Affordable Exotics: Porsches

924S (1987-1988)
The 924 was not exactly a gold-medal model for Porsche, as the Audi-derived engine ran rough and delivered lackluster performance. The 924 was replaced in the American market by the 944 in 1983, although the 924 remained in production in Europe. The 944 was an upgraded 924 with wider fenders and a refined, more muscular Porsche engine. In 1987 a half-breed model was brewed up to provide a cheaper entry point to Porsche ownership. The narrow 924 body was stripped of luxury items and treated to the 944 engine to produce the 924S. Although marketed as a low-buck model, Porschephiles were surprised to find that the 924S was actually faster than the 944 due to lighter weight and less frontal area. Best news is that the rare 924S is overlooked by collectors and can be found for $4,000 to $6,000.

944S2 and Turbo (1986-1991)
The 944 was sold in huge numbers and thus has low resale value ($3,000 to $6,000). However, there were two special versions that are worth looking for. In 1986, the 944 Turbo was added to the line, with a 220-horsepower engine that offered blistering performance (with a top speed of 162 mph). Plus there are tuning parts that raise output to over 350 horses. Yet all this can be had for $6,000 to $15,000, depending on condition and year.


Porsche also offered two special naturally aspirated performance versions, the 944S and 944S2. The 1987 944S had a twin-cam, four-valve version of the 944 engine with 190 hp and impressive performance. The 1989 944S2 had a three-liter upgrade of the 944S, combined with the brakes and suspension of the Turbo model. It produced 208 hp and a top speed of 149 mph. Look for 944S and S2 models in the $4,500 to $10,000 range.

911 (1965-1973)
The Porsche 911 has been in production since 1965 and is still going strong. There are a lot of them on the market, in a bewildering number of models. The 911S models were the fastest, but are prized by collectors and thus sell for more money. The slower 911, 911L, 911T and 911E models are generally $2,000 to $4,000 cheaper than the 911S versions. Early 911s range in price from $7,000 to $18,000, but repair and restoration costs can be very high, so get the nicest one you can afford. Avoid the optional Sportomatic semi-automatic transaxle, which is not nearly as desirable as the manual gearbox.

CAUTION!
Not all Porsches have been classics, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are bad cars. Here are a few models that perform just fine, but are not the best way to spend your Porsche bucks.