Pretty much every car enthusiast loves a Porsche. That's especially the case if it's a classic one. The Porsche 944 is finally starting to fall into that classic Porsche realm. On the outside, it looks like a fairly understated '80s sports car. It also wasn't the best-loved car at first. But, things have changed now, and this car has become massively tempting as a starter classic. The Porsche 944 Is A Once-Unloved Sports Car That's Now Gained A Cult Following PorscheWhenever you mention the 944 to purist Porsche enthusiasts, they'll likely scoff. This is a car that's so far removed from the traditional Porsche formula, it can feel weird to call it a Porsche at all at times. It's front-engined, and it was never powered by one of Porsche's traditional boxer units. It was also very much positioned as an entry-level model, much like the 718 Boxster and Cayman are today. This gave it the reputation of being a "poor man's Porsche", for people who desperately wanted a 911 but couldn't afford one.Thankfully, things are different now. The passing of time has given today's enthusiasts a whole new appreciation for the Porsche 944. Those distinctly un-Porsche like qualities aren't viewed as negatives anymore. Along with that, it's become one of the cheapest ways into Porsche ownership. This has created a cult fanbase around the 944, and some collectors have taken notice. It's Built Off The Foundations Laid By The 924 Bring A TrailerThe 944 may be the most well-known of Porsche's front-engined, rear-wheel drive sports cars. But, it wasn't the first. That was the 924. Like the 944, this was intended to be an entry-level Porsche model. It was also created through a collaboration with Volkswagen. That included early 924s using a 2-liter inline-4 Volkswagen engine. This was the same engine that was used in the LT van, and it definitely caused some ire among enthusiasts.The 944's basic platform is actually a development of the 924's. This goes a way to explain why they look so similar, and have similar dimensions. The 944 didn't carry over that Volkswagen-derived engine though, which must have come as a relief to some of those more purist Porsche fans. The Porsche 944's Variants Bring A TrailerLike the 924 that came before it, the 944 had several different variants over its production run. All of these variants were powered by different iterations of Porsche's inline-4 engine. Surprisingly, there's one variant in here that wasn't a factory Porsche model, and it comes from a company you might not expect to want to do anything involved with the brand! 944 Base Front right angle grey Porsche 944This is the first variant of the 944 that was made, and also the cheapest. It initially came with a 2.5-liter inline-4 that produces up to 161 horsepower. For the final year it was offered (1989), it was given a bigger 2.7-liter version of the engine that produces 163 horsepower. This meant that the base model 944 lasted for almost the whole of its production run. It's also the most common version of the 944, with 56,921 cars produced for the US market. 944 S The 944 S is a mild step up from the base model. It's got the same 2.5-liter engine as the early versions of the base model, but it's a little bit more powerful. You get 187 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque from the S, which made it a decently competitive sports car in its day. It also made it significantly more powerful than the base model, while sharing that base model's understated looks.Oddly, the 944 S was only produced for a couple of years. It was introduced in 1987, and was dropped after 1988. This makes it one of the rarer versions of the 944, with 8,815 produced for the US market. 944 S2 BringATrailerThe 944 S2, surprisingly, has the biggest engine out of any of the 944 variants. It has a 3-liter version of the inline-4 engine, producing 208 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. It's also the most powerful model that was ever available with the 3-speed automatic transmission. The S2 was available in convertible as well as coupe form as well, one of only two 944 variants to have that option.The S2 was introduced in 1989, replacing the S in the 944 line-up. It carried on until the end of the 944's production in 1991, with 6,052 produced for the US market. Out of those numbers, 3,650 were coupes and 2,402 were convertibles. That surprisingly makes it rarer than the 944 S that came before it! 944 Turbo via Bring A TrailerPerhaps the best variant of the 944 is the Turbo. It has a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter inline-4 engine, and only ever came with a a manual transmission. Early Turbos produce 217 horsepower, while later cars bumped that power up to 247 horsepower. Put that kind of power into the small, light body of the 944, and you get a car that's genuinely quick even by today's standards. The 944 Turbo is also the second of the 944 variants to be offered as a convertible.The Turbo was one of the longest-running variants of the 944, and therefore one of the more popular ones. 13,982 Turbos were produced for the American market across that 1985-1991 production run. These