1986 Porsche 944 Turbo | Retro Review

By 1986 the Porsche 944 was not only the star of Sixteen Candles, but also one of the most desired sports cars on the street. How could you possibly make it any more dreamy? Just add a turbo!!!
Show 522 | Original Airdate 04-29-1986
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[@oreally8605]

14.6 in the 1/4 was/is still very respectable for a sedan of today. But for a sports car 35 years ago, it was phenomenal.

[@evanfinch4987]

K26/8, chip and test pipe and it will do 13.0

[@100percentSNAFU]

Same with the 0-60 time, 6.3 seconds in 1986 was lightning fast.

[@philsmgb4393]

And for a 4 banger as well. I believe the Ferrari Testarossa V12 was 13.7 in the quarter.

[@jimsmith8324]

Porsches were dogs in the 1980s. The turbo lag in the 944 was horrible. I know, I owned this car.

[@jimsmith8324]

My Hyundai Sante Fe turns out 280 HP and 315 ft-lb of torque from a four banger. @@philsmgb4393

[@therealjayseh]

One of my dream cars as a kid

[@chrisfriends7911]

914 for me. The cheapest one I kinda could afford.

[@therealjayseh]

@@chrisfriends7911 nice, I either wanted a 928 those have a V8 or a 944 turbo.

[@melrineholt906]

I wanted one too the Turbo S

[@therealjayseh]

@@melrineholt906 yep I remember the 911 turbo S The only thing I didn't like about the 911 was, it was basically a glorified Volkswagen Beetle. I couldn't handle that part. But they scooted like nothing else. Fastest on the roads for decades. The 911 turbo was. I remember we were all doing 75 mph on the interstate, there was a 911 in the pack & that thing took off like we were all standing still. He must have hit 130 in about 6 seconds from 70-75 mph. It was insane. I still remember seeing the exhaust poof a black cloud and the smell was gorgeous, it was gone. Like a 1500cc crotch rocket.

[@cindysue5474]

@@chrisfriends7911 Liked the 914 also the 914.6 was a neat car.

[@DUNEATV]

I owned a 1987 turbo back in the mid-1990s it was absolutely fantastic!

[@rodmunch69]

Oh, a rich kid. Good for you.

[@wrxpilot]

My next door neighbor’s dad had one back then too. It was a really cool car, and he used to take us on some “spirited” rides on the nearby mountain roads. Absolutely phenomenal car for its time. Definitely one of the reasons I fell in love with Porsches!

[@faugrad]

The 944 still looks modern today in my opinion. Must have looked downright futuristic back then.

[@cdldriver2348]

944 & 928 looked like they were ahead of their time in design. Always wanted a 928 with leather in manual. 944 always looked good in bright red.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

I agree!

[@evanfinch4987]

The front and sides look modern, the back does not. I'd graft the back of a 968 on my 951 if it wasn't a preposterous exercise.

[@lancairw867]

Agreed 👍🏼 the 944 and Ferrari 308 have stayed timeless

[@jdogmcnasty1980]

One of the best looking Porsches in my opinion

[@hailstorm1986]

I've seen a lot of people knock these models in the past and say they were a "poor man's" Porsche but they deserve much better respect than that!!

[@SolamenteVees]

I fondly remember watching 944 turbos chasing 4+3 C4 Corvettes at Mid Ohio in Showroom Stock racing… these cars were fantastic performers.

[@irieite100]

Love the new front bumper cover for 1986 as well as the dash. Interesting that the 1986 test car they had did not have a center mount high level brake light.

[@gregorymarsh9504]

Nice catch. I noticed that too.

[@nathanielcargile7135]

217 Hp in 1986, was a lot of power.

[@RADGarage]

Would have loved a head-to-head with the Daytona Z in the background.

[@Eatinbritches]

Yeah, those didn't have any teeth until the 90's. Purely on performance, it wasn't a fair fight. MW would've had to compare it to a base 924 instead. I think you'll find the only advantage the Daytona had was in pricing and maintenance costs. The Daytona was FWD to begin with, so handling chops are nowhere near the same.

[@dohc1067]

Simply beautiful. I will take it in that classic silver, please. Even the manifold looks funky, and that 😅sound is a melody of performance.

[@Roddy451]

How time flies... How standards change... That "flat cornering" 944 Turbo is rolling quite a bit for today's standards. I loved that car back then, and I still do today. With that size, the steering wheel looks like it came out straight from the helm of a pirate ship.

[@gunsandcars3648]

I had 3 of 951s , two guards red with black , one white with Red interior, not the fastest but one of the best handling cars I ever drove.

