Turbo S Bargain: This Classic Limited-Run Porsche Can Be Yours For Less Than $15k

An overview of the Porsche 944 Turbo S

The 944 was relatively potent for a budget Porsche back in the day. When the 944 Turbo S debuted, it was a special moment for Porsche and its fanbase. Porsche swapped out the standard turbocharger for a larger KKK K26-8 unit and tweaked the engine mapping, resulting in a boost of 30 horsepower. The bigger turbo allowed it to maintain full boost pressure (10.9 psi) all the way to 5,800 RPM, unlike the regular 944 Turbo, which would start losing steam at higher revs. This meant that the 944 Turbo S could sustain the increase in power throughout the rev range.

But the 944 Turbo S was more than just straight-line speed. Porsche threw in its "M030" suspension package, which comprised adjustable Koni shocks, stiffer springs, and beefier anti-roll bars. The front brakes were borrowed from the 928 S4. These are 12-inch four-piston Brembo GT brakes, pretty good for taming the beast. Additionally, the 944 Turbo S also featured wider 16-inch Fuchs alloy wheels wrapped in Z-rated tires. Also, the manual gearbox has beefier high-friction clutch discs and a limited-slip differential and comes as standard with a 40-percent lockup setting.

What makes this particular example so special?

This 944 Turbo S is one of 500 allocated for the U.S. and is finished in gorgeous Silver Rose Metallic (LM3Z) paint on the outside. In the cabin, you get patterned Burgundy Studio cloth upholstery. This interior trim didn’t capture the hearts of most 944 Turbo S buyers, and Porsche eventually offered the choice of other upholstery options, including leather. This example was previously sold on Bring a Trailer in December 2021, and its current owner acquired it about a year ago in 2023. With 96,000 original miles on the odometer, this 944 Turbo S performs well mechanically. However, some serious work has been done, including replacing the clutch slave cylinder, ride height reset, corner weight balance, and four-wheel alignment.

Highlights

• Exterior paint was refinished in 2017

• New hood shocks

• Pop-up headlights

• Interior reupholstered in 2017

• Blaupunkt cassette stereo

• Air-conditioning

• Power-adjustable front seats

• New engine oil, air filter, spark plugs

• Automatic speed control

• Bosch ABS

• Clear Carfax report

Options

• LM3Z – Silver Rose Metallic Paint

• 454 – Automatic speed control

• 593 – ABS Antilock Brake System (Bosch)

• 650 – Detachable roof panel, electrically openable

• 685 – Rear seat backrests individually folding

• 990 – Cloth front seats with leatherette rear side

Here’s Why This 944 Turbo S Is A Steal

The 944, once a best-selling model for Porsche has lost its appeal in modern times and it’s mostly classic 911s that continue to be highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike. Air-cooled 911s cost a pretty penny. But for $15,000 or less, you can get your hands on this limited-run Porsche, which is a bargain for a low-volume four-seater sports car. A limited-edition 911 for similar money is simply out of the question. Further to that, anything with a Turbo S badge gets you bragging rights, but it commands big money. To put it into context, a 964 Turbo S from that era, can cost you somewhere in the ballpark of a million dollars.

But if you’re hellbent on a 911 for about $15,000; if you’re lucky, a 996-generation 911 with the fried-egg headlights could be a possibility. Old Boxsters mostly from 1999-2005 model years are also very tempting for around $15,000. We wonder, had the 944/944 Turbo S received a larger 4.5-liter V8 engine, could that have helped it be more desirable today? But for now, this 944 Turbo S looks like a steal.