were all coupes - the Turbo cabriolet was never officially sold in the US. If you go shopping for a 944 on the used market, it's pretty likely you'll come across several Turbos that'll fit what you're looking for. 944 Turbo S The Turbo S was the most powerful street-legal factory variant of the 944. It looks pretty much identical to the regular 944 Turbo. But, underneath, it's slightly different. It has a more powerful version of the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4, producing 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. If that looks a little bit familiar, it's because it's the version of the engine that was used in the 1989-1991 versions of the 944 Turbo. The Turbo S was discontinued after 1988 (its only year of production), and it was morphed into a more powerful version of the regular Turbo model. 944 Callaway This version of the 944 is the only one that wasn't a 'proper' 944. That's because it wasn't developed by Porsche. It was developed by Callaway, typically known for their hot-rodded Corvettes. As Callaway was known for its turbo conversions, it's not surprising that Callaway's modified 944 was turbocharged. This was the most powerful version of the 944 that you could buy, with an output of 284 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. This is also the rarest variant of the 944, with only 20 ever produced. What Should You Know Before Buying A Porsche 944?Bring a TrailerAll things considered, any variant of the Porsche 944 sounds like a great used buy. So, what do you need to look out for when you're shopping for one? First of all, you should expect a very welcoming community. 944 owners tend to be much less snooty than Porsche purists, and they're more than willing to help anyone out who's just getting into owning one of these cars. This can include help with parts, servicing and repairs.Like most Porsches, the 944 is generally a reliable car. But, it does have its known problems. These include roof leaks, electrical problems, odometer problems, cracked dashboards, vacuum system issues, and problems with the timing chain. While these can sound a little daunting to manage, it's nothing that can't be fixed or you can't get help with. At the end of the day, it is an old car. All old cars have niggles that come as part of them being old.Unfortunately, like a lot of other Porsches, the 944 can be quite expensive to repair. One owner reported that he'd spent around $10,000 in parts over his ownership of his 944. $9,000 of the cost of those parts was just to replace anything that had aged or worn away. If you want to buy a Porsche 944, make sure you've got some money saved up. If you do, paying for those expensive parts won't be so much of a headache. Why Have People Now Come Around To The Porsche 944? Bring A TrailerThe Porsche 944 has come out of its unappreciated years, and people love it now. Why is that? Well, there are a couple of big reasons why. One of those reasons is an obvious one you'll already know by this point. Another one, however, isn't something you might have thought of at first. But, when you do take it into account, it makes a lot of sense. Its Front-Engined, Rear-Wheel Drive Layout Is Easier To Get Used To Than More Traditional Porsches Mecum AuctionThe front-engined, rear-wheel drive layout of the Porsche 944 gives it an unexpected advantage over other older Porsches. That's because it's a more conventional setup, compared to the rear-engined, rear-wheel drive 911 or the mid-engined, rear-wheel drive of the Boxster and Cayman. That has an unintended consequence of making the 944 easier to get used to than a more traditional Porsche. Most sports car enthusiasts are used to front-engined, rear-wheel drive cars to begin with. Furthermore, that setup has better balance than a rear-engined, rear-wheel drive Porsche 911 of that same era. In fact, the 944 has become legendary over time for having a superbly balanced feel.When you think about this, it does make a lot of sense. People who are more used to front-engined cars will instantly feel a lot more at home with the 944. Instead of feeling like a wild '80s or '90s 911, the 944 feels much more predictable and manageable. That instills confidence in the car earlier on, and makes the whole driving experience much more enjoyable. It's Still Cheap... For Now BaTAs we briefly touched on earlier, the 944 is currently one of the cheapest ways into Porsche ownership. A base model 944 can be yours for around $13,048 right now. A 944 S is a little bit more expensive, while an S2 is worth slightly more at $23,692. But if you want a 944 Turbo, expect to pay around $27,902.That seems very reasonable at first glance, especially compared to how much other classic Porsche models can be worth. But, things won't stay that way forever. These cars have almost reached true classic status, and collectors are starting to buy up the rarer and higher-performance versions. That's starting to push values up as a result. If you've ever wanted a Porsche 944, you might want to jump on that bandwagon now before you get priced out of the market!Sources: Callaway Cars, Classic.com, Porsche