and comprehensive refresh – is of course included.

The car has just had a major service, which has added another stamp to what was already a very inky service book. It’s worth noting that earlier 8-valve 2.5s like this one are more robust than the more complex 16-valve 944 engines whose exhaust cams are driven by a small toothed belt that has to be changed every 4 years.

The 944 was a brilliantly designed and engineered car that quite rightly enjoyed more success than the 924. With near-perfect front to rear weight distribution, the 2.5-litre models are considered by many to be the best of all the 944s in terms of handling. In Rob’s experience, the only car that came close to it for neutrality and precision of response was a Lotus Excel he once owned. Coming from a self-confessed 911 fanatic, that’s high praise.

On the road, there’s very little dynamic difference between the 2.5 and the bigger-engined 944s, so you’re very unlikely to feel short-changed by it. Rob says that the car is ‘fantastic to drive’. And if you think that speed and economy can't go together in a car from a pre-hybrid era, think again. The 944’s big-hearted four-cylinder motor gives it more than enough punch to carry usefully high gearing, which is relaxing both for the passengers and for the person buying the fuel.

Of the 163,000 944s sold worldwide, there are now just over a thousand 944s registered on British roads. Last year that number went up, a sign that cars are being brought out of retirement for restoration. When that happens, it’s reasonable to assume that values have bottomed out and are set to rise.

This 944 could be a shrewd buy even at the top end of its £5-£7,000 estimate. With all of the normal 944 weaknesses dealt with, and arguably as much practicality as a two-door Porsche can provide, it’s a rolling investment that you can use and enjoy every day – and all potentially obtainable for a lot less than £10,000. You’ll struggle to find an up and together 911 for that.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Maidenhead; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.