The Porsche 944 Turbo S: One of the Best Sports Cars of its Time
The Porsche 944 Turbo S is quite a surprise package for those who may not know the difference. It looks just like a regular 944 but packs quite a punch.
A Vintage Sports Car Bargain
The eighties gave the world some of the most iconic cars of all time. Automakers were adapting to the changes in the automotive industry caused by the 1970s fuel crisis while acclimatizing to the evolving tastes of car enthusiasts. Porsche did well, delivering the likes of the 924, 924 S, 924 Turbo, 928 GT/GTS, 911 Carrera, 911 SC, 911 Turbo, 944, 944 Turbo/Turbo S, 959, and 964. The 944 Turbo S, introduced in 1988, is a gem of a car that hasn't gotten nearly as much attention as it ought to. Porsche developed it as a performance variant of the 944 Turbo, giving it an impressive selection of upgrades that made it the fastest production 4-cylinder car of its time. Porsche made only 1,635 examples.
In 1988, the 944 Turbo S commanded a 10 percent price increase over the regular 944 Turbo, which was listed at USD 43,350. Today, it is possible to get your hands on a well-maintained 944 Turbo S example for less than USD 35,000, making it quite the bargain vintage sports car. However, its price may change over the coming years because more and more people are coming to appreciate how awesome this car really is.
Photo Courtesy of Ruote Da Sogno
0-60 mph in Just 5.5 Seconds
A 0-60mph time of 5.5 seconds is nothing special these days, with several supercars accomplishing the same feat in under 2.5 seconds. Back in 1988, however, it was the time to beat. In the sportscarstandings.com list of the top 10 fastest cars of 1988, the 944 Turbo S holds the top spot. It beat the 1988 Porsche 911 Clubsport (0-60mph time of 5.7 seconds), the 1988 Lotus Espirit Turbo (0-60mph time of 5.8 seconds), the 1988 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 (0-60mph time of 6.0 seconds), and the 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera (0-60mph time of 6.1 seconds).
Photo Courtesy of Carpixx's Oldtimer Blog
A Bigger Turbo
Driving the 944 Turbo S is a modified version of the 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gas engine that powers the 944 Turbo; it makes 250 hp (184 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 258 lb-ft (350 N⋅m) of torque at 4,000 rpm. This engine (designation number M44/52) benefits from revised ECU mapping and a bigger KKK K26-8 turbocharger, thanks to which it hits a maximum boost of 10.9 psi at 3,000 rpm and maintains it up to 5,800 rpm. Below 3,000 rpm, there's a considerable amount of turbo lag, but once the turbo kicks in, the car goes and goes.
Photo Courtesy of MarshallGoldman.com
A Glorious Manual
The 944 Turbo S comes with a smooth-shifting 'AOR' manual transmission, so you can row through the gears as the car builds momentum. Its engine loves to rev and sounds awesome as it climbs to full tilt, so you will relish the experience. This transmission comes with an external cooler and a high-friction clutch disc, which means it can handle regular trips to the track. This unit sends power and torque to an exclusive, rear-mounted limited slip differential that Porsche configured to a 40% lock setting. Therefore, the car delivers excellent cornering traction.
Photo Courtesy of Fairmont Sports and Classics Ltd
Steering and Handling
Power steering is standard in the 944 Turbo S, but Porsche configured it to be heavily weighted to get more information on road surface quality and grip/traction to the driver. That heavy steering can be tiring over long trips but guarantees a superior road feel for a more fun and engaging driving experience.
The 944 Turbo S also benefits from a special M030 suspension package that delivers sportier handling than the 944 Turbo. This package includes progressive rate springs, front and rear Koni adjustable shock absorbers with ride-height adjustability in the front shocks, stiffer suspension bushings, and front chassis stiffening brackets specific to the front frame rails.
Photo Courtesy of FlatSixes.com
Brakes from the Porsche 928 S4
More horsepower must be matched with better brakes. There's also the fact that the 944 Turbo S got larger wheels and tires in the front and rear. It has 16-inch Fuchs forged, flat-dished wheels, which are 7 inches wide in the front and 9 inches wide in the rear. So, Porsche equipped the 944 Turbo S with the V8-powered Porsche 928 S4's 12-inch diameter discs with Brembo GT 4-piston fixed calipers in the front. The 944 Turbo S's rear features the same Brembo 4-piston fixed calipers and 12-inch diameter discs that come standard in the 944 Turbo.
Photo Courtesy of KGF Classic Cars
Typical '80s Interior
The initial 944 Turbo S models, dubbed the Silver Rose Edition models, were designed with a "Burgundy Plaid" interior with a distinct 1980s German look. However, interior colors were later made available. This car's seats share their color theme with the doors, dashboard, and center console. Most models' steering wheels and shifters are swathed in fine leather, and the climate and stereo controls are ergonomically positioned for easy reach.
The 944 Turbo S also has an equalizer-integrated 10-speaker Blaupunkt stereo system that discharges crisp, clear sound into the cabin.
Photo Courtesy of Hotcars.com
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