[@blackericdenice]

951? You must be a young guy trying to sound like you are a real 944 turbo guy.

[@gunsandcars3648]

nope just a porsche gearhead who has either driven or owned most of the models@@blackericdenice

[@blackericdenice]

@@gunsandcars3648 Until today. I never heard of 951. I like Porsche and I have driven a 944 and a 1990 911. I've heard of a 959.

[@evanfinch4987]

Porsche called it 951 internally, parts are stamped 951, and lots of people call it that--it's not poser shit. Muh credentials: age 37, bought my first 951 when i was 19 by fixing and flipping old euroboxes, and have had two other 951s and a 944S.

[@blackericdenice]

@@evanfinch4987 I like too many cars to keep up with internal names. I like the M3 with the 333 hp inline 6. When someone say e-whatever. I ask them what year.

[@davidaubin3902]

3:59 John: FULL INSTRUMENTATION, INCLUDING A BOOST GAUGE! LOL

[@Muscle_Bagel]

Pops just got a 87 944 turbo, one owner 40k miles, such a cool car and tons of fun to drive

[@anthonydietmeier6524]

First. Love me a 944. Driving mine around right now.

[@ericharrison619]

Timeless beauty...Prices are climbing quick for a nice example sadly.

[@100percentSNAFU]

As is the case with many classics from this era that were at one time more or less left to the scrap heap of history. I remember around 1994-95 a friend of mine got a used 944 for 3 grand. People mocked him, but he was like "it's a Porsche. I got a 3 thousand dollar Porsche, do better than that", and he was right. Used to have lots of fun with that car and it was turning heads even in the mid 90's

[@ravipeiris4388]

My high school friend drove this car in 1987. 911's would try to race him and would loose. This is the first car that I understood what lateral g's felt like taking off from 0 to 60mph. The only other car faster than this four cylinder 944 Turbo was the other four cylinder Lotus Espirit Turbo.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man I remember when that car hit the dealer floor! I used to drool 🤤 over it! It was my dream car back then! So much that since I couldn’t afford it! I ended up buying and building a 1/24 scale model of it. That I still have! That car has aged well through all this years!👌🥰👍maybe someday I’ll buy a good used one!

[@stevenhill3136]

Value of $33,000 in 1986 equivalent to $92,000 today

[@SpikeRazzor]

That's inflation for you. Money today is worth so much less and can't strech as far

[@seismic6435]

​@SpikeRazzor while that is true, people also didn't make nearly as much, on average, back then

[@100percentSNAFU]

Today they want nearly $90K for a gimmicky top trim Ford Bronco that will start falling apart within 6 months. Admittedly it's a nice looking vehicle, but made like complete junk.

[@thisisrob8750]

No way really?@@seismic6435

[@someyoungguyjohnson7239]

Let's not forget the 944's Japanese imitator's, namely the Mazda RX-7 FC and Nissan Silvia, and probably the Mitsubishi Starion too.

[@evanfinch4987]

Theres a motorweek that compares them

[@Motorweek]

We sure did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGKldnWBoNqfZ8ksi=ZXbMyQElAreFbzln

[@gregorymarsh9504]

For over 15 years I have driven an exact example of this car at Porsche Club High Performance Driving Events. Such a blast.

[@twstrchasr]

Got one new in '87. Alpine white w burgundy leather and white BBS wheels. So very 1980's. Great car !!

[@anajay78]

Those rims are so cool.

[@Shelter93]

Great job motor trend. Funny how time moves on I have a Family car Honda accord.2020 2.0t 255 horse & 274 Torque. 10 speed auto.5.4 to 0-60. 14.00 in the quarter. life is good lol.

[@henryovalles1163]

Yea 35 years later and it still handles better on a track

[@faugrad]

Nobody will look at a Honda Accord in 37 years while a 37 year old 944 Turbo is still highly sought after with prices going up.

[@pinkyn0se]

Has the word 'Honda' written on it, sadly...

[@mpa1931]

I wish Porsche still made front engine sports cars like this

[@blisterbrain]

Here, have a nice, chunky SUV, instead!

[@palebeachbum]

Back when Porsche was an actual sports car brand. I wanted a 944 Turbo when I was younger.

[@drunvert]

Lol. Ever drive a Cayman? Unbelievable handling

[@googleface5]

@@drunvertI believe they mean while they make the Cayman, they’ve been selling out with the Cayenne and Macan for decades now. When you say you drive a Porsche these days, it doesn’t mean the same thing.

