Steering, brakes and suspension: Clonking noises or front-wheel shake suggests worn suspension bushes; floaty handling means worn wishbone ball joints or dampers. On non-power-assisted cars, vague steering could indicate a worn rack; on assisted ones, look for steering pump leaks.
Body: Rust hits the sills, rear wheel arches, suspension mounts and front jacking points. On early cars, check the fuel tank. Beware of uneven shutlines and ripples in the boot floor.
Wheels and tyres: Check for cracked alloy wheels and look out for perished tires.
Inside: Ensure all the ancillary motors work, the headlining is secure and the fascia isn’t cracked.
So worth knowing
Unlike the preceding 924’s engine, which was sourced from Audi, the 944’s 2.5-liter unit is pure Porsche. It’s in essence one half of the 928’s 5.0-litre V8, although very few of the parts are actually interchangeable. The in-line four configuration was chosen due to its size and efficiency; although two counter-rotating balance shafts were fitted to help the engine run more smoothly.
How much to spend
£5000 – £6999: Mid to late 2.5-liter examples with mileages generally north of 100,000. Conditions aren’t all terrible; actually, there are some really respectable cars here.
£7000 – £9999: Now 2.7-liter cars enter the fold, as do 3.0-liter S2s. Mileages still run as high, although 2.5-liter cars can be found with fewer than 80,000 miles.
£10,000 – £15,999: Cabriolet versions of the S2 appear. Conditions are good but miles generally remain high, then begin to waver around 100,000 towards the top end, where you will find examples in nearly showroom condition.
£16,000 – £19,999: High-mileage Turbos appear in respectable condition and make up the majority of models here.
£20,000 and above: Late Turbo cars in excellent condition and, in some cases, fewer than 70,000 miles on the clock.
