2-OWNER BEAUTY, 70K ACTUAL MILES, WELL-MAINTAINED, 2.5 I4, 5-SPEED, TURN-KEY 944

Description

You know how some cars are easy to find when they're half dead, but nearly impossible to find in nice shape? They're usually cars with high sticker prices that depreciated quickly, like the Mercedes SL. Porsche's 944 is another: everywhere on Craigslist for $5000 with worn paint and not running, spectacular specimens are few and far between. This car is one of the exceptions, with a nice service history, good cosmetics, and only 69,575 original miles.Study this car's lines, and consider its contemporaries: The 300ZX, the RX-7, the Mitsubishi Starion...and notice how relevant the 944 still is today. There aren't any tacky add-ons, the wheels are nicely placed in their wheel wells, and the shape is surprisingly contemporary. As for condition, the burgundy finish has been repainted at some point and looks great, giving Porsche's wedge-shaped sports car an elegant look that disguises its intentions. It's not perfect, of course, but you don't see cars this nice very often and Porsche's build quality stands out with the deep shine and good panel gaps. The taillights are a deep red, indicating proper storage indoors and the rear hatch hasn't de-laminated (a common 944 issue). Even today, folks will look at this car and assume that it costs thousands more than it does.Inside, you'll be amazed at the amount of room up front. The rear seats can handle medium-sized kids for short trips, but put the fronts all the way back and six footers can stretch their legs out straight. There's even helmet room should you decide that autocrossing or doing track days is in your future. An AM/FM/cassette Blaupunkt looks to be original equipment, since Porsche was only offering tape decks in 1987. The original steering wheel has a thick leather covering that matches the interior and shows only modest signs of use but no dryness or cracking. The upholstery is burgundy leather with grippy cloth inserts all in great condition and matching the exterior. The shifter boot shows some wear, but otherwise the interior remains in first class condition and remarkably, the center console is in perfect shape with no extra holes, since many original owners had car phones installed. In back, the hatch area is fully carpeted and doesn't show fading, a remarkable feat given the red carpets. And while you're back there, check out the original tool kit, air compressor, spare tire, and jack set, extras that rarely survived the years, especially in such great shape.Under the hood is nothing but good news. The 944's 2.5 liter all-aluminum four cylinder has timing belts, and it's bad news when they fail. The good news is that this car's belts were done recently, so it's ready to rock. Properly maintained, these engines will run for hundreds of thousands of miles, and this one is a good one with a smooth idle and plenty of torque from the rather large displacement. The engine bay looks like someone cared about maintenance and while it appears complex, you'll find that taking care of a 944 isn't all that difficult. The undercarriage is dry, dry, dry and with just under 70,000 actual miles on the clock this 944 feels years younger thanks to solid engineering and the entire package feels a lot more contemporary than you'd expect. The wheels are proper 15x7 "phone dial" aluminum pieces surrounded by correctly-sized 215/60/15 Pirelli P4000 radials.The 944 is forgiving for beginners and a real treat for seasoned drivers. A slick-shifting transmission, great steering, nimble power, amazing build quality and classic lines adds up to a truly great package. Call today!