[@drunvert]

@@googleface5 they've been staying in business. Porsche has been in financial trouble multiple times until the every man's vehicle that sells a lot has saved them. I'm extremely happy that people want to buy a Macan. It lets them keep making good cars

[@rodmunch69]

@@googleface5 as someone who has owned almost exclusively sports cars, I must say it's getting harder and harder to not go to an SUV, mainly because everyone else is in an SUV and you can't see anything when you're driving. Sure, if you get to some open road the car is by far the way to go, but its infuriating to be around a bunch of terrible drivers in huge SUVs that can kill you, and not be able to see more than one car out 90% of the time. Also, some of your sport SUV's are getting damn good, and while they don't match up with a sports car of today, they will handle like a sports car from 20-years ago, which isn't bad. But they have to be spec'd out with a sports mode, without that, SUV's are the most boring and dullest driving experience out there. Not that it will matter in another 5 years and everything is controlled by AI.

[@AdamG1983]

When the MW Misses are only about the gauges and climate controls, you know it's a good car.

[@JustMe-um7sr]

God I was in love with that car in high school, and still am

[@bghoody5665]

Always one of my favourite looking Porsches.

[@mrdave777]

Over 20 hours in labor for the clutch. Winning.

[@lancemannion4113]

😂...😢

[@robertc5200]

Came here looking for a hey, that’s Jake Ryan’s car from Sixteen Candles comment . Guess I’m the old guy now.

[@one7decimal2eight]

My friend outran the cops in his 944 turbo back in the mid 90s.

[@kyoakland]

I bet he did with ease

[@one7decimal2eight]

@kyoakland he said he was smoking crack with his friend going 130 and passed a cop that was sitting under a bridge. Said by the time he saw the lights turn on he was already a mile ahead. I think he said he shut the lights off and got off at the nearest exit and hid somewhere for hours. Was a brown 944. He was in AA when I met him in 2001, so his drug and alcohol days were over by then.

[@100percentSNAFU]

Cop was likely in a 2-1/2 ton lump like a Caprice or Crown Vic, lol not catching the Porsche any time soon

[@rodmunch69]

I outran the cops in the mid 90s with a Fiero GT. It really wasn't that hard until they started putting cameras ever 6 feet.

[@rodmunch69]

@@one7decimal2eight was he 'smoking crack' or more like 'smoking peckerwood'. That's how all those guys were, all very light in the loafers.

[@AdamG1983]

To hell with the 911 purists. The 944 was a great car.

[@redbarchetta8782]

'Aging 911' And another 37 years later.... 😆

[@Chrisovideos]

Thanks for posting this! I have a 1986 944 Turbo (Identical to the car in the video) and it is truly a blast to drive, especially with some modern upgrades (better tires, better suspension). No one I take for a ride in it doesn't smile when the Turbo hits full boost.

[@badboy.vic.o]

This bright a smile to my face as I reminisced about mine. I truly loved it. But it wasn't without its faults. I miss the hours of fun driving it, but I don't miss the cost of diagnosing and repairs.

[@josemontano7767]

Ohhhh one of my favorite childhood dream cars you use to see them all over the place. I wish Porsche would make it again.

[@adamv242]

I owned a couple of 'beater' 944s in the late 90s/ early 2000s... still amazing cars.

[@The_One_Over_There]

The 944s are so un-Porsche yet i like them the most. I like other Persches too though, But i like the styling of these the most.

[@drunvert]

It looks like a spaceship

[@Kiss__Kiss]

The 951 Will always be one of my favorite Porsche vehicles. Next to the Macan, of course.

[@drunvert]

Just bought a 1 owner, no rust California 944. Always loved it. Figured why not. Everything is in good working order except for AC and tired suspension

[@jamesmedina2062]

turbo or not? Enjoy

[@drunvert]

@@jamesmedina2062 not the turbo. An 83. Got a Cayman if I want faster. Just a cool car and my 16 year old Son digs it too

[@evanfinch4987]

83 is cheap suspension to replace at least; VW stuff before the Porsche parts in 85.5

[@drunvert]

@@evanfinch4987 replace McPherson struts w some billsteins.

[@jamesmedina2062]

@@drunvert Get a turbo to go in it later. Good road feel and handling in that car. My son is 28 now. You've got some interesting and pivotal years ahead of you. Keep him safe smart and buckled up!

[@joecool9739]

Now we see where the RX7 got its groove from

[@SHADOWBLACKs650]

33k was ALOT of noney in 86'... I wanted one bad, went with the fox body LX5.0

[@pmafterdark]

Love the new Daytona turbo z CS in the background. 😀

[@doca8792]

I’ve always wanted one. The prices have varied over the years. They’re at a good price today.

