Ah, the Porsche 944, the automotive world's equivalent of Aldi’s finest.
Dubbed the "Poor Man’s Porsche," this transaxle wedge from the 1980s managed to create a minor civil war within Porsche fandom.
Imagine, if you will, the grand romance between Volkswagen and Porsche, resulting in the birth of the 924.
This was the precursor to the 944, a car designed to be more affordable than the ever-iconic 911. And what a splendidly German idea it was.
The 944 sold like hotcakes at a county fair, with a staggering 163,000 units produced.
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It was the most successful sports car in Porsche’s history until the Boxster came along.
Sensible? You bet. In the 80s a naturally aspirated front-engine version set you back a mere £13k, while the turbocharge variant went for £22k.
Meanwhile, the 911 was cruising along at £25k-£30k for a standard Carrera 3.2.
Comparing these two is like comparing a backpacking trip to Blackpool with a luxury cruise through the radiant isles of Elysium.
But the purists, oh, they hated it.
Front-engined? Rear-wheel drive? Sacrilege! The 944 threatened to dilute the Porsche brand, making it accessible to the hoi polloi.
It wasn’t exclusive enough for the chaps who prided themselves on the 911’s legacy.
In short, it was for poor people.
Fast forward to the 1990s, and Top Gear is in full swing. Porsche nearly kissed bankruptcy goodbye and then, in 1996, the saviour arrived: the 986 Boxster.
If the 944 hadn’t already ruffled the feathers of the 911 aficionados, the Boxster certainly did.
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Jeremy Clarkson famously quipped: “The Boxster is for those who can’t afford a 911.”
This statement tarnished the Boxster’s image, but thank heavens there were enough petrolheads who saw the brilliance of a mid-engined, naturally aspirated flat-six.
Porsche sold an astonishing 164,874 units between 1996 and 2004. The 987 then continued the legacy, with 78,294 Boxsters and 50,000 Caymans sold.
Clearly, there were a lot of poor people around!
Yet, despite all this success, the 911 crowd still see these tributary cars as the Poor Man’s Porsche.
The truth? These cars handle and drive better than most 911s, with their anti-weight watchers rear ends.
What really irked the 911 crowd was that real petrolheads preferred the 944 and 987 for their performance, not for their golf club status.
This "Poor Man’s Porsche" ideology has kept prices down for the 944, Boxster, and Cayman, ensuring that true driving enthusiasts can enjoy them, regardless of wealth.
Long live the Poor Man’s Porsche!
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