[@TheRealSmithFamily]

My dad had a white ‘86 944T from new after his 944. It was a great car. He traded it for a 928S4. He never had the Swiss cheese wheels, as he called them. 😂

[@Porsche996driver]

Great as amateur spec racers, perfect 50-50 high-speed balance!

[@davidbaron6647]

BEAUTIFUL!!! Always loved the Turbo Amazing

[@calbob750]

Be sure to go to a Porsche owners forum before buying one. Having owned one repairs are expensive. Watching the Motorweek video it’s surprising to see they appear to be using sections of interstate highways for road tests.

[@evanfinch4987]

Repairs are expensive if you don't do them yourself in which case it is diabolical

[@oldtwinsna8347]

I remember wanting one of these back in the day. Amazing now how a Camry V6 smokes it.

[@drunvert]

But it's a Camry.

[@jamesmedina2062]

the Toyota v6 is very mature now. Why not compare the Camry to a new Porsche 6-cylinder? Wouldn't adding 30 years of research be fair to both sides?

[@drunvert]

Hell. My V6 Sienna minivan smokes it. Nobody ever gave me thumbs up for the minivan

[@TheOzthewiz]

@@drunvert They must have REALLY changed things at Toyota. The '04 Sienna V6 takes a LONG 8.4sec to get to 60.

[@drunvert]

@@TheOzthewiz I had an '11. Limited. Did 0-60 in 7 seconds. I was just kinda kidding tho. 944 needs a shift at 55mph so that kills the statistic. In a nought to 55mph race it would be pretty good w many cars

[@PhillyDee215]

I still want a Porsche.....

[@rodmunch69]

Then get a job and buy one.

[@PhillyDee215]

@@rodmunch69 you funny bro....

[@rodmunch69]

@@PhillyDee215 that's what some lazy shiftless bum would say.

[@PhillyDee215]

@@rodmunch69 let me guess...you drive a Porsche huh?

[@rodmunch69]

@@PhillyDee215 no, I have a Corvette and a BMW. Not opposed to a Porsche, just never got one, yet.

[@mixanderfigueroa3999]

Love these cars. I kind of want one

[@perfectstorm7518]

Awesome car. They will surprise you. Btw where’s my marathon!!

[@embiggens1]

I saved enough to afford an '88 in '97 when I was 17, but my parents wouldn't let me buy it. Still a little salty about it.

[@2006Mercury]

I don't really like Porsche's but there's always been something about this year I look like a cool JDM kit or something

[@kyoakland]

Knew a guy who turned up the boost on one of these it was fast af ran a 12.8

[@성태김-c1w]

Love 944

[@bb57365]

My boss had one in 89. Thought it was bad ass. Pearl white.

[@thekhakiobserver3128]

That paint looked a lil sus, but everything else was superb 👌

[@jameswillard1]

I was thinking the same thing….. looks like they washed the rear hatch by the Turbo badge with a Brillo pad 😳

[@87ferrarif40]

I wonder if Motorweek has a review on the Porsche 924 turbo?

[@Corvolet5]

6.3 seconds is still pretty good for modern standards

[@seismic6435]

No it's not lmao

[@johnjones393]

A V6 Camry is faster than that. 😂 Even pick-ups are in the high 5s.

[@Corvolet5]

@@johnjones393 Yeah duh, why would I care what a shitty pick up truck does to a 30 year old car? Americans need to learn not everything is a drag race

[@100percentSNAFU]

A modern Porsche Boxster base model isn't going to do a heck of a lot more than this, high 5's range at best, my dad owned one, and it was on a par with my RX-8 which wasn't a fast car, comparared to most sports cars in its class. Both cars emphasized handling much more over raw acceleration.

[@Corvolet5]

@@100percentSNAFU The new base model is more around high 4s if I remember correctly. 300 turbo horses can't be understated in a car lighter than a Golf GTI

[@doc7000]

Some interpolation going on to get 60 frames per second here? why not do more to clean up the video?

[@iamgermane]

There were few muscle cars in the 1980s!

[@AM-uk7jv]

The base price of the 944T from 1986 is $29,800, which in 2024's dollars is $83k. Food for thought for those who think that Porsche has always made affordable sportscars. They didn't. They never did.

[@douglasb.1203]

14,980 miles on the test car. Damn.

[@slicksmith856]

Jake drives a 944 in the movie "Sixteen Candles"

[@kcgfy81]

My uncle had one of these. It had so many problems he had to park it at our house. It sat for years and he eventually got rid of it.

[@evanfinch4987]

Gotta maintain them like aircraft bro like any old high-end german car

[@johnjones393]

Typical of German over-engineering.

[@100percentSNAFU]

​​@@evanfinch4987100%. And if you don't do the work yourself, you need someone who specializes in Porsches available. My dad had a 2006 Boxster, and had a "Porsche guy" that did the work on it for him. When that guy died, he got rid of the Boxster 😂

[@Pappy63]

Miss Christina still drives hers.

[@eekay3646]

It's funny how Porsche was gonna axe the 911 in hopes of finding a new successor. The 928 was the first attempt with its V8 front engine design. And then this 944. Peter Schutz saved the 911 thank goodness. But it would've been nice if Porsche held onto a "928" successor 'til now. I guess Porsche had some turbulent years financially throughout the 80's and 90's and hence it cutting down on too many models. Porsche is thriving now with its SUV, Taycan, etc. It's no longer just a sports/super car manufacturer like Ferrari or Lambo were in the past.

[@steveespinola7652]

That white car was a Chrysler Daytona.

[@성태김-c1w]

My Old Car

[@iamgermane]

2x the price of a normal car back then.

[@rodmunch69]

It's a Porsche. If you wanted something cheap, you'd get a Chevette.

[@iamgermane]

@@rodmunch69 No you would have gotten a Buick Grand National.

[@rodmunch69]

@@iamgermane I wish.

[@jamiedriscoll9781]

I'm sure Porsche appreciated the layer of dust on their test car.

[@VernonRhem]

Performance of 86 944 was incredible maintain was 😂 too

[@robertwieczorek5838]

My transit van has 300hp stock lol

[@paulheuer5809]

Leather bomber jacket…check!

[@dudndadn12212]

Back when you could buy a turbo porsche and it would actually have a turbo in it

[@afoolandhismoneychannel]

The 1980s were an interesting time at Porsche... much of their competition was from themselves. I worked at a Porsche dealer in 1988 and it was difficult to imagine selling a 944 Turbo when it was priced near-identically to the 911 Carrera 3.2. Performance figures were close enough to be basically the same as well so no surprise that most buyers went for the "real" Porsche.

[@wackit6756]

Geez, who was testing this car back then? Terrible take off and lugging the engine at 1:58. Probably could have gotten better times.🙄

[@rodmunch69]

Actually Motorweek is the best out there for testing since they just pressed the pedal and went. No BS 3-foot rollouts like Car & Driver or Motortrend that give fake 0-60 times, not jumping down in your seat like an a-hole reving the engine yelling 'LETS GOOOOO' - just a regular old press the pedal, here's the time. That's how people drive in the real world unless there's something wrong with them.

[@pinkyn0se]

​@rodmunch69 Lol you've clearly never driven a manual.

[@user-ie1hg5ov1m]

My big brother

[@jhanick]

65k in todays money

[@mbdulka]

14.6 on a horrible launch ... ha ha!

[@ExUSSailor]

37 years later, and, the 944 is just a bad memory, while the 911 is still carrying the flag for Porsche.

[@777jones]

This car is beautiful and a great Porsche.

[@evanfinch4987]

holy shit are you saying i have a 1.5 ton bad memory in my garage?

[@100percentSNAFU]

944 gets a bad rap because it will always be overshadowed by the 911. On its own merits, however, it was a pretty decent little whip for its day and still has a respectable following.

[@thisisrob8750]

Obviously you never drove one. Watch the smoking tire review of one or Doug Demuro. Or...Look at the prices they are going for now on Bring a Trailer.

[@latentwagen8644]

A bad memory that Porsche would happily re-live, over and over. The 944 saved Porsche, and the turbo was a better car overall than the 911. In fact, they de-tuned it so it would stop giving 911 owners nightmares at the track!

[@randellgribben9772]

funny how ' fast' was back in 1986...my 2014 2.0 turbo ford fusion, has more power, better brakes ,is just as fast and gets better gas milage.. and seats 4....not putting this car down,,not at all,, just things change

[@nowayout73]

These did not age well. Expensive and frustrating to keep everything working and alive. Typical European reliability….

[@johnjones393]

Yes they were junk back then and junk today, what few remain.

[@rodmunch69]

The design aged fantastically well. As for reliability, who knows, I always heard they were junk, but I also always heard Cadillacs and BMW's were junk, and I've owned many of them and never once had an issue. So I think the whole thing about luxury cars being junk is nonsense pushed by poor people to make themselves feel better about being poor.

[@jollyranch1026]

My brand new Ford F-150 is faster than this car and gets better fuel economy that shows you how far technology has come over the years

[@cheesecop9321]

LOL holy crap look at that body roll. A 2003 Toyota Corolla would destroy this car.

[@rodmunch69]

Yeah, but you'd be driving a Corolla. I'll take the rolled over Porsche before I'd touch one of those welfare mobiles.